— The year 2017 led off with Issue No. 23 of Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine, featuring a stunning gallery of work by AWAKE artist Gail Edwards. Gail had been exciting everyone in the group with her extraordinary model compositions for quite some time at that point, so it was a delight to finally bring her to the world stage. Here in today’s interview we get to learn a little more about this popular and incredibly talented artist …
Q. I always wonder about the origins of artistic talent. Were you always interested in being an artist?
Yes, ever since I was a child. Don’t tell my dad, but my sister and I used his green John Deere tractor paint to paint the inside of an old shed. My first masterwork! I thought I was a brilliant artist then! Little did I know there was a whole big world out there.
I have been extremely fortunate to work for most of my life in a variety of fields that require creativity. I have worked as an acrylic paint instructor, a seamstress, a floral designer, and a photo editor. And now consider myself an artist.
Q. What’s the most important lesson you’ve picked up in your journey?
Be fearless! When I started using Photoshop I was afraid to hit certain buttons or click anything I was unfamiliar with because I didn’t want to ruin or delete anything by accident. Then someone told me that if you don’t try you will never know what all the various features do or how they work.
Now I try everything, I explore with abandon, and I feel that I have better understanding of the Photoshop program as a whole, not only all the features that I prefer and turn to most.
I have also learned that art is highly personal. How others feel about my work (or their opinion about art in general) is less important than it use to be. Pleasing myself has become more important. You must find your own way and trust in what brings you pleasure. The rest of the world can think whatever it wants.
Q. What would you say most inspires your work?
Almost everything! Other artists for sure. (Pino is one of my favorite artists.) But inspiration is everywhere if you open yourself to it. Romance, music, flowers, colors, movies — the world is full of inspiration!
Q. How do you approach your work? Any particular process you tend to follow?
Because most of my work has stock models in it, I tend to spend a lot of time searching for just the right one. The model I choose needs to have a particular look that speaks to me at that moment. And once I’ve found her, the story evolves as I start working. Very seldom do I have a preconceived vision of what a piece will look like in the end. I find that even when I have an idea of where I want it to go it takes a sharp right turn at some point and ends up as something else entirely. That discovery process (with all its surprises) is where I find the greatest joy.
Q. Any advice or tips for other artists eager to improve?
Learn one program and learn it well! There is so much software out there now that it becomes overwhelming. I think this can actually set you back. Too many choices can lead to paralysis. If you want to learn Photoshop then learn Photoshop. Master it. Once you have that down go on to the next program.
If you imagine an ambitious traditional artist, you wouldn’t expect him to try to master the use of watercolors, oil paints, pencil, ink, and something like mosaic tile work all at the same time. You pick one and explore it in depth. You get really good at it before turning to the next thing.
Q. What’s your next step as an artist? Where do you wish to take your art in the years ahead?
Wow! That’s a big question. There have already been so many rewards. I try to help young artists with any questions they have for me, or at least try to send them in the right direction for answers. But apart from teaching or mentoring, I think in the future I would like to accept more freelance work. It would be so cool to design book covers or movie posters! For now I’m happy just doing what I do, but in the future … who knows? I just know it will be fun!