"Each of us expressing our own originality is the essence of art and professionalism." Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990)

An Interview with April Zeller, 1/13/2010.

Why are you an artist, and when did you first become one?

I am an artist because I'm a control freak. I often feel powerless in this world where so many evil outside forces control everything we do, say, think and feel. My art gives me an escape. In my art I find a new hope. I am creating a world of my own design where I make the rules. Art gives me a sense of control over my own destiny. If I want to stack five eyeballs on top of each other while they all look in different directions no one can tell me any different because it's my world and I can do whatever I want with it. My reality is very mundane, tedious, and repetitive. Art is where I can change all that. Art is my alternate reality where I can play God.

Could you tell me more about your work?

In recent years, especially since my graduation from college, I’ve been rapidly evolving. I had trouble in school because I was trying to produce what I thought the professors wanted rather than what I wanted. Now that I am liberated from the bonds of the institution my style has really developed. Another interviewer I had once summed up my work as “hyper-natural” because I take a lot from the natural world and intensify it. I love taking an idea everyone is familiar with, such as the human head, and exaggerating it. I suppose that’s what most artists do, exaggerate things, I just have my own way of doing it.

You seem to use a lot of symbols in your work. Do your paintings tell stories or are they simply decorative elements of the painting?

A bit of both really, it depends on the piece, but if I had to choose one over the other I’d say they’re more often decorative elements. I give the audience a lot of credit; they find more meaning in my work than I do. On several occasions I’ve re-named pieces because of the stories others have found in them. “Family Tree” is a good example of that. In my sketchbook I did a series I called “sticks and stones” which were trees interacting with stone figures. I didn’t have any preconceived story when I was sketching them out. After I painted my favorites from the series and showed them, a friend of mine put himself in the painting as figure and basically explained to me what the painting was about, which was apparently a man supporting his family. I love that. I love the fact that I can spark someone’s imagination.
There are a few pieces where I’ve been very deliberate about the symbolism of the elements, such as in the drawing “Virgo.” Don’t ask me to explain it to you though, I’ve never been good about explaining the meaning behind a meaningful piece- if I was any good with words I’d be a writer.

What famous artists have influenced you, and how?

That’s a really tough question for me. I have a whole catalog of favorite artists, and artists I’ve been compared to, but influences are a different matter. One artist which I would say is one of my biggest influences in R. Crumb. I’ve always wanted to draw comics and any aspiring comic artist looks first to the masters- such as Bob Crumb. He has an eye for detail which is unmatched and I am a very detail-oriented artist. His work also gives the audience an undiluted, unapologetic, and outrageously exaggerated truth.
Another artist which has influenced me is Salvador Dali. His work showed me a place beyond realism, which can look real, but doesn’t need to act real.

What other interests do you have outside of painting?

I love to read when I have the time and a lot of my artwork is inspired by books. I also enjoy writing although I have very little talent for it. I enjoy the theater and the cinema. One of my favorite things is going out and seeing local live music because a majority of my friends are musicians. I am always listening to music while painting and drawing.

So what inspires you to paint and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?

Nothing is more motivating for me than the adrenaline of panic when a deadline is fast-approaching. Rage is also an emotion which keeps me productive. I go through slumps when I’m not being very productive and during those times I feel guilty and depressed, but as soon as I start becoming really angry at myself is when I get back on the creativity train. I am never in short supply of ideas, but the toughest obstacle I have to overcome is just plain old laziness. I can be a bit overconfident at times as well which just adds to the laziness.
Occasionally with a piece I’ll hit a wall and not know where to go with it and that’s when I just step away from it and move on to another project. That way later I can look at it with fresh eyes and be able to make a good decision on its completion. I don’t like to rush things too much even though it might seem that I create things quickly.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

With caution. I’m so focused on making art, improving my art, and trying to build a really great portfolio that I don’t focus as much as I should on the business end of things. Trying to sell art on the internet hasn’t worked out for me yet. I usually get a few sales when I have an art show but never anything significant. I maintain cash flow by keeping a day job because I have bills to pay (student loans mostly). I dream of being able to sustain myself with my art alone but as of right now it’s not feasible. My Aunt says I need to get an agent and maybe I should. My attitude toward the art business is very D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself) because I don’t want to make art for other people. I don’t want to lose control of the decisions regarding my work. I don't like being told what to do and commissions usually dictate the terms of the art- which does not appeal to me. I’ll attack the business side of things when I’m ready. I’m not ignorant of how business works, I’m just lying low right now and concentrating on the art.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I try not to look that far ahead and take a lot of things as they come but I know wherever I am I’ll be drawing.

Selected Exhibitions:

2010: Cloud 9, Corvallis, OR, solo exhibit, 16 pieces
(pic)(pic)(pic)(pic)
2009: The Interzone, Corvallis, OR, solo exhibit, 12 pieces
(pic)(pic)(pic)(pic)
2005: Gallery 51, Portland, Oregon, 3 pieces
2004: Oregon State University's Fairbanks West Gallery, solo exhibit, 14 pieces
(pic)(pic)(pic)(pic)(pic)(pic)(pic)
2002: Squirrel's Tavern, Corvallis Art Crawl, 5 pieces

Education:

2006: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Oregon State Univeristy
2000: McKenzie High School




[Home][The Artist][Blog][Webcomic]
Gallery:[Pegana][Drawings][Watercolors][Acrylics][Prints][Oils][Random]
Questions? Email me!: April.Zeller@gmail.com
All images on this site are ©April Zeller
Last Page Update: 01.21.2010