MMCA Marketplace is excited about our newest feature.....Guest Interviews! We have had a great response and know you will enjoy reading and viewing the photos shared with each.
We start off with a name that is very familiary to the art world ~ Izabella Pierce~ from Las Vegas, NV. Bella as many call her is known as an "Outsider Artist" and inquirying minds wanted to know more about her story of being an artist. She is one of the sweetest, most generous and giving art girls on the web and we feel sure she is the same in person if you are fortunate to know her personally. Before we get to the interview questions, today is a special day for Izabella and we would like to start by wishing her a Very Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day! We know all of you have been anxiously awaiting our first interview, so let get started.....
First off I would like to thank Debbie for giving me this opportunity to share a little of my art life. I feel greatly honored!! This is a wonderful birthday present, to announce her first interview on her site, on my birthday! Thank you Debbie from the depth of my heart for allowing me to be a part of your series of artist interviews~
MP: Izabella online we know you as an "Outsider Artist". Tell us more and what defines "Outsider Art".
This is a great question but hard to define in just a few paragraphs. When I first found out about this mixed media art world a few years ago, I did not know what it was called, I just new I had to create it. I felt very alone and very unsure of my art. I started showing my friends & family my art, well, that didn't go over very well, most of them would get this glazed look in their eyes and didn't know what to say. They just didn’t “get it” so I stopped showing my work to them & went in search of other like minded souls. At that time I did find a few artists on the internet that could relate to my work. I started to sell on eBay & that was a grand success! It built my confidence level sky high when my pieces where selling for hundreds of dollars, but I still felt like I was alone in this new journey.. One day I was researching some things on the internet & I came across the definition of "Outsider Artist”, it immediately struck a cord...that was ME! An outside artist, I could finally place a name to my art "mixed media outside artist”. Wikipedia defines an outside artist as ..... "artists with little or no contact with the mainstream art world. They are frequently on the margins of society: for example, slaves, prisoners, and the mentally ill. Their creative output is referred to as Outsider Art." Although I am not mentally insane, a slave or a prisoner, I have often thought about these artists' that they are referring to. They could easily have gone insane, mostly because they didn't have other like minded souls to communicate with & lost their minds ;) Which in the beginning of my art life journey, I thought I might do the same, but thank God for the internet & finding my tribe, my art friends, for if I didn't, I surely would have lost my mind. Artists need to share & receive feedback in order to grow~ Also in my opinion Outsider Art is someone who is just trying to find a label for their work, when the art doesn't seem to fit into the mainstream, and definately I feel my work is full of raw emotion & a bit outside the box~ MP: You are also known for the Creative Souls group. Can you share how the group came to be and what your goals are for the group? The group Creative Souls came to fruition because I needed inspiration, I wanted to be surrounded with other artists that I could relate to, that I could learn from. I thought if I am wanting this, I am sure there are others out there searching for the same thing as I. I was scared to pieces to start the group as I never did anything so bold, but now it’s the most rewarding thing I have done so far in my art world. I love each & every member there. The Creative Souls group has so many amazing talented artists, the blog posts, the photo albums, the sub groups, the interaction & the meeting of new friends, continue to inspire me daily! I am so thrilled by this group especially the fact that I only sent out a few invitations in the beginning & it has grown so quickly without me promoting the site~ I highly admire everyone in this group! It's like my second family! Goals for the future of the group are for more interactive activities with the members. I mainly have wanted it to be a relaxed place for others to help promote their work, but I would also like to have more of the artists' play together with collaborative projects. Also, I, am starting Artist online interviews, the first interview is with Richard & Jane Salley. I am really excited about this new venture. As I am a very shy person, so this is pushing me to new grounds. Also looking into creating some video type interviews in the near future. There are other ideas that I am considering but will keep those under my hat for now~ I will continue to enjoying the never ending support & inspiration and look forward to this group growing with new people and new ideas. MP: What made you decide to become an artist and how old were you when you knew? Did you attend Art School or is all that talent self-taught through trial & error or does it just come naturally for you?
My journey in discovering collage began only a few years ago. I came across a magazine called "Somerset" which I had never seen before. It contained an article about an artist name Keith Lo Bue. I read that article in pure amazement; I never knew this kind of art even existed. It was the most amazing art I have ever seen! His art is eerie & hauntingly archaeological, historical, small scale assemblage/jewelry. His pieces are like "Little vapours of memories" an exact quote from Mr. Lo Bue. After viewing Keith's website, it was like an awakening for me...as if I had been in a deep slumber all these years! His art moved me to take deep reflection on life in general. I then, came to the conclusion, "I HAVE to create!" and create I did, obsessively for months almost non stop ;) Self taught through trial and error. Art does not come naturally for me, I struggle with perfection, and that hinders me from creating alot of pieces, I am very very slow at creating. But if I turn on my melancholy music, the art just flows from my fingertips~
Right now, I am deep into Photoshop, it is very difficult to figure out, but I manage to create something that amazes me every time. There is so much to learn in this program & I haven't even begun to scratch the surface, so I look forward to learning more. As for my favorite technique, I would have to say it's not so much as a technique but my signature, that I am in a constant search for pained and bittersweet vintage images, I love to use these images to invoke emotion into my work. I want my art to touch people’s soul. I receive amazing letters from people who have stumbled upon my art and been deeply affected by my art I hold these letter close to my heart.
