— The featured artist of Issue 42 of Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine, AWAKE artist Kristin Couch (Sweden), with a broad and inspired stylistic reach. Hope you enjoy my interview with Kristin here on Quill and Camera!
Q. What got you started in digital photo artistry?
I have been painting and drawing my whole life. But what I really wanted to create I wasn’t able to perform, and it frustrated me. Then in 2005 my husband gave me my first pro DSLR camera and it changed everything. Three years later I was working as a portrait photographer at the most popular studio in our city at that time.
Working there we wanted to do something special with children’s photography and just make the photo shoots a little more fun and different. I started experimenting and fell in love with this type of work. And the possibilities were endless. Soon I was hooked.
Then I started to make artwork from my photos. And a few years later I discovered Photoshop Artistry and “AWAKE: Living the Photo Artistic Life” — which gave me everything I wanted and needed to become a better artist.
Q. Your work is so diverse, spanning so many styles. Where do you get your inspiration?
Everyday life, really. People, books, nature, forms and light and colour. Working in part as an interior photographer, I travel all over Stockholm, often taking trains and buses. Out of that my “City Life” series came to life. There is always so much to work with all around you.
I also love looking through my book collection of different artists such as Picasso, Dali, Klimt, Monet and many more, and that always sparks ideas. I studied a bit of art history and just loved learning how humans have been such creative creatures from the beginning, leaving behind fascinating art work describing their lives.
Also we have the Museum of Photography here in Stockholm which I visit on a regular basis. I don’t think that I have missed many exhibitions there. Going there gives me inspiration and makes me feel good. I usually go there alone, just to observe and take my time enjoying all these amazing photographers.
Q. What is it that your art brings to your life?
It keeps me motivated and more observant to everything around me. It makes me happy to be able to just sit down and create. Losing myself within my canvas while listening to good music brings me great calmness. To be able to take different photographs and pieces and mix them together creating art is amazing — and so much fun.
Q. How do you approach your artwork?
I just sit down with an empty canvas and go from there. Sometimes I find my subjects before I start creating but I really never have a locked down idea ahead of time.
I have tried so many times to follow some kind of initial idea but those pieces have never ever turned out to look anywhere close to what I had in mind originally. So for me it’s just a blank canvas … maybe a colour idea … and that’s it. I just sit down and begin.
And once I begin, I stay with it. Usually I only work with one piece at a time. I get consumed with it, and a composition can take anywhere from several hours to several days.
Q. What’s your next step as an artist?
I would like to start presenting and selling my artwork. Selling my work as a photographer is one thing, but it is not my strong side to sell myself as an artist. But I think it’s time and I just need to kick myself forward. It is a shame to think of all the art work I have created that is just sitting there on my computer. It’s time to bring those canvases to life and put them out into the world.
Q. Any advice for other aspiring digital artists?
Never compare yourself to anyone else. When you do that, you get frustrated and your confidence can’t possibly reach the level it needs to be at to support your work.
Practice, practice, practice, of course. Try to find your own style.
Just believe in what you are doing and never give up. It takes some real effort, but if you work for it, you will be rewarded in the end.