Saturday, October 29, 2011

Lindsay Nohl - Illustrator


Lindsay Nohl
Altered Esthetics Featured Interview for...
One-day Celebration
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
6:00-9:00 PM

Name: Lindsay Nohl
City/State: Minneapolis Minnesota
Email: Lindsayjunenohl@yahoo.com
Website: lindsaynohl.blogspot.com, paperbicyclecreative.blogspot.com, paperbicycle.com
MNartist.org profile: http://www.mnartists.org/Lindsay_Nohl


Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?
I am a professional product and surface designer by day, where I really enjoy creating graphics and illustrations for a wide variety of kid-friendly consumer products. That's been part of the reason why I've always loved patterns. Currently I'm working on a 7 month long "Daily pattern" project, with the other artists at Paper Bicycle LLC, where we create a fully illustrated pattern a day. So far we are in the 6th month and it's been very exciting. The majority of the work is whimsical and is based on topics at random. I've really enjoyed the challenge!

This is the first time that I've participated in a project that extends over a month or two. It's been a test of my endurance, and a large test on my creativity. Having to come up with a great idea, execute it, and make it repeat every week day has definitely been a challenge!


"What is Art?" is certainly too big of a question to ask here, but what do you hope your audience takes away from your art? What statement do you hope to make?
It's funny, having just had a conversation with my husband about this the other day -- I believe art to be the experience of working through your process. It's a personal thing. The efforts of your energy create an end "product", but the important part is the creation of that work. It's the time you spend exploring, re-working, and finessing your own practice. The final piece is a reflection of the time the artist has placed in the work, and I believe the audience gets a glimpse into the mind of the artist as they view the final piece. It's not necessarily what the end thing is, it's the culmination of everything (including the time, energy, emotions, and intention) that went into what you see when it's finished.

My artwork is relatively light hearted in mood, but the audience may be able to see my influences and thoughts show through in my art. It's a marker of where I was at that time in life, and what was going on in my world. I'm incredibly transparent when it comes to my interactions, and I believe the same thing is shown in my work.


What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
The best advice I've ever been given has been to "create work with intention". John Gaunt, a great professor of mine from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, is a fantastic motivator and and a wonderfully inspired and talented artist. I keep this in mind every time I create a piece of work.

Tell me about your work space and your creative process.
I have two work spaces. My studio is in Uptown, Minneapolis - where I share it with 3 other really talented artists. The work we create there is more commercial, and the space reflects a little bit of that feeling. Light grey walls, Black furniture, Large, work spaces and desks. Still, it's un-cluttered for the most part and I really enjoy it as a clean creative sanctuary.

My home studio on the other hand is my down-and-dirty space. This is where I leave my paints out for weeks, I don't clean it up, my notes, scraps, and drawings are where I left them after I made them. It's a space where I have the good ideas and the bad ones. Depending on the mood I'm in, and what art I'd like to create, I love having a choice for how and where I create my artwork.

My creative process is incredibly varied. I am a traditionally trained illustrator that also has a large digital side. I jump between mediums constantly, depending on the mood or purpose of my work. I am impatient artist. I have to start, and finish pieces quickly while I still have the passion to do them, and I fly through projects as quickly as humanly possible. This does not mean that I don't take the time to make them well, or make them right, but it does mean that I'd rather pull an all-nighter and whip out a painting while I'm in the zone, rather than wait weeks to see it through. While I'm working, I am working in a frenzy.

Lindsay in her studio

Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy?
Jennifer Davis http://www.jenniferdavisart.com/
Chris Hajny hajny.com
Andres Guzman http://www.andresguzman.com
Francesca Buchko http://francescasketches.blogspot.com/


If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?
The place we'd go most often is the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Every day there is something new and exciting. The students are fantastic and they eat, breathe, but rarely sleep, design and art. I love teaching there - both for the BFA program as well as the Continuing Studies program. Everyone brings so much passion and freshness there. It's hard not to be incredibly awed and inspired when you visit.


Where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?
I love Behance.net, Pinterest.com, pikaland.com, and ten-paces.blogspot.com. Some are portfolio sites, and others are fantastic art-centered blogs.

Do you have any exhibits to promote in the near future?
I addition to the Altered Esthetics' "Dia De Los Muertos" exhibit on 11/2/11, I will be launching a new project in December around the theme "Customizable Christmas", and working on a new series of textural paintings.

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