creativeGIRLS
Both from the Detroit Metropolitan area. Both from families of four with married parents and brothers. Both attended well regarded high schools. Both are in their second year of college at art school. Both visual artists. Both musicians. Best friends. We just don’t agree on anything when it comes to being creative. Wade Kogler and I have been best friends for 6 years now. We met at a summer camp in northern Michigan where she was working as a nanny for the camp director and I was spending the summer as a camper. Though we weren’t supposed to be friends since she was being paid to be there and I was paying to be there, our mutual weirdness and love for music and art brought us together. Throughout high school and the transition into college, we have watched each other grow as women and as artists. We’ve seen each other create countless projects in varying departments of art. We’ve performed several duets and accompanied each other using a variety of different instruments in ever changing combinations. We’ve seen
each other in productions as well as been there to help them get to those roles. Despite the fact that we have collaborated on several different fronts, the vast difference between our two creative processes has never revealed itself. Growing up in similar demographically similar conditions, one would presume that we would have similar outlooks--which arguable we have. We have similar interests and aspirations. No matter how similar the upbringing of two people are though, there will still be differences in their personalities--which affects much more of the creative process than I anticipated. As an entity, the creative process is a deeply intellectual construct which outsiders expect to have some grand thought out archetype which is applied to all our work. Though, in thinking through my own process both during this project and as it has been coached to me through the Research, Analysis, and Process class, the creative process varies from person to person and often reflects their outward personality and daily decision making process.
ExperiExperimentation mentation Being complimentary people, Wade and I also have opposite approaches to creation. Emotionally, Wade and I are night and day; Wade leads with her heart whereas I lead with my head. This is reflected heavily in the way we work. According to Wade, “My entire perspective on art is experimentation.
If you aren’t experimenting and finding something new then you’re doing it wrong.” Which apparently means that I’m doing it wrong. When answering my own questions, I realized--well, admitted--that I don’t really experiment; I find solutions and execute them. Which involved an entirely
different process than trial and error which is traditionally associated with artistic experimentation. I think that difference in our views could be because she considers herself an ‘artist’ while I would say that I’m a ‘designer’. The distinction between the two being that artists create work for themselves and designers create work for others. Being a designers is why I love to be given a prompt; it gives me a challenge. It provides me with deadlines and guidelines and, ultimately, it provides me with a goal which propels me forward. Being in art school, both Wade and I are presented with projects to complete. I thrive off these projects because I am motivated by the idea of getting something done. The more I am attached to a project, the better it is,
but it’s still an assignment that I am compelled to complete. When it comes to these prompts, Wade said that she feels that they almost always come with a set of restrictions that hinder the creative process and eventual outcome of the piece. As a part of that experimentation, she seems to need the space to let her work grow. She’s motivated to make the things that speak to her. She said, “I thoroughly enjoy projecting my own ideas into art because I feel there is always something new driving me to create.” I haven’t been inspired to make my own work in a long time, and I think in that regard I could take a cue from my friend. Perhaps there needs to be a balance between the work that I do for school and the work that I make for myself.
Preivous page: Maneater by Ava Scott. Watercolor, acrylic, and ink on watercolor paper. This page: Drawing of a Spider by Wade Kogler. Ink pen on paper. Next page: Sheri by Wade Kogler. Digital photography.
Inspiration
As an artist, I haven’t found myself inspired in quite a while; I haven’t had that flash of an image that calls to be put on paper. Looking back at how I viewed inspiration when I was thinking about what encourages me to make art, I sound fairly competitive in my answer--which isn’t surprising because I am a competitive person. During the recent lecture series for Communications Design students, I have found myself constantly wishing that I were doing something that I was more passionate about or working in a medium that I found more exciting like the lectures that came to speak. I wasn’t necessarily inspired to explore the
topics or styles or even the far off places they went in search of inspiration; I was inspired by their happiness and their success. I am motivated to create because I know it’s my ticket to success and it is in my success and having a completed piece that I truly find myself being happy. In terms of individual projects though, I need a prompt to know where to begin. I regularly brainstorm and sketch and create thumbnails before I commit to an idea and pursue it. My inspiration comes after thorough investigation of a topic and coming up with multiple ideas. It’s less about my interpretation as and individual and more about what is most
This page: Abstraction of a Reflective Surface by Ava Scott. Acylic paint on bristol board. Next page: Detroit Landscapes by Wade Kogler. Digital photography. Following page: By Wade Kogler. Digital photography.
appropriate for the project. It’s a back and forth between myself and others before I create a final product which usually was not my vision but rather a final deliverable which meets a purpose. Wade, on the other hand, creates work the way she see it. She wants to share her view of the world with everyone else: “I am inspired to make art because I want to provoke people. I try to always make art about something that will catch the viewer’s eye, or make them uncomfortable or start talking about something they usually wouldn’t. I’m inspired to create because of the way that I see the world. I believe that it is not being
showcased in the way that it truly is. The world is a dark, mysterious and brooding place. Most of my art is centered around grunge culture, leading to deterioration and eventual decay.” There is an emotional connection to the world around her that is different than that of others. She views the world through a romanticised lens which shows in her work and penetrates all of her pieces. This gives her not only inspiration and motivation to create work but also a personal style as an artist. The intention behind her work also gives her a very different perspective on what makes something successful: “Odds are if the piece is going to piss
off my parents, its a successful piece.� As opposed to my view of successful, which surmounts to: would someone use this in real life?
