Interview with Contest Runner-up, Christine L. Villa
Interview by Darcy Dillon & Katie Lynn Johnston
For today’s interview we have the utmost pleasure of sharing an interview with one of Mulberry’s runner-ups in our first-ever art contest, the ever-talented Christine L. Villa. Check out her submission and others’ work here.
Can you describe your process for creating this piece?
First, I made two separate gel prints for the leaves and the mulberry. Then I cut them into circles and shapes of leaves. After pasting them on a mixed media paper, I outlined the design with markers. To add the initials ML and to achieve the final effect, I used a computer software to digitally enhanced the logo.
As a writer, poet, publisher, and artist, how do you think your creative interests all intersect? Do you have any advice you might give to young creatives in the world?
All my creative interests complement each other. They can stand alone, but when put together they have a deeper resonance. A perfect example of this is when I combine my haiku and artwork. Both can work independently, but once they are paired successfully, such as when the haiku links to and leaps away from the image it is paired with, they result in a union that is more than the sum of its parts.
My advice for young creatives is to be brave to explore or to follow your passion. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and never think you are not creative enough. I believe that we are all born creative. We just have to get in touch with the inner child within us who loves to play, seek adventure, and try new things. It is never too late to start to learn something new. I started writing children’s books, publishing for myself and others, and exploring mixed media art in my 50s.
What drew you to art and design?
What drew me to art and design is my need to express myself. Words cannot always express everything I want to say. Some are better left unsaid and expressed through art and design. I also find immersing myself in art as therapeutic and cathartic. It takes me to a place where I can get lost, take a break from the real world, heal, recoup, and recharge myself.
Are you working on any project you would like to share? Where can our readers find more of your work?
Right now, I am working on an anthology of collaborative split sequences. So far, I’ve written 40 collaborations with different poets in over a month. I’m also writing a collaborative haiku book with my eight-year-old goddaughter, which will be illustrated by her. With a little help from me, she is about to finish writing and illustrating her first picture book. Aside from these, I am also publishing two poetry books and one picture book, all of which are written by different authors. For my solo project, I am hoping to publish my kitty haiku picture book at the end of the 2021.
Readers can check out my website www.christinevilla.com to find all the links related to my picture books, poetry, artwork, and publishing.
Christine L. Villa is an all-around creative explorer. She is a children's book author, haiku and tanka poet, publisher, speaker, photographer, visual artist, and a crafter. Her books, poems, photos, and artwork have won awards and recognition. Her collection of Japanese short-form poetry is entitled The Bluebird’s Cry. She is the founding editor of Frameless Sky (a poetry video journal) and of its imprint Velvet Dusk Publishing. You can visit her at www.christinevilla.com