The Daily Muse: An Exclusive Interview with Jo Quetsch, Mixed Media Artist

Elusive Muse has been admiring the work of Jo Quetsch for quite some time. Everything she does has so much color and really emits so much joy. Jo will be exhibiting her work at the Saranac Gallery in Spokane, Washington from June 5, 2015 to June 28, 2015 with an opening reception on the 5th from 5 to 8pm.

To see even more of Jo’s amazing work, you can find here at any of the links below:

WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
PINTEREST

And now, our exclusive interview with Jo Quetsch

How would you describe your art?
Color intense…I like experimenting with new color combinations and challenge my “go to” palette (bright pink, light blue, and yellow ochre). Primitive, from a process view point, if the process is “too detailed”, I will make it my own with shortcuts. I am an inpatient person in general, so that lends itself to working quickly and in short spurts. I like big, bold, more “gross motor” type art i.e. flick paint, write a word, quick spurts of creativity etc.
How long have you been an artist and how did you become an artist?
I have been an artist most of my life (45 years, but whose counting, LOL)-growing up I had creative parents who encouraged and nourished creativity whether it was drawing pictures or being in my dads wood shop making saw dust pizzas. My favorite class in school for as long as I can remember was art, even in college I felt this way. I remember in my senior year being strongly influenced by a painting professor who almost talked me into changing my major from nursing to studio art. My right brain went with the secure and safe option, which has allowed my art to be a side passion that keeps me spiritually grounded and allows me to be a better nurse. It wasn’t until the last few years that I would “label” myself as artist…I used to view the term artist more from an occupation standpoint not from “art maker” standpoint” BUT now I want to shout it from the roof top…I AM AN ARTIST, I MAKE ART! Doesn’t Elmo have a song with these lyrics?
What is your favorite medium and why?
My art journals are my favorite medium because it takes the pressure of performance away for me. I am not making art to hang on a wall or for a person, it is for me. I find that the journaling facilitates experimentation, brings out a rawness, and flexibility that I don’t have in other parts of my life. Someone recently suggested that I journal on separate pieces of paper i.e. make a journal page that can be hung on the wall, which is the exact thing I am escaping from. My second favorite medium is wood, I really like to paint on wood using mixed media techniques. Wood is very forgiving and great for carving into. I really like the sturdiness, which lends itself to adding and scraping multiple layers to create surface texture.
Pick one work of art from your portfolio and tell us the story behind it. Why does this piece have meaning to you? What steps did you take to create the piece?
Trifold journal entry titled: oPPortunity kNOCKS. This journal spread is about new beginnings and that when opportunities present themselves I NEED to be open. These pages started with drawing the person, which is unusual for me. I am not sure what inspired me to draw this person. Then I used India ink to make a “web” or “tangled flower bed”. I like using a drinking straw to move the ink around the page, its spontaneous way to create lines. These lines represent the complexity of life. Next I used some collage elements that helped me set the intention of this piece. The red ink that flowed into the characters head was an accident, this became another person representing a new person in my life who was troubled and who had very long legs (LOL). To add color I used ink spray and distress ink, which is another diversion from my usual process of using paint for color. I like the softness of using the inks. I also like using ballpoint pen for adding lines and doodling. More collage elements were applied-ink stained paper towels, brown wax paper, and pieces of a netting (from potato sack). The paper towels became flowers because shapes were organic and colors interesting, really liked the surface texture of these.The final layers were stamping circles and gloss varnish, the gloss varnish symbolizes newness.

Tell us about one medium, technique or style that you would like to try working with (that you have not tried before) and why you would like to try this.
Printmaking is a style that I would like to explore. I had some introductory experience in high school with relief technique of carving into wood blocks. I remember this being fun, but don’t have the desire to do it again. However, recently I saw a screen printing demonstration and was very intrigued with idea of using a stencil to get a different end result. I use a lot of stencils in my work, mostly ones that I custom made. This medium also has high flexibility with printing on many kinds of surfaces i.e. like wood and cardboard.
How do you make time for art?
My official art day is Sunday. I don’t do anything else (no matter how much I am tempted) and I plan my week around this time i.e. no errands, no laundry etc. It’s the only way I feel like I have a period of quality undistracted time. I work best in the morning and find that after work I am not as creative as I am first thing in the morning. Although, I always feel like I have never have enough art time, so I also plan most of my vacations around art retreats.
If you could imagine the “perfect art day” for yourself, what would it be like?
This is an easy answer for me, I adore Jackson Pollock. His process, techniques, and even his recluse behavior all intrigue me. The development of action painting was ahead of any other artist…he approached his paintings with non-traditional tools and ways, as he stated “living in the painting”. He signed with the Guggenheim in 1943 when he was in his early 30s, this makes my jaw drop. He was a genius. What we would do? We would paint the Jackson Pollock way. I picture myself watching him before diving into a painting. He liked to drink (LOL), maybe we would drink and paint. Not to mention his parents were from Iowa, being a Iowan myself, I cant help but feel a connection to him.
If you could spend 24 hours with one artist, living or historical, who would you want to spend the day with and why? What would the two of you do?
This is an easy answer for me, I adore Jackson Pollock. His process,techniques, and even his recluse behavior all intrigue me. The development of action painting was ahead of any other artist…he approached his paintings with non traditional tools and ways, as he stated “living in the painting”. He signed with the Guggenheim in 1943 when he was in his early 30s, this makes my jaw drop. He was a genius.What we would do? We would paint the Jackson Pollock way. I picture myself watching him before diving into a painting. He liked to drink (LOL), maybe we would drink and paint.Not to mention his parents were from Iowa, being a iowan myself I cant help but feel a connection to him.
Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring artists?
Don’t spend a lot of time worrying or trying to define your art or your style, this gets in the way of “being present” with your creative process. Set aside time and space for your art-even if its the corner of a room, this dedicated time and space will help you keep art in the forefront of your life. AND it is so freeing to be able to make a mess and know that you can walk away and not have to clean it up. Continually seek new inspirations, these often become “jump points” for more art….don’t under estimate how important this is. It keeps you fresh and will help you push yourself.