Artists Interview Artists: Jennie Rosenbaum

Jennie Rosenbaum, an artist from Melbourne, Australia, participates in the Artists Interview Artists Project. Below Jennie responds to another artist's five questions (Jesus de la Rosa from McAllen, TX). In order to participate, Jennie had to provide me with five questions for some other artist to answer. The assigning of questions to artists is completely random.

Spirit
Oil on Canvas
31" x 20"
2006

1. Is art making important to your health or well being, why or why not?

Very much, I credit my painting with helping me recover and get on with my life after a debilitating injury and chronic pain. When I paint, all worries and pain disappear and I live in the moment. I tend to get very moody if I don't paint in fact, so much so that my husband frequently orders me into my studio - He always knows when I need to paint, it's like an addiction.

2. How or when dose a painting become art and not craft, and what is the difference between the two?

To me, it is emotional content that bridges the gap to art. a piece that the viewer can empathize with and gain some feeling from. If I can create a link with myself as the artist and the viewer then I consider the piece a successful work of art.

3. Why do you think others (non artists) should care about our art practice?

I deal with non-artists a lot and find they appreciate the mystery of the piece. I prefer to share small stories about the paintings or about myself rather than telling them about what blends I use and the techniques involved. I find that a little information helps the non-artist appreciate the works more, but too much can put them off the piece. They seem to be more interested in the artist, to give them background to the work, than to the practice of creating.

4. Why do you continue pursuing an artistic practice and what would make you stop?

I work hard at my art because I feel like half a person if I stop. I keep falling in love with it and my subjects over and over. I stopped once and everything was gray and dull around me - nothing could ever make me go through that again. It's a hard career but it is my pleasure to work long hours to make it a success.

5. Do you look forward to the act of art making or the final product?

The act of creating is an organic process and I love the smells, the feel of paint, the mess and even the little frustrations, the moment of irritation when a piece isn't working, the joy of getting a small section just right, the feeling of bliss when the piece comes together with one tiny change, and the zen like state when it is just the piece and me and the pure sensation of creating.

After painting I love the moment when I see the finished work, and I do allow myself time to appreciate it, blog about it, and hear other reactions to the piece, but I am usually already focussing on the next painting, pose or feeling. I need to allow myself to appreciate the finished work more.

Silf
Acrylic and Gesso on Canvas
36" x 24"
2006

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)
Mary Taitt (questions by Adriane Giberson)
Adriane Giberson (questions by Peter Ferko)
Peter Ferko (questions by Amethyst Begley)
Susan Schwake-Larochelle (questions by Jean Hutter)
Jean Hutter (questions by Mary Stebbins Taitt)
Amethyst Begley (questions by Kimberley Lindsley)
Kimberley Lindsley (questions by Susan Schwake-Larochelle)
Prem Singh (questions by Alison Rose)
Erin Antognoli (questions by Karen Winters)
Denis Peterson (questions by Andrea Pratt)
Jennifer Seymour (questions by Erin Antognoli)
Imants Ozers (questions by Denis Peterson)
Mark Malmgren (quesntions by Fiona Ross)
Remi Viger (questions by Brady Hegberg)
Fiona Ross (questions by Susan Constanse)
Susan Constanse (questions by Remi Viger)
Amie Oliver (questions by Christin Ciaccio Briggs)
Christin Ciaccio Briggs (questions by Dawn Whetzel)
Tara Krause (questions by Cathy Breslaw)
Dawn Whetzel (questions by Tara Krause)
Warren Craghead (questions by John M. Adams)
Dwayne Butcher (questions by Miguel Avila)
Zachary Stadel (questions by Walter Logeman)
Miguel Ángel Ávila (questions by Mark Creegan)
Walter Logeman (questions by Dwayne Butcher)
Mark Creegan (questions by Zachary Stadel)

Comments

[John]

Good choice to interview. Her ochre work is especially well done.