Are you
self-taught or formally educated?
I suppose you would say Self-taught. I did have high school art classes, in which I did learn a lot, but it was sometimes
so structured. Understandably, there was a curriculum to follow (this must have driven any truly passionate art teacher just
CRAZY!), so there were always guidelines....I prefer to be guide-free! I would have loved to have gone to an art college,
and even today, I dabble with the idea of taking art classes. It never hurts to stretch your mind!
Do you create in a specific ‘art’ space, or just anywhere in the house that’s available?
I used to sit cross-legged on my couch in the living
room watching CSI and painting. We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment and my husband (then fiance') had claimed the second
room as his music room. I ended up with part of the closet in the spare room! So eventually, after the wedding
especially, we started feeling really cramped in our little home and decided we should look into getting a house; the deal
being that I would get my own room for all my 'artsy' things and I could paint it any colour I wanted!
I am now the proud owner of an aqua blue art room (full room, not just a closet!!!) and it's FILLED with all
my art supplies, creations, and other people's art work! So now I sit in here, watch my movies, check my Ebay, and draw
and paint to my heart's content....but every once in a while I sneak my things out to the living room and sit cross
legged on the couch....I have options!
What is your favorite medium to
work with?
Watercolors, hands down! When I first started selling my work on Ebay I was using bristol board, Prismacolor markers,
and Pencil Crayon. I still have the biggest pieces I started off with that inspired me to create my long eyelashed divas.
But I always loved the look and freedom of watercolors. I loved, that even after it dried, if you really messed up,
you could always fix it! Other paints, acrylics for example, just aren't that forgiving - and I can be a bit of a clutz!
In what ways do you stretch yourself to make your work grow?
I'm constantly looking for new ideas, no matter where I go. I look for different watercolor techniques, different color
pallettes, as well as different venues to sell my creations. I love reading books with new ideas in them. My favorite
thing, is when you're not even really looking for anything in particular and something hits you as spectacular and you
just can't wait to try it out! I also love doing comission work because it gives me the opportunity to get inside
someone else's mind and create something that didn't necessarily come from me. A fresh idea, and sometimes they're
phenominal! They also force me to step outside my usual comfort zone - that's always a good thing!
Who are the artists that inspire your work?
WOW!....what a question. There are so many! My favorite from the beginning has always been Amy Brown. I
can't remember where I initially saw her art, but from that first little glimmer I was sold. The fantasy world
exploded for me in the biggest way possible. I remember feeling like 'Well, why couldn't I do something
like that?'. I was so impressed that a watercolor fantasy artist could do so well for themselves.
Then
there was Rion Vernon of PinupToons. That's actually where the inspiratin for my long eyelashed divas started. Eyes were
always one of my favorite features and even still, when I start a piece I ALWAYS start by placing the eyes first.
His girls had over-extended eyelashes which I thought was beautiful and unique. But I also wondered how it would go if I
SUPER-extended them! So I did, and here I am!
Another of my absolute favorites is Stephanie Pui-Mun Law.
Her watercolor work is some of the most intricate and stunning I've ever seen!
And then there is
Jasmine Becket-Griffith (Strangeling). I LOVE her big-eyed cartoon fairies and mermaids! Throw those
all together and somewhere in the midst you might find me! Of course, since starting to sell my work on Ebay I've
found tons of other artists whose work I've admired and loved. I've kept my eye on those works!
I've become a part of some really fantastic Ebay groups with so much talent; it's ridiculous! I owe it to my
peers for having kept going all this time - through fantastic sales and slow markets. There's always been a project
or idea floating around somewhere for inspiration and a little kick in the pants!
What
is the major venue you use to sell your work?
Ebay, and although we have a rocky relationship sometimes, I do owe a lot of my success to them. I have branched out
since then, selling my work in places like Etsy and starting my own website. But Ebay is my #1 biggest venue.
Do you remember your first sale?
Of course, AND I still watch my auctions when they're ending - the novelty never wears off! When I moved
in with my husband (then boyfriend!), I had a lot of issues with anxiety still and I knew I wouldn't be able to get
a job right away until I was settled in and adjusted. But I also knew I wasn't comfortable living off of someone
else and I needed a way to make my own money so I had decided to try selling my art on Ebay. It started off REALLY
slow. I was selling 8.5"x11" originals for $10 - $20. I also remember selling original ACEO cards
for 99 cents each! I wouldn't have had it any other way though. I've grown, in part, because of that.
Everyone needs to start somewhere and I'm glad I started at the bottom; it makes it easier to track your progress and
it's very humbling. You never forget where you came from!
What’s
the most difficult thing about being an artist?
On
a whole I think it's finding the time to sit and create. When life gets really busy the things you love the most
tend to be put on the backburner. Or , for most people, it might discouragement from selling in a really slow market.
My biggest issue, personally, is that I create the most and best pieces when I'm feeling well. This may seem obvious
to some - who can do anything when they're not feeling well? - but I deal with a lot of anxiety issues and if my
anxiety is through the roof, that's when I find I get artist's block or I just lose my drive to create. It doesn't
make sense, in a way, because my art is like my therapy. But, when I'm really anxious or going through a bit of
a dip, I can't get creative enough to use it as therapy....weird, I know! I've become really thankful for the
times when things are normal and calm and my brain is exploding with ideas and inspiration instead of worrisome thoughts!
Do you have a website, or other contact information for buyers to reach you?
Why yes I do! I
just started the website this year. It has a blog section, a gallery, a very small store (for now), and lots of other
interesting (or not so interesting) information about me and my art. I also have a section on the home page where you
can sign up for my mailing list and keep up to date with my latest works! It's
www.freewebs.com/maigan-lynn.
And, of course, my email address:
So, you can feel free to keep up to date with my abundance of contact info! Enjoy and hope to see you soon!
;)
