Laura is seriously one of my most favorite people ever. I’m an old soul and she’s a young soul, so we even out ;)

1. How long have you been making photographs? What got you started with photography?
I became our family photographer when I was eight years old. My dad said, “Here, you seem to be the most interested in this thing” and handed me a brownie camera with film in it. When I got married, my husband, Swifty loved black and white photography and he was really good at it. I loved his way of seeing things with the camera and the prints were beautiful. On our days off, we took road trips to get away from work and working at home and packed a camera along with our water and snacks. I called it “jukin’”. Driving with no destination in mind and stopping when we saw something of interest. Lots of photos were taken in this relaxed, fun way. Many were printed and displayed in our home. It was definitely something fun for us to do together. I took some college classes recently for basic black and white photography and loved, loved, loved seeing the prints come to life in the dark room.
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You may recognize Meredith Garrison from the Bad Romance video I posted a little while back. She is an amazing actress and I’m honored to call her a friend as well. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit about this talented lady. (I especially love her answer to the last question – I think it is excellent advice for anyone in a creative profession.) Thanks for sharing, Meredith!

When did you know that you wanted to be an actress?
I’ve known since childhood that I wanted to act…. basically, from the moment I found out that it could be a career path.  I had my first line in a school play in second grade, and played the title role in Julius Caesar in 5th grade.  From then on, I took part to some degree in every production presented at the schools I attended.

What do you enjoy most about acting?
I love being able to portray someone else on stage or camera, especially if their personality is completely different from mine.  It’s exciting, every role is different!  But still, at the end of the day, I can return to being me.

What is your creative process like? What inspires you?
I’m big on research. If I’m working on a documentary or other period piece, I will learn everything I can about the time, the events surrounding my character, as well as all I can find on their personal history.  But even if I’m portraying someone who never existed before, I try to use what’s already established through the script to learn as much as I can about my character- they’re background, motives, everything. From that starting point, I play around with mannerisms and individual characteristics until I discover qualities which turn the character into someone who is relatable and real.

What has been your most exciting moment as an actress?
With so much of my work being in documentaries, I’ve had to play a few historical figures, which can be nerve racking. I think my favorite moments have been when historians and living relatives of the women I have portrayed have contacted me to tell me that I did a good job.

When are you completely satisfied with your work?
I always try to push myself as far as I can go, and then see if I can take it farther. It can be exhausting on every level, but it’s only once I’ve reached that point that I feel satisfied with the job at hand.

How do you think you have changed as an actress in the past five years?
I originally went to college to be a performer on stage, but ended up being drawn more to film by the time I graduated.  I loved playing with the subtleties that could be picked up with a camera, but wouldn’t be seen from a stage.  Since then, the vast majority of my work has been in film and television– though I would still love the opportunity to work in theatre!

What has been your favorite project that you’ve done so far?
Wow, that’s a tough one to answer.  I got to work on The Avengers last year, which was a phenomenal experience on so many levels. I worked with a lot of really talented, awesome people, and learned a lot. It was so exciting and humbling to get to work around so many people, cast and crew, who I’ve admired and respected for years.

What was it like working on the “Bad Romance” video?
It was a lot of fun! I got to work with several people, including several friends, who I hadn’t seen in years, and everyone contributed to the project made up such a great team.  As a result, we got a LOT done in a very short span of time. I really loved working with our choreographer, Jena Burgin-Peters, who owns and runs JBP Entertainment in Charlotte. She, Eddie, and the dancers in the video were fun, professional, and so talented.  The writer, Emilia, wrote such a clever, intelligent script.  I absolutely love that every element of the video, both visually and in the lyrics, has a meaning. It’s always a pleasure to work on a project that has such depth of meaning behind it. Also, I was extremely impressed with Tim Grant as a director. I’ve known him for several years, but this was my first chance to work with him in this capacity. He was very clear on his vision, and was able to get his ideas across to everyone so easily.  It is rare to find a director who is so easy to work with; he communicates really well with cast and crew alike, and manages to be efficient without ever losing composure or his great attitude- even on such a tight schedule as we had on this video. I hope I will be able to work with this team again in the future!

How do you deal with the ups and downs of your profession?
I always have to work towards the next big thing. Before one project ends, I like to know what’s coming up in my area, who certain members of the crew are, their contact information, and what the tentative dates of the shoot are. In between jobs, I have side projects which still provide me with some income while giving me enough time to work towards getting on another set. I love working, and feel I’ve learned how to deal pretty well with the slow times, stay positive, and keep focused on my goals!

What advice do you have for other young actors?
Keeping these things in mind have helped me: always keep a positive attitude, don’t let anyone take advantage of you, and never stop trying.  In my experience, if you stay positive and show a willingness to work hard, even long hours or in tough conditions, people will want to work with you again.  Also, never surrender your morals. No matter what anyone tells you, you don’t have to stoop to break in…. in truth, you’ll gain more respect and get more serious roles if you maintain a good reputation.  There is absolutely no reason to take a role that you do not feel comfortable with. Aim high, and strive for great things!  Lastly, never give up. It’s an uphill struggle to break into the business, but once you do, the payoff makes it worthwhile.  An instructor of mine once told me, “There is always someone out there who wants it more and is willing to try harder to get it.” If you show tenacity, and always strive to better yourself and make yourself more marketable, you’re more likely to get work than those who don’t push themselves. Don’t give up hope- it takes time, but if you truly dedicate yourself to this career path, it can be quite rewarding!

Liis is from Estonia, but I met her in Greece, while she was studying at the University in Thessaloniki. She is one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met and she is full of joy and kindness.  I hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit about her and her paintings!

