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Q&A

Below are my responses to common questions I receive about my artwork. Please feel free to submit your questions through my Contact Page, or to email me at cosmiccreaturesart@gmail.com. I will respond as soon as possible.
 
1) Do you accept requests?
Yes, I do! You can send your requests to me via email at cosmiccreaturesart@gmail.com. Upon receipt of your request, I will assess the project, ensure that I have enough detail to proceed, and accept or decline as necessary. It is important to me to achieve what the client is seeking, so I often ask follow-up questions. My rate is $15/hour.
 
2) Where do you find your inspiration?
I am easily inspired by a number of things, such as children's stories, theater performances, animals (including my cat!), and art I see on various social media platforms. However, my biggest inspiration comes from walking around New York and observing other people. The city is full of various personalities, and I often find myself looking at someone and thinking, "Wow, they remind me of a(n) (insert animal)". Before I know it, I am back in my apartment, drawing that creature! Of course, as my works come to life, I add to them and make them more fantastical and whimsical.
 
3) What is the idea behind Cosmic Creatures?
Apart from being a creative outlet for me, Cosmic Creatures has a very deep, spiritual meaning. I am a strong believer in the concept of oneness and the notion that we originate from the same source. I trust that we are sharing this life together for a reason. Cosmic Creatures is a plea to respect our natural world and the wonder that comes with it. 
My work is also a way to spread confidence. It is a suggestion that we are as fantastic as we want to be. I believe that individuals create their own reality. We have the potential to do so much more than we give ourselves credit for. In that vein, a fox who knits or a snowshoeing duck is not as far from reality as one might originally think.
Confidence and self-manifestation is an especially important message to communicate to children, particularly in this society, which is often constricting, oppressive, and dividing. My main purpose in creating is to uplift, provide joy, and remind people to believe in themselves and their abilities. We are one with the cosmos and we are each truly marvelous beings. We should respect each other as such!
 
4) Did you study art formally in school?
I was an English Literature Major in college and a Religious Studies Minor. I was always taking art classes and/ or doing art on the side in my free time. In high school and college, I studied Drawing, Painting, and Photography consistently. I also took more alternative courses, including Book Arts, which challenged me to combine my English Literature major with my creative aspirations. I have studied art at Kenyon College and New York University, and I continue to take illustration and writing courses in New York.
 
5) Can you describe your creative process?
My creative process depends on what I am working on! If I am creating for Cosmic Creatures, I tend to be quite an instinctual creator. I focus less on planning, and instead trust what comes to me intuitively. I deem these projects more "discovery-based", since I learn about my characters as the works progress. I often feel like my characters and their personalities were all there to begin with and I am just the channel to create them. This is partly why I am so spiritual-- I see art as a form of divine inspiration, so I try to follow those messages as much as possible.
If I am working for a client, my style is much more precise and detail-focused. I maintain my colorful palette and whimsical ambiance where appropriate, and I make numerous sketches and develop a firm idea and concept before jumping into creation. It feels more mathematical to me, but I do enjoy combining my various "mind maps" and seeing it all come together.
 
6) What is your advice to aspiring artists and creative individuals generally?
Just jump into it! Art is a gift. It awakens the creative, spiritual side of ourselves that is alive in childhood, and it is one of the most important talents we can pursue in adulthood. I truly believe that art helps individuals mentally and psychologically. I know for certain that it helps my memory retention, for example. I think the most important thing is to listen to yourself and trust your intuition. Developing that self-trust and believing in your own inherent power to create is critical.
Obviously, marketing is also a large piece of being an artist. You can either have fun with it or not, so I try to have fun. If you are enjoying yourself, your audience probably is too! Professionalism is always important, but having a good sense of humor and a pleasant nature also goes a long way.
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