(Words and Pictures)

The Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund Drive week continues with an interview with recently featured Etsy Week artist Jennifer Gordon. In email conversations with Ms. Gordon I discovered that she was even more of a kindred spirit than her creations indicated and I promise you that you are going to enjoy this interview.

If you have not read yesterday’s post detailing what this week, and the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund Drive is, please step away for a moment and read this.

And now, on with the interview:

(Looking Glass Girl)

1. Let us begin with a brief exploration of who Jennifer Gordon is:

Hmmm, well I grew up an only child in NH, which is a beautiful place to live especially if you enjoy nature and winter activities…I do not enjoy those things, so as a child I did an awful lot of “imagination play”. I would spend lots of hours reading, playing bookstore, writing stories, pretending to be an actress starring in Romeo and Juliet–I got that last idea after seeing an episode of the Brady Bunch where Marsha was Juliet. I took dance classes, had a brief but intense childhood affair with playing the keyboard. Mainly I was very obsessed with all things artsy. I loved movies and losing myself into another reality.

All that being said I was and still am very shy, so when I started expressing an interest in theater, it came as a surprise to most people. I dabbled a bit in theater as a student, but it was not until I was about 19 that it became something I started to focus on. I studied and took classes for several years before ever daring to audition for anything.

I studied at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, and was lucky enough while being there to meet a lot of talented people both as actors as well as traditional artists. I worked as an artist model and was drawn very much to that world as well.

From there I had a slew of terrible and sometimes interesting jobs, such as a retail slave, coffee barista, magician’s assistant, scenic artist, actor, coach, gallery director and so on.

When I was in my late 20’s I moved to Columbus, OH to be with the love of my life (there is no other reason to move to Ohio). After the move here, I co-owned a comic shop and did art on the side, when art became too much to handle along with owning a business, the business had to say goodbye and I have been a working artist ever since.

(The Inn at the End of the World)

2. What motivated you/lead you to want to create works of art?

When I was really young my mommy brought me to a “Barbie” fashion show, the models wore fantastic early 1980’s puff sleeve dresses and all carried little dolls wearing matching outfits. I remember the show was at the “big mall” and all the moms were smoking and everything seemed to be glamorous.

From then on I was hooked on fashion. I would beg my mom to buy Vogue magazine for me (though I was about 6 or 7) and I would rip my favorite images out of the magazines and keep them in a file. By file I really mean just a pile that looked like garbage to anyone else. One rainy day when the mess got to be too much, I secretly took all the family photo albums up to my room where I proceeded to take all the photos out, and replace them with the fashion images.

I would spend hours arranging them so they were “right”. My mom still brings this up.

Being a lover of things like that, I started making crude collages when I was in my early teens; these were glue stick on poster board type of things. Fashion images combined with random words that I found inspiring as a 15 year old, like “Passion”, “Beauty”, and occasionally “Sex”.

I thought I was pretty edgy.

These poster boards covered most of my room. I loved it, but like anything, I eventually stopped making them, and moved onto other things such as theater etc.

It was not until I was in my 20’s when a certain ex of mine decided it would be appropriate to read all my journals that I started to make collage again.

I was an avid writer of poetry for years and years, but after the violation of the journal reading, it felt as if words betrayed me. Without a way to express what I was feeling, I turned to collage, this time combining paint with it. The pieces once again were crude but I was onto something.

I found a way to create a visual poem.

(The Composer’s Wife)

3. How would you describe your art?

Well, I usually tell people it’s mixed media contemporary collage. Nine times out of ten they are unsure what that means, as they respond with things like “oh, like faux finishing” or “like scrap booking”…

I now try to carry around one of my self published art books that collect my work, that way I can show them and it’s easier for them to understand.

[Carl: I can attest to the fact that these are great little art books!]