MP: Izabella your name is everywhere, so we know you do Social Networking. How does this help you as an artist? What Social Networking would you recommend to those that have not taken the leap yet?
I am a firm believer that self promotion is key to your success! I personally "don't like" to self promote myself mostly because I am so shy, but I feel as though I am sharing little pieces of myself not really self promoting. I feel it is very important to get yourself out there, and to be able to converse with other artists’ keeps you motivated & inspired. Being involved with social networks is a must for me. Deviant Art, Facebook, MySpace, ZNE, Ning, Yahoo Groups, Flickr There are so many amazing places to meet & promote your work, its endless, you just have to keep searching until you find your tribe, the place you feel the most comfortable. I might add, ZNE was a huge influence in my beginning days. MP: Starting Creative Souls tells us an online community is important to you. Why do you feel our online contacts are important? If you don’t have a good support group near you, then online groups are essential, we HAVE to connect with our peers on all levels and the internet has endless possibilities in meeting other artists’. My online friends are my lifeline to sanity ;) I love and adore them & hope to meet each one in person some day! I am involved with a group of gals , we call ourselves “the outsider artists” there are 9 of us & we have a private group on Ning, where we just chat & share with each other, it’s our place of refuge, we have been through deaths, babies, sickness, family trauma & art lessons with each other, it’s been my saving grace at times. I love these gals. I would highly recommend getting into a small group that you can share your life events with, people that you can trust & whom you admire it will lift your spirits. MP: What advice would you give an emerging artist? It’s so important these days to follow your own heart, be your own, and find your own style. We have all been given unique fingerprints, not one is identical to another, I feel that each individual artist has their own “identity print” Sometimes it’s not a good thing to spend hours admiring other well known established artists, and this can hinder your own process. The key is to find your own & perfect it. Make your own signature, your own finger print.
MP: How do you manage your schedule? Not only are you a very active artist in the online communities you also home school your children. Do you have certain times of the day or night that you find your muse is at its best? Homeschooling is very intense & time consuming. My children come first before all things. I love to create in the night, after everyone has gone to sleep, I don’t like to be disturbed while creating. After taking care of the kids all day, I NEED some peace. Although I do have to create with my music on…I shut the door to my dungeon & let the muses take me away to that creative land~
MP: Sue Pieper wants to know, if for just one day, you could be anyone from anytime in history, who would that be?
I adore Marta Beckett, immensely!! I would have loved to be her in the 70’s when she followed her heart and found her soul in the middle of Death Valley. I am so excited to finally be able to meet her this month, this is a dream come true! She is an amazing & inspiring woman. Any artist will ab~soul~utely love her documentary, you can find it on Amazon Armgosa http://www.amazon.com/Amargosa-Marta-Becket/dp/B000JLTSBW Link to the trailer of the documentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkIS6_nIEtQ Book~ To Dance on Sands http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Sands-Death-Valleys-Becket/dp/193217334X
MP: We all want to know your secret for always maintaining an upbeat positive outlook on life?
Praying without ceasing! Is a must for me. And choosing to be around positive people is essential. I easily can get pulled under if I am not careful so I purposely strive to be around people who motivate & inspire me~
MP: Do you have any upcoming projects/books/events/etc we can look forward to seeing in the future?
I am currently finishing up a piece for a book project for Susan Tuttle’s new book, due out late next year~
Lisa Kettle’s “Art Circus” is due out anytime. My art is included in her book.
I will be concentrating more of my time on getting the “Outsider Artists” website rolling.
My newest adventure has been creating collage sheets, this has been a dream of mine & I want to thank Lynne Tears & Richard Salley for their help in this & making my little dream come true. I will be selling them in my etsy store.
This year I want to submit more of my work to magazine publications, I never have taken the time to do this, but it is a goal of mine to do this!
Also working on a book of my own ~ slowly. Not exactly art related.
MP: Is there anything you would like the art world to know about you or your art that we did not cover in our interview?
Finding art has changed my life; even though my art is dark & emotive, creating has helped me work through some things, and has made me a happier person. I HAVE to read poetry everyday, it’s my fuel I love God I adore my family I have to listen to music while I create, mostly Evanescence In 5th grade I failed art class because I covered my Barbie doll in clay; little did I know I was doing altered art way back when. Michael deMeng would be proud; he is doing something similar, an altered toy class. I am addicted to dark chocolate m & m’s!!
Izabella's work has been published in....
~Bernie Berlin’s book “Altered Art Cards Workshop”
~"Never Forgotten"(front cover) ZNE
~"Exhibition 36" by Susan Tuttle
~Another book by Susan Tuttle in late 2009
~Altered Art Circus by Lisa Kettle
Izabella’s Blue~ http://izabella.typepad.com
Creative Souls~ http://creativesouls.ning.com
Etsy~ Velvet and Rust~ http://izabellah.etsy.com
Outsider Artists~ http://outsider-artists.net/
Slideshow and You Tube courtesy of Izabella Pierce (Copyright 2009)
Izabella, all of us here at MMCA Marketplace thank you for sharing with our readers a little of what makes you the girl next door we all want to know and be friends with. We wish you all the best in all your ventures.
