Featured Artist: Colleen Fitzpatrick

Tell us your name, your Etsy shop name, and what city you live in.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is my “real name,” and my Etsy shop is collfitzpatrick.etsy.com. I still need to work on thinking of something more creative but descriptive — I defaulted to using my name so I could get my shop up. I reside in the fair Lyndhurst, on the East Side of our dear Cleveland!

What is your first memory of your craft? Did someone teach you, or did you learn on your own?
Well, I’ve always been an “artsy” kid. My whole family is artistic in one way or another, so, I’ve been singing, drawing, sculpting, beading, etc., etc., as long as I can remember; with my family, the activities were more participatory and about free creativity and less about having an actual lesson. As far as my more “formal” art goes, I learned printmaking and graphic design in school (at Baldwin-Wallace and Ohio University). I’ve always loved so-called craft projects like making handmade gifts and cards, and I enjoy exploring the relationship between “art” and “craft” and discussing whether there should be a distinction between the two.

What is it that draws you to certain craft materials?
Well, I’m drawn to different types of materials for different purposes. I really haven’t found one medium that can encompass everything I want to do, so I jump around a lot and include many different media often in one project. In general, though, I really enjoy lively colors, things with unique texture, layers, detail. I enjoy the hands-on actions involved in working with a printing plate or block and printing by hand as well as drawing and collaging, but I also appreciate the inherently clean look that a computer-based design can give. I have to say, one of my very most favorite materials is plain old colored pencils. (Well, maybe not so plain — Prismacolors are my top favorite — they’re so smooth!) I love the quality of how it lays on paper, how you can layer and intensify the color, and they’re quite portable, they’re very familiar to almost everyone, and they come in a gazillion colors! There seem to be no (or very few) limitations to colored pencils as a medium, for me.

How would you describe the style of your work? Does it reflect your personal style?
I find it impossible to separate my personal style from that of my work. I strive for sincerity in my life and my work, and this is why the two are so closely related. I am able to, for example, create something that I would not create for myself, given the request (oh, let’s say, like, a picture of Grateful Dead bears using chainsaws to cut down a forest of magical trees — haha!). I am able to remove my own opinion in order to create a piece, but I really think no creator is able to completely remove themselves from a piece: what you create is a part of you. My own work is very much like myself: generally colorful, provocative (in the figurative, cerebral sense), cheery, quirky, and hopefully uplifting.

What are your inspirations? How are they expressed in your work?
I find inspiration in everything I encounter everyday, but I rarely focus my inspiration; when I make things, I sort of just work intuitively, using all of my inspirations collectively. In general, I’m very inspired by music (I listen to a huge variety, and I really love how immediately music/songs can communicate emotion), advertising and displays in clothing stores (colors, typography, layout), world cultures (pattern, color combinations, language/text).

Do you have an all-time favorite creation? What about it makes it your favorite?
My all-time favorite creation at this moment in my life is probably my final thesis project. I created a series of digitally printed posters and then used lead letter-press letters to print text on the front and backs. Each poster was perforated and I encouraged the visitors of the gallery to please take one piece and challenged them to use it for something creative. Each poster had positive, thought-provoking phrases on it (inspired by Jenny Holzer’s “truism” installations). It’s my favorite because it is very personal but also participatory for the viewers, and it is my first work in a gallery — and i had the whole space for my own show! It was quite exciting, and a very positive experience. (I also just really loved how my posters turned out, aesthetically. They all include things very significant to me.)

When did you realize that this was more than a hobby?
Well, I’ve always loved art and creating things since I was little, and it was kind of just natural to want to do it as a profession — that way you get to do it all the time! I decided to study graphic design in college because it really fascinated me how influential design can be, and how all-encompassing it is — people don’t even realize how much EVERYTHING is designed, until you sit down and think about it: “Oh yeah, that actually does communicate well, it wouldn’t be so good if this or that was different” . . . Right now, I’m still looking for a position with an employer where I can use my creative skills, and I’m hopeful that creating won’t be just a hobby for me in the future.

Describe your workspace.
My workspace at the moment is quite quaint. I really do love it, but it would be awesome to have more room (it always would be, wouldn’t it?) I’ve divided my bedroom (I’m living at home for the time being) into two areas: part has my bed and my dressers, and the larger part is my studio space. I have my books (novels, art, history, self-bound) and a few movies on my bookshelves, other drawers and shelves with my supplies (paper, magazines, drawing supplies, miscellaneous tools), I have my desk with my computer (most of my alligator collection can be seen on that shelf above it), my beautiful stereo/record player with my commandeered albums from my mom, and my work table (i.e., a rickety card table — haha!) in the middle, with all of my supplies and tools close at hand.

My workspace is rarely in perfect order, but I can generally find what I need. I love keeping old papers, ribbons, wrappings, etc., to reuse into my work- it’s a challenge to find places to store them though!

What is your favorite task related to your work? Your least favorite?
My favorite task is actually finishing a project. I absolutely hate starting something that requires much construction, calculations. I’m working on making a sort of sketchbook/binder for myself, and I have to do a lot of measuring for it: without fail, whenever I have to do precise measurements, they never work out together in the end.

I’d like to end on a positive note, so I’m going to talk about my favorite again: specifically, I like making cards because they require little preparation (I usually make cards independent of each other, not much sketching or planning involved) and are finished in a relatively short amount of time.

What is your favorite tool? Why?
Ooooo. This is a tricky one. I’d say a sharp X-acto knife. Number 11 blade is the standard, I do believe. I hate having to throw away a dull blade, so I use them until they pretty much don’t cut anymore. But once I get a new one, it’s heavenly. They cut so precisely!

Do you have artistic talents in other areas?
I sing at my church every Sunday with a couple other music ministers. I really enjoy singing and I’ve been told I have a nice voice.

I think it’s important to interpret your entire life artistically, to analyze situations from other perspectives, to question why. I feel this contributes to a diverse, more understanding self, which helps to positively influence those involved in your life and those affected by it.

Tell us something about you that we might be surprised to hear.
I’ve always loved ancient Egypt and wanted to be an archaeologist, even into high school.

Oh — and I also have a German degree. So, I speak German pretty well, and it’s a language most people don’t know a lot of — that’s kinda fun.

Where can we find out more?
I have a blog that I need to update at www.createdbycolleen.blogspot.com. It will offer periodic explanations of my artwork (listings on Etsy). I don’t sell any of my stuff in “real” stores, but if anyone’s interested in seeing it someplace, I’m more than willing to give it a new home!