Vernonburg GA | You're Welcome Savannah

You are both an illustrator and a painter. Where does your creativity come from when you are creating your beautiful pieces.

Inspiration is everywhere and I find it in every facet of life; the daily, the mundane, the extraordinary, the historical and in an imagined world created from the former. Creativity is probably a different animal than inspiration. I suspect it might be a habit; to be in the mode of making things or building something from pieces found anywhere. Everybody is creative, in my opinion, but some people spend more time in the practice.

You graduated with a MFA in Illustration along with a MFA in Painting from SCAD. How has art shaped your views on life?

My studying and teaching at SCAD gave a formal language to a world that I had been visiting my entire life. The institution also supported my learning how to speak and think more critically about all art and design endeavors. Academics aside, the SCAD and Savannah art community has given me years of inspiration, fodder for thought, the gift of many of my closest friendships and alliances and endless opportunities for collaboration that is both visual and conceptual.

What does your normal day consist of?

I spend the early morning with my young children who make me laugh out loud. Asking for the time of day, my three year old recently advised me, “Not too late.” I do some housework known around here as “blight patrol.” Then it’s into the studio for about six hours each day where I draw, paint, fiber (or whatever is required by the project). In the late afternoon, family time or visit with friends, maybe attend an art or community function. I sneak back to the studio or do paper / computer work in the evenings.

If you could visit any studio of any living or deceased artist, who would it be

Too difficult and my answer would change depending on the day. But preliminarily, any of the French dead guys, any of the San Francisco/Bay area abstract expressionist painters, any of the hard-living-but-not-for-long-guys (for example Pollock, Hemingway), almost any musician (right now my heart belongs to Bruce Springsteen, he thinks!, can sing and is a very powerful performer), any of the color field artists (Frankenthaler, Rothko, Morris Louis), Peter Beard, El Anatsui and I’d sit with any of my former bosses or former students. My reason would not be because the person is so famous or so successful, but because any time we step into another’s inner sanctum, we see a new city and then ourselves differently – at least for a minute. And I’d meet up with Frida Kahlo, but to steal her wardrobe and jewelry.

When you were a little girl, what was it that you wanted to be when you grew up?

First: from Africa (and insisted my family call me Nisa; true story)

Then: Isak Dinesen a la “Out of Africa”

Now; just the little farm in Savannah, and more time in the day and in my life

Do you have a favorite local artist?

I have several favorites; and I think all are genius and wildly, super-naturally talented. There’s a treasure trove of world-class thinking and doing going on in this city. I try to support as much of it and as often as I can. I believe art – in all its forms – is the absolute lynchpin, and most of the foundation, of society.

Name a few of your favorite local businesses.

My favorite local businesses or institutions are the ones being developed and headed by entrepreneurs. Often they are the one “man” bands: jewelers, clothing & accessories designers and fabricators, painters, authors, musicians, stylists, interior designers, architects, fiber artists, photographers, printmakers, furniture makers, graphic designers, crafters. My second favorite local businesses are the ones that have invested in and partnered with these artists: (for example and not a complete list and in no particular order) SCAD, Paris Market, Kathi Rich, Terra Cotta, Rebecca Gardner (houses + parties), Atwell’s Art & Frame, Local 11 Ten, B Street Salon, Judge Realty, Gallery Espresso, Kim Iocovozzi Fine Art, shopSCAD and many more.

What type of music gets the creativity flowing for you?

Cajun/Zydeco, Cuban or South American to get in the zone. Outkast for a serious kick-start, and my stand-bys; Keb’ Mo’, Shawn Colvin, Martin Sexton, Taj Mahal (top fave), Amos Lee, Anders Osborne, Susan Tedeschi, Cat Stevens (my first love), Ben Harper, list goes on.

What is one thing you would like to share about yourself with YWS, any strange talents or funny observations?

It’s all pretty strange and funny, but I’m entertained by developing my “talents” daily. That requires observation. It’s a vicious, and mostly hilarious cycle, but I’m married to it.

What do you like and dislike about living and working in Savannah?

I’m pretty much madly in love with this city. The people, landscape, stories and traditions have been, for the last 18 years, the material for my work. With great passion, you sometimes feel great disappointment, but…

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – Nelson Mandela.

Site: www.katherinesandoz.com

Twitter: katherinesandoz

Facebook: katherinesandoz

Blog: some southern(ish) gibby *gibby: my slang for gibberish