An artist profile of Maria Rotella.

Describe your process of creating a piece. What materials do you normally work in?

I originally started out as a traditional illustrator. I did some editorial freelance work back in the day, and back then I worked in acrylics. Since then, I have completely embraced digital technology, and I work primarily in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. My day job involves designing motion graphics for DVD menus (using Adobe After Effects). I also do some occasional design work for the web and elearning. 

I decided to start creating silhouettes because they are a classic portrait form that does not allow for too many complications with the client. I decided it might be a good way to start working for myself, and see where things take me. That, and being able to distribute the work digitally is a major bonus. Because they are vector graphics, the final PDF files in high resolution have a very small file size. I am definitely thinking of new and different kinds of portraits all the time...I have a couple of ideas currently that I still have to work through.

As far as my leather jewellery, working digitally for so long has created a pull for me to get my hands dirty once in a while. My dad is a cobbler, so I have always been around leather and have access to all his scraps and tools to just play around with. 

Coming up with ideas is as simple as deciding you want to start creating something, and then once that intention has filed itself away in your brain you are constantly finding small ways to be inspired. The seeds to ideas are everywhere, it's up to you to decide if you want to do anything with them. Of all the things I've followed through on, there are probably a hundred that are sitting and waiting.

What projects are you working on? What do you have coming up, any shows?

I don't think I've ever had a show. I think I have a bit of a problem with 'scenes', and the art world is pretty much one giant scene. I do have an idea for an online animated series, but I can't reveal too much about that until I've actually got something to show. Let's just say it has to do with high school, and it will be ridiculous. That, and just trying to continue to come up with some interesting items to add to my Etsy shops, and hopefully grow as a motion graphic designer.

When are you most productive?

When I'm not procrastinating! That's a hard question to answer...but let's just say I'm not a morning person, and there usually has to be some sort of noise in the background.

When did creating art become something important in your life?

As long as I can remember. Look at it this way, we all draw as kids, but for some reason some of us just decide to stop. 

What are some of your favorite spots in the city? Some favourite places to go, eat, drink, bike ride?

I discovered Wychwood Park a few years ago, and I love walking through that place. It's like a fairy-tale land right in the middle of a big city. That and the preserved parkland along Don Mills. 

My favourite bookstore is BMV...it baffles my mind how people will shop at Indigo books at Yonge and Eglington when BMV is right across the street selling those same books for half the price. I also used to work at David Mirvish books about a hundred years ago, and that is still hands-down the best place to look for art books. As far as food, I love Big Sushi and Gamelle on Bloor, Burrito Banditos (formerly Burrito Boyz?), SAN on Queen (I love Korean food in general). My favourite coffee shop is Wagamama on King. They make fresh soup and baked treats every day, and everyone that works there is so nice. I also looove the Mongolian Grill on Don Mills. It's worth the trip.

What are you currently obsessed with? Any blogs, pod casts, films, artists?

I am always hunting for creative inspiration. I usually read or listen to podcasts on my commute every day, and my favourites are CBC Radio 3, This American Life, NPR's Fresh Air and All Songs Considered, The New Yorker and The Treatment. 

I also love documentaries, and I'm a bit of a PBS nerd. A great art documentary I saw recently is 'Rape of Europa', which tells the story of how the Nazi's pillaged Europe of many of it's masterpieces during the second world war. 

Like most everyone, I think Mad Men is one of the most visually exciting shows to come around in a long time...maybe after Deadwood. I love the production design on the old James Bond movies and Hitchcock films. Some of my favourite recent movies stylistically are The Cell, Titus and Apocalypto. Say what you will about how nuts Mel Gibson is, but that movie is amazing. I sometimes flirt with the idea of becoming a production designer, but I think it requires a greater knowledge of interior design than what I have. I tend to be more inspired by design than 'art', just because you see more of it on a day-to-day basis, but I love Joseph Cornell and Miro, photographer William Eggleston.

I spend a great deal of time procrastinating/getting inspired by many design blogs, including pica + pixel, Motionographer, Poppytalk, Decor 8, The Look See, For Me For You, Design for Mankind, Where the Lovely Things Are...so many more. Locally, I also like Make Something and Fieldguided. I also love to scour Flickr for inspiration, and my current favourite is Superbomba, who is a genius at finding amazing lost photographs. I also recently saw the Jeff Harris show at BCE place, and was really moved by his photography. 

What is your survival food? Cheap eats for the starving artist?

Learn to cook! Seriously, nothing is tastier than to make quesadillas at home with some fresh salsa, and it takes very little effort. If all else fails, find a roti place that sells doubles...mmm...

Any last words?

I like things that are nice.

http://misscrowland.etsy.com
http://misscrowlandleather.etsy.com
http://misscrowland.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/misscrowland