Studio Tour – Eileen Pick

September 6th, 2009

INTERVIEW 7

Q1.Why did you choose to become an artist? Did someone influence you?
A1.Fascination with paintings early in life created a dream of becoming an artist in whatever form it took.

Q2.What does being and artist mean to you?
A2. It means being able to express how I feel about my surroundings as I share its beauty. It also allows me to escape from pain and enter a calm environment.

Q3.What are your artistic influences?
A3.Fl orals, scenery, colour, atmosphere, sounds.

Q4. Do you remember your first drawing/painting?
A4. Yes, it was a fabric cut & paste project in Grade 5 or 6 where one part of a circle was overlaid by another until there was only one complete circle of red. All this was surrounded by a border of very bright tiny print to make a frame. This piece was sent as an exchange project to S. Africa.

Q5. If you could use your art to express something socially important to you, what would you do?
A5. It would be to show the world that we are all equal: skin, bone, blood and deserve to live in relative comfort.

Q6. If you could change a part of the world through your art, what would that be?
A6. To eliminate hunger, hatred amongst people.

Q7. Can you tell us your favorite artist(s)? Can tell us why? Did one or many of these artists influence your style? In what way?
A7. John Greco – an artist who lived and painted the Himalayan Mountains in all their glory was my first major influence.

Q8.Can you share your creative process with us? EG: How do you a start painting? Do you plan your projects?
A8. My creative process is to capture interesting images with my camera. From there I decide which of these I want to paint. I usually draw out my image, transfer it to a painting surface and then begin. Colour also decides what I will paint.

Q9.How long have you been an artist?
A9. I began to draw at a very early age. This spilled over into sewing or knitting and then into the painting world. The later began 12 years ago.

Q10.Do you have a favorite style? (Realism, abstract…)?
A10. Realism. The bright reds, yellows, deep blues and all of the combinations one can make from them.

Q11. Who would you call your teacher?
A11. I have had several major teaches in my lifetime but the first teacher was my Grade 8 art teacher, Mr. Englehart who gave me the courage to carry on.

Q12.What is your medium? Why? Do you like to try different mediums or you are more conservative person?
A12. My present medium is Acrylic. I began with watercolour. My next pursuit will likely be oil.

Q13How do you see your future as an artist? What is your dream?
A13. My future is to continue to find release from pain while I paint. My dream would be to help others realize the same effect it has on me.

White Rock, Painting by Eileen Pick