Post 3: Interviews from Under the Influence Series on Art forum - Rachel Birtwistle

Going through the interviews, many of the artists had similar answers to the questions being asked. When it came to what influenced them as an artist, many of the artists had very personal and specific instances that pushed them to do what they do. From surviving Y2K to having the support of their mother from before they knew they wanted to be an artist inspired them to explore the world of the arts. The most important teacher question had essentially one answer that made the teacher so influential which was that they showed them a different perspective and way of thinking about situations. Other artists that influenced them were very different. Some of the individuals being interviewed were inspired by Picasso and Goya to David Hammons. Their favorite artworks also seemed to have influence in their work. Some artists were enamored by Picasso’s graphic work and still lifes of Chardin that allowed them to aim for different aesthetics in their work. Their favorite museums were also vastly different ranging from a Studio Museum in Harlem to The Metropolitan Museum. When it came to critiques, most of the artists did not receive good advice. Many of them were advised to stay away from their initial ideas that made them unique artists, but they ended up following their intuition and they were better for it. The artist's advice to aspiring artists also turned out to be alike. They each said something along the lines of trusting yourself as an artist and doing what you think is right for what you want to express. While watching these interviews, I started to reflect on myself as an artist. Many of the questions that were asked, I never thought of an answer to until now:

Is there an experience that influenced you to become an artist?

“When I was a child, my aunt encouraged me to do art projects with her and that sparked my interest in creating. My mom was the one who fed my interest and confidence in the subject. They turned me into the artist I am today.”

Who was your most important teacher?

“My most important teacher was probably my senior year art teacher. I had just started experimenting and practicing more with drawing and he praised the work I did, while allowing me to want to grow more in the field.”

Which artist has most Influenced you?

“I was never really influenced by other artists. Mostly, I saw things around me and used experiences in my life to influence my work, but I really enjoy the dark works of Goya and the surrealist works of Dali.”

What is your favorite artwork?

“My favorite art artwork would probably be Saturn Devouring His Son by Franciso Goya. I enjoy its erie nature and how it makes you think.”

What is your favorite museum?

“The only art museum I have been to is the MOMA, and I was not particularly a fan of it. I would like to visit the MET, but I mostly like history museums that contain fossils and the occasional art work.

What other creative fields/disciplines have influenced you?

“I am heavily inspired by music. I think lyrics allow one to think more deeply about things and can also make you see situations or artistic problems with a new perspective.”

Have you ever made a choice that was influenced by a person's critique or feedback?

“When it comes to designing, I often take criticism to heart and it makes me experiment more with designs even if I end up going back to my original idea.”

What advice would you give to an aspiring artist?

“I would tell an aspiring artist to not stray far from who they are. Not all artists have to act like the “typical artist,” because not every artist is the same.”

What do you think your influence has been as an artist?

“I am more influenced by my experiences and the experiences of the artists I work with. It is inspiring to see other people turn their trauma and unique experiences into music, and I enjoy making visuals for those words and experiences.”

Interview: Le’Andra LeSeur by Ksenia M. Soboleva / BOMB Magazine 

1. What inspired LeSeur? Compare what motivates you to create meaning. 

LeSeur is inspired by making people think with her art work. She enjoys creating things that connect with personal experiences and identity. The symbolism of a body is often used as a medium for her work. It creates a more intimate experience and allows people to visualize themselves in her work. This is similar to what motivates me to create work, because I enjoy making people contemplate what they think my work means. 

2. How does your choice of material, process, aesthetic, content, etc. reinforce your message?

I believe leaving my process mysterious allows the viewer to come up with their own interpretations of my work. The materials I use, such as paint and digital art, have a mostly neutral feel to them which also allows consumers of my work to focus on the content of the piece. The aesthetic and content reinforces my message by combining both chaos and minimalism. This leaves a lot of negative space while also feeding a lot of visual information to the consumer. With this technique, I am allowing the viewer to focus on what they find more appealing and engaging with the piece in whatever way is most comfortable for them.