Artists Interview Artists: Mary Stebbins

Mary Stebbins (Taitt*), an artist and blogger from Baldwinsville, NY, participates in the Artists Interview Artists Project. Below Mary responds to another artist's five questions (Adriane Giberson from Irvine, CA). In order to participate, Mary had to provide me with five questions for some other artist to answer. The assigning of questions to artists is completely random. If you're an artist and interested in participating, let me know.

The Birth of Flight
Digital Art
47" x 32"
2006

1. What comes first, the concept for your piece, or do you start on the piece and the concept falls into place?

Both processes play important roles in my work. Sometimes, I come up with a concept. I think about it and dream about it and then try to actualize it. On the other hand, I am often just playing and end of creating something I love. Once I see that it is evolving toward something that resonates for me in some way, I become obsessed with it until I complete it. For me, I think my process is about evenly divided between the two approaches, with serendipity probably playing the larger role. (To be absolutely honest, I'm not sure how it divides up because it is such a free-flowing process.)

2. Do you create from an emotional place or from an aesthetic, almost design-oriented perspective? Where do you find your inspiration?

Many of the serendipitous pieces I refer to above occur when I am playing with aesthetic elements. For example, I may decide to explore lines, color, high key or artifacts, just fool around with them to better understand them, and I end up creating something that pleases me. So I would say that these pieces arise from an aesthetic perspective. On the other hand, the conceptual pieces often arise from an emotional place, an idea or concern that agitate me in some way. My visual art probably more often arises from elements of design, whereas my poetry, which like my visual art, comes from both places, more often arises from an emotional place.

3. Do you use live models or do you work mostly from photographs? Is there a tangible advantage to either?

My current medium is digital compositing (digital collage or sorts) (and straight digital/straight photography (&poetry)) rather than drawing or painting, I don't use live models in the sense that you mean, but of course, I use live models for the photos from which I composite (create digital colleges). I have drawn from live models (as well as modeled myself) and found that the ability to examine them more closely and from different angles was helpful. Photos are more convenient and can be revisited over a longer period of time!

4. I work full time at a "day job" but am trying to create a cohesive body of work. How do you organize yourself and stay on track with your works-in-progress? What suggestions would you have for a novice trying to put together their first body of work to present to the art market?

I am not an organized person (I have ADHD!), but since I work with digital media, the computer helps me organize my work. Also, having an artblog and website helps. I create one piece at a time when I have time and they just pile up. Voila—a collection of work!

5. Do you think awareness and following of the "art scene", national or otherwise, is necessary in order to become a successful, well-represented artist? Do you think artworks need to be slanted toward what is in demand?

I am afraid I cannot do justice to this question, as I am not a "successful" or "famous" or well-represented artist. I've been required all my life to work another job. However, I do get invited to show when I have done nothing to solicit that opportunity, so I have some representation.

I have such a busy life that I only pursue those aspects of the art scene that are readily available and interest me. I go to local shows and galleries (and others when I travel) and visit art blogs and websites. I follow leads and threads and do some networking with other artists. I read or browse art books when I have time. I find this intercourse interesting, educational, invigorating and inspiring. I often get ideas from other work, or the stimulation that sets me off learning some new technique.

I do what I like to do, what interests and excites me. I have no idea what is in demand. However, I don't sell a lot of art, so my approach is not lucrative. But it is satisfying to me, and that is why I do art. I don't make a living as an artist, so if that is your goal, you may make different choices.

Under Glass
Digital Art
47" x 32"
2006

* Mary will be getting married in 3 days and her last name will change to Taitt. She will be moving to Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, soon.

Previous Interviews:
Juno Doran (questions by James W. Bailey)
Josh Feldman (questions by Joseph Barbaccia)
Lisa Stephenson (questions by Whitney Lynn)
Joseph Barbaccia (questions by Josh Feldman)
James W. Bailey (questions by Matt Hollis)
Matt Hollis (questions by Juno Doran)
Carol Es (questions by James Leonard)
Alexandra Silverthorne (questions by Ami Lahoff)
Christine Buckton Tillman (questions by Carol Es)
Douglas Witmer (questions by Alexandra Silverthorne)
Sky Pape (questions by Douglas Witmer)
Whitney Lynn (questions by Lisa Stephenson)
Heather Levy (questions by Joanne Greenbaum)
Heather Lowe (questions by Samantha Wolov)
Samantha Wolov (questions by Heather Levy)
Timothy McClellan (questions by Heather Lowe)
James Leonard (questions by Sky Pape)
Joanne Greenbaum (questions by Timothy McClellan)
Richard Kooyman (questions by Robert Walton)
Candy Keegan (questions by Warren Craghead)
Robert Walton (questions by Candy Keegan)
John M. Adams (questions by Richard Kooyman)
Prescott Moore Lassman (questions by Mary Addison Hackett)
Mary Addison Hackett (questions by Prescott Moore Lassman)
Andrew Wodzianski (questions by Nathan Manuel & D.Billy)
Nathan Manuel & D.Billy (questions by Andrew Wodzianski)
Michael Janis (questions by Scott Listfield)
Scott Listfield (questions by Michael Janis)
F. Lennox Campello (questions by Sean Hennessy)
Matt Andrade (questions by Adrian Parsons)
Sean Hennessy (questions by F. Lennox Campello)
George Wayne (questions by Michelle McAuliffe)
Eridanus Sellen (questions by Anabela Jevtovic)
Anabela Jevtovic (questions by Eridanus Sellen)
Marianela de la Hoz (questions by A.B. Miner)
Martin Henry (questions by Barbara Johnson-Gresser)
A.B. Miner (questions by George Wayne)
Barbara Johnson-Gresser (questions by Martin Henry)
Adrian Parsons (questions by Matt Andrade)
Heather Schmaedeke (questions by Patricia Hartnett)
Anthony Easton (questions by Melissa Kennedy)
Roz Leibowitz (questions by Anthony Easton)
Melissa Kennedy (questions by Tracy Lee)
Michelle McAuliffe (questions by Marianela de la Hoz)
Tim Folzenlogen (questions by Jason Hanasik)
Rob Willms (questions by Dott Schneider)
Marsha Stein (questions by Gregg Chadwick)
Jason Hanasik (questions by Tim Folzenlogen)
John LeKay (questions by Rosa Naparstek)
Brock Neilson (questions by Richard Vosseller)
Rosa Naparstek (questions by Howard Salmon)
Patricia Hartnett (questions by Verta Reyes)
William Andrews (questions by Bean Gilsdorf)
Howard Salmon (questions by John LeKay)
Corey Amaro (questions by Jason Dean and Matt Nash)
Michael Grayeagle (questions by Chris Ashley)
Marion Boddy-Evans (questions by Deborah Fisher)
Richard Vosseller (questions by Brock Neilson)
Deborah Fisher (questions by Corey Amaro)
Eileen Wold (questions by Michael Grayeagle)
Rob Myers (questions by William Andrews)
Gregg Chadwick (questions by Marsha Stein)
Chris Ashley (questions by Eileen Wold)
Verta Reyes (questions by Heather Schmaedeke)
Jason Dean & Matt Nash (questions by Rob Myers)