Today’s Artist Interview Is With Karen McNab From Markham, Ontario, Canada.

Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Karen: I discovered that I had some ability very late in life, when I finally had the time and support it requires. My work as an artist started about six years ago when I started taking lessons in a group setting.

Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Karen: I tried throwing pottery and found out that I had no talent for making anything but ashtrays before I tried my hand at drawing at a local community centre. Looking back on it I can laugh at my teacher saying “I suppose you’re doing the best that you can” when she saw my first attempt at drawing !

Read more »

Today’s Artist Interview Is With Cherie Balowski From Union City, Michigan.

Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Cherie: I have always been an artist. From a very early age I was either painting or drawing, or making things out of clay, cutting out paper or material and making collages, I was more of a ‘crafter’ when I was young.

Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Cherie: My first ‘masterpiece’ was a cotton cloth ‘duster’ (dusting rag) that I had colored in a Sunday school class. Although I was very young, I remember thinking that this was really neat to actually draw on cloth! The edges were cut with pinking shears and the teacher was kind enough to write my name on it for me, but I was very upset that she spelled my name wrong! I still have that first ‘work of art’ too!

Read more »

Today’s Artist Interview Is With Igor Lukyanov from Kramatorst, Ukraine

Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Igor: I’ve being drawing for all my life, although only 5 years as a professional artist.

Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Igor: It’s really hard to remember the first attempts as drawing was always like breathing for me – a natural state of mind. I remember how I used to be surprised when people told me they could not draw. I am a self-taught artist and I’ve being learning to create art for all my life.

Read more »

Today’s Artist Interview Is With Ricki Mountain From San Francisco, California

Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Ricki: 17+ years. I am a self-taught.

Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Ricki: Back in 1996, I was working as a account manager for one of the largest art publishing firms in the industry. They sold art to Big Box, Designers, OEMS etc.. One of my largest retail accounts approached me for a particular art theme. Since we did not have any images like this at the time. I decided to create it.
I was pretty good and proficient in photo-shop then, and given the simplicity of the subject matter, I went home that night and created the artwork. The series of 4 (bathroom art) was picked up by the buyer, and the rest is history. I have been creating and licensing my artwork since then.

Read more »

Today’s Artist Interview Is With Clair Hartmann From Wilmington, North Carolina

Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Clair: For as long as I can remember I’ve always loved drawing and have worked towards becoming an artist; my “real job” of graphic designer afforded me a creative outlet which has slowly transformed into that of a full time artist.

Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Clair: I had a Dalmation when I was young and would draw her when she was sleeping. I also drew a lot in church, my bible was full of drawings.

Read more »