This week we dive into an artist by the name of Gretchen, @god_loves_me_most who starts us off by sharing what they've been enjoying as of recently "myy own time and company AND my own anger. Real answer though, ive been playing blasphemous lately and its truly my favorite game right now. The most fun enemy designs I've seen in so long, . Also Low Income $quad compilations, i've found some of my FAVORITE music, favorite DJs of all time listening to those comps." I've been wanting to play that for awhile, but I never did. Maybe I should pick it now since it's on sale? I'm currently playing Chicory! It's about a dog and you color stuff. That's what I understand about it so far. They continue by giving out a couple of shout outs as well "i'd like to say thank you to my friends!! to nelson and sonia. i don't think i'd be making stuff again if it weren't for their support. also juntos coop!!! juntos slay ahhh!!!! huge thank you to my mom, she has supported me from the start and has showed up for me since day 1 when it comes to this art shit! Existing prints, tshirts, and paintings are all truly thanks to her." Silky also shouted out her mom in her feature and it's just heart warming for real! My parents don't know a lot about social media, but when I explain to them what "outinthe956" is they nod and look happy. It's just nice support especially since they're part of the day 1 gang haha. Shout out to our moms, dads, any sort of parental guardian, mentors and so on!
With our first question for Gretchen we ask them on what kind of artist would they call themselves? What name would they call their style? As they say "i dont even know if i would call myself an artist!!! but i am.. like if u look at it literally....... anyways im not sure what KIND of artist i am, but i guess the technical term for my style is stippling- i had to look that up actually and just found out the difference between stippling and pointillism is that pointillism involves color and stippling is just black and white haha, so I think stippling is more accurate to what I make." As they say "stippling and pointillism" these are 2 things I haven't heard of, but wouldn't that be a reason for these features? To learn something new as well. Looking through their work hmmm yeah I think "stippling" is more accurate, but what if they gave their style it's OWN name. What do you think it would be? (Gretchen if you're reading this what would it be? I'll update the post with your answer!)
Looking through their work from 2017 to now how do they feel they have changed or adapted their art style? "i'm not sure i can say my art style has changed lol, it's improved! i can say that confidently, but has my style changed? not really, if anythings changed i just really take my time now. I did draw more monsters when i started sharing my art but around 2018 i started really focusing on bodies and stippling. I didn't always use stippling but figured out it was the perfect method for me while experimenting with different pens. though time consuming sometimes, its incredibly forgiving (i used to trash a bunch of my work when i'd smudge something or my lines were too shaky) and SO mind numbing, sitting at a desk for 2-6 hours just dotting something. ughh i really love it sometimes" I wonder if Gretchen has a specific type of pen they enjoy using? I was working on a piece for 2 to 6 hours on my desk I would most DEFINITELY not use a gel pen. I always end up getting that smeared all over my fingers. With the past 2 years of meeting artists It's interesting to see how they've "improved" along with the changes made in their art along with the new additions/experiments they've made just to try something new. We all start somewhere.
With the mentioning of "stippling" does Gretchen feel that they have a direction when it comes to their work as they say "no not right now! i used to really WANT direction with my work but it just pissed me off. it felt too constrictive and too heavy. too serious. and now im just having fun . no direction. just fun silly times. maybe i'll seek direction again later but right now i want to feel light and casual about my work. if the viewer sees any direction in my previous work it was truly unintentional lol" All that matters is that Gretchen is having fun and having their "just fun silly times" as they mention. There's no need for ourselves to feel or make ourselves constricted. Do we need to have a direction when it comes to our work? What counts as "direction?"
Looking through their Instagram I noticed they had an exhibition at Bandera Coffee and I just had to ask about it as they said "YES!!!!! I did it with the help of @jaredxcastaneda!!! it was the first time i ever displayed my stuff like that, i still think about it sometimes!! it really helped establish my confidence in my work at that point in time. I had put up I think about 10 originals, 6 which i had drawn up in the 7 days prior HAHA i always wanted to tell someone that... so they felt like a set to me, drawing them all back to back in such a short amount of time. the burnout i felt afterwards was insane but it was definitely worth it." Woah woah did they just say "I had to put I think about 10 originals, 6 which I had drawn up in the 7 days prior." Now let's think about this. As Gretchen mentioned earlier about dotting for 2-6hrs. Dotting 6 new FRESH originals the day prior. That's pretty crazy and impressive, but I can't image the hand numbing or if they had to restart because of smudges. These are like things we don't know about when it comes to art work. As the viewer we just always see the final product. I'm glad with even the "burnout" that they had it was "definitely worth it."
