Q&A With Artist Courtney Pasterchick

How do you think your upbringing has enriched or supported your growth as an artist?

"I grew up on the Jersey Shore and was always inspired by the ocean. I would take my cheap watercolor paints to the beach and paint the landscape for hours. I started to take art classes in high school to learn more about painting and increasingly became interested in realism. From there, I would look up YouTube videos and tutorials on realism and try to follow along as best as possible. My teachers in high school believed in my work and encouraged me to keep creating. Some of my pieces were entered into different shows around the state and I ended up winning second place in the state of New Jersey. I realized I loved to create and it was something that I was good at. I decided to pursue art in college and from there a career path."

Who/What are your biggest influences, and/or have there been any major life moments that have influenced you?

"While attending the University of Tampa (UT), I have met so many talented artists and have been introduced to people who have made art a successful career path for themselves. I knew that I always wanted to be an artist, but never realized how I could make that happen for myself. In my Junior year of college, I was introduced to a professional mural artist, Bianca Burrows or BBART, who was looking for an assistant. Although I have never done murals I was eager to take this opportunity. She has been such an inspiration to me since that point on. I have worked for her for about a year and a half and would not be the artist I am today without her. She has taught me everything that I need to know about mural work, being a business woman, preparing myself for graduating, as well as being a mentor in my life. She has influenced me as an artist and has shown me that with hard work, following this career path is possible."

What does “art” mean to you, and why?

"The word “Art” is empowering to me. When I hear that word, I think about everything that comes with it and the happiness that it brings to people. Art is what makes this world beautiful and exciting. Art has given me a reason to wake up in a good mood each morning and create something amazing for myself and others."

What is your favorite part of the creative process and the way in which you create?

"For my body of work, I primarily use oil paints to create realistic figures. I have always enjoyed learning color mixing techniques to create flesh tones and matching them to the photographs that I take of my models. In preparation for my painting, I normally take a day to just mix colors for my palette. I make sure to take my time to get the colors right. This day is honestly my favorite because it feels very therapeutic and relaxing. In a way I feel like I am solving a puzzle to get to the correct skin tones."

What inspires you to create?

"Throughout my experience with displaying my work at shows, doing live paintings, and mural work, I am constantly inspired by the happiness that my work brings to others. Although I am always excited for my paintings, it is definitely fulfilling to know that others are excited for projects that I am doing as well. I continue to create every day in hopes that my work resonates with others and can bring a smile to their face."

What is your chosen medium of artistic expression and why? Are there any materials or creative mediums you wish to explore in your work?

"In my current work, I have been using beer and spray paint over vinyl stencils and combining it with oil painted figures. I started using beer and spray paint together when taking an experimental painting class and was captivated by the reaction that happened between the two. When doing this process over vinyl stencil, it creates a decaying effect on the image. For example, I used this process overtop of designer logo stencils to allude to the toxic nature of materialism. However, the medium that I am primarily using is oil paint. Oil paints allow me to create a realistic figure by being able to blend easier than other mediums such as acrylics. In general, I love to experiment with new materials and am looking forward to expanding my skills in the future."

What advice would you give to your younger self?

"If I could give my younger self advice, it would be to not listen to negativity that others throw at you and to keep persisting. Although I am still in the process of becoming a successful artist, I came across many obstacles mentally along the way. I have constantly been told that art is not a career path and that I need to choose something more practical to study. If you told me five years ago that I would be painting murals for the Super Bowl or selling work for thousands of dollars I would not believe you because I have always struggled with finding the confidence in myself to be successful."

What is your favorite subject or concept to create upon?

"My current work discusses the toxic nature of materialism in our society today. Although it can be a touchy subject for some people, I think it is important to discuss that not everything that makes you happy has to have a price tag on it. We tend to forget about others that are struggling and grew up with nothing because we are so consumed in our own privilege. I want viewers of my work to look past the designer elements that are in your face and recognize the problem happening beneath it."

What is your most vulnerable, innovative, or experimental artwork? Was there ever a time you had to push boundaries to move your craft in the way you wanted it to go?

"While taking an experimental painting class at the University of Tampa, we were asked to make a painting without using paint or any other painterly materials. This forced me to think outside of the box and create artwork that is different from anything else being made right now. With this topic, I decided to use pennies and oxidized liquid copper to create an image on panel. This process was a learning experience for me and consisted of a lot of trial and error. However, These pieces are the most talked about works at any gallery or show that I put them into. This shows me that people like to see things that are different and it creates a conversation about the process of art when using materials that are out of the ordinary."

What are your future artistic/creative goals?

"I will be graduating with my BFA from the University of Tampa this May and am planning on finding my own studio space to keep creating work for the near future. I will continue to work for Bianca Burrows creating murals around Florida and expanding my connections. I would like to collaborate with other creatives and grow my social media presence. I am always striving for bigger and better things in my career and don't see that stopping any time soon."

You can find Courtney on Instagram at @Courtney_makes_art and stay up to date with all of her creative endeavors.

https://courtneypasterchic.wixsite.com/mysite