Cool Careers: Artist
by: Caitlin Emmons

An artist and a teacher, mentor and a learner, Brandy Gardner has always
sought out a challenge. From running her own studio, collaborating on
projects with other artists and teaching art to public school children,
Brandy has made it her goal to spread her personal love of art to all of those
around her and in return she gets the support that motivates some of her
most moving pieces.

Q: What is your normal day like?

A: My normal day consists of normal things like getting up, feeding Beamer
(the cat) drinking a cup of tea, walking Misha (the dog)...normal day stuff.  
Then I head to the studio......there, the possibilities are endless.  Today I
sculpted a figure from clay, tomorrow I may play with fire, metal or glass, it
all depends on what inspires me. Pretty normal stuff.
Q: How long have you known art was your
thing?

A: I knew art was my thing my Senior year
in High School, although if you asked me
then if I was going to be an artist I would
have said No way, I was going to be a
Marine Biologist or Nutrionist (which were
my favorite subjects in high school).  Art
was just something I felt a need to do to,
but on the side, it wasn't a career choice...
or so I thought.  So I went off to the
University of Hawaii to study Human
Nutrition and Biology and filled my days with math, science and
Chemistry.  But after my first semester, I felt empty, like something was
missing.  So I took a few art classes for fun, and have been an artist ever
since.

Q: What motivated you to go into sculpting?

A: I chose sculpting as a main focus because it was a little intimidating and
fun at the same time...I am always looking for a challenge.  I saw
sculpting as an opportunity to get my voice heard...without speaking.

Q: Who would you say has inspired your work?

A: An important inspiration throughout my career has been family and
friends supporting and encouraging me to succeed.  Other inspirations have
come from mistakes, emotion, events, simplicity....the list is endless.
Depending on a message, feeling or narrative I want to convey, inspiration
and ideas are all around me and ready to be tapped into.

Q: What do you think your favorite art medium is?

A: My favorite medium would have to be clay.  I use clay, metal and glass to
create texture, depth and tangibility.  Most of my recent work is
interactive, so people are allowed to touch the artwork and interact with
each piece.  For example one piece called Tete a tete, I have a handle that
the viewer can pull up and down which causes the heads to collide and
kiss at the same time.  Combining clay, metal and glass conveys what I
want to say more dramatically than any other media I have worked with.

Q: How long have you had Draku Studios?

A: I started Draku Studios about 6 years ago, but the Studio really started
to take off about 2 years ago.   Other artists come by periodically to
collaborate on projects and classes or to participate in firings and
workshops.  I also travel to public schools teaching art and firing
techniques to students of all ages.

Q: Where did you come up with the name Draku?

A: The name Draku is a product of combining two words...Dragon and
Raku. Dragons are powerful, protective symbols which ebody fire and other
earthly elements. Raku is a firing technique which incorporates fire and
other elements to create specific effects in glazes and clay bodies.  I
started my career sculpting dragons and fantasy creatures and to fire
them, I used Raku.  The two aspects eventually combined and stuck.

Q: If you could pick just one, what would your favorite sculpture/painting/
drawing be?

A: If I could pick one piece of art to be a favorite, right now it would be a
painting hanging in my personal gallery by an up and coming young artist.
Its a beautiful, vibrant, untitled abstract painting of circles using every
color of the rainbow. It is my three year old nephew's first painting.

Q: What advice would you give to girls who are interested in going into art?
A: My advice to anyone thinking of becoming an artist is to open your mind
and be kind to yourself. You can do anything, if someone says can't, prove
that you can.  Mistakes are your best teachers, learn from them.

Thanks for giving us all a chance to dream big and for making the art that
tells the stories of those dreams, Brandy!