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Experience Entertainment Feature Interviews Featured Artist: S. Dean Vavak
Experience Entertainment Feature Interviews Featured Artist: S. Dean Vavak | Featured Artist: S. Dean Vavak |
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By Elizabeth McPherson TCP was able to tap into the mind of this artist. Enjoy! TCP: You say on christianillustrators.com that your first love is painting and illustrating. How did you discover this love? Dean: I painted a Santa Claus on my First Grade class window and was hooked. TCP: You describe your work as being from the Impressionist and post-Impressionist schools. In what ways? Dean: I love the play of light - warm sunshine to the contrast of cool shadow. Also the painterly look of brush strokes mixing the colors on canvas: an impression of a person and not a mechanical photographic likeness. I have always loved the Impressionist movement—spontaneous, outdoor painting that captures the moment; rebelling against stuffy salon and gallery owners of their day. TCP: Do you experiment with other styles? Dean: I have tried everything from crayons to computers and will the rest of my life. I love mixing mediums and styles to see what happens. It’s way too boring to stick with just one style. One misconception of some art buyers is that artists can only be good if they stick to one style—and how boring would that be?—arrgh! TCP: What is your favorite piece of work and why? Dean: Probably any of my children's portraits. I love my children dearly and I love portraiture the best of all painting. I like the challenge of making the face come alive. Plus, those little cherub faces are all grown up now and I'm starting on my Grandchildren. TCP: How were you able to go from a 'wannabe' to a published illustrator/artist? Dean: God's Grace because it's all very meaningless without Him with you! Don't give up! Plant, plant, plant, water, water, water! The harvest will come! Over the past couple years I made the mistake of getting laxed on new business. And my years in advertising on the agency side should have taught me at least to keep planting seeds of new business. I had several consistent and long term clients whose companies were sold or people moved and the work dried up. This last year it all caught up with me. I send out inquiries monthly to at least 10-15 places. I use the Artist Market, referrals and the internet for info. In advertising the old code was 20% of your time should be spent on new business - I try to keep to that. TCP: Do you ever feel like you 'just don't want to' work on your art? How do you overcome distraction and lack of motivation? Dean: Yes I do. Positive tapes, science shows on ecology, and my Grandson all help. Scripture is full of very positive help. I also listen a lot to Joel Osteen. You have to be careful, though, who you listen to. I like classic cars, so they can divert me very nicely. TCP: Do you have any formal training? Do you think it is necessary? Dean: I studied structural engineering (what's with that, huh?) and then I got drafted. Now that was a ‘real’ education. About 15 years ago I sent my artwork off to an art critic and buyer in the east that told me that, at this point, I wouldn't get anything from schooling. They told me to find a mentor that I liked to work with, but unfortunately being an apprentice is old hat and impossible to find. But that said, yes, I do think it's necessary for the discipline and exposure to other artists. If you're an artist, you're an artist. A school can teach tools, rules, techniques and discipline, but it can' teach you to be an artist. For samples of S. Dean Vavak’s illustrations and paintings, visit www.vavakstudio.com If you like this article, click one of these buttons to promote it!     |
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