Talkative Tuesday: Interview with Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

I, Pamela, am one of the luckiest girls in town!  I have had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Kathy Ostman-Magnusen, a magnificent artist and poet. Kathy has worked in a variety of styles in many mediums.  Her work can be wildly passionate, mystical, serene and all the shades of emotion in-between.

Kathy’s work focuses primarily on women; their lives, dreams, fears and desires.  Her use of bold color and exquisite line clearly expresses the passion, strength and spirituality in women.  Kathy’s interest in the mystical world is evident in her paintings of fairies, angels and mermaids.

Kathy’s poetry is like magic and just as open and honest as her paintings.  I hope you’ll take a few moments to read some of her poems by clicking on the links at the bottom of this post.

Without further ado, let’s move on to the interview…

(The first ten questions are reprinted from one of Kathy’s squidoos with her permission.  The second ten are from my interview with Kathy.)

When was the first time that you remember realizing that you are a creative person?

When I was around 4 years old. My parents drove from State to State discovering America or maybe just chasing rainbows. I sat in the back seat of the car drawing, singing and looking out the window, imagining. I didn’t speak one single word until I was over two. My Dad always said it was because I had nothing to say. Debatable of course. I may have been somewhat Autistic. As I got older and went to school, I was put in the back of the room often with my back towards the class. Another teacher put me in a dark closet. I was always being told to stop daydreaming.

When did you know that this was what you wanted to do with your life?

I never understood it could be an option to do art for my life until I was out of high school. I was never encouraged in that direction and so I guess I just thought it was something to do alone in my room.

What traits, if any, do you think that creative people have as compared to people who are not creative?

Sensitivity. I tell people all the time that desire is talent and the rest is practice. I don’t believe in the notion that people cannot draw a strait line. They were never taught how, that’s all. I feel that if someone ‘wishes’ they were an artist? They are. So they better get to work on their dream.

Do believe that your training has influenced what you create?

I am self taught. I think anything we need to know is in books or practice. I have taken some sculpture classes though. I do feel that by being self taught I have found my way to my style, where with someone’s outside influence I may never have. I paint and sculpt by instinct, not rules. I am not sure that you can teach the emotion that it takes to ’see’ and implement, what it would take to bring breath to a painting or sculpture. It all goes back to desire.. and an inner voice.

How have you dealt with any criticism you have gotten because of your creative endeavors?

With inside criticism I tend to retreat and cry. It takes me awhile to recover and then I pick myself back up again and move forward. For me? Art is all there is, so it is a lot like making up with a boyfriend after a fight.

With other people it depends on who they are. If they have clout or know what they are talking about they can take me to my knees. If not? Screw em.

Do you ever feel that you have to censor your creativity because you don’t want to offend anyone?

Oh gads.. yes! Big problem in American especially. I am working on an erotica series now because my gallery in New York that represents me, Monkdogz Urban Art, is going to do a show on it. They have guts and of course that is New York. I have done several paintings of erotica prior to that but most galleries want fluff and freak out with even a nipple.

Do you do anything special to get your “creative juices” flowing? Please explain.

Music.. that is huge. I sing my lungs out.. the louder the better. My husband always encourages me to meditate, even light candles.. but I tend to just plunge in. I think about art all of the time, so I figure that is enough meditation to get me there. When I get frustrated I tend to uncork a bottle of champagne or wine from time to time. People might not agree with me, say what they will, it works for me. I also totally mess up the canvas to start out.. everything from that point is an improvement.

When are you most creative and why do you think this is?

The mornings are good for me. I am very sensitive to what the moon is doing too, it creates havoc or bliss. Creativity comes in waves. I paint for a couple of weeks non stop in a frenzy and then recover… but.. I still paint even after the bliss of it has left me. What brings these tangents on is unclear to me. It just comes over me.

Do you think it’s important that art gives something to society?

No. This doesn’t mean though that I don’t dream of being an ‘Art Star’, but I am not sure that has anything to do with ‘contributing to society’. If you want to contribute to society.. what society exactly? There are so many factions, it feels impossible to please them. If I think that way I will find myself only painting fluff I think.