When it comes to their work do they put any of their emotions and ideas into their work? "omg its ALL emotion!!!!! all of it! its hard to elaborate but all of my work, every step of my process is so deeply rooted in love grief and anger, my drawings r all devoted to people, poems, songs or specific memories or feelings i want to preserve. i dont ever have the words to explain how i feel so ill make something instead. looking at everything ive made its all just one big love letter, one big present to all the things ive ever loved" I like how Gretchen puts it "it's just all one big love letter." I asked this because I believe on one of their recent posts involving stuffed animals it mentioned "anger" If I recall correctly. So I was wondering about what gets put into these pieces emotionally when we have an example of one. With the way Gretchen draws out their emotions and creates something because "I don't ever have the words to explain how I feel." I can't really "draw" and I don't usually have the words to express myself so writing is my creative outlet. I have my own journal and it's what I enjoy. I just enjoy that very much "it's just all one big love letter." That'll be the title for sure.
When it comes to their work do they feel like there has to be something in it to feel just "right?" as they say "hmmm to feel right enough to be good? or worthy of sharing? i used to obsess over JUST RIGHT, id abandon soooooo much work because 'just right' meant everything to me- i didnt draw very much for nearly 2 years because i could not get it 'just right' and it made me MISERABLE. being so focused on some perceived idea of perfection. but i am moving past that!! so no, i dont think there has to be anything like that in my work rn it all feels just right lately :)" The strive for "perfection" can be the brutal mindset for sure. When we have much more to focus on our work. Would we ever get anything done we if that's what we strive for? Even if we fuck up don't you think we can still make it work? Where would we be if we just threw every beginning without even just pushing forward. I'm glad that Gretchen has been having fun with their artwork and I look forward to what they release next.
Does Gretchen have any favorite pieces they've created? "my favorite one is called CIDER (its the one with 2 red silhouettes on blankets). i remember exactly how much heartache i felt when i made it and looking back it just makes me feel very.... sad for my past self. like sympathy (NOT PITY) for another version of me. my other favorite i have not posted yet! its untitled, but it was inspired by a poem by Yehuda Anichai called 'A Pity, We Were Such a Good Invention' which I think about almost every day." I'll be sure to look up the poem! Besides plushies the piece that lives in my head rent free. I was going to pick a favorite from the images sent, but honestly I can't! They all go hard! Out of all the images which one do you like?
What do you wish to evoke from the viewer when it comes to your work? "i hope it makes people feel hard and soft. i'm not sure how to explain further than that but that's the easiest way i can convey it. " I can feel that for sure. I can see where that can come from. With the titles of the pieces and what is being portrayed it can make us lower of guard, but also see it in a sense of "hardness." Like yes the pieces can go hard, but in a sense of emotion or thought there is what Gretchen mentions.
What sort of feedback as Gretchen received upon their work?
"People have told me my work reminds them of silent hill monsters or specific SCPs which is so sick to be honest. makes me want to go more into monster design again lol...." I mean why not? It's all for "silly fun times" so GO FOR IT!
What was the tear drop yard in Edinburg?
"twas a place that hosted shows! I couldn't tell you who it was run by, its been so long and my time there was brief but i tabled there a few times, it was probably one of the first places i vended at when i was ~new~ to the local scene." I ask because I'm just curious to know about venues that existed before or that used to be open or that just hosted events/shows.
Gretchen's most recent piece has the most color in it compared to their most previous work. Was this due to their"anger" or? What made them use color? Do they plan on incorporating more color in your future work? as they explain
"my last piece is the first one ive shared where i used watercolors and not just a pen. i was in such a rotten mood for a while and hadnt made anything with my hands and decided id look for a bunch of cute toys on ebay and try to paint them with a watercolor set i had collecting dust to cheer myself up. being angry definitely was the reason i wanted to draw something soft and bright. ill probably use a lot more color in whatever watercolor pieces i share though, but my pen work will always be in black red or brown :)" Ohhh water colors! How exciting, but will we expect watercolor usage depending on the emotion or just for fun? Either way I look forward to the usage of the watercolor set. So we know the colors of the pens they use, but what PEN do they enjoy the most? I feel like it couldnt just be ANY pen y'know. When Gretchen mentioned "cute toys on ebay" as reference I was really thinking to myself "wow one plushie really did have its guts out, huh."
Gretchen shares their thoughts on the local valley scene?
"i've lurked the local scene for maybe 6 years now and though there are huge gaps where i have gone off the grid and lost touch, it's always been so welcoming and warm coming back. the valley scene is filled with so many talented and special people doing incredible things and i'm lucky to be able to see it happening and feel like i am a part of it. i love it here there's no place i'd rather be"
Along with one final comment,
I'm eternally grateful for everyone that has liked a post, reshared my art, bought a print, left a comment or spoken to me offiline/online about my work. I'm really looking forward to sharing a bunch of my work I've saved up, including a zine! I'll be posting about all my current and past projects soon.
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