Artist Profile: Andie MacCowan

Artist: Andie MacCowan
Location: Rochester, NY

Website:
PictureTrail Album

How do you describe your work, Andie?
My recent work is mostly Artist Trading Cards, Artist Post Cards, and mixed-media canvases. I love photography, painting, and drawing, always trying new techniques and experimenting with new ideas. I use images or photos for inspiration and adapt them to wherever the muse takes me.

What is your creative process like?
My creative process is sneaking away to a corner of the house after the kids go to bed. I have an art table with loads of paper, paint, images and supplies strewn about. I like working messy. In a perfect scenario I have a glass of water, a stash of chocolate, and my iPod blaring alternative music while I paint. My worst enemy is time, though, I play late at night and sneak into bed around 1 or 2am, trying not to interfere with family time. I have awful guilt about taking time for myself, so when I do get a chance, I stay up as late as possible before I have to get up for work the next morning. When I do get to “play” I am free to create whatever comes to mind, I have no deadlines, no orders to fill, just arting for the sake of creating art. I usually take an image from my stash for inspiration and start from there, who knows where it will eventually lead. I also like to finish a piece in one or two sittings, if it takes longer than that, I lose interest. I have hidden some things unfinished for a couple months to view it with fresh eyes and finish at a later time, but most times if it comes to that, I lose the muse, so the sooner the better for me to finish a piece.

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I am self-taught. I have never taken formal art training, although have always wanted to, life just got in the way.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Ultimately, my Ebony pencil and my pens. I am a pen freak and have pens of all sorts hiding in every nook and cranny.

What inspires you to create?
I find inspiration all around me. I always fall back to drawing trees because it relaxes me and is easier than other subjects, but I am inspired by anything. I love texture and bold colors, and things that people do not normally find beautiful. There is beauty in everything if you just look at it a different way.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
I art at leisure, if I’m frustrated I can journal or read or prep supplies instead. I have no formal structure or deadline, the only frustration I have with art is if the image in my head doesn’t quite make it correctly on paper, but there is a big ‘ol trash can right next to me to remedy that. The one thing that does light a fire to get me inspired is the opportunity to trade with many wonderful artists in my online groups, if I don’t create work to trade, a lot of great artwork passes me by. I have made many amazing friends in my groups who inspire me with their work, advice, praise, and overall friendship.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
I think the best piece of advice is to do what makes you happy. Don’t worry about what other people think. And that each person is their own worst critic, learn to tame the self-doubting beast and view your own artwork as worthy.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
My real full-time job (non-art related) and most importantly my family, if I have time for art after that, I’m really really lucky.

What’s your favorite comfort objects?
My comfort objects are pen & paper, books, chocolate, and heat. I love the look, smell, and texture of old books, just thumbing through books while gnawing on a bar of chocolate, a glass of water close by, and the sunshine warming my face through the window and I’m happy. And living in NY, my art space isn’t livable without my handy dandy space heater toasting my toes. I’m a simple person, but the little things matter.