We know that the job of an artist is, at times, a difficult one. To mediate the world through the stroke of a brush or the snap of a camera is no small feat. We believe in giving artists their flowers, which is why we love to highlight them through an Artist Q&A! We dive into their process and how they created their current piece in the gallery. Please keep reading to learn more about artist Lina Forrester and her artworks in our Tiny Things exhibition, Un Matin Tranquille (Honorable Mention ribbon winner), and A Story of Trees!
What is the inspiration behind this work?
Lina:
Un Matin Tranquille--” The inspiration behind a lot of my nature photography has to do with those quiet, unseen things we tend to overlook. For this piece, it was a collection of winter grasses. I felt it would be perfect for a tea-toned cyanotype to give it an aged feel, reminiscent of days when things were quieter, simpler, and closer to nature.”
A Story of Trees--” I tell many stories of trees. Something about branching fractals that match the rooted fractals in the Earth makes me think of wisdom, resilience, and the passage of time. To me, trees are the unsung heroes of our planet. We should definitely be telling more stories about them.”
How long did it take you to make these pieces?
Lina:
Un Matin Tranquille--” This piece took a series of steps over the course of nine years. The initial picture was taken in 2017. The transparent negative was created and printed in 2021, and then I created the cyanotype in February of this year. Some of my photography is like that--given many different lives.”
A Story of Trees--” This piece took moments. It does take me a bit to frame it right, but the Instant photo comes right out, and I can then add it to a frame.”
Describe your creative process.
Lina:
“I have a few different creative processes when it comes to my photography. I use both digital and film, depending on what kind of feel I'm going for. I also collect vintage cameras and several cameras have been passed down to me in my family. Two of my cameras actually have my great-granddad's initials carved into them. My favorite--right now--is medium format film shot with my 1950s Rolleiflex.
When I'm working digitally, or with my Pentax K1000 (film), I like to freelens. That is when you detach the lens from the body of the camera and move it around to focus. It creates blurry, dreamy results that you see in Un Matin Tranquille.
I'm also big on trick photography, sometimes needing multiple images to create one piece. I've been known to stand in the middle of the woods, holding a shutter release for 120 seconds while my daughter does multiple poses in the distance. That's one of my favorite things to do--tell spooky stories with my daughter through photography.”
If you could give yourself one piece of advice when starting your journey as an artist, what would that be?
Lina:
“Art should be fun! I like to tell my high school students: "If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong. So get out there and make a mess. Make lots of messes. And when you fail--because you will--consider that yet another moment in which you evolved.”
