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I recently started getting back into photography just shooting my own work and thought it might be interesting to do a series of portraits of people I know, specifically my creative friends.
My best friend Natalia is a painter. Ive watched her work and style develop so beautifully over that past ten or so years. She amazes and inspires me everyday.
SO anyway I photographed her in her studio and also asked her a few questions you might like answers to.
What is upcoming for you? Shows,events, collaborations, etc.
Solo show it Corey Helford gallery November 5, 2016
Upcoming for me is My first show since my solo in New York City (Jonathan Levine Gallery) in 2012 while I was pregnant. My solo show will be November 5, 2016 at Corey Helford galleries new space DTLA. There may be some collaborations along the way but that is my main focus. I have to produce a huge body of work for their new 12,000 square square-foot gorgeous gallery. I’m very excited and my work is kind of going in a direction that I’m very happy about and truly feels like me.
What are some of the most common questions people ask you about your work?
These are my 4 most asked questions:
1. How long does it take you to finish a painting.
It truly varies. Depending on the size of the painting. It can take a couple days to a week to a month or a few months if it’s very large. I try to paint alla prima (where you pain went into wet., You try to finish a painting in one sitting or very few sittings) but it depends on how complicated the piece is. I paint fairly quickly but sometime I can spend the day or a few days just fucking up the painting. Very frustrating!! ?. Or some days the painting just flows nicely and it’s done very quickly. Those are the best.
I will have to seriously time myself painting because I get asked this a lot and I really don’t have an accurate answer.
2. What does hooker mean:
I don’t know exactly where the whole “hooker” thing started, but I was always playfully calling all my girlfriends hookers. I was just obsessed with the word and the idea. Everyone became “hooker” and everything was “hooker- something”. Since I can remember I have been fascinated with burlesque and pin up girls, basically sexy women in general… The word “hooker” sounded very provocative and sexy to me, I have never used it literally. Actually a definition that I found in a DICTIONARY that I think is amazing: “A hooker is someone who sells their talent or abilities” so everyone is a hooker! Especially artists! Eventually the term “hooker” has developed to mean a strong, independent, talented, hot chick to me… And I am lucky because all of my friends happen to be hot hookers and that is who I paint. As far as subject matter, everything starts as an idea in my head ,I love mixing reality with fantasy, girls doing random or typical things, Fashion, light and different environments are very important to me in a painting.
3.Do you ever paint dudes
Yes, I do paint men! Not as much but I enjoy painting both. I think I’m just more attracted to the female persona, body, essence. Something about it!
This next show will hopefully have both sexes. However I’m sure more women.
4. How Long have you been painting?
There are photos of me painting when I was two years old. Both my parents were artist. So kind of forever but took it seriously and high school. Then I went to Art Center, College of design in Pasadena.
What do you do to over come creative slumps (if you have any) and ways you keep motivated when working on a series of paintings.
I remember a quote that Steve Huston , amazing painter I admire said during his workshop ” The hardest thing to do is to get started.” and that applies to everything. . So sometimes working on anything, something personal just to get going on a painting eases me into it. Then it’s even hard to stop. It helps not to have the pressure of creating a piece for a specific purpose.
Doing yoga and meditation also helps me greatly. I’ve been doing yoga for 10 years and seriously meditating for almost two. They help to get me focused and Remind me to be grateful. Remembering I’m very lucky to be able to do what I do even though sometimes the solitary time is key. I am very lucky and wouldn’t want to do anything else!
Do you have any specific goals for this upcoming year?
Paint paint paint paint paint paint big big big huge!!!
I am trying to break old habits while painting which means lots of experimenting, being expressive, painting from the heart and painting for myself not for anyone else. Sounds really simple but can be hard if you’re used to doing things a certain way- like a mindless zombie on autopilot. I would never paint for others in the past but I just want my work to be as true as possible.
Having a child helps you not give a fuck about what other people think??
Anything else you want to talk about
Yes, I want to mention that I’m working with Winsor & Newton, the world leading paint company. Ive been using their products since I was younger and personally really love their products.
I am so very excited about the vibrant very personal body of work I currently am working on and cannot wait to share everything.
Also I have a great new studio space and an intern that will help. I’m just very excited for this next year!!
All images Copyright Jessica Louise Inc 2015
You have permission to use these images if you credit Jessica Louise as Photographer, Natalia Fabia as subject and link to this article.
MU: Tom Perez
Hair: His Vintage Touch
Photography/Styling: Jessica Louise
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RT @channelingart: Artist Studio Portrait Series: Natalia Fabia via Cupcake Punk https://t.co/1BBFzLlewg #art #artist #artstudio https://t.…
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