1. When did you know that you wanted to be an artist?
I didn’t want to. When I was a little kid, grown-ups used to say I will be an artist (I drew so much) and asked me if I wanted it. I said: “No way! It’s so boring- sitting in your studio all day, not having friends to speak with and living in poverty! I don’t want it!” Of course this picture of an artist changed as I got older and at some point I really wanted to become an artist. Now, as I study art and probably will continue to study to become an art-teacher, I don’t really know who I will become, since I don’t consider myself as an artist now/yet. It’s important for me to be on the path God wants me to be.

2. If you could peek inside the studio of any artist (dead or alive), who would it be?
One of the old masters, Rembrandt maybe :)

3. I absolutely LOVE this painting. What is the title? What was the inspiration for it?

Thank you :) Doesn’t have a title. I found a photo like this from a Greek magazine illustrating an article (don’t know what it was about). I loved the style (British kind of romance), the light and their poses. Loved the peaceful-afternoon-at-the-beach feeling. So I decided to paint it, first with watercolour, just a quick sketch, but as I liked the photo too much, I wanted to paint it with oils as well. My mom loved it as she saw it at home and asked if she could hang it on their bedroom wall. So that’s where it is now.

4. What has been your greatest accomplishment as an artist?
As I said, I don’t consider myself as an artist because I haven’t sold anything and my works are not on display anywhere, I am just an art-student now. But as an artistic person, my greatest accomplishment? Maybe that I am about to (hopefully!!) get my first degree this spring, that I have got this far. But all honour goes to God, so nothing is MY accomplishment, anyway.

5. Has living in another country influenced your art? If so, how?
In a way, yes, it has, I suppose. I would call it improvement in skills. I have started to use bigger canvases and papers because in this University in Thessaloniki where I studied, they worked with the sizes that frightened me at first. Later I started to love to work work big-sized canvases. As for ideas, I guess it has influenced me a bit but I can’t really point anything concrete out.

6. What other artists inspire you?
No one specific. Sometimes I just google various artworks, depending on what I I have in mind. I like old masters’ works mostly. However, once when I googled watercolurs, I found a fantastic contemporary watercolour artist named Joseph Zbuckvic (I hope that’s correct), he’s my favourite now. But I don’t think his works inspire me.

7. What do you hope that people see when they view your works?
God.

8. Where would you like to be in ten years?
Hopefully happily married, having a work I love, friends I love. Resting in Father’s palm.

Angie is a photographer, a filmmaker, a painter, a great friend, and an amazing mom to 3 (soon to be 4!) beautiful kids. I hope you enjoy seeing some of her work and getting to know her a bit.

You express your creativity in many different ways: photography, painting, film making, etc. Do you have a favorite medium?
I have a very hard time picking favorites. I think I go through phases of diving into a creative medium depending on what I want to express. Filmmaking is the hardest of all because there are so many people, elements, and factors involved. Not to mention that it’s very time consuming. I think if I took all those elements out it would be my favorite, but then it would not be film making.

What got you started in photography?
I used to love cameras when I was a child. I would buy them and my own film. My parents realized I took better pictures than them and I became the vacation photographer. In college I studied electronic media production, which is just another way of saying television production. During my study I took a photography class where we used black and white film and developed everything from start to finish. I spent hours in the dark room. I loved it. After moving to California I continued working in TV and video production with photography always just hanging around with me.

Once back in Virginia, I was offered a job to teach photography and that really pushed me more in that direction. Like I said, filmmaking has many factors. Photography can just be you and the camera at times. In Hollywood I would love taking pictures of people on the streets. This was the beginning of me really seeing life through a lens.

How would you describe your style?
Style?  What style? I would say the style depends on what I want to accomplish in the end. I ask myself quick questions and I think on my toes. Thinking fast and being ready to change with the goals I have or what the client has. Being flexible is my style. Knowing what I want in the end and being willing to change to get results that do not compromise my end goals.

A lot of your photographs look like stills from a film. Which do you prefer as a medium for storytelling: films or still photography?
I believe that all art tells a story or has a story behind it.  Some mediums are easier for people to see the story than others.  I would say still photography wins by a little here because I can have more control of the variables.  With film, the project tends to take a life of its own and tell its own story.

What inspires you?
Life, that is what inspires all great creative minds right? My life, the life of those close to me, and the lives of complete strangers.  There is a mystery behind us all.

Have you been influenced by anyone in particular?
I have been influenced by all manner of artists around me just doing and making art. If I see an artist creating that inspires me to do the same. Things start coming up that just want to get out. The really important things never leave you alone. Annie Leibovitz inspired one of my recent projects.  She helped me to see how cinematic photography can be and I realized that I could tell a story purely with the image.  No soundtrack.  No dialogue.  No special effects.

What advice do you have for other young artists?
Try it all, if it doesn’t work try again. People never see the faults you see in your own work. For me I see so many things and can be so bothered by something. You will surprise at how much your art can surprise you.  I love it when people see something in my art that I didn’t realize was there.  The only way to improve is to do. Every photo I take, every film I have made is a step to the next one, which in my mind always needs to be better than the one before. Being true to yourself and who God made you is the most important thing. I know without that I would have given up a long time ago.

 

Patchwork Kids is an organization that is dedicated to sponsoring underprivileged children through their school years. They work with local people to clothe, feed, and educate children in the “forgotten regions” of India, Uganda, and Macedonia. I really believe in the vision they have for children everywhere to have access to education so they can succeed in life. Please check out their site and consider sponsoring a child.

Here is a video about what Patchwork Kids does in Shutka, Macedonia. I’ve met a lot of the people that work at the Little Friends Preschool, and I can promise you that they love those kids with all that’s in them. It doesn’t take much to provide school supplies and snacks to the kids, but the impact that it will make on their lives and the Roma community in the years to come is priceless.