What are your words of wisdom for someone starting out in your field?

It goes back to what I said in the beginning.. if you want to be an artist? YOU ARE! Desire is talent and the rest is practice. Believe in yourself.

Outside of your Self-Portrait series, is there any one piece from your work that you feel especially close to?

I feel close to a lot of them for different reasons. I use “Flight” in just about everything I post because it was a breakthrough painting or at least one of them after I finished up the last piece from my “Victorian Series”, “Have You Ever Read Anything So Beautiful”.  I like that painting too because it feels so hopeful and triumphant.

Do you ever feel sad or bereft after finishing a piece of art or a poem?

Yes I do often with the paintings especially, funny you should ask.  I tried having small celebrations after I finished a work but that has not worked.  I try to paint several works at one time and that helps the let down not feel so harsh.  I don’t feel much either way after writing anything which is strange.  I just print them out after posting them here and there and then put them in a pile with the rest of what I have written.  I have boxes of watercolors, pastels, drawings, silks too that I kind of just do and forget about.  It is all just an exercise of doing I guess.

Will you tell us more about your process for writing?

I normally come up with a line or two while I am doing something else.  I write down thoughts all the time and keep them till I feel ready to put some of them  together.  Sometimes I read them and have no idea of what I am talking about. lol.  I look at my paintings the same way, I am not sure how I did them and fear I can’t again.    I  keep a list of keywords  that I know google will like and try to gear my thinking towards them so I can get ‘read’.  Sometimes that wrecks what my original feelings were so I keep one that is pure and one that has been adjusted for googles sake.    I enjoy writing the most  when I can actually place myself in the story or poem.  I try to feel how my subject is feeling and BECOME them… humm same exact thing I do with my paintings.

Do you write every day or only when something inspires you to write?

I write and paint everyday.  After 20 years in production pottery I am of the mentality that I have to see something at the end of the day or I feel defeated.  Some days are inspired and others not so much but I don’t think you can wait for inspiration, it takes being active in something to make it grow… that’s how I feel anyway.

Do you ever exhibit your art with one of your writings?

I did a story booklet for my “Lost At Sea” series along with a musical tape.   My “One Woman Show”, “ke ala o Pele” had a printout of my poem, “I Stood Inside a Rainbow” that was handed out.  I have thought a lot about showing art with words… thanks for the reminder!

Is there any other medium you’d like to explore?

I have done silk, metal forging, glass etching, sculpture in clay, oils, watercolors, … on and on.  I would like to do airbrush and learn more about casting for bronze or acrylics.  I have an unfinished sculpture just because I can’t find someone in Hawaii to make a mold for me.  There is soo much that can be explored.

Have you ever collaborated with someone else on a particular painting, poem or other writing?

I have let people use my images of my paintings for their books, etc.  I have also done a book cover for an author that was interesting.  I had to get into his head to figure out what he hoped to see.  I have been approached quite a bit about collaborating but just feel that I can do a work on my own with both the illustrations and the writing so why hassle with someone else… unless they had a publisher and agent, that would be a different story.

What part of your work gives you the most joy?

I honestly enjoy writing more than I do painting or sculpting.  I think that is because I don’t anticipate as much judgement with writing and I allow more freedom for myself.

What will you be working on next?

I am working on my “In Search of Klimt” series with less inferences to Klimt like the little squares and gold leafing.  I am experimenting with abstract, just to lessen my inhibitions while painting; I continue to work on the “Primal Series” ;  I am also writing a book/story about the “Mermaid Baby” and trying to work my little character One Fairy in;  I am working on a website just for greeting cards, posters and giclees that has a broader audience; my husband and I have been working on ‘Our Story’, re-uniting with each other after 27 years,  as well.  I tend to get scattered because I keep too many things going at once but,  ’so what’,  I think.. do what works and then move on.

Do you ever get to the Midwest?  I’d love to meet you!! 

Ohhh that is just so nice!  It would be lovely to meet you as well.

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SOME THOUGHTS FROM KATHY:

On How To Stay Creative

“Do you struggle with how to motivate yourself towards creativity, because at times it does feel flat? I believe there are things we can do, as artists, to stimulate the process. Sometimes those things might be more simple than you might think.