4. Did you start out making these types of images? How long have you been doing this sort of artistic creation?

I have always been drawn to the fashion images, but it has only been since I was 25 that I began to add paint and the old letters. The turning point on the letters came shortly after my father passed away and I had a pile of old letters written by him and some to him, seeing as I did not want to destroy these, I copied them and enlarged them to the point that the writing was abstracted.

Those hidden stories are what began to connect everything I was doing.

5. What inspired you to create these works?

I think it all really comes from the desire for me to tell a non literal story, being shy as I mentioned before it’s hard to say how I feel, it’s easier to show it like this, I like the idea of emotion shrouded in metaphor, color and shape.

Each piece is a self portrait only the pictures are not me.

[Carl: I absolutely love that one line description of your art!]

(The Ballad of the Strange Magician)

6. What further avenues of inspiration do you have now for your creations?

I like the idea of making my art accessible to everyone, hence why I keep prices as low as I do. To build on this idea I am expanding the product line to include blank note cards, as well as a line of jewelry that is being hand crafted by Lori, owner and designer of “Heart Works By Lori”, they will be able to be found online here.

[Carl: I have in my possession a few sets of the new blank note cards and they are terrific.]

7. In addition to doing this 3 dimensional form of art, you create a couple of web comics. What can you tell us about those?

Well, the one web comic that I work on is called “Petite Heights”, and originally started out as a “back up feature” in my comic “Stiletto Heights”.

Stiletto Heights was my baby, my big story that I wanted and still want to tell. I like to think of it as a cross between Sex and the City and American Splendor.

It’s slice of life stuff, and very autobiographical. That being said the story was at times very sad, and needed to have something to give a light hearted edge to the book.

That is when Petite Heights was born. It was the story of the same lead character but when she was a little girl. Still goofy, full of hope, and imagination.

I liked the dichotomy of where she started and where she went.

Sadly Stiletto Heights only saw 3 issues published as it was a constant struggle to find an artist who wanted to work on a comic book that was about women, life, romance and shoes. Everyone I met wanted a ton of money to work on the project and that sadly was not something I could afford.

I’m a starving artist after all.

I would still very much love to finish the series someday, I have not given up, it’s just on hiatus.

Petite Heights lives on the web though, as I am lucky that my husband is the artist so story teller with me.

[Carl: You can catch Petite Heights online here]

7.b Where does the name ‘Stiletto Heights’ come from?

The name Stiletto Heights started as a joke, I was moving back into my childhood home after my father passed away and my mother moved. The place was being gutted and was now going to be mine. Jokingly with a friend we were discussing naming the house, because all great homes had names, like in Soap Operas.

I settled on the name Stiletto Heights, as it sounded fun and at the time, very much me. It then became the name of the comic I was writing, as well as my etsy shop which I originally opened to sell my comics and I added collage as an afterthought.

(I Thought I Would Find You)

8. What inspired you to branch out into the comics field?

I loved comics as a kid, mainly Archie books. I LOVED and LIVED for Elf Quest–that book changed my life.

In high school I naturally got into the Sandman comics, which is a passion that still exists. I heart Neil Gaiman, and a few years ago while I was at a convention after party, I met someone who had Neil’s number. I begged him to let me drunkenly phone him, thankfully he refused.

When I moved to Ohio to be with my love (Keith) he already owned a comic shop, I bought into the business and that is when my dorky love became an all encompassing part of my life.

8.b. So, you’re a comics fan? What are some of the comics that you’ve really enjoyed over the years?

My favorite book by far would be Strangers In Paradise, by Terry Moore. The title ended last year and I have not fully come to terms with it yet, it played a major part in my life, the book ending felt like moving away from friends.

I also LOVED: Elf Quest, Sandman, Swamp Thing (only the Alan Moore run), Y The Last Man, Shadowpact, Amazing Spiderman (but not now, now the character is dead to me, if you read the book you know why), Kabuki, the first several series, where the book is now I am not a fan. I also am completely addicted to the collected editions of an old daily comic strip called “Mary Perkins-On Stage”.

8.c. What comics are you reading currently?

