Member Spotlight: Roselyn Pratt

Welcome to another Paper Traders Member Spotlight.

This month we are shining the light on:

Roselyn Pratt

How did you find Paper Traders?
I found out about PT through my good friend Melissa Wilson, she is one of your mods. She was so positive and excited about her experience I had to check it out.

How long have you been a member?
I've been a member since May.

Where do you live?
I live in American Falls, Idaho. 

How have your surroundings affected your art? 
Where I live is rural or a better way to describe it is RURAL with a capital R. I am no longer able to have all things cultural at my fingertips. I've found living here affects your art in the way you need to be deliberate and work hard at your creativity. Search it out, it's not falling in your lap here. (Although Idaho is BEAUTIFUL! :)

Please share a little about your own art experience.
I have always enjoyed being an artist, even as a small child. My dad would come have lunch with me in grade school, all the kids loved him. He was an excellent artist (drawing anything) and he would do caricatures of all the kids at my table. It was fascinating to me. My parents were friends with a well-known local artist, suddenly I was spending every minute with her, drawing and painting. She was an excellent teacher/mentor, really put me through my paces, and I was eight years old. 

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?
My favorite genre of art? Drawing and painting. I'm currently doing a portrait class with the portrait artist Dan Lewis. I enjoy mural work. I'm known to try different styles, most recently modern/minimal art in the spirit of Yves Klein. (Also one of my favorite artists :) 

What inspires you? Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this? 
Surrealism artist Rene Magritte is a favorite. The imagination it takes, the stories you make up in your head as your viewing his art...so fun! I've mentioned Klein- his work is pure and beautiful. Rodin's sculptures, Cezanne, Georgia O'Keeffe, Edvard Munch, Paul Klee to name a few. :)

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room? What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?
My studio has recently been organized! What a good feeling, huh? I have four different table surfaces, each serves a different purpose. I love the tiled floor because the mess/spill factor is a non-issue. I have one wall of open shelving, and a roll around paint cart (very handy). 

Please share a little about your family and pets...
I have such a fun family! My husband John is a farmer, with a B.S. in Zoology who loves reggae music. Oldest son Dylan, 20, is currently serving a mission in the Philippines for our church. He had been attending ISU pursuing a degree in pharmacy.  My daughter Hannah will be a senior. She sings/dances/cheers/runs track/athlete/plays violin and guitar, an all around entertaining and fun kid. My baby Luke, is the sweetest! Because he's 12 and still let's me call him the baby. He's a hard worker, spending this summer (like his siblings) in a tractor working for his dad. 

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I grew up in Missouri with an amazing and talented family. With parents who owned and ran a full-line music store/studio. They gave us five kids every possible opportunity. I'm a classically trained violinist who attended college on a viola scholarship. I ended up playing so many instruments because mom would tell the 20 teachers who worked for her....don't bother with rent, just put Roselyn in your piano, guitar, banjo, flute, trumpet, drums, violin, viola, dance, clogging, and the list goes on....lesson. It was convenient as we lived downtown in the loft above the store. In 1986 the governor of Missouri recognized our family as the 'Most Musical Family of the Year'. I'm very grateful to my family. My background has helped me so much, since living in rural Idaho I sometimes work to find or provide myself the artistic or cultural experience we all want for our families.  I've been a violin teacher for 28 years, running a private studio for 18. I'm enjoying a sabbatical as my kids fly the coop. Pocatello Idaho has a symphony I currently play with - they're great! 

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?  
As for other interests outside of art and music, John and I enjoy traveling very much. Winter brings opportunity for travel (farmer remember :) we try to pick new places, but London and Paris are still my go-to/favorites. 

Thanks for having such a wonderful group. The Paper Traders site is amazing and well run. Thanks for including me, I look forward to swapping with all of you guys!!! :)  
--
Roselyn Pratt