What an interview!
I am going to pour over this again, there is a lot to absorb. What a wonderful thing for a Isabella to share some much with us.
Thank you for this.
I feel less lonely already!
Posted by: Cindy Davis | February 2009 at 09:43 AM
wow Deb!!! You made me feel like a shining star today ;) thank you!! xo~ Bella
Posted by: Izabella | February 2009 at 11:44 AM
What a wonderful interview. I love your work and depth of soul!
Posted by: Kalliope Amorphous | February 2009 at 12:52 PM
Such a great, in depth interview! Thank you for sharing so much insight! xoxo
Posted by: andrea | February 2009 at 01:56 PM
What a wonderful interview! You've made things very clear to me concerning "outsideer art". I admire you for your creativity AND your love of God. Thank you Bella. You are a real inspiration! Besides my website, I sell on Ebay,Etsy and all the other art groups, hoping to get my art out there. My first book was published in '03, "Personal Gift Baskets." I love to write. Thanks again and God Bless you and your family. Hugs....
Posted by: Sue Larberg~GoldenTouchCrafts | February 2009 at 02:11 PM
Thanks for the inspiration to follow my own path!
Posted by: Pat | February 2009 at 02:58 PM
Wonderful interview!...Make me want to stay up tonight with my music and art (quietly!)
Izabella..you have been an inspiration for me.
xxx
Posted by: Judy Keefe | February 2009 at 05:05 PM
Happy Birthday! This was such a terrific Interview! Izabella I sent you a gift it is in your Etsy e-mail!
Posted by: Anitra | February 2009 at 06:06 PM
Very nice interview! You have added a lot to the art world.
Posted by: Claudia | February 2009 at 09:38 PM
Very Proud of you dear Izabella, your interview was interesting , I am so thrilled to be your art friend. God bless you always !
Posted by: jann clark | February 2009 at 11:48 PM
A great interview Izabella, I loved reading about what inspires you and how you started. I just wanted to thank you for asking me to join your Creative Souls website. Clare (Altered Moments)
Posted by: Clare | February 2009 at 05:26 AM
Terrific interview!
Posted by: Michael Van Vlymen | February 2009 at 06:57 AM
I found you and your art through Sue Pieper and boy am I glad! Awesome and inspiring. I wish I could be as brave and bold with my art! Great interview... I like to get to know the artist behind the art. I will keep my eye out for you from now on!
Posted by: Dieverdog | February 2009 at 09:02 AM
A great interview with one of my most favorite artists. You are an inspiration, Izabella - never stop creating your incredible soul-grabbing art...xo
Posted by: Peggi Meyer Graminski | February 2009 at 09:06 AM
Bella you are God's amazing gift to this world, and my heart!!
May you stay forever young and embrace always everything that is lovely, true and good!! Thank you for all you so freely share, and Birthday Blessings dear one!!!
xo abigail
Posted by: rusted wings | February 2009 at 11:11 AM
Anyone reading this interview can see why I so adore Izabella - as an artist and as a friend. She is truly AMAZING! She is a generous and inspirational soul and the world is a far better place because of her. Her art is addictive! Kudos to you, Bella!
Posted by: Deborah Bohm Widup | February 2009 at 06:33 PM
What a great interview! & might I add A Happy Belated Birthday Bella..Congrat's on your first online interview.. You have inspired me for years, and a truly an amazing artist.
Thank you Izabella for your gift of inspiration, creating your website creative souls.. I'm inspired everyday..
Always Belladonna
Posted by: Belladonna | February 2009 at 02:59 AM
A lovely interview, Bella. You were right about finding "your tribe". That's how I feel about Creative Souls; a wonderful feel-good place, full of kind and encouraging people. All thanks to you!
Jo x
Posted by: Joanne Archer | February 2009 at 04:31 AM
Yay, Bella! Hearty Congrats on a grand interview & belated birthday!
Posted by: ArtSnark | February 2009 at 10:13 AM
Great interview. I am so happy to learn more about Izabella. And what a great birthday gift you gave to her Debbie.
Posted by: Seth | February 2009 at 12:08 AM
What a wonderful interview with Bella! She is such a sweetie and a dear dear friend. I'm sorry I'm so late reading here.
Posted by: Judy Keefe | May 2009 at 08:43 AM
okay, I super late reading this, but what a great interview my friend. You are such a love and inspiration. I am so glad to call you my friend.
love you.
Posted by: joanna pierotti | June 2009 at 09:58 PM
Genisis 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
Posted by: Heidi Finden | April 2010 at 07:47 PM
oops: Gen 1:31
Posted by: Heidi Finden | April 2010 at 07:51 PM
So awesome reading about you!!! Great interview Bella!!
Posted by: Jillian | April 2010 at 08:49 PM