IN THE STUDIO WITH ARTIST CINDY PRESS
New York-based artist Cindy Press enjoyed a successful career in the fashion industry working with artists to transform paintings and drawings into wearable art. After taking time off to raise her two daughters, she returned to her true passion for painting. Drawing on her experience in fashion illustration, she creates striking semi-realistic portraits and figures of women that are both edgy and intriguing. We had a chat with Cindy to find out more about her work.
Hi Cindy, can you tell us a little bit about your background and how your passion for creativity was sparked?
I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t doing some sort of art. I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil and would come home every day from school and sit in my bedroom and just draw for hours. I used to draw these little cartoon like girls when I was young and I would draw them for all my friends.
At what point did you shift from fashion design and illustration to painting?
I worked as a designer for 15 years and then retired to raise my children. I would do small artistic projects like paint portraits, paint furniture; I had a hand painted t-shirt line. Then when my youngest daughter went to college, 3 years ago, I started painting full time again.
Where do you find the inspiration for your pieces?
My inspiration comes from contemporary fashion. I research catalogues, editorials, magazines and photographers. It’s not the clothing I’m looking for but a mood or a feeling. I also collaborate with a few photographers that I love and work from their photos with their permission, changing them to suit my needs.
Can you tell us a little bit about the philosophy behind your work?
Through the obsession with beauty in contemporary mass media, I investigate the psychological complexities of women. The poses and moods that interest me remind me of my experiences as a woman, experiences that I think all women can relate to and men can relate to because of their relationships with the women.
What do you hope people take away from your paintings and drawings?
It’s my hope that my work makes people think and feel. I know some people will look at my work and say “she’s just painting beautiful women” but if they look more closely at the title and really think about how it makes them feel I they will see that my work comes back to issues we can all relate to.
Your paintings have been exhibited all over the US and in curated collections online as well as found in private collections around the world. In your opinion, what is the most important thing (or things) an artist can do to get their artwork out into the world?
Wow! I’ve only been seriously doing this now for 3 years and I work all the time. I work days, nights and on the weekends. If I’m not painting, I’m drawing or sketching. I am a big believer that you have to work really hard if you want something. I could not have reached the collector base I have today if it wasn’t for the Internet and social media. So when I’m not painting I’m posting!
With such a vast body of work under your belt, you must have some serious self-discipline going on! What’s your secret to productivity?
I’m neurotic, haha. I am just wired this way. I need to sleep 8 hours a night and I can’t sleep if I have too much to do so I am just super focused and I make lots of “to do” lists. I LOVE crossing out items on my “to do” list! It gives me a sense of accomplishment and then I can relax enough to get my 8 hours of sleep.
So many artists like yourself work from home, which means that sometimes it can be difficult to separate work and home life. How do you find a balance between the two?
That’s really the biggest challenge I have. If I find myself getting caught up in things that need to be done at home I will look at the clock and promise myself to stop at a certain time. I find that I usually need to get the home stuff out of the way in the morning, then I can spend the rest of the day focusing on art.
What are you working on at the moment?
I always work on more than one thing at a time. Right now I have 2 large paintings in progress, and a commission I have to finish. Then I will be starting a group of new paintings and drawings that I will be exhibiting at The Other Art Fair in NYC in June.
We love to shine the spotlight on creative female entrepreneurs like you. Can you tell us about another female artist in your community who inspires you and why?
Maria Zemtsova, the founder of Art Maze Magazine and an amazing sculptor. She lives in London but we became fast friends when she visited NYC for the art fairs. She is so dedicated to her magazine and to her art practice and I really admire her for her work ethic.
Check out Cindy Press and please show your support!
www.cindypress.com
www.instagram.com/cindypressart
www.facebook.com/cindypressart
twitter.com/cindypressart
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