You can learn more about the subject of my interview at: Adrienne Trafford’s Art Blog.
When a true artist looks at a bare canvas, she can see the images within it that are waiting to be born.
And so it has always been for Adrienne Trafford who is an artist in Reading, Pa.
Early dreams
“I was an only child, but that never really bothered me, because I was always surrounded by children and adults.”
Trafford, who initially considered becoming a sports commentator, has been drawing for as long as she can remember.
“Art was always there for me. My mom (Sharyn Hodge) was my most significant influence when I was growing up. I inherited my abilities from her.
“Most of my art teachers from elementary and middle school were amazing.
“Mrs. Popp (who she met in elementary school) is the first teacher who I remember as being very supportive of my work.
“There was one specific project that I still remember. She gave everyone in the class individual sheets of paper with one simple design on them. She really liked what I created.”
Trafford also noted Ramon Lago as being an early influence on her development. Lago, a Cuban-born artist, taught classes at the Wyomissing Institute of Fine Arts, which is now known as the Yocum Institute for Arts Education.
She also noted that Mrs. Bagenstose, a middle school art teacher, and all of her art professors at Kutztown University were very influential as well.
After high school, Trafford had brushes and a palette nearby even when she was working as a flight attendant and as a secretary.
“I worked for awhile after high school and then I went to Kutztown University, which is a great art school.”
da Vinci, Mucha, van Gogh and Klimt
“When I work, I get to do exactly what I always thought I wanted to do.”
Art is a subjective form of expression. The term artist is also something that also can’t be exclusively defined in words alone.
“Art is something that comes from your heart. It’s being able to express things that you wouldn’t normally be able to express verbally.”
Trafford noted that Leonardo da Vinci, who famously painted “The Last Supper”, could often be seen simply standing in front of a wall.
The people who commissioned his work believed that he wasn’t working. But, they didn’t know that he was visualizing the masterpiece that he was creating.
Some of her artistic influences include:
Alphonse Mucha, a Czech painter who lived from 1860-1939. He believed that the ultimate expression of art is the expression of beauty.
Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch painter who lived from 1853-1890. He had a profound influence in expressionism, fauvism and early abstraction and produced almost all of his 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings during a ten year period.
And her favorite, Gustav Klimt, a painter and illustrator from Vienna who lived from 1862-1918.
“Klimt was an extraordinary artist. He would use gold leaf and created highly detailed, opulent pieces that were both organic and geometric.”
She also has been influenced by the work of Maurice Sendak and Mercer Mayer , who are illustrators and authors.
The emotions of Trafford’s subjects are conveyed, in part, through the angles she presents her human forms in. Her characters and other images also embrace a richness of color that allows them to speak to multiple observers in a simultaneous manner.
“I work with acrylic or ink and watercolor combined. I create the image in pencil before I go over it again in ink.
“I like to use watercolor and pen if I’m working on illustrations.
“I also like to combine flatness with a three-dimensional aspect.”
Creative expression
Trafford’s work is on display at her studio, which is located at the GoggleWorks in Reading, Pa.
The fabulously unique facility is the largest and most interactive arts center of its kind in the country.
“There are many positive benefits to being associated with the GoggleWorks. Being there has opened so many doors for me.
“I’m also surrounded by amazing artists who are highly respected and offer good advice.”
Visiting Trafford’s GoggleWorks studio helps to further deepen your connection with her work. Both she and her characters warmly welcome all who visit them.
The marketplace
One of the challenges of being an artist is responding to and interacting in the marketplace.
While the nature of art enthusiasts does change over time, superior quality is always in demand regardless of economic realities.
“I believe that when you are starting out, you have to be reasonable with prices.
“Artists have to consider and know the market that they are selling in. For example, Reading, Pa. is different from New York.
“You also need to consider how many hours it takes to produce a piece when a price is being determined for it.
“The online market is different than the type of buyer that you would meet at the GoggleWorks.
“People who want to invest in art need to know that it is not just your hobby, that you are serious about your work and that you plan on being around.”
Trafford’s style caught the eye of Schiffer Publishing earlier this year.
“One of the editors from Schiffer came on a Second Sunday and saw my work. I signed with them in the spring and then created the Journey Oracle Deck and Coloring Book.”
The 46-card oracle deck and coloring book portray beautiful, strong women handling everyday issues.
“I started the project three years ago and had it published in March 2011. I was offered a contract for another project that will be available in the Fall of 2012.
“At the time, I was trying to create an expression of what I was going through and would journal on the back of the cards. I genuinely gave a lot of myself for that project.”
Social media
Trafford recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of her art blog.
“I have met so many people through my blog who have helped me indirectly.
“Since I have been on the internet, I have gotten to meet artists from all over the world.”
Trafford was invited to join an exclusive group of artists who are based in South Africa, England and in other countries around the globe.
International recognition
One of the women that Trafford met through the exclusive online artists group referenced earlier is from South Africa.
Tessa Edwards was a well-known supporter of the arts, was also strongly involved with many charities throughout the world through the time of her passing last year.
Edwards nominated Trafford for the International Reach Out Award and the Bella Sinclair Award, both of which she was then recognized for.
Family matters
Trafford and her husband Mark have two daughters, both of whom have inherited their mother’s artistic flair.
Sarah is 14 and has her own art blog.
Gwyneth is 11 and has said that she would like to be an illustrator for Disney.
“My children are so talented for their ages. I feel intuitively that they are ahead of the game.”
Community involvement
The Berks County native also takes time to enjoy life. She likes watching movies with her family, reading a variety of books, supporting plays at local theaters, traveling and enjoying all that nature has to offer whenever she has the opportunity to do so.
Trafford is a strong supporter of the Humane Society of Berks County and is the creator of their logo, Spike the dog.
Just keep swimming
Looking to the future, Trafford wants to create children’s books and would like to see her images on other items.
“I would like to see my work on purses, notebooks and other personal items in the future.”
One of the famous lines from the animated Disney movie “Finding Nemo”, was “just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming…”
In that same spirit, Trafford offered advice to young artists.
“Take a notebook, pens, pencils and crayons with you wherever you go. Use any free moment that you have to just create something.
“Like Nemo, you need to just keep painting, or drawing, or doing whatever it is that you like to do.”
Sean has written professionally since 1990. Read his Blog: Insight and follow him on Twitter @ SeanyOB
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