Please share your name

Pleasurefaith

How would you describe what you do? Your practice, your craft, your cash machine?

I usually say I am an illustrator, I work in gouache paint and ink. I tend to relate to my work as craft, and I think craft is the union of the conceptual and the technical. My work is informed in both aspects by stories, folklore, sapphic romance and classical literary fantasy imagery.

Can you tell us where you are from?

I was born and raised in Oakland, Ca !

What does your morning routine look like?

I am a morning person, but also I am usually hassled around seven by a demanding cat. After I get up and out of bed, I’ll have some coffee, and sit for a minute in the early morning quiet, just to wake up more fully. I (try) to find a good audiobook, if I don’t already have one in progress, put that on and get to my studio where I begin the overly complicated process of crawling around to outlets and turning on all the lamps. I find I have the best days when I get in the studio early.

Where do you look for inspiration? A place, a person, a book, an action?

Visually speaking, I’m influenced by the illustrative styles and techniques in storybooks from the late 1890’s and early 1910’s. The arts and crafts movement, art nouveau, and other art of that period amaze me. I am in awe of how beautifully they balance detail and simplicity and manage to convey so much intrigue in each vignette. I love how those illustrations can be so beautiful while also having a little wonky funniness to them. I think allusion to narrative is a powerful feature in artwork and I’m always seeking to capture some sense of that.

What has been the biggest challenge on your journey?

There have been quite a few challenges, but I would have to say the biggest has been an ongoing struggle with an autoimmune disease and the associated loss of certain ability. Chronic pain in my hands and neck, along with other symptoms can make using my body as a tool complicated both physically and emotionally. In 2016, I rapidly developed severe carpal tunnel and suffered nerve damage in my dominant hand. The prospect of not being able to draw or paint anymore was crushing. Art is the greatest, most constant joy of my life, and a huge part of my identity. Facing that was very hard! I lost my job and couldn’t use my hand. Eventually I was able to get surgery to treat my hand which has helped a lot. In the end I still lost some function permanently. I now have about 85% function in that hand. I have tried to learn from that experience and work in a way that is more sustainable; to become emotionally flexible around what I expect from my body. It's a work in progress.

How do you define success? What are the goalposts you look out for?

To me there are little and big successes. I cannot tell you the thrill I feel when I sense that a portrait commission has moved somebody, allowed them to see themselves in a beautiful way. A complete stranger, inviting me into this personal moment they are having with their self image, to me is an emotional success and feels really intimate. In the big picture, I'm resistant to tying success to a dollar amount but I cant deny that being able to make some kind of a living off artwork feels like an honor, and I would like to keep that going. As far as goalposts, I aspire to work on bigger, longer term projects. I hope to one day work with an author on book illustration.

What's the best advice you've gotten from someone?

I admit this is not always advice I follow, but I was advised that in artwork you should do the part you are most uncomfortable with first, and the rest will be better for it. I have found that to almost always be true.

What work are you most proud of?

I am usually most proud of whatever piece I made most recently, but if I had to choose one I guess it would be the Idolon Tapestry I painted about a year ago.

Who is someone that has helped you get to where you are now? How were they impactful?

Honestly, there is nobody in my life I haven't had some occasion to call on for help in some way, at some point. I wouldn't be where I am without any of those wonderful people who have been there for me, especially when I've been in bad health. Growing up, my dad was a painter and his studio was our living room, and that created a perfect, chaotic and messy environment to learn and develop as an artist. He never tried too hard to show me how to do anything, just let me do my own thing. His attitude about artwork and work in general has been a huge influence.

What are you currently listening to? What is your go to sexy song?

While I love music, I mostly listen to audiobooks. I am currently listening to Chaos by Tom O’Neil..not so sexy I guess. For a good sexy song playlist, lately I've been going through the Killing Eve soundtrack which is full of gems.

What's the last thing you bought with cash?

A silky black nightgown at the flea market for $2.

Pleasurefaith is featured in The Sexy Times Issue 4

See more of Pleasurefaith’s work at www.pleasurefaith.com