The artist - Gabrielle Nowicki
Gabrielle Nowicki is a Canadian artist, illustrator and cartoonist whose work ranges from delightfully humorous to strangely fascinating. She is a shrewd observer of the little quirks that make us human and has the talent, skill, intelligence and dedication that will ensure her work will be appreciated by an ever-widening audience. No wonder then, that the Blag was extremely pleased when she agreed to design the front cover of the launch issue and to breathe life into our fantastic new cartoon strip The Blaggers.
The Blag questioned Gabrielle for the first in a series of interviews with practising visual artists. Here are the results.
BLAG: Why Tindaisies?
GN: Tin is a commonplace utilitarian metal. Daisies, especially the wild ones that grow in ditches and vacant lots, are a bit like the floral version of tin. When these two everyday things are thrown together, the combination gives a new visual and concept. I find comfort that things such as tin and daisies are stalwart, tough, humble things that will always be around to enjoy if we ever think to pause and appreciate them.
BLAG: What mediums do you work with?
GN: Most of my work is done with computers, I use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign and I draw with a Wacom Tablet. Before the computer, my medium was mainly oil or acrylic paint, and graphite. The main problem with using the computer, is that you really miss hitting “ctrl z” when drawing with a real pencil.
BLAG: What does it mean to define yourself as an artist?
GN: I think it’s the way you see and think about things and to be tapped into the world inside and outside you.
BLAG: What’s the difference between an artist, a graphic artist and a cartoonist? Which one are you?
GN: It’s a matter of how you choose to let your art come out and to what degree you do so. You could also be a cello player, graphic artist, cartoonist and or artist. I suppose I’m all of the above (well, not really: I don’t play cello).
BLAG: Is the cartoon underrated as an art form?
GN: Yes! Although I think that cartoons are being seen more and more as a valid art form as daily strips have become more sophisticated and the rise in popularity of graphic novels.
BLAG: Many of your drawings are very dark, why do you think this is?
GN: I have a very black sense of humour, or a wry way of looking at things. Sometimes I have to stop and look within myself to see what demons are brewing away in there and sometimes they find their way into my imagery. I wanted to paint my bedroom black when I was a kid, but really, I’m a pretty happy person.
BLAG: Most artists are striving to find a niche that fits their sensitivities - where would you like to get to? Is there a painting or a drawing that you could point to and say “That’s a definitive Nowicki.”
GN: My work within the past 2 years has been very illustrative. This is new for me, and I am exploring it but have reached the point where I am now looking at my previous work and wondering if I should reach back and spend some time there again or should I keep on keeping on to see what transpires. Because of this mild identity crisis, I can’t say what a “definitive Nowicki” is.
BLAG: Does being such a regular Internet user help or hinder you as an artist?
GN: It’s done its share of both. Like everyone else, throughout the years I have wasted way too much time just surfing, however, because of the Internet, artists whose work I would never see are available to discover and the ease of research is invaluable. Definitely, the novelty of the Internet wore off for me long ago, but for work, it remains a valuable research asset and a great way to keep in touch and make new contacts with people.
BLAG: Simpsons or South Park?
GN: Simpsons!
BLAG: and while we’re at it, Sopranos or CSI?
GN: Sopranos, if I had the time to watch it regularly. I watch very little TV. When it comes to TV, I have about a 22 minute attention span, not including commercials.
BLAG: What’s your favourite colour?
GN: I don’t have one, but I have favourite combinations. For example, for dinner today I fried chopped tomatoes and cubanelle peppers together. The delicate lime green set against the rich red or the tomatoes was so vibrant and intense.
BLAG: What makes an artist? Is it talent or skill? Which is more important?
GN: Both talent and skill are equally important and on different levels.
From a technical standpoint, those who are born with talent initially don’t have to work as hard as everyone else. However, when you take it one step beyond just rendering images, when you start to put something from within yourself into it, that’s where the art comes in.
From an artistic standpoint, I think up to a point you can learn how to see and think as an artist, even if it’s just an appreciation for the process. The next part though, is to successfully communicate what is within you to the rest of the world. I may be just speaking for myself, but I think the bane of many creative people is the struggle of wielding their skills and intuition to do justice to their ideas: Phenomenal skill becomes weakened by an immaturely formed idea, other times it’s reversed, the idea is well formed, but the technical skill is lacking.
I also think the more you know the more about the process, the more you beat yourself up over it.
BLAG: You have said that your work as a graphic designer works best when it clearly communicates its intended message. Do the other types of art you produce carry messages? If so what are the messages?
GN: Graphic design has to arrange text and graphical components in a way to communicate both intended written and visual messages. The messages are less spelled out and less obvious, sometimes even to me when it comes to my own art - having said that, I have always been a story teller with my art.
Text often becomes part of my work, I like to work in series, sometimes the story is less obvious, and intuitiveness also plays a part. Other times, when I get sick of making visuals, I just write, and that is amazing, how both image and words can spring from the same source within you.
When you work on your own art, rather than a graphic design project, you ultimately call the shots, and it all comes from within you, you get to “let your hair down,” and wear your creative sweats instead of dressing up to go out.
BLAG: What’s your working environment? Do you have any rituals or routines to help you get started?
GN: I sit at a boring computer desk but I have it set up in the front room of the house, it’s out of the main household traffic and has become a study. In front of the window is my drafting table should I ever start a drawing on paper, or a painting but for the time it’s a perfect place for my children to do their homework.
I go for a walk every morning, then I go into work and design stuff for other people and work on the newspaper. When I get home I try to get into my own work for a while, usually my ritual is waffling around and avoidance until I get some gumption to sit down and conquer.
BLAG: Who is Gabrielle Nowicki the artist? Any biographical details you’d like to share?
(Gabrielle couldn’t answer this question, claiming to be “all biographicalled out” Maybe there’s a clue in the illustration below?)
Minnie and Dot Amabale were identical twins, save for the fact that Minnie was very, very good and Dot was very, very evil.
More on Gabrielle at:
www.tindaisies.com
http://gabriellenowicki.blogspot.com/
http://tindaisies.blogspot.com/
