Artist to Artist

Good Morning and Welcome to Artist to Artist!

Today I am here to introduce a fellow Canadian artist and photographer from Georgetown, Ontario.

Aloramyst: Welcome Renee Fukumoto! Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions for us!

First question, In your opinion what is art?

Renee Fukumoto: That is a tough question with a very subjective answer. To sum up: I believe art to be self-expression elevated to a form, which communicates deeply with the viewer, compelling a response.

Aloramyst: Who or what first introduced you to creating art?

Renee Fukumoto: I suppose my mother introduced me to creativity with a pencil. I only recall constantly drawing the things I loved – most notably horses! – And just as constantly tearing them up, despite my Mom’s insistence that they were good. Somehow they never matched the image in my mind, so I was driven to keep trying. Funny how that hasn’t changed!

Aloramyst: Why did you choose to create in this choice of medium?

Renee Fukumoto: My first love was pencil. Very expressive and sensitive material, I could achieve pretty high levels of realism when I wanted to. As a tool it is portable and unobtrusive so it can be used anywhere, anytime.

Aloramyst: What software programs have you experimented with? And which is your favorite?

Renee Fukumoto: I’ve just begun playing with a tablet and Photoshop Elements 5. I’m quite interested in learning more and expanding my experience in digital art.

Aloramyst: What inspires and motivates you to create?

Renee Fukumoto: My primary motivation is light. I think as with all artists, the quality of light on almost any subject matter can either create the impulse to capture it or cause you to pass over it. That being said, I think my love of the Natural world is a strong inspiration.

Aloramyst: Who is your favourite artist? What is it about their work that you love?

Renee Fukumoto:I don’t know that I have a favourite artist at present. However, in any work of art I am usually most struck by how the artist handles light and shadow, regardless of the media.

Aloramyst: Have you set any goals for yourself as an artist? If so, what are you working towards achieving?

Renee Fukumoto: This year my main goal is to take my art more seriously and paint, paint, paint. I’ve got four teenaged kids, so time and energy can by an issue but I am working toward achieving consistent studio time in order to improve in various media.

Aloramyst: Do you create art in other mediums?

Renee Fukumoto:I work in pencil, pen & ink, acrylic, watercolor, chalk pastel and would love to get more experience and proficiency in oils and oil pastels as well as digital art. Yikes! I’ve got a lot to look forward to.

Aloramyst: Is your artwork for sale? Where can people see or purchase your artwork?

Renee Fukumoto: I show in local galleries (Georgetown, Ontario, Canada) and have several online galleries (www.ReneeF.imagekind.com ; www.ReneeFukumoto.imagekind.com ; www.zazzle.com/reneefukumoto ; www.cafepress.com/ravenwoodstudio ; www.reneefukumoto.redbubble.com and a web site: www.reneefukumoto.com . I can be contacted at reneefukumoto@hotmail.com for inquiries and commissions.

Aloramyst: What are your recommendations and/or advice to other artists?

Renee Fukumoto: I think my favorite quote is “Go to the Studio and make stuff”. It takes the pressure off of creativity and returns it to the fun and explorative place it should have. Keep creating, keep painting, keep drawing. Set time aside for this most sacred act.

Aloramyst: Is there anything about being an artist that you would like to know more about?

Renee Fukumoto: The difficult thing I’ve found about being an artist is that there isn’t a firm job description or ‘how to’ manual. I love learning how other artists make it work for them. Finding the balance between studio time and the rest of the demands on my time is tricky. Learning to trust myself and truly find my own voice is a challenging process also. It’s always good to learn more from other artist’s journeys.

Aloramyst: Which promotional tools have been the most effective for you?

Renee Fukumoto: I have found the most success from personal contact with potential buyers and clients who would commission a piece. That being said, most people ask whether I have a web site, so I began developing one late last year. Learning to promote my web sites and galleries has been a new challenge that has taken some time out of the studio hours I should be logging. However, I believe the Internet to be an essential tool for current and future artists so I shall persist!

Aloramyst: Thank you for your time! I can relate to finding the balance of time spent between family, creating our artwork and promoting it. I wish you much success!