Y1 E11 Martine MacDonald: Feed the Soul

 Martine MacDonald

Lark Becomes Bat, oil on board, 16 x 16;
All imagery is courtesy of the artist.

I’m Martine MacDonald, born a Mid-Century Modern in Motown. My current paintings concentrate on the figure, often using myself, family, and friends as models. The work is not to be seen in the context of portraiture, instead, I strive to capture universal themes found in the real and spiritual world of women.

 

I also work in 3-D mixed media, drawing, and occasional printmaking and the book arts. In 1999, I earned a Master of Arts in Studio Art from Wayne State University. Currently, I serve as adjunct faculty at Wayne County Community College.

 

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  What do you love about making art?

Martine MacDonald

It’s about the beautiful struggle, and the act of using physical materials, and with skill, work, and a modicum of talent, transforming the unformed idea into the tangible. What’s not to love?

 

How do you evaluate your work?

I ask questions: Does the finished work match my intention? Is this the best I can produce at this stage in my artistic development? 

 

Where is your studio, and what is your primary work area?

I maintain a studio as part of Fishnet Artist Studios, a collective of 7 artists located at 4357 Schaefer, Dearborn, MI. And like many artists who have a “public” studio, I also work in my smaller studio at home. 

 

I typically work on paintings on my favorite easel, given to me as a birthday gift from my husband some 20 years ago. Other times I work on a table in the studio or sometimes even in the dining room.

 

"The inward successes—a job well done,
a mastery of tools and techniques—
feed the soul.
I prefer first feeding the soul."

What clues or questions do you use to select an idea to invest time and resources?

I trust my intuition and the gentle persistent voice and insistent vision that says an idea must be made manifest.

The Golden Child, mixed media

 

About your work: what do you hope people notice the most?

I hope the image captures the viewer’s attention, which is then followed by a desire for people to come closer for a more intimate look.

 

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Oh, if I told you that I would be revealing my deep, dark secrets. And for that you must wait for my best-selling-tell-all-memoir. Okay, it might involve chocolates, foreign mysteries, and Netflix.

 

How do you define success as a creative? How do you hold yourself accountable?

The outward successes—the awards and money—feed the ego. The inward successes—a job well done, a mastery of tools and techniques—feed the soul. I prefer first feeding the soul.

 

The Matriarchs, oil on board, 47 inches

What advice do you have about throwing away work?

The truth is you can’t save everything, unless you plan on making an immense museum to yourself. Save and date the pieces that show your progress and milestones on the journey, or hold great significance for you. For other work, consider altering or pirating parts of them to produce something that might spark a new creative pathway.  

 

How can people follow you and your work?

Website: www.martinemacdonald.com 

Instagram: @martimacart 

Facebook (Artist Page): https://www.facebook.com/martinemacdonaldartist/

What would you like people to know that I haven't asked?

Two inspirational quotes: 

 

      To be like Michelangelo who said at age 86:

“Ancora imparo!” Still I am learning!

 

      And to be like the great Hokusai who said:

“When I am eighty, I shall have developed still further, and I will really master the secrets of art at ninety. When I reach a hundred my work will be truly sublime and my final goal will be attained around the age of one hundred and ten, when every line and dot I draw will be imbued with life.”

I can't thank you enough for taking time out of your schedule to talk with me/us. Please come back whenever you have something to share with the ChC audience!

 

Y1 E10: Michael Brzozowski: Heart, Mind, and Spirit

 

Michael Brzozowski

All images are courtesy of the artist

Michael Brzozowski

My painting practice revolves around the relationship humans have within their natural surroundings. Pulling inspiration from my environment, I am drawn to the vast waterways of the Great Lake region. My work culminates my diligent sketchbook practice - a singular image of various concepts and notions.

I draw inspiration from water's boundless and reflective nature—the solace and tranquility I experience viewing out into Lake Huron's horizon. My deep-rooted connection to the land summons remembrance of my past, subjects that become prominent in my work.

Painting on a large scale immerses one in the imagery, pushing you into the natural world. Depicting ephemeral moments in the landscapes summons viewers to pause and examine the natural beauty that we inhabit.

Motivated by the social, cultural, and political issues of water, I work to unite the divide between human existence and our environment. The ingrained interconnectedness of humanity and nature is prominent within my practice and highlights the impermanence of not only our natural world but also of ourselves.

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What do you love about making art?

I love the process of creating. Starting from nothing, developing an idea, and following it through to completion.

Which mediums do you like working with the most? What are some of the more
unusual ones you've used?

I like pen and ink in my sketchbook. I use acrylic paint in my painting practice and occasionally use found materials from the shores of lakes and rivers.

Manitou

What do you love about that?

I find adding found materials to my paintings adds a layer of interest.

How do you evaluate your work?

Finding alternative ways of seeing my work. And seeking out blind reads from other artists.

Where is your studio, and what is your primary work area?

Currently Old Main at Wayne State University in Detroit [MI].

"Art is a commitment and is not easy."

What clues or questions do you use to select an idea to invest time and resources?

I try to select ideas organically. As a visual artist, it all depends on what engages me visually.

Transformation

About your work: what do you hope people notice the most?

I want people to notice an aesthetic that draws you into the work.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Being Lazy

How do you define success as a creative? 

I define success as a creative when you do everything in your will to advocate for your art and you let go of your ego.

When do you discuss things with your inner critic?

I think artists should have a habit of inner dialogue that talks and listens to their work.

What advice do you have about throwing away work?

Think of it as a memorial or a burial. Make it a ceremony.

What would you tell other artists when they get frustrated with a project?

Keep going. Be persistent. It is ok to be frustrated. Art is a commitment and is not easy.

Zug

Who are your creative influences, and whose work are you admiring now?

I like to think of animate and inanimate influences that are outside of human influence. Unfortunately, culture is built on the backs of other humans.

How can people follow you and your work?

• Instagram @mbrzozow
• michael-brzozowski.com

What would you like people to know that I haven't asked?

Art involves inclusiveness that is dualistic. It requires active participation. Heart, Mind, and Spirit.

Thank you for spending some time with me, Michael. This has been such fun. Please come back whenever you have something to share with the ChC audience!