Every artist, like every snowflake, is unique in their vision and their approach to art; and the more the artist works to improve their skills, the more distinct that difference becomes. One gallery owner I recently spoke to said that she wouldn't even consider artists who had less than three hundred pieces completed, because they simply hadn't had enough time to grow into their craft. That's a sobering thought for many of us who have blithely been calling ourselves "artists"; and yet, there's hope; because while in the beginning stages we all despair at how much our work looks like everyone else's, and struggle with creating work "to sell or not to sell", that statement gives us something to shoot for.

I remember reading about a study, some time ago, in which two test groups were set the task of throwing (creating) clay pots on a potter's wheel. One group was told they would be judged by their ability to produce one perfect pot; the other, that they were to produce as many pots as possible.

Group two came out with better pots. Apparently the process of repetition, learning from your mistakes and moving on to the next, strengthens creativity and skill at the same time. So instead of kicking yourself over not being "good enough", accept that of course you're not all that great-yet-and aim for quantity rather than quality for a while. You'll learn more from it.

Judging by her list of accomplishments and awards, Stephanie O'Connor has certainly gone through her three hundred stage into the good stuff; she's attended Savannah College of Art and Design, studied at the Abate Zanetti International Glass Center in Murano, won an Award of Excellence from the National Geographic Society of Washington, D.C., and has been involved in exhibitions and talks in New York, Islam, London, and Iran, among others. Her web site caught my eye for the intricate and unusual mandalas she creates with Adobe Photoshop; I stayed to browse and discovered a range from the serious ("Displaced") to the whimsical ("Animates", "Circles").

I was impressed, and contacted her with a humble request for an interview; which, to my delight, she immediately accepted. My questions focused on the process she goes through in her work, and her connection to the larger artistic community, rather than the physical crafting of the images themselves, and she was extremely gracious in her willingness to share personal information. Read and Enjoy!

Interview with Stephanie O'Connor