Our latest featured artist is Tracy Moore. He is a book maker and mixed-media journal artist living in Washington State. Our interview with Tracy is after the jump.
First please give us a bit of background Information-Where are you from, Education and Artistic interests?
I have no formal art training. Up until I hit 27, I my only artistic outlets had been music (clarinet player in several groups,) woodworking, and writing. My very artistic wife Teesha had started making hand bound journals, and it was through the freedom of keeping one of these on me at all times, that I began to relax and draw and doodle. It was a slow process, but now I cannot stand to be separated from my journal for any length of time.
What is your earliest memory of drawing or making art?
I doodled a bit in Elementary school. But I remember having a very negative art teacher in Jr. High that completely turned me off to art for many years.
What criticism from a teacher or mentor have you received on your work that reallyhelped you develop?
My wife Teesha is brutally honest. And…shhh…don’t tell her this…haha…but she is almost always right. She has a clear vision that makes my head spin. She will look at something that I am working on and know instantly whether I need to take it further…or back off and stop. I completely respect this talent and have learned that while I don’t always agree at first…I almost always see that she was right when I put a little time on the clock and come back to it.
What inspired you to create?
Um…haha…well…my process mostly involves going to coffee houses and bars in between work meetings (I work in the construction industry)…and getting out my journal and playing in it. One of the things I love about the Copic Air Brush system is its portability. I keep a couple of the small air cans in my bag at all times and have no hesitation to whip them out and do a little airbrushing any where I happen to be. The air brush is a great conversation starter as well. I have met many interesting people while playing in my journals out and about.
What’s your favorite part about being an artist?
It is the worlds best stress reliever. I can be completely stressed out by work, life, whatever…and as soon as I open my journal and begin to doodle and draw and write, all my stress just fades away. It is a great soul cleanser.
What is the worst part for you about being an artist?
I rarely think of any negativity associated with being an artist. If I had to find something, I guess it would be the fact that I want to create art all the time, and I simply cannot afford to.
Who are some of your favorite artists?
Teesha Moore , Theo Ellsworth, Keith LoBue, Michael Deming, Sam Keith, Bernie Wrightson, and Bill Seink.
How did you come to know and use Copic Markers? Which are your favorites?
Years ago, we stumbled across Copic Sketch Markers and realized how amazingly long they lasted and how much we loved using them in our journals. Teesha used the Brush Tip ends for writing on her journal pages and I found and loved the Air Brush adapter. We began wholesaling them and taking them to the rubber stamp shows all over the United States with our company Zettiology Rubber Stamps. I do a lot of demoing and have a blast showing people how much fun, and how easy air brushing can be with the system.
Tell us about your upcoming Journalfest, how it got started and where it is today?
As for Journalfest, this event grew out of our love of journals, and journaling. We have a large art event we do every year up in Port Townsend Washington called Artfest. Every spring over 500 artists gather at this wonderful fort which is nestled right on the water. They come to be with a superb community like minded artists and participate in a great collection of classes taught by around 40 amazing teachers.
We have been doing Artfest for 12 years now, and last year we decided to put on an
event solely devoted to journals. Both Teesha and I have been avid journalers for
years. Our rubber stamp company, Zettiology was started all from random drawings
from our journals. We have come to realize that our journals are a driving force in most
of the art projects and events that we do. As such, it seemed only fitting that we plan
an event featuring classes relating to the making and filling of journals. Last year was a
huge success. One hundred and fifty journal enthusiasts gather here for classes, parties,
journaling, and a vendor night full of some of the most unique supplies and hand made
journals you have ever seen.
Visit Tracy & Teesha elsewhere on the web:
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