Thursday, February 23, 2017

DPW Spotlight Interview: MB Warner

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win MB's painting, "Sides" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From MB's DPW Gallery:

I love to paint. I will try to paint just about anything. I am a photographer turned printmaker turned painter. I live in Steamboat Springs, CO and work out of my solar powered - off grid studio. I love to do commission work - kids - pets - cars etc. I carry my camera at all times - every painting produced has a story. I'm drawn to ordinary everyday stuff. That's it for now. Thanks for taking a look and drop me a line sometime. (click to view gallery)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I've been painting for over 20 years, but I didn't paint seriously until 2012.

My BFA is in photography and printmaking. My MFA was in printmaking with a mixed media focus.  It's embarrassing to mention my art degrees, but my school experience really shaped who I am today. I'm passionate about painting - passionate about most things - all thanks to my liberal art education.

Painting occurred much later after the desire to pull more than one print fell away. The years of photography and printmaking were great, but it was time to make some changes to producing art. Painting was a natural progression.

Sides
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing MB's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

The list is pretty endless. I created all the stained glass windows in my house. I was a member of a glass blowing studio - a clay studio - and I had my own photography and printmaking studio. This summer, after much thought, I finally gave away my etching press, all my supplies and tools, acrylic paints, etc. to the local high school. Oil painting is my primary focus.

When did you start painting seriously?

In 2012, I left my adjunct teaching post at CMC (Colorado Mountain College) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, my home. I missed teaching and I really missed the KIDS! I was searching for a teaching replacement and I discovered Daily Paintworks. I started following the work of Carol Marine and Karin Jurick, they inspired me to make a move. I realized that, over time, I had never really devoted myself to one art technique. I learned a lot over the years, but it was time to focus and get proficient at one thing - it was time to paint! You could say Carol and Karin saved me from some mediocre - hum drum - existence after leaving CMC. On Wednesday, November 7, 2012 I started my blog by painting 100 paintings in one hundred days - the rest is history.

Space Station
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I'm working on a new series of paintings titled "Less is More". The paintings are 3" X 3". Little jewels of color, texture and form. We'll see how far it goes and where it takes me.

Who or what inspires you most?

WOW! That's a loaded question. Inspiration can be as mundane as the light falling on my kitchen sink and the reflections on the dishes, glasses and faucet. It doesn't take much for my mind to wander. Inspiration is everywhere - really!

Everything's Better with Butter

What does procrastination look like for you?

Biting my nails and fretting. It's a sad state of affairs.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I have a wonderful, off grid studio on top of a mountain. There is no place I'd rather be. It's not hard for me to make time to paint. It's much harder to do the laundry, wash the dishes and vacuum. Painting is my life.

George
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I get a lot of exercise. In the summer, I ride my bike 20 to 30 miles every day. It's not city biking. It's wide open country filled with barns, cows, ranches, mountains and no traffic.  In the winter, I ski. The National Forest is my backyard. I hike up and ski down and hope to see some elk or a moose on the way. Endorphins are my friend. If I don't get outside, my mind doesn't work correctly.

How do you keep art "fresh"?

I paint a little bit of everything. Figures, still life, landscape, etc. I find it debilitating to paint only one particular idea. I need variety of subjects to keep it all going.

Back to the Future
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art?

Sharing the joy of painting. I'm mentoring a painter right now; her name is Missy Borden and it's pure joy to be able to share and exchange art ideas with a passionate young artist.

Lastly I'd like to thank David, Carol, Sophie and all of the DPW artist members. You guys really make my day. I love all the comments and the emails. I couldn't keep painting without all the support. You guys rock. Paint on!

Thanks, MB!

© 2017 Sophie Marine

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