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Friday, March 22, 2013

A Mixed Media Artist from Iceland!! - Sigga Dis


                         Soaring to Success 

          Interviews of Artists, Writers and Photgraphers

                   Their work, creative spaces and techniques
   


                                          An Artist from Iceland!!! 
                                            Sigga Dis

                                                  
1. Introduce yourself.  Name, City, State, Country  .. and describe what you do, what’s your passion? 



Sigga Dis, That's Me!


My name is Sigga Dís, I’m a mixed media artist living in Keflavík, Iceland. I am an art teacher, teaching art to children age 6-16 and I love my job. I’m 54 years old, married and a mother of 3 beautiful children age 15, 23 and 27. Last year, I became a grandmother and that is such a great experience. 




2. When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

Since I was a little girl I have been painting, drawing, working with clay or just creating. Creating and traveling is what I love to do.




3. What are your fears?  How have you faced them?   

My fears are that people don’t like my art, but so far after 6 or 7 exhibitions that all went very well and selling so many paintings that I have stopped counting, I think that I don’t have to be afraid. I’m working on my self, telling my self that I’m an artist.

Sigga 's Art Exhibition in September


4. What makes you different…unique from others  

I don’t know if something makes me unique or different but My Lovely Ladies are unique, I´m so much in love with each and every one of them, they are like my friends.




She is my absolute favorite "Lovely Lady"

Fish Face



5. Any secrets to reveal about the tools you use or your techniques?  Tips or tricks? 
     
I have no secrets, but maybe one thing I can say about my painting is that I can be painting on a big canvas or doing a crazy mixed media using even my fingers without getting a spot on my clothes. You should see the mess on my desk.


My workspace - a big mess around me!


6. What are your goals and inspirations?  Where will you hope to be in 2 years?  5 years?  10 years?
I would love to stop working and start painting all day long. Maybe I can one day, I hope so. I’m taking classes all the time and my goals are to learn as much as I can as long as I can. I love to learn new things and techniques.







7. Where is your creative space or studio?   

I have been all over the house but now I have a room of my own where I have my books, computer and all my artist stuff. But as I’m taking Flora Bowleys class I’m painting in my garage, working on big canvas using spray bottles and lot of mess.
I have been thinking about getting me a studio outside the home but I always find out it is best to stay at home because then I have everything there if I get an extra minute. 


I paint in my garage while taking Flora Bowleys class

8.How much time do you devote to your work?  (Is it at same time everyday? Are you disciplined to go into your studio at 9:00am every morning?  Or do you wait until you are in a creative mood?)

I use almost every extra minute I have in my room painting, if not I’m knitting or croqueting.




One of my favorites. This was a special project.

9. What are your “whispers” or callings begging you to do? What made you decide to take this e-course with Kelly Rae Roberts? What do you want to achieve?

My “whispers” are calling me to follow my dreams and go to India again. I would like to stay there for few months doing meditation and yoga, and try to catch the colors of India. 
I did take Kelly Rae Roberts class because I love her work and I love what she has made of her work. I have been doing a little of that myself but Iceland is such a small country with such a small market.

    
Some of my stuff, my diary, my bookmarks and my tote bags...(below)

my diary




10. Do you keep a daily journal or sketchbook, or write in a diary?  These are usually very interesting  & very charming to share- like a peek into the life of an artist.
No I don’t, but I do always have a sketchbook with me so I have a few. What I do is that if I get an idea of a painting I make a sketch first so for most of my paintings I have a sketch. I have my Lovely Ladies sketchbook for sale in my Etsy shop.



One of my Bookmarks

My Totebags


11. How do you market yourself?
There I would love to get help, I’m not good in that. I do have an Etsy Shop  and I do have a FaceBook page but most I have been selling my paintings when I’m having an exhibition. My books, bookmarks and the other stuff I’m selling on Etsy, and in 3 local stores but most I’m selling to the people around me. I also have a blog, be sure and check it out!






From one of the shops that are selling my paintings and my other things


12. What type of music (if any) do you listen to when you create?
Soft music, I have to have some music when I’m painting. Today, I love Adele and all kinds of meditation music.






13. Who is your favorite artist, photographer, author? …  In other words, who do you admire, and look up to?
They are so many. Of Icelandic one I love Louísa Matthíasdóttir.
Hundertwasser, Chagall and Gaudy are great too, and so many more, but those that inspire me most are Kelly Rae Roberts, Flora Bowley, Tracy Verdougu, Juliette Crane and many more Mixed Media ladies.



My first one in Flora Bowley´s  class, I call it Be Brave.


14. Are you encouraged to follow your creative path by your family or friends?

Yes, now they do, I think they have begun to understand how much it means to me.


15. How do come up with titles for your work…whether it be paintings, short stories, a novel, or other artwork?
That’s the easy part, It´s just there and people have been telling me how they love the names I give my paintings...like "Fly on the Wings of Love", "Believe in Yourself"..I use inspirational and encouraging titles! 

Many times I take photos of the process from the beginning to the end.


16. Do you work on one project at a time.. or have several going on at a time?
I think now I have about 20 maybe more… I’m taking Life Book 2013, just finished Lifebook 2012. There I have few on my desk waiting to be finished. I’m taking class with Flora Bowley there I have 4 big canvas I’m working on. Then I have few mandalas and few Zentangles, little of small paintings and few mixed media works.


I Love to Doodle


You can take a look in my etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/siggadisart or you can search my blog www.siggadisart.blogspot.com if you want to see them. If you visit my blog you might have to go down few pages because I have been doing very different paintings lately and please leave me a comment!



THANK YOU Sigga Dis.

Your artwork is lovely!  It is colorful and unique! I always amazes me, that eventhough we all are from all over this world, we, as artists, still have the same passion for art, the same whispers, and similar goals we love to  reach! I may never meet you in person but I feel like I know you, now, and that we are friends, fellow artists, because of the wonderful age of computers! Thank you letting us get to know you and for sharing not only your artwork, but take a peek into your creative space!   Your journey has certainly lead to you having wings....   Fly, baby, fly!!!    Joan

P.S. Your English is fantastic!!! (be proud!!)

* If you are an artist, writer or photographer and want to be featured on my blog, please email me for consideration. 
I owned an art school in Charlotte, NC for 16 years before moving to Jacksonville, FL., so it  thrills me when a classroom full of students, given one assignment, produces such a variety of ideas. …We are all unique, we are all special.  We all have a different path, a different way of approaching our art. That is exactly why I want to do these interviews, to celebrate what makes us, US!      Thank you for participating : )               
                 Joan Carver       (e) joanecarver@yahoo.com       904-230-6155
   

2 comments:

Deepa Gopal said...

That's a wonderful read Sigga :)
I am glad to have read this as I've got to know you a little more...Loved all your artworks and space.
Great interview Joan :)
Best,
Deepa
http://deepazworld.blogspot.ae/

Siggadisart said...

Joan, thank you so much. It feels a little strange to see all my paintings on others blog and to read about my self.... but one could get used to it.. :) I have been looking at others interviews and it is great to read and look at all the others paintings. Thank you again, have a wonderful weekend :)

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