Right now my current favorite monthlies are “Buffy”, “Angel”, “Daredevil”, “House of Mystery”, I am also a sucker for any large sweeping super hero epic, like I am reading “Secret Invasion” from Marvel and “Final Crisis” from DC.

(New York Stories)

9. Let us talk about your creative process: How do you go about gathering materials for your pieces? What kind of things are you looking for? What do you like to incorporate into these works?

Well, I am an obsessive collector of ephemera, whether it is magazines, old books, letters etc. I find now that I cannot look though a magazine without beginning to rip pages out.

I’m looking for anything that really moves me, now seeing as this changes all the time, I find myself going through my files (again this is really just piles) of images and wonder why it is I saved something.

I look for things that seem to convey something I am feeling, whether it be the tilt of a person’s head, the body language in an arm drape, or even the loneliness of the great American West.

As far as old letters, I love them, but I am specific to the handwriting I like, and how well I can abstract it. It’s important for me to be able to use text without it being too literal. I like the mystery of foreign languages as I think it leads the story telling to be more internal on the part of the viewer.

9.b. Do you have any specific rituals that you attend to during your creative process? Do you work in the same space? Listen to music (if so, what)? Anything specific you snack on,etc?

I have a studio space in my home; it’s the large room that would have been intended for the master bedroom. My husband and I decided to take a small back bedroom and leave the large room to be the work space.

(part of the studio space)

I like to listen to music while working, though it needs to be the “right” music or nothing at all.

I adore Damien Rice and could just listen to him on a constant repeat, same goes for Johnny Cash and certain Bruce Springsteen bootlegs I have.

As far as snacking–well a lot of the time my hands are coated in toxic paints. So there is no food, but if I am working on the computer I will have a bowl of unsalted cashews next to me.

9.c. How long does the average piece take? Do you work on one piece to completion or do you have multiple projects going on at once?

This really varies. When working on small pieces 10×10 and under I do like to work on a few at a time because I think they look better in groups, I think of each piece as a stanza in a poem, when all placed together they take on a completely different meaning.

When working on large scale work I just do one piece at a time.

As for how long it takes, there’s no way to say. I guess it all depends on how in the ‘art groove’ I am at the moment and how fast the paint and glue dry.

9.d What kind of planning do you do? Do you sketch out ideas, or begin with a certain image/object and then build the piece around it?

I do sketch out layouts of pieces, where the canvas will be divided and sometimes I sketch pattern underneath the paint, sometimes I write all over the piece, poetry, bits of songs, words stuck in my head. Most times they are painted out and you will never see them, but they are crucial to part of the process

9.e. What materials do you use?

I use acrylic paints, matte medium, pencil, and watercolor crayons combined with paper.

9f. How do you know when a piece is done?

When it feels done, like I’ll look at it and know. Usually once I add the final circles then it’s done to me.

9.g. Speaking of circles, I notice they often play a part in your work. Is there something symbolic to this or is it more of a case of that shape fitting the overall look that you are trying to achieve?

I get asked this a lot. There is something symbolic to the idea of circles, the energy of the shape. I find myself drawn to them.

I originally started using them as a way to connect important aspects of larger pieces together, as a through-line to tell the story. Now I think of them as connecting the story of the person or place to themselves and the viewer.

I also have to admit I really like the aesthetic of them combined with the sometimes harsher architectural lines in the pieces, sort of a feminine and masculine dichotomy.

9.h. Do you use the computer at all in the creation of your works, if so how?

I only recently started to dabble with the computer for some of my pieces, to be honest I am terrible with computer stuff and I know there is more I could do, but right now on the pieces that use the computer they are done about 75% off the computer and 25% on.

I’m a computer moron. I can’t even add people’s blogs to my side bar, so I have a fear that me mastering digital art may never happen.

9.i. Your images have such intriguing titles. Where do the titles of your pieces come from?

A variety of places, sometimes it is a line from a book I am reading or have read or a poem that is stuck in my head. I also tend to use a lot of lines from poems I have written myself.

