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The December mayhem has set in, and we’re only 3 days into the month.   And my own art has taken a back seat to other commitments and tasks once again. It seems I can’t every find the time to plot and illustrate and plan and follow through on those plans.  I vow this year will be different.  I’m putting up a real tree (rare in my household), and this month’s artist has inspired me to string popcorn in addition to my well-planned and plotted decorative theme.  And this year, art will happen IN ADDITION TO and inspite of all the holiday mayhem.  AND without all the traditional plotting and planning.  I am excited to see where it goes…

This month’s artist has spent years learning the art of letting go and production through play.   Her work reflects a deep connection to the beauty of nature without hidden agendas–just connection and PLAY.

ArtAndArtDeadlines.com is proud to claim Emily Mitchell as this month’s Featured Artist. This work spotlights home and family and parenting and human connection–life, really.  And, I really needed it.  Please let it sink it and consider it a holiday gift.

FEATURED
ARTIST:
Emily Mitchell

For the past 20 years, Emily Mitchell has been working as an art educator, and holds a M.A. Ed. in Art Education.  The joy of teaching artists has allowed her to thrive on inspiration from others including teaching High School Art, including AP Studio Art, at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburgh, Vermont.  Mitchell had the opportunity to work with John Crowe from Massachusetts College of Art, and with Peter London, Professor Emeritus of Art Education, UMass Dartmouth.  “I am eternally grateful to them both for allowing me to simply play in my work.”

When not making art or managing family, Mitchell can often be found swimming with the BASS Masters Swim team, riding her bike with the kids,  battling weeds in the garden, GF baking, obsessing about acappella music, reading, or exploring a small corner of Vermont.

How has the teaching art to others informed your own approach? Has years of teaching informed your sense of play? “Without question, I love making art with people, and I find that interacting with them, through is invaluable to my own art. My mind works in a very spiral manner – my train of thought will go from a process, to thinking and making connections through art history – helping others grow. Right now I teach adults and do the occasional workshop. But before this, I spent 16 years teaching K-5 in Massachusetts, and then 9-12 here in Vermont. Back in 2000, after reading “The Dot” by Peter Reynolds to my 4th graders, I saved their responses to the story, and often, when I am stuck, or frustrated, I will look at it. Its truly magic, free, full of joy, and THAT feeds me! Plus, kids are hilarious – and I learn so much from what they bring (mainly joy and abandon) to art making!”

Talk to me about your paint process. For example, which comes first, the title and concept or the work?  “The process I currently use is an amalgamation of three amazing art course I have taken in my life – plus about 40 years of making art. The first was called “Vigorous Play for Artists/Teachers” and it was taught at UMASS by John Crowe.  I took the course in the summer of 1998, and it changed my life–Crowe did not talk for the entire week!  He pushed us through readings, critiques, and playful challenges, which for me, resulted in a wonderful body of artists books, and a show of my work and the work of my elementary students. The second was called “Drawing Closer to Nature” with Peter London – that one was hosted by Kirpalu.”

“The third class I took just last year in January of 2013.  Flora Bowley’s e-course, Bloom True, reinvigorated all that I “knew” in terms of process, approach, but had neglected, forgotten and moved away from after 8 years of teaching more “formal” technical drawing.  Most importantly, Flora’s class helped me let go of needing to know what my work was going to look like.

“Now, I literally feel my way through my work…”

“…working in layers, responding to colors, patterns, textures, feelings, a word in a song… the title could come from any of those things, or simply a feeling weeks later (or if I’m hanging a show and I’m like, “Crap! I need a title fast!”).  I find that the final pieces really reflect a mood or idea in my own life, and the visual result is part of the process of understanding.”

You seem to have VISUAL connection to nature?  Is there a deeper underlying meaning or connection for you?  I spent 5 summers working at summer camp in Connecticut.  I found that this place helped me find myself more than college or traveling ever did.  It was a place of deep personal growth and connections–and it happens to be on its own private lake, surrounded by trees.  The light & sounds there are unlike any other.  I still hear them in dreams.  Now, I am lucky enough to live in Vermont (where it gets damn cold!), but there is beauty everywhere here–in the food, in the woods.

While I love the culture of cities,
I need space, air and green to fully breathe and live!

What are you trying to say with your work? How does it connect to your need to explore human connection?  “Because I do not plan anything at all, I really feel like each piece is a response or story about the paint, my heart, and everyone’s desire to feel connected to others.  While the characters in the work may be realistic (birds, trees) or abstract (bubbles or circles) the connection and harmony within the space is there and somewhat intentional.  Ironically, I need to plan less in my daily life–but that’s hard to do with two busy kids!”

What style or school of art do you think work fits into?  “My work is probably Realistic Expressionist, maybe?  Color is certainly predominant in the art, but so is space and depth.”

What is your favorite food addiction?  “Ok, this is going to sound really boring, but I actually LOVE salad with roasted veggies, my own greens, chicken and either goat or feta cheese. I essentially chop up whatever I have in my veggie drawer season with “slacker herbs” (aka Mrs. Dash) and a bit of oil. My husband also makes a mean maple balsamic dressing – I DO live in Vermont so any excuse to use Maple…We also have a pretty large localvore movement here in Vermont with about 10 CSAs (community-supported or shared agriculture) I can think of right around me! I have a garden, where I grow purple carrots, beans, lettuce, etc. and when possible, I do try to purchase as much meat and produce locally.”  You are a woman after my heart.  Veggies rock my world sometimes, and we certainly have goat cheese in common.  But honestly, I’m going to pick chocolate every time.

What if your favorite snack food obsession?  “Popcorn. I could easily eat about 12 cups of it. We make it old school with Oil in our “Whirly Pop”, and I use an herb salt on it, and when I’m feeling really VT hippy, I also toss a bit of nutritional yeast on it.”   Okay, I edit responses to questions–usually only for length.  So, most readers have NO IDEA how often I hear about nutritional yeast.  Clearly, I am going to have to give in and try it.

On a more personal note , most of my readers know I don’t’ eat gluten due to the ugly presence of Celiac disease in my household–2 of the 3 of us. So,  if you don’t mind my asking, how long have you been GF?  *Editor’s Note:  Published with full permission of the artist.  “I have Thyroid Disease, and it was suggested I try being GF to help my thyroid function. It was also suggested to ditch dairy to be truly on the anti-inflammatory free diet…but man I LIVE IN VERMONT–there is NO WAY I am bailing on cheese!  We have so much amazing cheese!  So I limit cheese and diary but skip the wheat.  Ironically, my asthma went away after eliminating wheat.”  My son’s lactose intolerance completely disappeared, and he is happy to trade gluten for cheese any day.

What’s coming up next for you?  “I have this idea for 20-30 small wood panel paintings to be displayed together – I may do this as part of an upcoming art-a-day event.  I have also been pushing myself to do two portrait drawings per month to keep the ‘classical’ drawing skills fresh!”

Thank you, Emily, for reminding us that
play is productive.

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