Good morning, everyone!
Today, I'm launching a brand new series. Because of all that's been going on here at home, I may not get this rolling as fast as I'd like but I hope to introduce you to a creator the 4th Thursday of each month!
Aside from introducing you to a creator, we'll peek inside their studio and see WHERE they create all the things and maybe get an organization tip or two along the way.
Let me introduce you to Anais Chartschenko:
Anais Chartschenko
I had to do some switching around on the guest list and the more I thought about it, the more I thought Anais was the perfect person to kick this off. Why? Because she has just been involved with an amazing children's book project I'll tell you more about in a minute.
I first met Anais earlier this month through a mutual friend on twitter, Gregg McBride. A man talented in his own right on so many levels. I feel blessed to now only call him friend but to have met this lovely lady in cyberspace, as well.
Here's a bit about Anais:
Anaïs Chartschenko bee-lieves that
persistence and enthusiasm can transform into talent and luck. After being told
by an English teacher that she couldn't write, she went on to publish multiple
books (The Weightless One and Sailing Toward Us). She was advised she shouldn't
dream of pursuing something as complex as opera, and so she learned to sing arias
in several languages. She was informed quite firmly that being an illustrator
was out of the question―yet this is her first illustrated children's book.
People also said she would never grow to be 5 feet tall...well, can't win 'em
all!
How Fun! Anais is the perfect example of "don't tell me what I can't do!" She'll show you it can be done - well, except for the getting taller part ;-)
Let's jump into the Q & A:
What got you started on the
creative path?
There was never any other path for
me. I wrote stories, drew pictures, and started banging on a piano as a child.
I probably gave a lot of people headaches.
How has your creativity
evolved?
I learned discipline. Without
that, it is very difficult to turn creativity into a long-lasting habit.
What do you enjoy most about
your creative path?
The best part of being on the
creative path are all the other artists you meet along the way. I've met other
writers I admire like Jacopo della Quercia, JD Estrada, Eva Leigh, and Assaph
Mehr. I've played music with all sorts
of musicians. I study opera with Kristina Jones, a world traveled leading lady
opera singer. Knowing her has made my life richer, and of course made me a
better artist.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by a lot of things,
probably the same things that inspire most artists. Art, music, literature,
life. For Biron the Bee Who Couldn't, a children's book I illustrated, written
by Gregg McBride, I looked at a lot of nature photography. I read and watched
everything bee related that I could so that I could design a bee that was
unique to our book. I thought about the art I love looking at again and again,
like the Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman- particularly artists David Mack and
Dave McKean- and Yoshitaka Amano's artwork (Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D).
I try to blend all my inspiration
together to create something new.
NOTE: To find out more about Gregg McBride and their book - Biron the Bee Who Couldn't - check out the feature on them on my author blog - CLICK HERE:
When did you move from hobby to
business and what initiated the transition?
My first job as a teenager was
painting cars for demolition derby. I painted a giant squirrel on the roof of a
tow truck so people in the stands could see it. It was as fun for me as it was
for the driver to plan the design of their car.
I've done different jobs in the arts over the years. Part of the reason
is that it was the area I excelled at and the other factor is I was willing to
do off the beaten path projects.
What do you love most about
your space and would you change anything?
I love that I always have a fully
stocked tea and coffee cupboard. I don't have a dedicated office. I set up shop
at my kitchen table, a nice round glass table that lets me zone out on the tile
below. I like that the room has nice windows, and I have aloe vera growing
around me complete with garden gnomes. It is a miniature indoor garden. I have
written books there, so it works out alright.
I would like to get a sit-stand
desk with adjustable height. I've also seen crafting closets like Create Room
which I think would be nice for storing art supplies.
What 3 things do you feel are
important when planning a space?
I mostly think about practical
considerations. I want to have enough outlets. I want to have a space to put my
tea cup. I want to be close to the bathroom.
What is your best organization
tip?
I'm not very organized. It is
something I have to work at. I try to keep all my music books together, all my
paints together, and so on. That helps when looking for things. I have a
journal I use for keeping track of word count deadlines and that sort of thing.
I folders for each book I write with all the content relevant to each book in
its folder- character sheets, setting, research, manuscript versions, ect. Having
them in groups like that saves time for me.
What is your best tip for
anyone wanting to turn their craft into a business?
It as a business. People in the
arts are often expected to give away their work for free. They are given the
promise of exposure or reminded art is created from passion. But exposure and
passion don't pay the bills. Know the value of your work.
You will find Anais Chartschenko by following any of the social medai links below:
WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TWITTER YOUTUBE
I'm not sure who our guest will be next month so stay tuned. I may not have blog posts next week. That will be Bob's last week home and we've had almost no time for just the two of us in two months. I do have a special announcement coming up July 1 as well as a slew of projects for the entire month so don't go too far!
Creative Blessings!
~Kelly