I write a lot. I write poetry or stories or articles and post them on ezines. I also post articles ‘about art’ … getting out there, how to deal with not being accepted in juried show and things like that. I feed the process.

I keep things around me that make me happy. Sometimes those things are kind of dumb.. I like dolls and tea sets and things that make no sense but who cares I like them.

I join artists groups and enter shows. I volunteered for ‘everything’! I was shy at first but I knew that if I volunteered in art clubs, to do anything at all, I would get busy and come out of it. I have.

I go online a lot and look at what other people are creating. I have a MySpace and that is the place that continually surprises and makes me happy because of all the amazing work people do.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!! Keep doing what you love.! You can only get better.. I do.. I get better every time I go to my canvas or put my hands in clay.

DON’T decide you stink based on one thing or one effort. I do that sometimes. If I am shut down somewhere I decide I stink about everything. Stupid but you know how your mind can get going right?”

DO ART.. I saw a blog today where an artist posts one new work a day. What a great thing to do! I am thinking about it too.

Lastly, if you are an artist in your heart.. be sure an say so. If people ask you what you do… tell them, “I AM AN ARTIST” … because you are! Mythical and magical journey’s to enchantment are right there within your reach, how cool! Slay the dragon and don’t limit yourself, stay inspired by the mermaids and fantasy fairies of youth.

On Mature Women Aging Gracefully

Products are designed to appeal to youth unless they are specifically geared toward the aged, like special wheelchairs or meds or reverse mortgages, stuff like that. With all of this around me I know it is all the more important to ‘feel’ and understand my reason for being. I am not a hot flash, I am a woman having a hot flash. I may feel that I am no longer sexy but I must remind myself that sexy is an attitude. It is all about looking ‘outside’ of oneself, feeling energized by living and acting on that passion. Oh and there is soo much to see that I missed in youth.

As women get older they need to connect to their spiritual side more and I think they do. I find that I am able to look outside myself more and not worry as much about other women in the room. Who is the fairest of all and who shines the brightest. It is a time that holds visions and introspection and a time that should be embraced.

So go out as a mature woman, find those beautiful older women galleries, create your own lyrics to music that lost them. Shine!

Kathy’s Artist’s Statement

“Passion has a sense of violence about it, it is strong and it survives aggression. I do not paint passive art.. I paint passion. Within passion one finds a boldness full of enticing ambitions to grasp on to, that piece of your heart that presses you to go past the mark of a bystander, the spot you may have been told to stay put on. No, it is not possible to feel passive when standing next to passion. I don’t paint landscapes to hang above someone’s couch, paintings meant to be a resting place for the mind? I paint feelings that one cannot just walk past. I hope to stir up emotions within the viewer. It is not my goal to feel nothing but a sunny day or peacefulness, shiny trinkets that rest on walls that can be walked away from. I paint women who feel something. Strength, sexuality, pain, power, a force of intensity, emotional qualities that generate a reaction. I don’t paint the sky, I paint the dominance of the wind that caused it to be felt on ones skin, in the form of a woman. I pick up my brush or clay between my fingers and consider a certain belligerence, an attitude of confidence that meets the power I need to form an energy outside myself and I welcome it in. I paint or sculpt until I hear them breathing and their breath becomes my own.”

Thank you, Kathy, for being so generous with your time and information.  You’ve been so sweet to me! ~ Pamela

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Kathy is represented in New York by Monkdogz Urban Art, Inc. She has an International group show coming up and this link reflects that as well as talks about her and other artists.  She especially featured Jean Marc Calvet who showed with Picasso in Paris this past Summer.

Monkdogz Urban Art|New York Gallery|New York Art|International Art

For Kathy’s thoughts on creativity and how to get there:

Fantasy Art Woman|Fairies in Art|Beautiful Women Goddess Art|Beautiful Older Women Galleries

Much of Kathy’s writing is at Ezine.

Kathy’s Website and MySpace.

More about Kathy Ostman-Magnusen here.

Tags: Art, artist, author, Interview, mystical, painting, poem, Poetry, women, writer, Writing