Introducing Tammy Garcia, teacher of “Urban Layer Cake” at 21 Secrets.
Please introduce yourself and your art a little bit.
I’m a self-taught artist and mom from Pennsylvania. My husband and I live in Texas with our 9 + 11 year old daughters and our Rhodesian Ridgeback. I have an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and my background is in quantitative analysis. About 5 years ago I quit my corporate job to spend more time with my family and started drawing and experimenting with art journaling and haven’t looked back! I like to experiment and explore everything – I doodle, art journal, take photographs, paint in watercolor, embroider and make stitched journals.
For me art is…
…one of the keys to a happy life. The laundry might suffer, but never the art!
What are you currently working on?
I’m always working on a bunch of things simultaneously… the kids are out of school for the summer so I grab time when I can. Often I can do art along with the kids – my daughters are working on detailed maps of imaginary places and writing comics and stories. I’m drawing mandalas, stitching a travel journal, experimenting with painting with acrylic on canvas, creating lots of art journal pages and writing a second e-zine. And teaching an art journaling workshop at 21 Secrets! At Daisy Yellow, I’m coordinating an index-card-a-day challenge thru the end of August.
Can you tell us a little bit about your Art Journals?
Let’s see. I have art scattered about in a bunch of journals. The Moleskine journals house doodles, watercolors and mandalas. I have several books which I’ve altered into art journals. Much of my art journaling is actually on watercolor paper, unbound, collected in archival boxes.
Who has inspired you?
I find inspiration everywhere! In my kids’ imaginations, nature, architecture, creative blogs and the creative community at Flickr.
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” Iris Murdoch
Are there any tips to living a creative life that you’d like to share?
I am a happier person if I do a bit of art each day. If you want to add a bit of creativity to your life, start somewhere, anywhere. It doesn’t matter where! You don’t have to pick one medium. Or one style. Or one time slot. You don’t have to have the perfect paper or workspace. There doesn’t need to be a plan. Experiment! The most important thing is to focus on the doing, the process, the joy, not the results.
Where can people find you and your work?
Blog: Daisy Yellow link = http://daisyyellow.squarespace.com
Flickr: gypsy999 link = http://www.flickr.com/photos/raqkat/
Twitter: gypsy999 link = http://twitter.com/gypsy999
Zibbet: daisyyellow link = http://www.zibbet.com/daisyyellow
August 15, 2011
Loved this inspiring interview Jeniffer, thank you. Tammy, your work is so varied and interesting. Your girls are lucky to have a creative mum like you. I love that little row of yellow houses!
August 16, 2011
Jeniffer, Thank you for the opportunity to be interviewed and for your patience in awaiting my response!
August 16, 2011
Absolutely Tammy, it was an honor to share your story!
August 17, 2011
YAY!! I love when some of my favorite people get together to play…Tammy, your art is wickedly inspiring! I have been a fan of your work – a secret stalker – since before 21 Secrets and I’m an even bigger fan now!! Loved this interview and Jeniffer thank you as always for bringing this series to everyone. I simply love it!
August 17, 2011
Jeniffer! Wonderful to be introduced to your fabulously-art-full site! ♥ And, so-o excited to learn more about why we are such kindred spirits, Tammy. ♥
August 18, 2011
Tammy, Wonderful to meet you too! I’ve been to your site and can definitely see the connection 🙂 Looking forward to embarking on this creative journey of life with you!
August 18, 2011
♥