Laura Barth Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory member provides some fascinating insights into her practice and experience as photographer, as she responds to the questions below:
- How do you approach the challenge of staying motivated and inspired in your art practice, and what strategies do you use to keep your creativity flowing?
- Can you talk about the role of storytelling and narrative in your work?
- What do you consider to be the most rewarding aspects of your work?
- What advice do you have for aspiring artists who are just starting out?
How do you approach the challenge of staying motivated and inspired in your art practice, and what strategies do you use to keep your creativity flowing?
Because art isn’t my only source of income, I can afford to embrace what I like to call “fallow periods,” instead of creative blocks. This is where I’ll turn to other areas of my life for inspiration, even if they seem mundane. I once read an interview with an artist I admire, Carmen Winant, who shared advice from her mentor: “Just try to remember Carmen, it’s all part of the project.” Meaning that your work, children, responsibilities, etc. aren’t in competition with your creative practice. I also see that as meaning that everything else I’m doing is still informing my art, and not to get too frustrated if I’m feeling stuck or don’t have time to make something. All that being said, I think it’s important to push yourself to keep making, even if it’s just something small here and there, to keep your creativity flowing. I might even try a different medium just to spice things up. I also like to look at art – in person, through social media, in print, etc. to keep myself inspired and in the creative headspace.
Can you talk about the role of storytelling and narrative in your work?
A lot of my images begin from a certain reference point, which is typically a personal feeling or experience that is part of a larger personal narrative. I’ve had people describe my imagery as feeling like fairy tales or myths, which makes sense since many of them are part of a larger personal mythology that I’ve created. I like that the full narrative is never completely revealed, and sometimes I do this intentionally; it invites viewers to fill in the space between images with their own meanings. Additionally, sometimes I’ll use a series to represent an overarching narrative, where each image in the series represents a particular point in the story.
What do you consider to be the most rewarding aspects of your work?
It’s hard for me to narrow it down to one thing! I love the process, and understanding the medium, and learning new techniques. I feel like I learn something new each time I make a piece. I especially love the opportunities I’ve had to engage with other people through exhibitions, features, or interviews. It has been incredibly rewarding to hear how my art resonates with them, especially when their interpretations differ from mine. The opportunities to share my work have also helped me build an incredible artist community and find friends in my little alternative process photography niche.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists who are just starting out?What do you consider to be the most rewarding aspects of your work?
Find your community! I think this can be in person or online, depending on your medium and approach. I was very lucky to make great connections with other fine art photographers through Instagram, and those connections have helped me get exposure and gigs, in addition to general support and feedback. My other advice is to get critiques from other artists in your medium through studio visits, portfolio reviews, etc. This can also help build your community. I remember my first portfolio review – I brought my traditional photography for critique, but at the last minute decided to add some examples of my alternative process work. Guess which ones got the best feedback! At the time, I thought of those pieces as just me “playing” and I was blown away when one of the reviewers said they were more “serious” than my traditional photography. Looking back, I think that sense of play is where the art is. So play! Have fun!
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