So what happens when you decide to explore South America after a semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School in Patagonia - you explore new places, learn about other cultures, meet new people, fall in love and end up moving to a beautiful place like Argentina. That's what happened with our artist of the week, Antrese Wood. Antrese was born and raised in Southern California; she completed her graduation from the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena and worked over a decade in the video game division with Disney. She moved to Argentina, two years back and is currently living there. Antrese loves travelling and painting and her work has been exhibited in galleries across US and Argentina. Her paintings are amazing, especially the ones from 'A Portrait of Argentina' series.
Moving to Argentina was a big step in Antrese's life. Soon after she settled down there and the tourist phase got over, she had a hard time adjusting to the new pace of life and understanding the culture. But instead of moving back to California, she decided to stay and learn more about the place, in this process Antrese found the new subject for her paintings- Argentina.
Antrese will travel 15,600 miles in the duration of 8 months and paint more than 100 paintings. She captures everything she comes across, people-places. Her goal is to paint Argentina from an individual, national and world perspective. Her journey has removed the tourist glass off her eyes and made her fall in love with Argentina. Read on to know more about Antrese and her paintings in our interview with her.
1. Hi Antrese, please introduce yourself to our readers.
I grew up in Southern California, in Claremont. After I graduated from college, I worked for Disney in their interactive/ video game division. I worked there for about 10 or 12 years. I loved it and was fortunate to work with some of the most talented people in the industry. I decided, though, that I needed to strike out on my own, so I cut the cords and took the plunge.
2. What prompted you to become an artist? Were you always the artistically inclined type of person? What art forms do you enjoy doing?
I always drew, and was attracted to the arts. My mom always encouraged it. When she could afford to, she would take me to the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles to see a play or ballet. I remember getting really excited when we made the turn from the 10 freeway onto the 101 going into the city. The 101 had all these murals on the freeway underpasses. I thought they were amazing. I'd press my forehead against the glass and watch them as we passed. Combined with the skyscrapers all lit up in the background it was like the opening act of the show; a signal that something magical was about to happen.
Despite that up bringing, I didn't commit to being an artist until after high school. I was always doing something creative, but I wanted to be a doctor. I didn't take my art seriously. Instead I focused completely on biology and the sciences. My first year in university, I finally took some art classes. I fell in love and there was no going back. The instructor told me if I was serious, I should go to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. That was it. I left the university and somehow convinced Art Center they should let me in (my portfolio was pathetically light).
I'm fascinated by the human condition. I'm interested in people and their stories, so any subject matter that contributes to that will grab my attention. I love painting the most but consider anything fair game. I have tons of little experiments going on in my studio using mixed media- fabrics, ink, collage, paper, sewing, whatever. For my current project, I'm also collecting sound and video samples to help tell the story. I'm not sure where I'm going with that part of it, but that's the fun part; the not knowing.
3. What is ‘A Portrait of Argentina’? What inspired you to travel to Argentina specifically and put your thoughts on canvas? How were your experiences?
'A Portrait of Argentina' is a painting expedition in which I will be traveling through all 23 provinces of the country. It's a cultural portrait of my new home.
'A Portrait of Argentina' started out as a way for me to understand the country and its culture. I lived here for two years before my husband and I got married. After the novelty of living in a foreign country wore off, I settled into a routine. I thought I could re-create the life I had in Los Angeles (or something similar). Of course it didn't work. Things are just different and I made myself miserable pretending/ expecting otherwise. Finally, I realized I was wasting an incredible opportunity.
I began developing this idea of painting my way across the country. Painting has always been my way of making sense out of the world. It forces me to pause and really look at my subject, and Argentina is a fascinating subject. The fact that I'm no longer a tourist but I'm not from here, gives me a unique perspective.
I'm only 2 months into the 8 month travel expedition and I've already been challenged in ways I never anticipated. I'm continually pushed out of my comfort zone which is great afterwards, but in that moment, its hard.
4. Share with us your experience in transition from the a hectic life in the US to a more relaxed atmosphere in Argentina.
I was accustomed to the Costco/ Walmart mentality. Huge Mega stores with everything you can possibly imagine available, in bulk. On top of that, I lived for almost a decade in a neighborhood with an Armenian grocery store, a Korean supermarket, and a Mexican supermarket close by. I could have just about anything I wanted any time of day.
Refrigerators are about a quarter the size of a standard U.S. refrigerator. Here you shop more often, but buy less. Stores and restaurants close at 1:30 so people can go home, eat lunch with their families, and have a siesta.
The first place we lived was called San Antonio de Arredondo. Population 5,000. You buy vegetables at the vegetable stand, bread at the bakery, meat at the butcher's, chicken and eggs at the Poultry shop. I remember being completely confused when I went to buy eggs and they asked me how many I would like. I couldn't believe I had the choice to buy one egg if that was all I needed. I felt like I had gotten a present when the guy handed me my 4 eggs. They had been very carefully wrapped in newspaper and taped shut. They hadn't been sterilized and pre-packaged in Styrofoam at the factory. I got home and found an actual feather on one of them!
At the butcher shop I learned how little I know about meat and where it comes from. You actually need to know what part of the cow/ sheep/ goat the cut comes from. It's not pre-packaged and wrapped in cellophane. They have entire sides of beef hanging in the back. Now I have 'my' butcher, an actual person with a name who laughs with me when I try to pick out my dinner. I love it.
5. Lets have a rapid fire round:
Traveling or Painting
Fortunately I crafted a plan so I don't have to choose!! (but if you make me choose: painting)
Argentina in one word
Resourceful
Your favourite place in Argentina?
In the countryside, with friends, wine and good food.
The biggest compliment that you have received for your work?
That so many people believed in 'A Portrait of Argentina' and supported the Kickstarter campaign. That was an amazing and humbling experience.
6. When not painting or traveling, what leisure activity you enjoy the most?
Cooking or reading.
7. What are your future plans as an artist? Do you plan to undertake similar journeys in other countries too?
I would love to do all of South America! That would be an amazing challenge to take on. I'd love to document each of the countries and get a good feel of their cultures. Eventually I want to create a similar portrait of the U.S., I feel like that would bring it full circle.
8. What other Artists do you look up to? If you could peek inside the studio/toolbox of any one other artist/craftsperson, whose would it be and why?
There is a long list of artists whose work I admire. Tom Wudl (http://www.wudl.net/) has been a great influence in how I think about my work and the creative process. I still have a long way to go, but he showed me the importance of being present and focused every moment of creation. It sounds deceptively simple but like clearing your mind to meditate, its easier said than done.
I'm at a point right now where I don't want to look in anyone's studio. I think it would only distract me. My husband always teases me, because when I want to do something or know something, I'll find 10 books on the subject, read them all, find someone who has done what I want to do, talk to them.... and then go do it. I get obsessed. He's right. It has its place, but at a certain point it becomes a form of procrastination. I have everything I need. Its not that I have nothing left to learn (far from it) but right now I need to strengthen my own voice.
9. What advice would you like to give to a budding and aspiring artists?
Trust yourself. Now turn off all electronic devices and get to work. :)
Thank you Antrese for taking out the time and doing this interview with us. We wish you the very best for the future.
I loved it and was fortunate to work with
some of the most talented people in the industry. I decided, though,
that I needed to strike out on my own, so I cut the cords and took the
plunge.
http://www.forlocations.com/