An artist profile of Alicia Nauta
Describe your process of creating a piece. What materials do you normally work in?
I usually screen print, so I’ll start by drawing something, then separating the layers where I use india ink and do it manually on a light table. Photoshop is kind of beyond me for the most part so it’s just easier to do it by hand. Also I like the way things look when they are hand done. Sometimes I will take drawings and just photocopy them in different ways and layer them. That’s what I’m doing right now because I’m in between printing studios. I also use a Vandercook printing press and hand set type (I like the wooden type) to make text signs.
What projects are you working on? What do you have coming up, any shows?
I’m in a group show at Gallery 1313 right now, which opened July 9th and is up until the 19th. I also just opened a store in May with seven other artists in Kensington Market, called Good Blood Bad Blood. I have letterpress prints, screen prints and printed t-shirts there, also jewelry, small sculptures, paintings, photos and other things for sale. My friend Joele Walinga, (also part of the store) and I threw our first event there on July 7th. There was music and performances, it was alot of fun! I also have a print in Carousel magazine which hits streets in September I think.
When are you most productive?
Probably night time. I’ve been watching lots of stupid movies lately so it feels good to be making something at the same time. Being idle makes me feel guilty.
When did creating art become something important in your life?
Drawing or writing stories has always been a way to entertain myself. And then later on I realized making things was a way for me to feel like I had a purpose. I also like to work on really time consuming and tedious things. Because the bit where you get to stop when you are finished feels really good, like running a marathon and then getting to stop.
What are some of your favorite spots in the city? Some favourite places to go, eat, drink, bike ride?
I live close to lots of really good Ethiopian restaurants my favourite one, Nazareth, is just down the street! Jumbo Empanada in Kensington Market is delicious, also that other empanada place across the street, I don’t know the name of it but they’re only $3! The St. Lawrence market is also great on Saturdays.
I live next door to Christie Pits park and usually I’ll go swimming at night, but I don’t know about this summer. But any beach or park in the city really.
What are you currently obsessed with? Any blogs, pod casts, films, artists?
There is a funny blog called thatsforsure.net where five artists blog that I follow. I like Scrabble alot. Sending and receiving mail. And I’m really into texts to landlines! I don’t have a cell phone so when people send me texts a computerized woman reads them quickly to me.
What are your thoughts on the Toronto art scene compared to everywhere else you’ve experienced?
Before I lived in Toronto I lived in a small town (Fenwick) and I basically just walked along dirt roads for hours. There was no art scene. So in comparison Toronto is great. I think Toronto can probably be a little insular sometimes. In that certain scenes or groups of artists will stick together and support each other but remain pretty exclusive. But I also think there are alot of really motivated and inspired people living here, and everyone is working so hard! It’s great.
What is your survival food? Cheap eats for the starving artist?
I don’t know, even when I’m broke (which is always) I feel like I eat, like I’m a king! Soup is fun to make because you can put whatever you want in it, and it’s usually good. It’s cheap and you can make a lot at once.
Any last words?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wdmSL2-Ock !!
