Phoenix. Arizona. USA

Sandy Schimmel Gold brings an environmentally friendly technique –recycled printed matter as a resource–  together with an intricate, detailed visual language to her pop - styled portraits that seem to call us to take a closer look

S A Schimmel Gold

Please describe what you do:
I am an artist. I create gorgeous portraits and images on canvas using acrylic paint and junk mail [advertising] – It is a marriage of the ancient technique of mosaic and pop art painting.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I love creating. I have always been one to draw, paint and design. When I am in my studio, hours pass and I am quite happy. When I am in “the zone” I am totally involved with the art I am creating. I love to see how the image in my head ends up on the canvas.

What is your inspiration?
Haute Couture, Literature, Theatre, History, Architecture, Art, Nature, Travel. My parents are European. When I was child, my mother was a painter; learning to mix paint and draw are some of my earliest memories. My mother also made sure her children were exposed to theatre – art museums – concerts – haute cuisine and travel. I love to travel, it gives you a different perspective of the world – and makes history so much more interesting.

How would you define luxury today? (or) What is, to you, the essence of luxury today?
True luxury is so hard to find! To me, detailed work - painstaking made-by-hand items with the ideal of perfection is what a luxury item is all about because it is so rare. The concept of luxury is that it is not for everyone… only a select few – those that can afford and appreciate luxury. I am concerned about luxury that lasts… think Versailles, a couture YSL garment, a fabulous jewel… or one of my pieces of art!

Eco-awareness is growing as is social consciousness and the need to be responsible towards our world and its people. What part do you play in this global mission?
II have always been a conscious caretaker of my environment – I compost, I recycle, I try to be as green as possible. My art work re-uses old canvas, old frames and junk mail, advertising & packaging – all items that might end up in a landfill. It’s not a lot, but it is something. I also use my artwork as a vehicle to spread the message of reducing waste.

To me, detailed work - painstaking made-by-hand items with the ideal of perfection is what a luxury item is all about

When and how did your project originate?
I have always been a painter and a mosaic artist. I decided to re-create mosaics using junk mail as my material. I started this technique a few years ago.

What continues to be your vision for this project?
I want to continue to spread the message of taking care of the planet by reducing waste while creating gorgeous art that will enhance art collections everywhere. If people collect fine art, it might as well be green.

How are your creativity and passion an important part of this project?
Obviously, it is my creativity and passion that began my journey and sustains my energy and vision. When people ask me which piece of art is my favorite, it is always the piece I am working on now – it is like a love affair! I constantly challenge myself.

If you were to choose a colour and an adjective to describe it, what would they be?
I am a clear deep blue-green. The color of the sea, the color of a coastal forest. It is a color to fall into – a color that breathes and moves.

What is the message you wish to pass on?
The world is one world. The entire human race has the ability to come together to create peace and heal the wounds of the past and create a future for the generations to come.

Name a person or place that has inspired you with their progressive vision
am always inspired by nature – most recently the old growth forests in Oregon… they crash into the sea. By Charles Rennie Macintosh, Louis Comfort Tiffany… Antonio Gaudi… by artists Gustave Klimt,, Picasso, Lautrec, Dali, Klee, so many! I am inspired by the artisans who created amazing mosaics in Istanbul, Ravenna, Venice… by Haute Couture, and so much more! I never stop thinking, reading, exploring!

 

www.schimmelart.com

 

  

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 8:14 pm and is filed under creation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.