View from the Zoo

Gotta love Christine bubbles over with creativity, projects and ideas. She uses a lot of animals in her work and here are a few of my favorites. You can find her on any of her seven blogs, like  Posters with the Mosters, miss communication and Pizza Doing Stuff. She  loves pizzas, poetry and music. 

Q : You seem to be overflowing with ideas and art and stuff. Seven blogs, no less! How do you do it?

A : Oh my gosh, I have 7 blogs?! Hahaha. I actually have around 12 but those are secret, secret blogs about very secret things. Hmm. I don’t know  how I do it. It can be difficult updating everything all the time so I usually stay consistent with my lovechristine and dahgblahg blogs, the others when I get a chance or there are developments. But, I definitely have an abundant stream flooding my mind all the time of ideas/pictures/music/etc….  I also do so many things like play and write music ( many instruments), writing, paint, photography, fashion design,  comics,  speak and learn languages, etc…

Q : Did you go to art school?  

A : I taught myself everything. I did go on and off to a couple of schools but I was too restless to stay for very long and I focused on language and english classes. The art classes I had, I usually just did my own thing. At a very early age I learned that if I wanted something, I’d have to teach myself how to do it or make it, and it just so happened that I was interested in a ton of things.  When I was 22 I was the head designer of a fashion company! I didn’t go to school for it, but, when the opportunity came my way, I said yes and then spent a lot of time on google (haha), asking around, and reading a ton of books really quickly.

Q : Where do you get inspired?

A : By everything.  I’m always looking, listening, smelling, feeling: sensing my world around me. I love watching people so that is probably why my work has a very human emotion to it even though I use animals and objects. Because I work in different areas of design (fashion, textile, web, etc.) I’m always bombarded with different things. But, I think, the most important is sticking to what inspires you ( not the trends) and what you are interested in, because that’s where you’ll see the truth of your work shining through.

Q: Do you like animals, and how come there are so many in your posters?

A: I guess I do love animals! I like drawing animals more than people because its just so funny finding ways to give them subtle facial expressions, humanizing them. I feel more free with animals and objects than with people, in their shapes and colors and the kind of abstract representation of us in them. Not only do posters make my art more public, I’m also working with design at the same time. I love typography, graphic design, and  music so it’s just the perfect way to mash them all up together.

With this kind of energy, how can you not love Christine?

This tall image is actually a collection of photos of dog and cat tails! Sharon Montrose, prolific animal photographer, from Los Angeles, California has published nine books so far with her photos of cats and dogs. I love her whimsical take on her animal portraits and her unusual croppings.

Q: Besides your professional practice as a commercial photographer, you have published a number of books. Where do you find the time to work on them?

A: Strangely, I have been able to pace myself with the books even though I’ve had 9 published in 7 years. Because I love what I do, I don’t see it as work. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I get really slammed and long for balance — but with the help of my husband (who does a lot of the work behind the scenes), we make it work.

Q: How would you define your creative vision?

A: I have a hard time answering questions about my creative process and vision because I basically shoot what I feel — almost like I have no choice. I’ve never really been able to intellectualize my work.

Q: What inspires you as a creative professional?

A: My dogs inspire me to no end. Being humble inspires me. Being unaffected and true to oneself inspires me. Art inspires me. Design inspires me. Music inspires me. Nature inspires me.

Q: What made you choose animals and kids as a focus, as opposed to fashion or food photography?

A: I assisted a fashion/celebrity photographer for three years, so I pretty much knew I didn’t want to go that route! When I became confused as to my focus I started photographing dogs to clear my head – and I’ve never looked back!

Q: What is your latest project?

A: I’ve always got shoots going on for my corporate clients which is a different job and focus every time, but I’m also continuing to work on my animal series.

Q: Anything else?

A: I always have a few things rattling around in my head…. More animals of course!.

You can see more of Sharon’s work on her website and her blog. Her unique animal prints can be purchased at her Etsy shop.

More great news! My designs are now available as greeting cards, business cards and stickers on moo.com, a dynamic young printing company based in London, England. You choose the designs you want, mine (preferably), someone else’s (I am in very good company) or even your own (your travel photos, for example), drop and crop them on the products you want and place your order.  I love the quality of their printing, their range of products and their choice of artists (besides me!). Even the packaging of the cards are neat.

This cat is a summer creation by my friend Ronna who created him during a folk art workshop with her friends. Made up of leftover bits and pieces of wood and hardware, his name is Google, as in googly eyes. See the process on her blog on July 22nd. Great job, Ronna!

And look at this cute tea set, painted by Ronna. Who wouldn’t want to share cookies with these cats?