This presentation is part of a research project for an art degree. I interviewed these eight artists on a personal level to record their understanding of their own creative efforts. The shorthand characters illustrate how I used Gregg shorthand to capture statements as accurately as possible. I converted my experience into an allegory as an artistic interpretation of actual situations and conversations. In the allegory, “Author Authenticity,” the artists are portrayed as they are internally, creative and intuitive. Allegory also allowed me to share my involvement as a player, not as a researcher. © Copyright 2008-2009 by Elizabeth Martin, A Perspective, Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information, write to me by email: martin.elizabeth12@yahoo.com INTRODUCTION

The Artist

“ As an artist, it’s important that you can embrace your emotions.” - Aimee Bourget

Aimee Bourget 1 Aimee Bourget Madonna , acrylic

Cindy Holst 1 Cindy Holst Silver necklace

Mark Sonmor 3 Mark Sonmor, T-Rex

Unique

Tish Collins 1 Tish Collins Tile bracelet

“ Most of the time, I’ll get an idea quickly but it’s dark and nebulous. This can change, however...” - Mark Sonmor

Jan Roberts 3 Jan Roberts

Jan Roberts 1 Jan Roberts Parisails

“ Sometimes you are fortunate enough to be on the spot and you get carried away and you paint it.” - Jan Roberts

Jan Roberts 2 Jan Roberts

Creativity

“ I lock myself in my workroom. I have no plan. The rest of my life is extremely ordered, but in that room, it’s no holds barred.” - Tish Collins

Tish Collins Washer necklace

Tish Collins Washer ring

“… why am I drawn to a thing? My understanding can be a ramp for others.” - Malcolm Childers

Individuality

Jim & Cynthia Miller Jim & Cindy Miller at the glass furnace

Millers 2 Jim & Cindy Miller - glassblowing

“ You can get caught in the trap of whether you are going to make art or you are going to make money.” - Jim Miller

Millers 3 Jim & Cindy Miller - glassblowing

Millers finished plate Jim & Cindy Miller Photosensitive glass plate

“ I want to get to that loop between what I see and what I do.” - John Anglim

John Anglim Tokyo Street, photo collage

“ An image that I produce, in the end, is a function of that moment when I was in the world doing it.” - John Anglim

John Anglim 1 John Anglim Guitarist illustration 1, enhanced photograph

John Anglim Looking East, watercolor

“ I do my best when I work instinctively. A concept might form as an intellectual idea, but that ends quickly.” - John Anglim

Mark Sonmor 1 Mark Sonmor, Sea Gulls

Cindy Holst 3 Cindy Holst Silver Earrings

Cindy Holst 2 Cindy Holst Silver Pendant

“ When I paint, I don’t think about it… I want to be in a state of complete honesty and exposing myself.” - Aimee Bourget

Aimee Bourget Tree Woman, acrylic

Aimee Bourget 3 Aimee Bourget, White Horse , acrylic

Dialogue

“ Something is grabbing you… Maybe you don’t even know why. You play with it. This dialogue starts up.” - Malcolm Childers

Malcolm Childers The Painterly Way of Rivers , photograph

Authenticity

“ The challenge is to find what’s true, who you are, versus imitating people. I question what I am about, what is me...” - Mark Sonmor

“… what is going to spring from that authenticity.”

Mark Sonmor 2 Mark Sonmor Sharks

“ It’s a conversation between you and the idea. The experience is the greatest engine of creativity.” - Malcolm Childers

Malcolm Childers 2 Malcolm Childers Skeptics and the Preacher , relief etching

Malcolm Childers 2

“ I am putting my truth out on the table for someone else to come along with me.” - Malcolm Childers

Malcolm Childers 3 Malcolm Childers, Sierra, relief etching

Malcolm Childers 3

© Copyright 2008-2009 by Elizabeth Martin, A Perspective, Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information, write to me by email: martin.elizabeth12@yahoo.com