Nigel Dawson, Featured Artist November 2016

April 06, 2017Shawna Caro

Nigel Dawson is a technical officer at Southern Cross GeoScience in the beautiful Northern Rivers region of New South Wales Australia. He is a life-long learner, enthusiastic photographer, and avid cook. He can be reached at ndawson2003@gmail.com.

TL: How did you become interested in photography?

ND: My interest in photography emerged over several years. I had always enjoyed taking snapshots without really knowing what I was doing. As cellphones with good cameras became widely available I started taking more photos. Over time friends and family began to comment on my photos and a couple of years ago I purchased my first DSLR. That is when I really discovered a passion for photography.

TL: What kind of camera do you use for your photos? Any other equipment that you use?

ND: For my digital images I use a Canon 1200D (Rebel T5) with a variety of old and new lenses. For film photography, I use an old East German Praktica 35mm, a really weird Japanese twin-lens reflex Nikkoflex camera, a Holga 120 panoramic pinhole camera, and I am just learning how to use a Cambo 4"x 5"large format view camera.

TL: I noticed that the majority of your photos are nature-oriented. Do you prefer taking nature photos or do you have other subjects as well?

ND: As an introvert, I would much prefer to be in nature than around people, it seems my photography reflects that. Having said that, I would like to try my hand at street photography soon.

TL: What are some of your favorite things to photograph?

ND: My favorite subjects at the moment are tiny flowers. Hidden away in plain view and thought of as a nuisance by many, the beauty in these blossoms go largely unnoticed. In addition to looking at the overlooked, the technical problems that need to be overcome to get a really good macro photograph present a fun challenge.

TL: Has your photography been displayed at any other venues (online or in person)?

ND: No, not yet. That is an avenue that I want to explore once I have learned more and developed a style of my own.

TL: What photos do you consider to be your best and why?

ND: My favorite photograph is one that I took several years ago while wandering around Emporia, KS. It is a close-up image of the cracked memorial bell that resides outside the public library. The image is a simple composition, a tightly framed close-up of the bell with the crack vertically dissecting the frame. But somehow it speaks to me.

TL: Any future plans involving your photography in the works?

ND: I plan to make a series of monochrome landscape images of Lismore and surroundings using my large format camera once the weather becomes a little less hostile. I would also like to try my hand at a little street photography and capture the characters that congregate in Nimbim, NSW during the annual Mardi Grass cannabis "protestival."

Midnite Keister, Featured Artist October 2016

February 23, 2017Shawna Caro

Midnite Keister is mainly a 2-D artist who lives in Kansas. Her love of art and drawing started from a very young age as she watched her mother draw. She is very often found doodling in notebooks or on scraps of paper wherever she is. Most of her work is done with the traditional pencil and paper method and digital work on her tablet, but she has been known for a few canvas paintings here and there. Her works consist very heavily of semi-realistic and cartoon style drawings of cats and wolves.

Midnite uses her art as an outlet and a tool to help cope with any struggles life throws out. If you’d like to see more, please feel free to check out her DeviantART account here.

TL: When did you make your first drawing?

MK: When is a difficult question to answer, but I have drawings that date back to as early as 1998.

TL: Did you study art formally, or would you describe yourself as self-taught?

MK: Most of my art is self-taught, but I have picked up a few hints and tricks from classes that I took both in high school and college.

TL: Wolves—both naturalistic and anthropomorphic—recur often in your work. What is it about them as a subject that appeals to you?

MK: Both wolves and cats occur extremely regularly in my work. I draw mostly animals because people are hard. And I like the wild nature and interesting poses you can draw wolves, and other such creature, in. Plus I have a liking towards drawing fluff and fur.

TL: our work contains both an attraction to the wild side of things (literally and figuratively), but at the same time demonstrates a playfulness that some might call a “pop” aesthetic. Are these impulses connected for you? If so, how?

MK: Wild and playful is most definitely something I like to incorporate in my work. I like drawing in ways that show movement. I'm not sure about the "pop" aesthetic, though.

TL: You do lovely work with watercolor and pastels. Do you have a favorite medium to work with?

MK: Actually watercolors are difficult for me to use. I draw mostly in marker, gel pens, or colored pencil. My favorite medium, however, is hands down my Prismacolor pencils. I love how smoothly they draw and the texture they give on certain papers.

TL: Do you have any set rituals when you work on a piece, or is the process different every time?

MK: Usually it's pretty set. I sketch the initial drawing, tweak it here and there, take a lining marker or fine point sharpie to solidify the outline, then erase the pencil and start coloring. Sometimes I'll do minor shading but not of ten.

TL: Do have any advice for any up-and-coming young artists out there?

MK: Of course I can give the whole "practice makes perfect" speech, and it's been over played, but it's so true. You can only get better if you try. Even if you don't have a whole lot of time to draw, sit down for even just half an hour and doodle. You can change a lot about your style doing that.

TL: Who are some of the artists you most admire?

MK: Unfortunately I don't know many artists. Of course, there are artists like Picasso, Monet, Michelangelo, but a lot of the artists I aspire to be are online.

TL: Is there a drawing that has particular meaning for you personally?

MK: In collection all of my drawings have different meanings. Drawing is a way to express feelings that I can't verbally explain. Each one of my pieces had some significant meaning.