Dianne Collinson : A Yellow Springs Ceramic Artist

Nancy and I had the pleasure of visiting with Dianne Collinson at her Yellow Springs Home and Ceramics Studio. When we walked into her house what stuck us immediately was Dianne's wonderful sense of design. Everywhere we looked there was something to catch our eye or interest. Even in the kitchen functional ceramic art pieces displayed on the open shelves beckon the eye, as well as a her beautiful ceramic backsplash, which is one of Dianne's earliest pieces. 

Over coffee and home baked sinfully delicious desserts we asked Dianne a few questions.

What’s the stereotype in your mind of an older woman? 

Ceramic Studio Entrance

The women in my family never tell their age, and we are all complicit in this. Perhaps that comes from a fear of being stereotyped, or perhaps vanity. On occasion someone has been “outed” when they are really, really old and the disclosure has never made that woman happy. Lately I have been trying out the word “old” a lot when referring to myself. It is kind of an experiment to see if the word will lose its power if I use it a lot. So far it hasn’t.

Do you also have a stereotype of an older woman artist? 

This is interesting. When I visualize women artists I admire, they are all mature women, women of a certain age, looking very settled into themselves. Think of it. Georgia O’Keefe, Louise Bourgeois, Eva Zeisel, Lucy Rie, Fannie Nampeyo. Some might have been seen as little old ladies, but all were vital working artists right up until they died. I think the work, the designing, the making may have helped them all live long, productive and artful lives. That, and maybe having a nice young man around the studio to help out. I can aspire to all of that.

Have you ever felt stereotyped because of your age? 

I have felt minimized, not seen, and ignored at times. Sometimes it has seemed as if younger people I have worked with have projected a teacher or parent image toward me and have acted as if I was that person. But really, I am of the rock and roll generation. I share a birthday with Janice Joplin. I am the same age as Mick Jagger. That puts  things back into perspective for me. I can still rock.

Describe someone who busts that myth for you.

My grandma Rozeboom. She was born in the late 19th century in a lumber camp in Michigan, became a circuit rider in the high planes, married a widower and had 4 children on the barren acres of North Dakota, and then moved to California in a Model T where the family started a chicken ranch. She stayed there until her 90’s and continued to keep a fine garden and live independently until she had a stroke in her late 90’s. She always looked like a stereotypical older woman, her long white hair always in a braided bun and a plain, button front housedress, but she was so strong and capable… and could still touch her toes at 95. Although fundamentally religious, I know that at her core she knew that women could do everything that men could.

Have people assumed that you wouldn't like some kind of art because of your age?

Not really. Much art innovation occurred in the 20th century by artists older and weirder than me. 

Have you ever experienced a bias against you or your art because of your age or gender? 

I think all older people experience degrees of bias because we live in an age which seeks the 18-48 year demographic. But I have never experienced bias against my art. And actually I was hired in an art related, creative and physically demanding job after retiring from my long time 9-5 job. Maybe because I’m still deceptive about my age.

What kind of art do you do?

Until recently I never used the term artist to describe myself. I have used my hands to make things since I was little. I am a builder, a user of tools, a problem solver, a seamstress, a weaver, a painter, a decorator, and I have always tried to achieve an artful result in my making. Now my medium is clay. It is my favorite pursuit to date.

Has the aging process made working on your art different, harder? 
Yes. It keeps getting harder. Clay work requires a lot of heavy lifting. It’s very physical.

Have you made adjustments or tried new ways of working because of aging?

Yes. I can’t do all the physical stuff I used to. I have to ask for help or figure out how to break tasks down into manageable size. I have to limit myself to 25 # of clay to carry in rather than just lifting the 50 # box. I don’t like these limitations.

What advice would you give young artists? 

Don’t censor yourself. Just make. I don’t always take my own advice.

What have you learned from being an older artist? 

Younger is better.

Is it any better than when you were younger? No. See above. 

Do you see yourself being able to keep doing art as you age? 

Yes 

Is it still fun? 

I wouldn’t ever call it fun. It’s a lot of trial, error, frustration, overthinking, etc. but when everything is working and there is flow, it is just the best feeling there is.

What do you enjoy the most about creating art? 

Just that. The process when everything is clicking.


LINKS
Dianne's WEBSITE
Dianne's work can be found at Village Artisans at 100 Corry Street in Yellow Springs

Step Into the Wonderful World of Artist Kathy Verner Moulton

 Yum!  Kathy Moulton greeted us with a plate of killer brownies waiting on her table and started steaming mocha lattes for us.  This was going to be a delicious interview! 

