Business: MaliaZaidiArt https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaliaZaidiArt?ref=hdr_shop_menu
Web sites, social media etc:
I met Malia through Etsy's Arteam, she is a fellow Etsyan artist and has been a pleasure to interview. Upbeat, fun, optimistic and thoughtful, and she loves to read!!!
Malia, tell us a little about what you create:
I paint oil landscapes in an impressionist style.
My work is often inspired by places I have visited or photos I see, which leave
a lasting impression on me. I am particularly interested in creating something
that conveys a sense of openness and liveliness through color and composition.
Would you like to give us an inside view of your
process or technique?
I generally paint using photos to give myself at
least an outline of how the painting should be composed. A thinly tinted wash
of pigmented linseed oil is the first layer, then I paint more thickly onto the
wet canvas. I started out with acrylics, but found that I like the texture and
malleability of the oil paints better. Once I have painted the larger areas, I
use small brushes to add details, such as a stroke of white for the sail of a
distant ship, or flecks of red and yellow, for fields of flowers.
What did you study and where, or are you
self-taught? And/or How did you get started?
I actually studied German and Global Studies, and
as an artist am self-taught. I have been painting for quite a while, but my
interest in making art began with charcoal drawings.
Where do you do your creative work?
I work in a room in my house, which has many
windows and good light (the windows are great, also, to get rid of any oil
fumes!)
How often do you get to do your creative work?
I try to complete about one painting a week. It
depends on the size. If I am working with very small canvases, such as the 6x6
inch ones, I tend to paint two or three.
How do you get started?
Nowadays, with the internet, it is so great to be
able to peruse photos of different places, and to do a bit of armchair
traveling for inspiration. I also like to do small sketches to test how an idea
might look, without setting it down on canvas.
How do you define art or creativity?
Creativity doesn't have to mean artistry, as far as
I am concerned. There are many types of creative thinking and endeavors.
Scientists are creative, just as painters or writers or actors are. It is as
much about making something as it is about the idea of doing so. I am very
flexible when it comes to defining such an elusive concept. A cook can be
creative in preparing a family meal, just as (or sometimes more than) an
artist, or someone typically associated with creativity.
What motivates you?
On most 'painting days' I do not need special
motivation. Painting is relaxing and enjoyable for me. I do it for myself and
for my family, not necessarily for my business, thought of course if all three
align, that is quite exciting.
The sensation of mixing oils, of finding the right
consistency, and even the motion of working my brush against the canvas, serve
as motivation to remain consistent in creation of new work.
Do you find drawing or sketching to be an integral
part of your process, why or why not?
I like to draw, but I do not do more than a rough
sketch, or often just an outline of what I intend on painting. Independently of
painting, I like quick gesture drawings or smeared charcoal sketches, just to
toy around with other media on occasion.
Are there any particular artworks or artists that
surprise you, inspire you or repulse you?
Good question! I am a docent at the Carnegie Museum
of Art, and have, through my studies there, been able to gain a grudging
appreciation for a fair amount of contemporary art, which previously puzzled or
irritated me. Nonetheless, my favorite artists remain the big name
Impressionists and Neo-Impressionists: Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Pissarro, Van
Gogh. I am also quite fond of the ethereal Pre-Raphaelite works by Leighton and
Waterhouse, as well as some Rococo artists such as Fragonard (his 'Girl
Reading' and 'The Swing' are definite favorites).
Essentially, color, light, and movement are all
aspects, which make a work of art intriguing to me.
Can you tell us about some of your successes and
challenges?
I think there is almost always a point when I am
painting, where all I see is flat planes of color, and I feel certain this one
can be scrapped. For the most part, that feeling changes, once I start applying
details with smaller brushes, or add texture, but I think some uncertainty is
not such a bad thing. I tend to feel a painting is a success when my family
enjoys it, and I am very fortunate that they are an encouraging lot.
When and why did you decide to start your own
business?
Sites like Etsy and FineArtAmerica make sharing art
and creative projects a communal experience, which I found intriguing. Deciding
to put my art up on these sites was a decision initially motivated only by the
desire to share, to receive feedback, not so deeply focused on the business
side of things. That being said, I think my paintings can appeal to people
simply because they are cheerful and bright, and my hope in creating them and
for people choosing to have them in their homes, is that they will function
almost as a small window to a place with a blue sky and sunshine.
Is there an artist or person either fictional or
real you would most want to meet? What would you want to do with that person?
Good question, there are so many. I suppose it
would depend a bit on my mood:-) I would like to meet J.K. Rowling, because I
grew up reading her books like so many of my peers, and it would be fun to just
have tea with her and chat about books and all sorts. The artist Andy Warhol
would also appeal to me, as someone who seemed clever and witty, and who didn't
take himself or his art too seriously.
What book are you currently reading/or/ do you have
any favorite books or books that "changed your life"? What did you
like about it/them?
A dangerous question for someone who is as
book-obsessed as I am:-) It is hard to choose just one, but a few of my
favorites are Pride and Prejudice, The Princess Bride, and the Harry
Potter books, which were a big part of my teenage years. I am a writer,
too, so reading is very important to me. I am constantly reading and looking
for new books, which can have a considerable impact on creativity and
imagination. I look for strong, intriguing characters. If the plot is
intersting, that's another plus, but for me it's about the characters and their
development.
Tell us which artist either currently living or
from history would you most like to have dinner with. Where would you eat, what
might you order and what would you talk about?
I think I would perhaps meet Gustav Klimt. We would
go to Café Central in Vienna, and have cake and he could regale me with stories
about his sitters, all those society ladies, and their secret affairs:-)
What are you currently working on or have recently
completed?
In terms of paintings, I am working on seascapes
inspired by a recent trip to Cornwall, England. I love painting a broad expanse
of blue sky meeting blue sea, and adding a quick white dash for the sail of a
ship or the long craggy shore with a small patch of the beach and fields of
green and yellow beyond.
Do you have any other creative pursuits/outlets?
I am also working on getting my first novel, a
historical mystery called, "A Poisonous Journey" published, which
hopefully will happen by summer. So keep an eye out, please!
What is the most interesting thing about you?
Oh, I don''t really know what to say... I was born
in the US, but spent much of my childhood in Germany, where my mother is from,
which has certainly shaped who I am. We often traveled, and go back every year,
and it is from these trips that I often get my inspiration for paintings.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Thanks for reading! And thank you, Sue, for featuring me on your blog!
The pleasure is mine Malia! Thanks for your fun and thought provoking answers.
