We love learning more about our contributors, and an interview seemed like a fun way to hear more about the writers and artists we publish, so we gave them a choice of questions to answer. We hope you also enjoy hearing more about the artists and their works. Check out Issue 30 for art from Cynthia Yatchman.
Who are some of your favorite artists, and what do you like about them?
One of my very favorite artists is J.T. Abernathy. I have been working as a fine artist since graduating with BFA in painting from the University of Washington, but I come from a solid ceramics background after haveing done an amazing pottery apprenticship with Master Potter, J T Abernathy in Ann Arbor, MI. Mr.Abernathy , at age 103! is still doing some art. He is quite amazing.His works are housed in more than 23 museums across the United States and Canada. He is a world renowned potter an d had a huge influence on my ceramic art. While my personal art now abides in the world of painting and printmaking, the passion, sensitivity, fervour and devotion that i witnessed in Mr. Abernathy was transforming and I have adopted many of those values as my own in the 2D world and Mr. Abernathys influence stays with me no matter what medium I am working in , He taught me a way of thinking and a way of seeing and appreciating art and life.
A second strong artist influence-
I received my BFA in Painting from the University Of Washington and I was privileged to study with Mr. Michael Spafford who was an amazinfg artist and teacher. He said of his own work. "Basically my intelligence as an artist is reactive I had one idea in 1958 and Ive been reacting to that same idea ever since". I believe many of us do to this in our own art, we may keep revisiting over and over some of the art themes that hold meaning for us and that can stretch out over a lifetime of work. Mr. Spafford taught with an an attitude of acceptance and encouragement in experimentation and that has stayed with me both in my own art and in my teaching
Who or what inspires your work generally?
Nature is an integral part of my work. It holds a very strong calling for me. I never tire of it...some have said we paint nature to pay honor to it, to open others eyes to the beauty around them, to give a nod to the pressing issues of climate change in our natural world and /or to show the connection between humans and their world. I agree. I believe nature in artwok can make us feel more connected to our world and I am so lucky to live in an amazing area of the country, the Pacifi dNorthwest is a never-tiring source of inspiration for me its mountains, ocean, flora and fauna constantly find their way into my work. I often work with nature, be it in an abstract form or realistic form. I find it inspiring.