MC: Please tell me about your educational background. Where did you go to school?
CC: BFA, Corcoran School of Art and Design, Washington DC, 2010 BS, Goucher College, Towson, Md, 1987.
MC: Would you do anything differently if you could go back to school?
CC: One thing I actually believe that nobody should just study art. Even super talented people struggle to make a living off art. Work part time with art on the side. The financial part of being an artist is tough, so find a part time career and supplement with art. I would have gotten a degree in Physical Therapy or something part time like 20-30 hours a week with regular salary. I think this is really important for young people, especially when they’re super talented.
MC: What is an average day like for you? What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
CC: Well, frankly it’s work. That’s the annoying part of it. Im lucky to get to do this type of work but every day is a work day. If work at the studio starts at ten a.m., a natural break arises at dinner time, but then after that I’ll go back to the studio for a while.
MC: What are the main inspirations for the works you create?
CC: My main inspirations might just be I like to draw. I like to draw people which fuels a lot of my work. And then I think the nature came in because I am working close to home, so I incorporate home. All the nature came from when I was walking my dog, for years, every time I would pick up anything that looked interesting to me. I never necessarily knew what it was, but I thought it was gorgeous. I would say I am inspired by things close to home; people, nature, and even shopping receipts. I am in the process of collecting receipts for a few pieces.
MC: What project to you plan to next pursue?
CC: Well, the tiles from the roof are made of clay. They’re an interesting design. I’m going to transfer on say a picture of a group of friendship bracelets, or something left over from my kids childhoods. You can then assemble these tiles, or hang them as separate works. I think I will assemble them like on a roof, so they will overlap a bit.
MC: What thoughts do you have for your next exhibition?
CC: I am thinking for a show in April it will be white. Some paintings will have a touch of color, but mostly everything will be black and white.
MC: What experiences did you have, what actions did you take, what connections did you make, that enabled you to reach the position that you have today?
CC: Well my mom was an artist. She was a sculptor in New York. She was pretty talented and worked in Manhattan. Then when I was a kid, she was an art teacher. Everything in my house was artistic, Halloween costumes, food, clothing. So as I kid I knew some famous artists, and also my sister became a set designer on Broadway for like 15 years she worked on set in Manhattan. She gave that up once she started a family since the pay is erratic and the hours are crazy, which aren’t good fits for a new mother. So I grew up with a lot of art. Frankly, I wasn’t as talented as my sister, but I grew to enjoy it. When my youngest daughter started Kindergarten, I took a drawing class. When she went to to middle school, I told my husband I wanted to make this a career. I tried for grad school, but I had no undergrad art experience, so I applied to Corcoran which was a blast, but I started later.
MC: What advice would you give to a student who is interested in pursuing a career in art?
CC: Okay, so a few things. My biggest piece is find a way to pay the bills with but one to that also allows time to work at art. Now look at art. Look at art, I mean the contemporary stuff. Go to galleries in Chelsea. Pay close attention to what’s going on in the current are world, because I think most people have a notion that art is what it was hundreds of years ago and quite frankly it’s not. And look at magazines. There are some great contemporary ones like Masterly Painter, Elephant. Not even necessarily even the super mainstream ones because they are more old fashioned. New American Paintings is a great magazine and it gives a great sense of what’s going on in the painting world. Keep your eyes open and pay attention to contemporary art. I believe it’s a great thing to keep it personal. If it’s a part of your life or if you feel something about it, that great, and you can see it in the work because if it’s not personal it’s hollow.
MC: Would it be okay for my professor or other students to follow up with you later on if they have any questions? If so, what is the best way for them to get in touch with you?
CC: Sure, thank you. It would be great if they told you they wanted to contact me so you could send a text just as a heads up.
(No headshot upon artist’s request.)