This week, we are traveling North East of the United States to “The City With A Heart“…, Buffalo, N.Y.   Buffalo is no longer known just for its famous Chicken Wings, (which I have eaten my fair share of), but also for its cultural ethnic melting pot and has recently been declared ‘The Friendliest City’ by the nation. Make yourself a cuppa and let’s visit Buffalo’s uprising star. Polymer Clay Artist Dana Antonia-Truesdale behind “The Midnight Orange”…

Writer’s warning…

You will be in awe of her talent as I am, and I defy you not to be touched by her interpretation of humanity…  Her sculptures might be faceless but they ‘will speak to you’… Dana is an extremely brave Artist. She just not only depict life’s gifts in the colors of the rainbow but also interprets in a tangible way the raw pain, hurt, grief and loneliness that most of us have experienced at one time or another in our our lives. Dana reveals it for the world to see.

me!

jb✶ WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?

dat – I think that for those who have this natural drive in them, there is less of an inspiration to become an artist than there is an inherent need to do so.  It is asking song birds why they sing.  For me personally, I just couldn’t imagine NOT sculpting my emotions out of me.  I think they would burst from me in other, less inspiring ways.  :)

dragonfly3

lifting you up

jb✶ CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

dat – My  process varies based on the moment.  I may be inspired by the color of clay and out comes a fox.  Other times I have something in me that weighs on my being and I have to expel it in clay and be able to put it on a shelf that is away from me.  I have an entire collection called In Some Dark Place that was born via that drive.  Usually once a new collection begins, I tend to obsess over it a quite a bit and mentally walk through sculpting various pieces that would belong in it.  So, to recap and give you the short answer – I am all over the place!  It definitely keeps it fresh though. As for my workspace, my clay is very portable and I sculpt all over the place, basically where ever I am seated including the car!

deepest

orphanage

empty

jb✶ HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOUR WORK?

dat – You know, right now I have been very lucky to not need to do a lot of promotion.  I get a lot of business via word of mouth from my clients and people finding me on Etsy, and am so thankful that they share my work with others.  I also have a lot of traffic coming into the shop from Facebook.  Although I have a fan page on Facebook, I maintain my personal page much better and it is a regular free-for-all in there.  I think as an artist it’s important for people to see not just the work, but the person behind it as well and be able to connect with them from time to time.  I love making friends and being playful with new people.

always with twins

soothing boo's boo boo

the harvest

jb✶ THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO YOU THAT YOU WOULD PASS ON?

dat – I have been given so many pearls of wisdom it is hard to pick one!  Probably the advice I conjure most regularly is to keep the heart in it.  If you don’t have the passion or drive to create a certain piece, it is going to show in the results. Sometimes, although it makes me cringe to do so, I have to turn down a custom request because I worry the results won’t show the integrity and inspiration of the artist.  Without that, the feeling is muted and the voice of the piece silenced.

long distance relationship

jb✶ YOU HAVE MONEY AND 5 MINUTES…  WHAT YOU WOULD BUY AND WHY?

dat – Okay, that seriously took me 15 minutes because I am always so indecisive among wonderful things.  I am going to have to go with this little gnome and teddy because I love small faceless things that depict attachment and sentiment. I also love anything that can be held in the hand and coddled!  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39249213&ref=fp_feat_1
Oh Julie, I was about to plug the artist and just realized this is your piece!  Apparently we are meant to be – how funny!

Etsy:  www.themidnightorange.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themidnightorange
Blogspot: www.themidnightorange.blogspot.com/
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/38927632@N03/

T’il next week… , tourlou!