Media
MEDIA MEDIA Interestingly enough, despite the rift in our mental process of making art, both of us prefer mediums that are tactile in the physical aspect of making art. Wade’s favorite medium to work in is sculpture and mine is in collage. Both of these media involve creating in a way that is physical and messy. Wade said, “Oddly enough my favorite medium to work in would have to be sculpture. I love the physicality of it. The fact that I can touch this piece I created. Being a photographer, the only physicality is during the shoot, which is a small portion of the
process. With sculpture, you can feel and add and touch and almost experience the piece. It’s incredible.” I wasn’t expecting us to say something similar, but I also do most of my work digitally and it never is as satisfying as creating something with my hands. Collage has this naivety to it that I’m really drawn to because cutting and pasting is so enjoyable. Making a really beautiful collage can be a challenge too because it’s a medium that everyone especially small children work in which can make it seem crafty and insignificant.
MAKINGMUSIC Our need to work with something very physical when making visual art translates into our love of playing music. There’s that same sense of tactility. The feel of an instrument in your hands and the ability to move to create something. Both Wade and I play multiple instruments and are avid singers who thrive off
playing for an audience--even if it’s only for each other. While I can see the connection between our interest in making music and making art, our processes regarding music immediately appear to be opposites of why create visual art. Wade’s answers had a larger sense of logic, industry, and professionalism while my an-
Anchorman by Wade Kogler. Digital photography.
swers were more emotionally centered and personal. When discussing why she’s driven to make music Wade said, “I am driven to make music for the same reasons I am driven to make art. Music is a constantly shifting industry and I believe that now in many ways it has shifted for the worse. Music is not an industry or a business,
and that is what it has become now. I feel that it is my duty as an artist (quoting Daft Punk here) to ‘bring life back to music’.” While yes, she does express her view of music as an art form and not an industry, her response doesn’t reflect the same need to bring people to feel something that her discussion of visual art did. There
isn’t the same inner urgency to create in order to express or release. Even her answer about what her process is when she goes to start playing music sounds like something outsiders would have expected me to say based on my previous statements regarding my visual creative process. She said, “Drink a shit ton of water. Tune up my instruments. Make a set list. Jam.” In contrast, when I was thinking about starting to play, I skipped the tuning stage (usually I play often enough that things stay in tune). I often warm up with same few songs that I love to play and get my fingers exercised, but even more frequently I start with a pressing song that has called me to my guitar. When I reach for my instrument, it’s usually because I need it in that moment to help me express and expunge all the feelings that I’ve been marinating in. For that reason, I really have mastered playing slow songs and love ballads.
This page: Axis: Bold As Love by Ava Scott. Digital collage.
INFLUENCES Visible in our personal lives, artistic endeavours, and musical stylings are our musical influences. I have always loved seventies rock; from folk to glamour to classic, as the Arrows first wrote “I love rock ‘n roll.” But then again, I really like alternative and indie music--so much so that I co-host a weekly radio show that is dedicated to it. I sing show-tunes, I drive to intense rap music, and I played Killers covers in my high school girl band. I feel like this large variety of music interests is why my artistic style is all over the place. The way that I draw, the way that I design digitally, and the way I work in collage are all completely different. My designs range from clean and sophisticated to childlike and sketchy. It all just depends on how I’m feeling--which is just how my musical taste varies. Though when it comes playing, I most often gravitate toward slower classic rock songs--which are the most obvious influence in my work as I consistently turn to their lyrics for inspiration. In this way, I think that is the closest that I get to Wade’s deep connection to Kurt Cobain. His influence is evident in her art and her musical interests and her personal style. Wade loves to cover Lana Del Rey, Radiohead, and Amy Winehouse which all have these very soulful, dark musical styles. Which I can see infiltrating the music she is now trying to write on her own.
This page: Drip by Wade Kogler. metal, fiberglass mannequin, spray paint. sculpture.. Next page: Advertisement for WPIR Pratt Radio by Ava Scott. Digital illustration. Following page: Isn’t She Lovely? by Ava Scott. Digital Illustration..
PRODUCTION This is where our visual personas come back into play. Wade is brave enough to put herself out there and create an album. She’s willing to try and fail and try again and keep at it until she’s made something that she’s happy with. I on the other hand don’t think I would ever really try to create something like that because there is no formula, no solution to creating a well-rounded successful album. I’m much more comfortable playing covers that I know people enjoy.
conclusion For both Wade and I, music is a must in the environment in which we create our work, as inspiration for our visual work, and to play. Despite similarities like this, there are glaring differences in our styles, intentions, and inspirations. While that may stop us from working together professionally in the future, that sure won’t stop us from encouraging each other to become better visual or musical artists and better friends. At the end of my short interview with her, Wade included: “Ava Scott is an incredible friend and I love her so very much. She’s a wonderful human being and she has influenced my art and music since the day I met her.” To this I respond with: “Wade Kogler is an amazing friend who constantly forces me to embrace my emotions and to be my most authentic self. She encourages me to do the things I envision and pushes me to be better in all my passions. She has been an influence on my music, my art, and who I am today.” This Page: Pinups by David Bowie by Ava Scott. Digital Collage.
Front Cover Drip by Wade Kogler. metal, fiberglass mannequin, spray paint.sculpture./ Portrait of Ava Scott by Hannah Gorosh. Digital Photography./ Selfie of Wade Kogler by Wade Kogler. Digital Photography. Back Cover: Exposed by Wade Kogler. Digital photography./ Photograph of Ava and Wade by unknown. Digital photography./Cover of Babe Magazine Volume 1, Issue 1 by Ava Scott. Digital Illustration