Natalya Aikens - Pleasantville, NY

1.  What do you call yourself - art wise?  An artist.
2.  How do you jump start your creativity when you are in a slump?   Go out for an art date by myself or with a friend. See an exciting new exhibit at a museum or a gallery, or even an oldie but goodie. And preferably not an art quilt exhibit, although I do enjoy those too.
3.  If money wasn't an issue, what would you do with your art?   Cover the walls of my home, my friends homes and possibly a few strangers...LOL!
4.  Do you keep a sketchbook, journal, etc.?   Several actually. My working horse sketchbook for notes and sketches and doodles is always in my purse. And others more dedicated to exploring different techniques and materials in the studio.
5.  Where can people see your other work this year?  shows, books, magazines, etc
In the next (3rd) issue of the the new Quilting Arts emag In Stitches, and at the SAQA Beyond Comfort exhibit debuting at the Birmingham Quilt Festival.
6.  Do you teach?  where?  I'll be teaching two workshops this year at the Create Retreats in Costa Mesa and Chicago. One is Mix Your Media with Photoshop ( learning to play in Photoshop and print on fabric) and the other is Hand Stitched Jewels (transforming your small art quilts with hand stitches)
7.  Is there a particular artist who had influenced you in your art life? and why?  I cannot pin point just one artist. My art life has been influenced by an incredible amount of artist past and present. I am always inspired by work of famous artists, little known artists and pioneering women artists who have paved the way. Some favorites are Mary Cassatt, Judy Chicago, Victor Vasnetzov, Ivan Aivazovsky, Sonya Delaunay.
8. Where or what show do you hope your work will be in someday?  Why Quilt National of course... but a prestigious NYC gallery will do also! (this is tongue-in-cheek by the way!)
9.  Describe your studio workspace.  Basement room, with two large windows into the front and side yard and a door to the outside (convenient when I have to run outside with some wet dripping fabric that needs to be spread on the grass). Painted a lovely butter yellow!
10.  What 3 tools could you not live without?  My thimble, my Epson printer and my Bernina 1000
11.  What drives you to make the work that you do?  Sounds corny...but...it's in my soul. It's my life that is the inspiration, my heritage, my family.
12.  How do you balance your life?   That's a hard job and I try to do my best. I have two small daughters, so my creative time is limited to school hours and after bed time.

http://www.artbynatalya.com/
http://artbynatalya.blogspot.com/