Allow me to introduce myself. Some of you may know me primarily as a musician, some as a visual artist, or if you’ve known me well, as both. In truth, I have been practicing both music and visual art since childhood and my practices, though independent, are deeply intertwined. I have been asked before how I could have time to become accomplished in more than one discipline.
For me, this is a strange question because they are complimentary modalities for artistic expression. I’m often imagining vivid visual imagery while writing music and hearing new harmonies and melodies while drawing and painting. When I am focused on the production of a piece in either mode, I take notes for the other. In some of my favorite works, such as my artist’s book, “RECORDS”, I use both modalities fully and simultaneously. Sometimes, as in the case of Amerykanka’s first album, “Snow” I am satisfied with making original artwork for the album cover and liner notes. Many works stand alone in one modality, for the time being.
This is the way my creative mind makes my best work, and yes it is time consuming to maintain more than one creative practice. I find though, after decades of working this way, that I am able to pick up where I left off when I return to a practice, whether it is playing harp or calligraphy. I often find, when working on a large work in one discipline (a musical composition, for example), that I can keep my mind fresh for the creation by giving myself short breaks to visit another (perhaps drawing). I am also able to keep my practices flowing through teaching.
Teaching has been a regular part of my artistic life more fully for the past decade, though I had sporadic experience teaching in the arts for many years prior. It has become an essential piece of my creative life; in meeting the minds of students I gain myriad perspectives on the arts with which I am intimately involved. I can think of no better way to infuse new life into your artistic practices. I highly recommend it!
You will see my original artwork and animations throughout the pages of this website. In the future, I hope to offer prints in the “store”. Browse the site and feel free to let me know what you would like to see more of, either in terms of previous works or new classes/lessons.
Nice to meet you!
-Rebecca
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