Today's Artist Interview is with Debbie (Price-Ewen) - aka "Debrina" from New Zealand, the "Governess" and various other pseudonyms. Debs is a mixed media artist but also loves to paint. Her other jobs include being a mum to her son Jason (born 2008) and a librarian (where she can get all the inspiration she needs from her books!). She also loves writing and reading poetry, trading atc's, writing letters to random people and including a bit of art in and on the envelope, her witchy house and garden, cooking, sewing, knitting, and any other domestic goody yum yum pursuits...
Artwork courtsey of the artist and can be clicked to enlarge for viewing details.
MP: How do you describe yourself as an artist?
DPE (my real name is Debbie Price-Ewen): Very fluid and open to experimenting. I like to begin a project with an “idea” that evolves. I love the process as much as the end-result.
MP: Describe your creative space.
DPE: Large but cramped because I collect a lot of stuff.
MP: Is there any time of day that you find you are the most creative? Do you try to schedule studio time or do you p refer to follow the muse?
DPE: All day is creative time for me! Well, that’s the ideal, but as you know from reading the day in the life of Debrina, mornings are the best, then night if I am desperate to get into the studio.
MP: What are three words that your fellow art fans would use to describe you and your art?
DPE: I’m scouring my blog for some adjectives…hang on a minute…
Right, here we go: earthy, evocative and awesome He he…that’s me!
MP: As an artist, we have many roles, which do you find to be the most rewarding and which the most challenging for you?
DPE: I love art blogging – it is my most satisfying and rewarding role as an artist. I think the artist network on blogger is one of the most amazing, generous communities I belong to. I have made so many friends around the world and have participated in many swaps and collaborations. My greatest source of inspiration, in turn, is from fellow artist’s blogs.
My most challenging role has been that of a mother/artist. As a new mum (well not so new now) my two year old places huge demands on my time. Sometimes I feel guilty if I want to just escape to the studio! However, I get frazzled if I don’t get in there, which in turn makes me a frazzled mum. I think this role, particularly for women artists, has always been a challenge. I remember seeing the most amazing video on YouTube about that once. Let’s see if I can find it (can you tell I’m also a full-time librarian?)…hang on one mo….
Yes, here it is: http://www.whodoesshethinksheis.net/
When I saw that video, I threw my hands up in the air and went “Yes, halleluiah!” I don’t have to feel guilty anymore.
MP: How do you manage to get in your social networking time?
DPE: Late at night usually; I can only manage once a week; sometimes twice, but that’s very rare.
MP: When you’re not working, how do you spend your time?
DPE: I like to art first then read (I’m traditionally a big reader) and I love to exercise whenever I can. Exercise before I art is ideal; the latest research from Aberdeen and Leeds Universities proves that students in schools perform better at tests, etc. after they’ve exercised. Oops, that was the librarian in me again, sorry!
MP: Is there anything you would like the art world to know about you that we did not cover in our interview?
DPE: Um, well, I have this odd liking for teeny tiny things and I like to probe around in people’s minds for stories. If you were ever lucky enough to be interrogated by me, don’t be offended; I’m just prizing open the oyster shell to get to the pearl.
To learn more about Debrina visit her blog and learn more about the Pulp Redux Project here.
Debrina, thank you for sharing with the Marketplace readers.
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This interview is courtesy of the MMCA Marketplace Blog, a
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Great to learn more about Debs. I "met" her quite a while ago and find her to be a wonderful artist & a warm and genuine person. Loved seeing so many of her pieces of art all together in this post.
Posted by: Seth | August 2010 at 09:27 PM
Thanks Seth - yes, we go a wee way back, don't we? 2008, maybe 2007, in fact? What a lovely thing to say about me. Ditto you too!
Posted by: Debrina or Debs | August 2010 at 02:35 AM
I had no idea! I've exchanged Mail Art with Debrina, whom I found through Seth, so I suppose this is just another small step for me on the creative curve. I'll try to stop by as often as I can, which sounds to me like I'll be following...
Posted by: Dave Dubé | August 2010 at 10:25 AM