Your Daily Muse News

When I came across this artist, my jaw just dropped to the floor, I was blown away by this lady's talent ! I am sure you will enjoy not only the eye candy but the answers to my interview questions ! Lets begin ….

DM: What is your artistic medium?
MO: My mediums are paint and clay. It depends on what I have in mind for the piece whether I use polymer clay or air dry clay, and I always use acrylic paint.


DM: Where can your art be seen?
MO: On the computer my art can be seen on "My Space"... I also have a couple Blogs...http://realitysuckspeanutbutter.blogspot.com/ (DM: LOVE the name of that one ! ) and http://artgeckostudio.blogspot.com/. You can also find me on ETSY.
I belong to various guilds...and groups which present my style of art,http://www.elfwood.com/~mysty1 and last but not least...I have a Barber Shop called Sweeney's in Tucson, Arizona (DM" how cute of a name for a barber shop !) and I fill my walls with my art that I create in the studio area of my shop!


DM: When and how did you first become interested in your medium?
MO: This is a little weird, I have always had to draw, paint or sculpt, but I've had a busy life. I didn't always have the time to create art. In the year 2000 I promised I would make myself happy and concentrate on my art. One day I had a gentleman in my barber chair and I couldn't help but look at the catalog he was thumbing through. It was a taxidermist's catalog. I never knew what was under a deer skin when it was up on the wall, but there it was, a foam deer form. I thought they looked like baby dragons. I was thinking...if I cover one with air dry clay I could sculpt a dragon! So that's what I did! I haven't stopped yet. Then I paint them with acrylics and I use taxidermy glass eyes, they sometimes look as if they need to be fed!


DM: Once you decided to pursue your art, how did you start off, trial and error, books, classes, videos, formal schooling?
MO: I think everything in art is trial and error, you just know you have to make stuff. Sometimes you like it...other times you throw it in the trash before anyone sees it. I'm a mood artist, when I really am in the mood to create, I don't worry about the time or whether I'm hungry I just have to keep going.
Love the great books on polymer clay they have in the bookstores, I have just always had to do art. My dad was a newspaper man and when I was in preschool he'd bring home stakes of unprinted newsprint paper and I'd fill them full of everything I could think of! Looking back... he was probably trying to keep my from filling up the walls! No formal schooling, self taught, I paint and sculpt things I am obsessed with!


DM: Out of what you tried, was there any particular thing that you would recommend to someone just starting out?
MO: If I had to pick something for a beginner, I say try air dry clay. It's nice to have the 3D and feel it in your hands. But that's really where the trial and error comes in... try different things until you find the thing that fits YOU!

DM: What do you enjoy most about working with your medium?
MO: With my clay dragons, I like how they effect the viewer, they often don't know it's clay...that's nice!


DM: What do you find the most frustrating?
MO: How long my dragons take to finish. There are a bunch of steps...but I always know when one is done!

DM: Where do you find your inspirations for what you create?
MO: I find inspiration in other artists work, I get sparks from other artists, not to copy but to create something beautiful of my own. I fell in love with Boris' work many years ago. I have his books and calenders you name it. Fantasy art...reality is too real... I find it very depressing!


DM: Tell us a little about one of your favorite creations:
MO: I have a large blue dragon I made. It's a female and she is turning her head and licking her shoulder. When I put her on the wall she was turning to the wall. It was just looked wrong...all her energy was stopped at the wall. So I cut out a renaissance shaped window from ply wood. I put screen around the outside and sculpted the stones of a castle window. I had professional glass cutters install a mirror and then mounted my "Looking Glass Dragon" in front of it! Now her energy is reflected in the never ending window! She's my favorite.


DM: Have you ever experienced artist block and how did you overcome it?
MO: Oh yes, it's awful. I try to stay away from my art until my mood changes or I'll mess something up. I watch a great movie, read a book, go on the web and see what other artist are doing...that makes me want to create! Or it will rain!

DM: What is the biggest mistake you have ever made as an artist? What did you learn from it?
MO: Maybe it wasn't the biggest but costly and time consuming...I was trying to cut corners by not using a primmer before painting. With out primer your paint will then soak into the clay, the texture will be different and your colors won't be true. It's just not worth it. Don't rush your art, do it right the first time then your end product will be something you can be proud of!


DM: Would you please tell about your studio set-up?
MO: My studio is the back room in my barber shop, if I'm at work. if I'm home it's on the floor in front of my TV. I paint and sculpt between haircuts, and I carry my paint to and from work everyday because if I don't I will be in the mood and all my stuff will be in the other place...it will drive me crazy(er).


DM: When is your favorite time to create?
MO: There is no favorite time, when ever the mood strikes!


DM: What advise would you give someone starting out in this medium?
MO: Just get your hands dirty, if you don't like it... tear it up. Make something else, until you like it. As long as YOU like it, that's all that matters, then someone else will!


DM: Are there any artist that inspire you or that you admire?
MO: I mentioned Boris, several of the masters of course. but there is also Linda Smith, she's a fairy artist, she does tutorials and has a blog and so on...wow she makes the most beautiful fairies.


DM: Tell us a bit about yourself.
MO: I have always loved doing art. I married young had children and step children. I became a barber because my husband needed a barber, I became a musician because he needed a bass player. I worked two jobs night and day for over 20 years. Now I only work one, I retired as a musician, I now have time for my art...DO NOT WAIT TO DO YOUR ART! Do what makes you happy...follow your BLISS!


DM: Anything else you wish to share?
MO: I'd like to share my sincere Thanks to Muse News for thinking of me for their interview. I'm honored.
Bless you and thank you again,
Misty Oakley

DM: Believe me, it has been a please looking over your art and learning about you !

Till tomorrow.... keep creating !
Tina aka Daily Muse