Cara Livermore is an artist and student living in New York City. Not one to be tied down to a single medium, Cara creates paintings, sketches and even photography. Being the modern artist that she is, most of her work is available–to view and purchase–online through multiple websites.
It was there that we found her–the interwebs–and where she found time to talk to us about her inspiration, her education, and the advice she has for aspiring artists in the suburbs.
Where are you from? Where do you live now?
I grew up in the middle of nowhere, moved around for a while, and now I’m living in the middle of a mid-sized American city. More importantly, I found an apartment with an amazing vaulted ceiling, unfinished studio space with big windows where I can finally spread out and make a mess if I so choose.
What most inspires your art?
My “style,” if you can call it that, comes from a few select pieces of advice from professors. “Try to say the most with the least amount of information.” “Never finish a piece. When you finish anything, it is dead. Breathe life, don’t polish something into non-existence.” “Try to find the soul inside something that has none.” My point of view comes from some things that have just stuck around with me throughout my life. For example: waking up, hazy and glassesless, I always found myself laying in bed, trying to define a focus point. There was something intimate about seeing a blanket’s innermost stitching, while I couldn’t see even an inch in front of that. I try to keep those quiet, tactile moments in my memory through the art I make.
You draw, paint and take pictures. Which one of the three do you identify with most as an artist?
I love the experience of drawing because it feels real. You have to endure hours of small, uneven details; you have to grow with a drawing. I also love photography because of its danger and spontaneity. If I really knew, I would probably have a much more cohesive portfolio, wouldn’t I?
What was the inspiration behind your Sketchbook Project? How long did it take for you to write and illustrate it?
In fact, I did not write the story! It was written by this amazing noise band that I’ve liked for years now: The Music Tapes. The story itself is massively inspiring. There are long-winded speeches about the worker’s plight and existential angst that can only be cured by a child. I’ve listened to it so many times now, I could probably tell it to you by heart.
The illustration of the book is actually not even done. I’ve gone through a lot of revisions and creative challenges with the story. I’m about three-quarters done, and when I’m finished I’ll be sending the book to the band. (I haven’t asked them about it, and I sort of want it to be a surprise, so hopefully they don’t read this!) I decided not to submit it to the traveling show (the Sketchbook Project tour) because of the amount of time I’ve been putting into it. I want readers of the illustrated story to be just as inspired as I was when I first listened to the recording–and I don’t think they could do that just by flipping through the pages quickly, ready to go on to the next book.
What advice would you give to a 20-something living in the suburbs who wants to be an artist?
Art theory, philosophy and history are so worth the effort to study. Get a book from the library and read away. It will give you a perspective on art beyond “I like that piece” or “I’m going to paint a flower.” Other than that, I’d say constant work is crucial to getting anywhere with what you want to do. Even if what you’re making is dumb, or not up to your own standards, it’s better than not making anything.
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For more information on the artist visit ShShh.Tumblr.com.
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