Interview with Kitty Cantrell
What is something most people are surprised to learn about you?
I am a "scaredy cat" about being in crowds of people. Artist
appearances are very stressful for me. I don't know how to "be in
the in-crowd"–even when people do like me. I guess I worry that
people will be disappointed that I don't live up to their idea of what
an "artist type" should be. I am a hermit by nature.
Who was your greatest inspiration?
I have a hard time with the question of "whom". It is more of
"what". I find animal colors, textures, muscles moving beneath
hides, their personalities and their habitats inspirational. It's all so
big and wonderful to me! I think when I sculpt a Critter I start to
understand it more…why it is the way it is. Nature constantly "wow's"
me.
Can you give an example of a piece that you created for a specific
reason?
Each of my sculptures are created for a specific reasons. Some are
commissions, which is someone else's vision. Some are for fun.
Some happen because I feel a need to do them. Sometimes a
gesture, form or texture captures me and I have no peace until I
work it out in clay!
What is your favorite color and why?
RED. Red skies-sunsets, red sandstone, red earth, red clay red
pigment red passion red hair (gray now!).
What is it that you like most about your art?
It keeps me alive. I can work out my thoughts on almost anything
while working in clay. It pays my bills and it's fun. I can take time
out to chase a summer thunderstorm and work thru the night to
catch up if I want. It pleases me to do a job well and it also pleases
me when others like it to.
What is it about creating that you love?
I like the challenge of each new piece. I try to improve, to perfect,
and to capture a personality or moment in time. I become (at least
for a little while) a part of the sculpture- I try to understand a little
more and I end up finding out how little I actually know about
anything involved in the process.
Who are your favorite artists? Past? Present?
Will James, Carl Rungius, Ray Harris-Ching, Robert Lougheed, Rien
Poortvliet, Kent Ullberg and most anything painted by elephants.
What is your favorite story to tell about your art?
I was working on "Windwalker" ( a life-size eagle) doing 12-20 hour
days. Not eating, just working at a manic pace. My friends would
drop in on me at odd times of the day and night to bring me food
and check on how things were going. My good friend, Gene, said
after looking into the eagle's mouth, "Hey, aren't you going to give
him any tonsils?" And then he said the eyes weren't round enough. I
fixed these flaws to his satisfaction and nicknamed Gene the
"round-eyed tonsil guy". It used to crack him up and no one else
knew what we were talking about.
What do you collect and how do you display them?
I collect original paintings when I can afford them or swap for them.
I also collect glass and wood carvings-odd stuff. I collect skulls also.
I use them to study animal forms. I never understood why
opossums always smile until I saw the skull. They cannot help it.
The bones make their faces do that.
What is the one thing you would like to tell your collectors?
Only buy art if you really like it. You should never buy art for the
investment value. If you don't want to look at it every day-then just
pass it by. Buy it when it truly pleases you.
How many personal appearances do you make in a year?
None lately. I hope to arrange something for the near future. They
are usually rare appearances.
Do you go online?
I am a "lookey-lu" on the Internet sometimes. I don't know how to
do anything else. I am still in the Stone Age a bit. I don't
understand computers very much. They still scare me.
Describe your studio and the type of environment in which you most
enjoy working (i.e. music, TV, books on tape, etc.). When do you
work?
My studio...hmmm. There is a resin eagle hanging from my ceiling.
Misc. skulls are around. Buckets upon buckets of clay take up floor
space. Bronzes in different stages of "not done yet" sit around.
Desert pictures are all over the place. Medicine bags here and there.
A raven decoy looking over everything from his perch. Many shelves
of books on tape and music cd's. Musical selections range from
aboriginal stuff, Enya, Kris Kristofferson, Country to old Led Zeppelin
to Nirvana-just about anything except Rap or Disco-none of that
allowed! Favorite books on tape: Dean Koontz & Stephen King and
true life/non-fiction.
What do you do when you are not working?
I work most of the time. At least once or maybe twice a week I go to
a local State Park. I sometimes go with my two hiking pals but
mostly I go solo. I wander around, chase storms, watch the animals,
learn about the plants. The Desert is my second passion. I am
totally at home there. My favorite time of year is the hottest part of
summer. No one else goes at that time of year. I get it all to
myself. Hermits require lots of time alone.
What do collectors tell you about your artwork that has made a
lasting impression?
They say things like "it's so real-so much personality". The Critters
just make folks laugh.
Have you ever participated in an online community discussion or
chat about collecting?
No. Never. I don't know how to work a computer enough for that.
How do you account for the overwhelming affinity that collectors have
for your product?
All I can ask is, Do they?
What was the inspiration behind your first creation? Did you have
any idea that it would become a collectible?
I don't remember my first creation. I have been creating in many
ways and forms for a long time now. It is a way of life for me.
Do you do any special kind of research before embarking on a
project?
I keep lots of files on every kind of animal. I have a very large
reference library. I also use the Internet for various info I seek. The
San Diego Wild Animal Park is a great resource. I do as much
research as I can before I start anything.
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