09 July 2009
I am very lucky to have a dear friend who is also a talented and emerging artist. Since the spring we met four years ago, I have never known her not to be creating art in some form … whether it be something as simple as homemade bread or a knitted scarf or something more complex: her paintings.
Gina Pruette has a remarkable gift for seeing the beauty in the material objects that fill our lives everyday. Often we are oblivious to the ways they touch us, shape us, mold us, what they might say about us, but Gina is not oblivious to their power and uses them as the focal points of her paintings. As she reveals in her Artist Statement,
"Innumerable stories dust the surfaces of these objects we create, use, and discard through daily life. My goal as an artist is to capture these stories and to reveal their power and beauty to others."
Since Gina began her Block Series last year -- a series of still life oil paintings dedicated to the study of objects that her daughter used in play -- I have been swept in by her rendering of these objects (blocks, balls, teacups) and prompted to think more deeply about the fundamental themes of who we are and how we play and how play (and the objects of play) shape our identity from infancy onward. As Gina says so eloquently,"We navigate early childhood as empty vessels, looking for ways to fill ourselves with essential information about our world and the codes that govern our civilization. Ultimately, blocks, balls, and other playtime toys shape our understanding of what it means to be human."
Needless to say, I have been wanting to introduce Gina to you for some time now, because whether we are writers, photographers, musicians, or dancers, we are all artists and can learn much from one another.
I asked her a few months ago if she would agree to an interview, and she delightfully agreed. So, without further ado, here are the details of that lovely chat, with some glimpses of a few of the lovely still lifes she has completed, and of which more can be found at her site: www.ginapruette.com. Please feel free to comment and ask any questions you have of Gina, as well.
You have a rich background in art that includes formal training in studio art and art history, and you have also been employed by and volunteered for various arts-related non-profits over the years. How did your decision to pursue painting on a more active level come about?
I think that, like other vocations, the creative life tends to find you rather than the other way around. I have been painting for as long as I can remember and I grew up in a family of artists and art lovers, so the question I wrestled with over the years wasn’t really if but when to pursue it as a career. Shortly after Stella was born I knew I was ready.
As a relatively new mom, how do you find (or create) the time to paint?
I prioritize painting over other interests. There’s enough time for everything in life if we strip away the non-essential clutter of existence and throw ourselves into the things that really give our lives meaning. I paint whenever I can. I paint when Stella’s at preschool, during grandparent visits, nap time, evenings, weekends when my husband is entertaining her. I often research and plan new projects during snack time. Stella and I have even started sketching together!
What has inspired you the most in watching Stella's play?
Her enjoyment of process over outcomes. Stella loves to stack blocks, shovel sand, pick flowers … but she has little interest in standing back to admire her new tower or hole or bouquet. The act of engaging with her world is more important than any prize or achievement. What a beautiful way to live! What has been most gratifying for you, especially as your work has garnered more attention and come to the awareness of so many more people around you?
One of my friends in college was an accomplished poet, and she described to me how she saw the world in words. She would walk down the street and hear “grass” and “pavement” before she ever really registered those things visually. My language is color. I walk down the street and sense greens, blues, neutrals, etc. before anything else. I think people each have their own language they use to understand the world and communicate with others. So, the most gratifying experience for me as an artist is the knowledge that I have been able to convey my ideas to others through my medium.
What are your future goals as an artist? What are some of the other areas you would like to explore? Scale is the new frontier for my art. I work in restricted studio space at present and producing larger scale pieces has some practical issues. However, I’m working through different options for opening the door to scale and hope to have some oversized pieces ready for exhibition this summer. My goals are to continue to increase exposure for my work and to impact as many people as possible.
When you not being a wife, mom, daughter, friend or artist, who are you? Tired! Seriously, I can’t imagine my life without wearing one of those hats at any given time.
What makes you laugh? Very dry humor and the absurd. Between my husband and daughter I have no shortage of laughter throughout the day!
When do you feel cherished? I love when my family and friends share their art with me.
If you were to choose 5 physical artifacts that represent who you are, what would you choose? (These can be jewelry, photos, a book, clothing, food products, found objects,…anything physical.)
Raw umber
Grass-stained jeans
Sand dollar
The Wrath of Khan
Champagne
If you could give your 20-year old self some advice, what would it be? What would you tell her? Study less, sketch more.
If you enjoyed this interview today, you can learn more about Gina and see more of her paintings at www.ginapruette.com or in her new book Portraits of Play . You are also welcome to leave Gina a comment here, where she will respond over the next few days.
Namaste and peace to all of you,
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5 comments:
What a lovely interview! As an art lover, I really enjoyed learning more about this artist. It was great to have an insider's look into her thoughts. I think the advice she would have given her 20-year-old self was great: "Study less, sketch more." I would have to say I would offer my younger self the same advice, though it would probably be more along the lines of "Drink less, write more." Thanks for sharing this great interview on your site! :)
Thanks to both of you. I love windows onto other worlds, the chance to meet people I wouldn't otherwise have met, and the generosity of those who showcase friends and folk who've inspired them.
I love the texture of the shell painting, the colours of the first and the beautiful description of children's love of process rather than results. I also loved the scary but passionate honesty about how you put your art before so many other things.
I used to paint. Did art right through school and uni,and painted a lot over in Greece and Portugal. I adored it but gave up when we had kids. Lack of space and time coupled with exhaustion dimmed the desire. (No grandparents around to help.)Even then there was a voice inside saying,someday...someday... but it's fading as the kids' lives expand and mine contracts.
Thanks for introducing me to such a wonderful artist! I love the colors and the textures...very nice work!
positively present...I like your version of the 20-year-old self advice, too! Thanks for reading CG's interview with me. I've enjoyed sharing my art and thoughts on play with her many interesting fans!
janice...I also think it's exciting to meet new people through "windows onto other worlds" like CG's wonderful site. I'm glad that you enjoy the texture and colors of my paintings...these are the main tools I use to bring an expressive quality to my art. And, yes, there are certainly some trade-offs when you decide to prioritize art over other parts of your life. As you mention, as a mother it's very difficult to find the time and energy to paint in the midst of family life, and also it's sometimes difficult to devote some of that precious free time to an activity that doesn't always produce results! I spend as much time fixing, scrapping, and starting over paintings as I do finishing them. I have to remember to celebrate the process and let the results arrive at their own pace. The more time I spend with my daughter the more I value this approach to life. I hope you find the energy, time, and inspiration to pick up your brushes again soon.
Jay...thank you for the kind words about my art. Color and texture are wonderful tools to bring life to a painting and mastery of them is my life's pursuit as an artist.
@Gina: Thank you so much for the lovely interview and for being open to meeting and interacting with the lovely readers who come here. You've supported me constantly, and it's a joy to be able to do the same for you. I hope it draws more people to your creative work.
@PP: Gina's wonderful isn't she? I liked the advice to her 20-year-old self, too.
@Janice: So glad that you enjoyed this post, Janice. One of the reasons I love your blog is because you frequently showcase others. I would like to do the same here. I enjoyed the texture of Gina's shell painting very much, too, and am looking forward to seeing more new works as they're revealed.
@Jay: So glad you liked the post, Jay. Thank you for stopping by today.
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