A full-time studio practice is mostly a solitary life. You work for months and years making art. In the studio you make decisions about yourself, the world, your message and your materials. A lot of the those thoughts are in your work, but some are suspended in the air to grasp at another time. Occasionally you interpret your studio experience in an artist statement, a blog or a magazine article. When the time comes, you move the art from your studio to a public venue where you speak to others about it. Then you leave your art, imbued with a visual vocabulary that you have created to communicate with the viewer in your absence. Everything else is left behind in your studio. It’s all very tidy. Then one morning Catherine Nash comes to your door with a video camera, still camera and her husband, photographer Robert Renfrow to explore the nooks and crannies of your studio and your head for her upcoming book Authentic Visual Voices: CP&E. (Contemporary Paper & Encaustic)- a working title.
Yesterday Catherine Nash and Robert Renfrow were, indeed, in my studio to interview me for Authentic Visual Voices: CP&E. Contemporary Paper & Encaustic. While I usually prefer to be cloistered in my studio, I had the best day with Catherine and Robert.
I would rather be behind the camera, than in front, but I survived. The warm, wonderful and gracious Catherine Nash immediately put me at ease. Her questions were well researched and insightful, which made my job easier. My only regret is that I did not get to hear more about her extraordinary coast to coast journey to the other artist studios. I am honored to be included in this remarkable project. I eagerly await the publication of Authentic Visual Voices: CP&E. Contemporary Paper & Encaustic.
Thanks for these great photos of the interviewing couple and for your responses to their visit, Marybeth. I’m glad you survived and even had fun. Your studio looks great and I’m looking forward so much to Catherine’s book. It should be just fabulous given Catherine, her wonderful interviewees and all the great work she is documenting.
Thanks Nancy. Catherine and Robert made it work.
Good stuff! Congrats on the work, the interview, the book, and what comes out of your studio and your head!
Hi Marybeth, I finally have sat every night this week and watched the videos in Catherine Nash’s ebook and I watched yours last night. I really enjoyed hearing about your work and how you came to use your photos. The painting of your son is so powerful. Thank you for sharing your story and thank you to Catherine for such a wonderful project that she has shared with everyone!