Kathy had designed her beautiful, open living space to be inviting and comfortable.  There are rocking chairs and a wood burning stove,  art-deco lamps sending warm golden light and a wrap around screened in front porch that you can get to from the living room. She has had decades of experience drawing house plans. Take a drive around Yellow Springs with Kathy and she can point out houses all over the Village that she drew the plans for.

From designing the stained glass in her front door, to the quilts on the wall, to the cozy breakfast nook surrounded by glass that looks out over the pond in the back yard, her creativity is everywhere. 

In her 20's-40's, while singing and playing the guitar in local venues, she had a traveling business that taught crafts to kids, while raising her own 2 kids and setting type in code for Bingenheimer Design.   She learned to weave and quilt and made most anything she set her mind to.

Kathy had filled out our questionnaire with thoughtful replies and you can read her answers a little farther down.   But first, we sat down to enjoy the lattes and brownies and asked a few more questions. When we asked - how do you want to grow as an artist?- she quickly mentioned learning to use an I Pad Pro and then after reflecting, she told us a long time dream -to do a cartoon animation. She had loved the Disney Movies from the time she was a kid and always wanted to be part of that.  She also thinks it might be fun to learn to sculpt her characters out of clay.

We asked her about how she got new ideas?  She said it usually had been out of a need.  Need?  I wasn't sure what she meant by that. She went on to say “When I wanted something for my house, stuff for my kids, I couldn't afford to go out and buy it.  If I wanted wall art, I needed to make wall art.”  Kathy is very good at figuring out how to do things.  She has been mostly self taught all her life, in all the skills she uses. She took a one quarter course to draw house plans and then learned much more as she went.  The same with her abundant skills on the computer, she uses her drawing skills and the computer with the techniques and shortcuts she has discovered and perfected, for her own way of creating.

When it comes to creating, Kathy says she's a loner.  She quietly works out of her home studio.  (She has described herself sometimes as the “Not So Vocal Local”) But to balance that she has reached out into different Community Art Groups.  She is a member of Village Artisans, a Yellow Spring's Artist Co-op and she is on the Gallery Committee with the Yellow Springs Arts Council.  She is also part of the  Stewardship Committee that takes care of the YS Arts Council Permanent Collection.  She has designed quite a few art logos for different projects and created the visual art for the YS-Opoly Game Board and Cover. Currently you can see her beloved corgi artworks in the new Yellow Springs  Mills Park Hotel  

“Art is my escape, otherwise I would sit around and worry about everything.”  That sounds like the best stress buster ever-Make Art!

Thank you Kathy for the delicious interview!

WHY IS ART IMPORTANT TO YOU?

It is just who I am. I am a person who expresses myself by creating things. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I didn't make art. My works are usually funny or pretty; something to hopefully make myself or someone else smile. It balances the dark things in life.

WHAT KIND/TYPE OF ART DO YOU DO?

I create humorous images which I frame or print as note cards and I have illustrated and published my own children's stories and a memoir of Yellow Springs. I draw and paint digitally creating many layered images which I then can print out on an inkjet printer. I have also worked in many other areas, some I occasionally still explore.

Models for corgi art are her beloved corgis Miss Molly and Jasper aka Jazz

I have drawn realistically as well as whimsically with pencil and pen and I have painted with watercolor inks as well as acrylics. I did experience pastels and oil paints in school.

I worked in home design, reworking our own house as well as designing an apartment for my Mom. I had my own business for 15 years drafting plans for houses for individuals and local builders. I most often drew the building plans as specified by the builder's or home owner's, but often, when needed, I would create solutions for designs.

I have always been a person who sews. I have sewn in order to make clothing and household items like curtains and quilts, but I have also designed wallhangings and original stuffed animals as well as dolls I called "Yellow Springers".

I have been a weaver, working on a large countermarsh loom, creating with colored yarns to make shawls, blankets and rugs.

I have worked in collage, at one point using it to create the illustrations for one of my children's stories.

WHEN DID YOU START DOING ART?

I do not remember ever not doing art. I had a bulletin board in my room I used to decorate like the ones we did at school. My family made egg heads out of dyed hard boiled eggs at Easter. I sewed doll clothes and made clothespin dolls from a McCalls magazine for Christmas decorations. I was always making art.

DO YOU CONSIDER YOU HAVE AN ART CAREER, OR AN AVOCATION OR BOTH?

Both. It has not been a money making career until recent years and even then you could not live off the income. It is more like breathing.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT CREATING ART?

I think I enjoy most that point when it all starts to click. When the idea starts to gel and I can see that I am getting it; it's working. This often follows right behind moments of doubt and frustration, when I maybe step back for a minute and then all of a sudden it is like a window has been opened. It is very exciting.

DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC STUDIO HOURS?

No. It is just whenever I have the time to work. Wherever I can fit it in.

HAS AGE INCREASED YOUR NEED TO CREATE ART OR ABILITY TO BRING YOUR ART IDEAS TO FRUITION?

Yes. Age has brought confidence and more self assurance. I now believe I will come up with something; that I can trust it is there. That I can trust in my ability and that it will be good. I have also found that with the way I have learned to work on the computer. I don't have to second guess myself and get hung up on right or wrong. I can easily start over, or try a new tact. I work in layers, creating my characters and props and scenery separately and together. It is easy to try one direction and then another without losing anything. It is very freeing.

IS THERE A BIAS AGAINST THE STYLE OF WORK YOU DO AND IS IT A GENERATIONAL BIAS, OR GENDER BIAS?

I think that not everyone understands what I do. The idea that I am working on a computer I believe makes some people think the computer is generating the art. I switched from painting on paper with ink to the computer after years of drawing house plans. I found I could paint so much more freely and I kind of found my own way of doing it in Photoshop. I think some might think it is a trick rather than understanding that I am drawing and painting. It just isn't messy. I suppose younger people may have more experience to understand more. I really haven't seen age or gender making a difference.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT BIAS HAS AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY?

I don't see that gender or age bias has affected me. I imagine if I were working in a design studio somewhere I might feel some. I think women at any age feel a bias in the workplace. However I have worked at home in my own studio in Yellow Springs at my own pace. I have sensed bias against that fact that my work is happy/cute. I think some folks think art has to be dark and serious. As I said earlier I see a lot of darkness in the world and I prefer to focus on the light.

HAVE PEOPLE ASSUMED THAT YOU WOULDN'T LIKE SOME KIND OF ART BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE?

I haven't experience that.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE AN OLDER WOMAN ARTIST?

This is just me and I am getting older. 

HAS THE AGING PROCESS MADE WORKING ON YOUR ART DIFFERENT, HARDER?

I guess maybe I need more breaks and I can no longer work deep into the night and not sleep. The physical is offset by the confidence gain.

HAVE YOU MADE ADJUSTMENTS OR TRIED NEW WAYS OF WORKING BECAUSE OF AGING?

I have tried new ways just because new ways are interesting. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG ARTISTS?

I would say enjoy, believe in yourself and do it for yourself. Connect and reach out to other people. Not everyone is good at both creating and promoting. 

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM BEING AN OLDER ARTIST?

Everything up to now.

IS IT ANY BETTER THAN WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER?

Yes. It grows exponentially.

HOW HAS YOUR ART CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

I have tried different mediums. I have gained experience and confidence.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING ABLE TO KEEP DOING ART AS YOU AGE?

I don't think I have any choice.

DO YOU THINK YOU WILL EVER HAVE TO STOP BEING AN ARTIST?

I believe I will do it one way or another. As I said it is who I am.

IS IT STILL FUN?

Yes.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE ARTISTS PAST AND PRESENT?

I do love the work of Mary Cassatt and Georgia O'Keeffe.

WHICH ART INSPIRES YOU?

I am inspired by artists such as the above, but in my current area I am inspired by many many people. Children's illustrators I couldn't begin to name. Animators for Pixar and Disney. Cartoonists. Puppet makers for Jim Henson. 

WERE YOU MENTORED OR SUPPORTED IN YOUR ART/ART CAREER?

My Mom always appreciated my art. She helped me send out my very first portfolio. I had some good art teacher's in school. My husband has always supported my need to work, both with time and finances. There have been people her in Yellow Springs who have been very supportive over the years, many were friends who were specifically in support groups with me. I have a long list of people I acknowledge at the front of my book "My Town". A few of these are: Arnold Adoff who gave me great advice and help planning out some of my early stories. Anna Arbor who help me hang my very first show. Suzanne Clauser who believed in me enough to hire me to illustrate her novella. Most recently Nancy Mellon has been my number one cheer leader.

KaVoooM Productions :: Kathy Moulton :: Welcome!

Kathy Verner MMoulton is an artist, illustrator and children's book author living in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Through KaVooom Productions, she sells her images of animals in a variety of situations as prints and notecards.

LINKS

About Kathy
Kathy's Books can be purchased on Amazon or if you are in town drop by Village Artisans Gallery 
Visit Dayton City Paper Page 23 to read the "Have a holly,jolly corgi" article

visit Dayton City Paper Page 23

Taking Flight can be viewed at the Yellow Springs Permanent Collection currently showing at Antioch Midwest