Mobile Photography & Art – Portrait of an Artist – Seeing Through The Eyes Of Jane Schultz
We are delighted to bring to you the fourth in our brand new series of interviews within our Portrait of an Artist column entitled ‘Seeing through the eyes…’. This is a section that has been created by our wonderful Portrait of an Artist Editor, Ile Mont. Mont has been inspired by the life and works of Carolyn Hall Young, as so many of us have.
Young was the main contributor to our Portrait of an Artist Flickr pool and filled it with portraits of so many wonderful people, not only of herself. It is for this reason that Mont wanted to create this section, to enable us to view the artists style through their own eyes. At the end of each interview, Mont will keep Young’s tradition alive, with a portrait of herself, seen through the eyes of the artist. In this case, you will see that at the end of this interview there is a portrait of Mont, seen through the eyes of Jane Schultz, what a gift!
Please continue to post your mobile portraiture to our dedicated Flickr group, that way, Mont will search through these artists first to interview. (foreword by Joanne Carter).
All images in this interview ©Jane Schultz and the final image is a collaboration ©Ile Mont/©Jane Schultz
(To view our other published interviews in this series, please go here).
Would you like to introduce yourself?
I am a predominantly self-taught mobile artist from Pennsylvania, USA..also a wife and a mom. My images have been exhibited in museums, art centers, and galleries on an international basis, and featured in numerous publications for photography and mobile artistry. I administer Edit from the Soul, a FB group, and @ig_artistry, an Instagram hub, which promote originality, creativity, and emotive art. I also teach iPhoneography and curate for the New Era Museum.
What does “being creative” mean to you?
It is an expression of the soul. The creative process forms a new and altered perception, and subtly changes the world around.
Can you describe the time when you first realised that creating was something you absolutely had to do?
For me, it was one of those things that I looked back on and that is how it was.
What are you trying to communicate with your art?
Sometimes, I’ll tell you or my title or lyrical accompaniment will. In all cases, I believe there are three interpretations, what I know to be the meaning, what you believe to be the meaning, and what the apparent meaning of the piece is. What the viewer believes is what I have ultimately communicated.
What do you think are the ups and downs about working with your own image?
Some might say that you are limited by the subject matter, but I take so many photos that that is rarely the case. I see no downsides to my own work. The resulting image is one of my own creation, giving me satisfaction and the ability to show or sell it. Collaborations are a different matter, those can be inspiring as the subject matter is fresh and inspiring, friendships bring meaning, and the other artists can push you in different directions.
Is there an artwork you are most proud of?
A few stand out in my mind. I am most proud of my series. ‘The first, Study in Slow Shutter’, involves slow shutter imagery reconstructed by hand. ‘Robotic (pinned)‘, an award winning piece, comes from that series.
Another, the series’ Alone Behind the Pane’ derives from hipstamatic portraits. The series is a political statement on today’s times, describing two personas, those that shut out reality to convince themselves and others who do it to survive. ‘See No Evil’ and ‘The Unraveling’ are a part of this series. I’m also proud of some new work that I’m working on now, where I am creating and recycling aspects of my work live for further digital work.
How do you know when a work is finished?
I used to think it was finished when I pushed the publish button..then when I polished it for print..but now I know that it may never be finished.
What kind of creative patterns, routines or rituals do you have?
I believe a photograph should be adjusted and cropped at the outset, before creative work comes into play. I have learned, garbage in, garbage out. I also have some routines as to how I finish a piece, after it is essentially done. This involves clean up and running it through certain apps to make it look just so. Other than that, I don’t really have any. That would stifle my creativity.
What inspires you?
I am always inspired by the beauty in nature. I take hundreds of photos that I never use but love every minute of it.
What are your favourite tools and apps while creating?
Almost all of my work is mobile. My favorite tool is my iPad, hands down. I’m an appaholic and have accumulated hundreds of apps relating to image capturing and editing. My favourites recently have been 2 of the oldies, Procreate and Juxtaposer.
What’s the best advice you ever had about how to be more creative?
Go to new places, experience new things. Go to museums or look through art blogs. The idea is not to copy but to be inspired. Re-approach an edit you put down a long time ago. Use your emotions to let loose on an image or, in contrast, find a peaceful place and open your mind to it.
What advice would you share with us?
Be yourself, and show yourself in your art.
It has been a thrill and an absolute pleasure to be able to see a little through the eyes of Jane but its a huge honor to have been seen through her eyes too.
While You’re Here
TheAppWhisperer has always had a dual mission: to promote the most talented mobile artists of the day and to support ambitious, inquisitive viewers the world over. As the years passTheAppWhisperer has gained readers and viewers and found new venues for that exchange.
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Ile Mont
Ileana Mont Born in Mexico City, Ileana is a professional in graphic communications and advertising. She studied in San Diego, CA. in the United States and later on she returned to Mexico City where she worked as a copywriter, graphic designer and creative director for several advertising agencies, until she realized she had a more artistic calling and a very strong feeling for painting and photography. She learned about painting techniques with Mexican artist Irma Grizá and engaged in developing and combining her photography and computer graphics skills through her visual expression. She is now an independent visual artist and photographer and has been featured in some important blogs about mobile art and photography. Ileana enjoys looking for the beauty out of ordinary things and the special things of our everyday lives.
One Comment
Carol Wiebe
I actually printed this interview out. The images are immenently inspiring but so is Jane’s approach. I believe, as she does, that being creative is an expression of the soul, and that the viewer’s perceptions of our art are every bit as important as our own. Unless, of course, you are content to be the sole viewer!
I take to heart her warning of “garbage in, garbage out,” and am a self-confessed appoholic and iPadoholic. Those words sound hilarious spoken out loud, but they represent serious business in my life, in terms of my commitment to self expression.
Finally, I must say that what Jane shows of herself in her art is incredibly intriguing, and reveals an open minded, highly creative, and deeply emotive soul.
Thank you SO much for this interview, Jane and Joanne!