Or even in some cases I finish the piece and the title is the first phrase or word that pops into my head.

I like to keep it very visceral and not think too much about it, I just go for it.

9.j. What kind of artistic training have you had? Schooling or self taught or a combination?

I am completely self taught, though I studied art history, and was an artist model and worked in a gallery. I am sure I picked some stuff up though osmosis.

(From Daylight to Madness)

10. Beyond what you are doing as far as selling your creations on Etsy, are there any other things you are doing with your artwork, projects you are working on for someone else, etc?

The main side projects right now are the jewelry line with Heart Works by Lori, and there is a slight possibility that I will be designing journals for a small publisher.

On the side I also work as an acting coach for a young child actor.

11. Where would you like to see your art take you? Are there any dream projects you want to work on?

Dream projects: I like the idea of doing book covers or comic book covers. I have done a couple covers for things and loved that.

I also have a dream of working on larger pieces; I mainly do those via commission now as they are a hard sell online.

I would also somehow like to transfer some of my ideas to fabric to be used in handbags. I have no clue how to do that, but it’s a dream.

11.b. Mentioning comic book covers makes me wonder, have you ever thought about combining your current art forms with the comic medium (I’m thinking something along the lines of what Dave McKean or David Mack do in a way) to continue your Stiletto Heights story or to do something else entirely?

I have thought of that and have been tempted. I did already sort of bend the idea of comics to have my books include photos and poetry as well as prose…I am still a stickler for using traditional comic art to tell this story.

11.c. You said that you’ve done some cover work already. What have you done covers for?

Just a few small things, a few issue’s of my husband’s indie comic book “Johnnie Zombie”, the issues are out of print now. I also did a cover for a small literary journal called The Poet’s Touchstone.

12. In addition to your collage art illustrations and web comics, are there any other artistic mediums, genres, etc. that you would like to get involved with?

Well I enjoy theater of course and I would love to go back to writing more, I would like to publish a combination of poetry and art in a book. It is one of my goals for this year to self-publish something like that.

(She Fades When You’re Not Looking)

13. Outside of art in general is there anything else you want to be doing, are planning on doing, etc.?

Well my husband and I are trying to go to Paris next year, we did not have a honeymoon so that is a dream that we are working towards.

I also REALLY want to study and learn the tango, I have been aching to do this…the problem being is I injured my knee years ago and had surgery and therapy because of it, so I am not sure how realistic this is.

[Carl: of course reading this makes me wonder if you are a fan of the ‘dance’ movies: Strictly Ballroom, Mad Hot Ballroom, Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School, etc?]

14. Whose artwork (that may or may not be an inspiration or influence on your work) do you like? What kind of things are you drawn to?

I am very much drawn to portraits, the Pre Raphaelite artists because of their profound connection to literature and mythology. I love very early photography. Gustav Klimt’s use of pattern and color are awe inspiring.

I loved mixed media work, and traditional comic art. I am not really a fan of landscapes or abstract art though I appreciate both immensely.

(I Can’t Take My Mind Off of You)

15. Outside of the artistic community, who are your inspirations?

I’m incredibly inspired by anyone who shows no fear and pursues things they believe in, on any level.

I am inspired by the countless people who fight cancer, or believe in true love…really anything.

There is inspiration all around us if we just look for it.

16. Are you a reader? If so what kinds of things do you like to read? If pressed right now, what would be your favorite top 5 books? What are you reading now?

I am a reader–well, I try to be, I fall asleep early most night and don’t read as much as I would like to.

Right now I am reading a book called Model by Michael Gross, which is a history of the modeling industry.

My top 5 books (this is hard as they change with my mood) currently are:

1-The Time Traveler’s Wife ~Audrey Niffenegger
2-Haunting of Hill House ~Shirley Jackson
3-The Secret History ~Donna Tartt
4-Ballerina ~Edward Stewart
5-The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton

17. What about films? What kind of stuff do you like to watch? Are you a go out to the theater person or do you prefer catching things on DVD?

