Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Marcia Beckett

Hello beautiful, you're looking lovely today (yes I can see you...in your paint-stained pajama bottoms, that look exactly like mine =D tee hee). I've been so tired the last couple of days that I haven't managed to even doodle so much as a scribble, so I'm very happy TAT's here because I need some motivation, I need some inspiration, I need some drive to make me customize my pajamas with another stylish stain & even more than that, with some pride. Paint-stained pajamas are too good to wear when just looking at the tv, when fussing the pup or answering some emails. Paint stained pajamas need some respect, they need some artsy time in the form of an artist interview and then some arting love...so I, or more specifically Marcia, is going to help with part one, then part two's on you (and me too!) to go fulfill our artistic potential for today...even if its just that scribble =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.

Hi! Thanks, Jenny for interviewing me for your blog. I am a 33 year old mixed media artist living in Madison, WI and an elementary art teacher for students in grades K-6 at a gifted and talented school. The children are really, really smart but are just like other kids in the sense that they love to get their fingers messy in art class! I am married with one sweet 3 year old daughter, who keeps me very busy. I run a challenge and sharing blog called Artists in Blogland and I also write articles for a mixed media art magazine called Featuring. For my own personal art, I love to make mixed media collages, paint with watercolors and acrylics and work in my art journals. 

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?

It's hard to pick the biggest challenge, but since I work full-time teaching I have limited time to make my own art. Weekends and summers are the best times for me to focus on artmaking. Also, like many people connected constantly to the internet, I face "information overload"! On one hand, it is so fun to see what everyone else is doing with their art and to connect with other people. On the other hand, it can be dangerous when you look at what everyone else is doing and start playing the comparison game. I find it very hard not to constantly compare myself to others. Also, it is hard to not be heavily influenced by other people's art and to not consciously (or subconsciously) start creating art that resembles other art you have seen. I have not been good at overcoming these challenges. I would love advice! Internet provides a lot of inspiration, but it can also hinder your progression as an artist.

What do you love most / least enjoyable about your art?

The thing I love most about making art is that it is time I can spend just for myself doing something I love. I love to collect and choose ephemera for particular collages and I love to play with the interactions between colors. Most aspects of artmaking are very enjoyable for me. I suppose the clean up and constant messiness in my basement are unenjoyable! 

Do you ever lose your mojo, and if so, how do you get it back?

For the past few years, I have not had any problems getting motivated to spend time in my art studio. It is a constant urge I have! There was a period of a couple years after college where I did not make any art for myself. Now I have made it a habit. I read art blogs, books and magazines and watch tutorials on Youtube while I am making art. I do this not for the goal of necessarily replicating the techniques, but they all provide fuel for that motivation to create art. If you are stuck, I highly recommend just reading a few pages from an art book and before you can finish you will probably be ready to move on to making your own art. If you need more direct instruction to go further, take an art class. There are many good ones online. During the summers, I have taken local art classes to learn more techniques and to focus on a particular medium. Or, participate in a challenge in an online group (like Artists in Blogland.)

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

Blog for: Art Teaching , Blog for: Art Journaling & Mixed Media, 

Etsy, Twitter, Flickr

Thank you for sharing Marcia =) I love that you do art during the day with your class and then still have such a love for it you want to do it at home, that is something really special! I like your advice for starting-jumping your mojo too, I never have the computer on in my studio when I'm at my art desk because I have my back to the screen so youtube videos wouldn't be too much use while creating (plus I'd get distracted and keep turning round if I could only hear and not see lol) but I think I may try the book option...so I'm off to go pick one now, riffle through some colourful pages then get my painting (....my pajamas) =D 

Would you like to be featured on Tell All Tuesday??

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

Much love

Jennibellie