To Paraphrase …

“… And I Dig It!” is when I feature a mini interview with an artist (drawing, painting, music, photography, sculpture, whatever) I dig. This feature should be updated one Thursday a month. If you have an artist to suggest, even if it’s yourself, drop me a line to your website!

This month’s feature is Tara Fortin!

• To start, please tell us a bit about yourself. What’s your story?

Hi! My name is Tara and I like bats, cats and batcats.

I moved from a little tiny town to the big city to go to art school. I started university not knowing what I wanted to do, and found that illustration seemed to be the best fit for the things I enjoyed doing.

• How long have you been creating?

I am the child of an artist, so making things is just part of life. Its also really great when you come from somewhere with nothing to do. You can always draw!

• What inspires you?

Decoration and detail. I hate “less is more” most of the time, I want more and more. I like a lot of stereotypical goth stuff, and am not embarrassed by it. Vampires, bats, Japanese fashion, art nouveau…I haunt a million fashion and makeup blogs too.

• Please describe your creative process (the how, the when, materials, etc.).

I do a lot of bouncing around. I am a habitual “starter” and a rare finisher.
Drawing, I often thumbnail sketch on cheap paper, really rough and pressing too hard, never erasing. I then re-draw images on illustration board, then ink and paint. I try to never transfer drawings, they never come out as good as the first one. I scan between steps because I often ruin things.
Painting is acrylic, always really watery. I blast with a hairdryer between layers, I love splattering.

• What’s your biggest artistic disaster to date? How did it help you progress?

If there is a medium, I have had a disaster with it. Papier mache, clay, ink, paint, sewing, printmaking…Silkscreen is probably the most frustrating and costly screw up in my past. It is just such an unforgiving medium to me. I am a messy worker. You can always fix a painting, but one speck with silkscreening and its trash.

• With the media you’ve tried and had disasters with, did you go back to try it again? If so, did having a disaster with said medium make you more determined to make something with it?

I rarely give up on something entirely, I just take a break from it so I don’t end up throwing it through a window. At times like this is good to be a bit arrogant and think “If other people can do this of course *I* can too.” I usually make excuses to myself why it went wrong, and when those are remedied I will probably be the best silkscreener/carver/sewer/etc EVER.

• What’s your favourite piece that you’ve done?

Batcat. The original design was a class my first year of university. I just liked him and he stuck around. Even though he has changed a great deal, its pretty rare to like something you did so long ago, isn’t it? I mean, everything else I did that long ago is embarrassing! That one little drawing really helped shape my future. *see picture above*

• What’s the best advice you were given when starting out?

Do what you like. Someone else will like it too. Go with your gut.

• Do you have any advice to give others?

Practice. Talent isn’t a talent people are born with, it has to be worked on. I will always look back at my past work as horrible, and that is ok because I am improving. Just do it and do it and do it.

• What’s coming up for you; any big plans artistically?

As with many people trying to sell art and goods, my plans change as I do. When I started selling online it wasn’t going to be my job, then it was, then it wasn’t…Looks like its back to a full time job again in 2010.

• Quite a few of the artists I’ve been lucky enough to feature are working artists/artisans like yourself. Do you have any tips on how to make your business successful (you *seem* pretty successful with selling on Etsy, but correct me if I’m wrong on this)?

Success to people is different. I do pretty well on Etsy, but I can’t say I am a self supporting artist yet. As with many small business, there is usually a time where you build your audience and slowly work towards it being the equivalent of a “real job.” I have the luxury of partner who helps support me while this happens, and that is something that can’t be overstated. But slowly, over time this will change and I will be rich and buy him a gold plated Hummer or whatever.

As for success on Etsy, I often help new sellers when they contact me. I have a set of standard tips that I have learned over time:
-Brand yourself. You are your business. Looks matter. Brand your Etsy shop, blog, promo materials, buy your URL, get a logo…
-Interesting, clear, bright photos. More than one per item. Cannot be overstated. I personally hate taking photos, and mercilessly photoshop everything.
-list often. Keep your shop refreshing. Even with beautiful items, you need to keep on top.
-blog,flickr,twitter,etc. It brings those peepers you need on your items.
-return customers are amazing. Package items well, like little gifts, add a little freebie if you can manage it. They really appreciate it.
-ship worldwide. Why wouldn’t you?? I sell all over the world.

• How do you keep motivated to come up with all your new products/projects?

There will be down times where you think it would just be easier to dig ditches for money instead of constantly coming up with genius ideas, but those pass. My major motivator is that I am a bossy jerk who hates it when people tell me what to do. I feel happy every morning that I can choose my path, and answer to no one. I also love things I make, and I know if I love them other people will too. Its just a matter of time until they find me. Sometimes I also spend time thinking about how miserable I was when I had a stable job with a regular paycheck. Its funny how that brings me so much relief.

• Recommend 3-5 artists the rest of the world should know about.

1. I don’t even know how people grow up without Edward Gorey. If you don’t know about him by now, its probably too late for you.
2. Camille Rose Garcia – The colours, the streaky mess.
3. Ross Campbell – The lovely faces. I have always loved eyes with no pupils, and his make me think mine are ok to leave empty.
4. Alphonse Mucha. Yeah, the posters, yeah. But Look up his jewelry designs and patterns and sketches too. Its my favourite stuff.
5. I look for new favourites each month in Juxtapoz Magazine too.

• Where can people find your work?

I have two Etsy shops. My original shop blacklilypie, and a sweeter sister for more kid friendly critters.
Blacklilypie
Blackforestcake

I also keep a blog (http://blacklilypie.blogspot.com/)
flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blacklilypie/)
twitter (http://twitter.com/blacklilypie)

Thanks so much to Tara for taking the time to be featured here! I have to admit, this feature made me feel like a giddy fangirl (I’m pretty sure I have half her Etsy inventory hearted at any given time – plus, her hair rocks), and I’m glad I was able to get her featured just in time for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos! I highly suggest checking out any of the links Tara has provided; not only is her own work awesomesauce, but she has great tastes for her recommendations.