I love movies; I would go to the movies all the time if I did not have to sell a kidney to afford it…

As far as favorites, well it’s similar to books, it changes with my mood. Today my favorites are:

1- Picnic at Hanging Rock
2- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3- Virgin Suicides
4 – Lost in Translation
5- The Village

[Carl: In an odd bit of coincidence, I got these answers the same day I had read about the film “Picnic at Hanging Rock” on another person’s site and had added it to the top of my Netflix queue. We watched it last night. It is a beautiful, bizarre, mysterious film. Most definitely an art film and one that I can see people loving or loathing. More on that at a later date.]

18. Since you have a background in theatre, there was no way I could pass the opportunity by without asking you: What is your favorite play?

This, like anything changes a lot, right now I would say it’s “Proof” by David Auburn. I am fascinated by the idea of mathematicians–it’s the exact opposite of me.

19. What about your favorite play that you acted in?

I would have to say “To Kill a Mockingbird”, I got to play Mayella Ewall, the young woman who wrongfully accuses Tom Robinson of rape. It was a very sad and dark place to be mentally to “be” this character, yet at the same time she had a childlike quality about her that was so tragic.

(Henry’s Wife)

20. What, if anything, do you collect and why?

I collect romance and jungle girl comics, as well as original comic art. I collect comic art because it is the perfect combination of my geeky side and my artistic side.

21. Any advice for aspiring artists out there?

do what you love, try not to get too caught up in what is selling and why it’s selling, just do what is in your heart, head, and soul and with any luck the right buyer will find you. I would also have to say do not give up, the term is “starving artist” for a reason.

(Who Will Catch Me)

I hope you all enjoyed this in-depth interview with Jennifer Gordon. I find her to be a fascinating individual whose influences no doubt explain to many of you, as they did to me, just why her work makes such a connection.

I received this email from Jennifer Gordon earlier this week and she gave me permission to share it with you. I do so as I feel it embodies perfectly what Jenn See meant to me as far as inspiration as well as speaks to how we all inspire and encourage each other in this community:

“Carl, your post is very moving and I am incredibly honored to be a part of this week, I can tell how much she meant to you, and to so many others.

I love the internet and the blogosphere for just that reason.

I also wanted to let you know, that in my interview I wrote about how I always wanted to self publish a book of poetry and art, well the last week has been me working on it–the book of my dreams, and I am proud to say, I finished it and it is now available.

It is both exciting and frightening for me to put poetry out there into the world, but there was something in me that was telling me it was the right time.

I need to thank you again for the interview and everything, it really worked to inspire me to finish this project that has been on the back burner for too long.”

[Carl: And that book is the one whose image started out this post and is one of the items that is part of the random giveaway for those who donate to the scholarship fund]

In addition to giving away a copy of that poetry book, the last 3 images showcasing Jennifer Gordon’s works and the illustration that ends this post are original ACEO cards, all of which are also giveaways. And Jennifer has offered a very special gift to all of you dear readers:

“I would very much like to offer you and your readers a special sale in my
etsy shop as well, as a huge thank you for the interview, yours for giving it,
and well them for reading it.

I babble a lot, they deserve a little treat at the end.

So if you could include the sale, that would be great

Sale:

REPRODUCTION PRINTS – BUY ONE GET ONE HALF OFF!
EVERYTHING ELSE – 20% OFF

PLEASE WRITE “INTERVIEW SALE” IN THE MESSAGE TO SELLER AND WAIT
FOR A NEW INVOICE TO BE SENT BEFORE PAYING.”

Go here to start saving today!!!

(Jennifer Gordon)

Thank you so very much Jennifer for your participation both with all the questions, and the follow-up questions, and for being so generous with your giving as part of this art scholarship fundraising effort. You truly are a remarkable person and I am thrilled to have had this opportunity to interview you and further profile your work.

(Absinthe)