Joanna DeAtley is an Artist and Gallery owner in Huntsville, Alabama. She works in multiple media and with several different concepts, and one of her greatest passions is recycling used or trashed materials into exotic pieces of art. If you are interested in her art or in visiting her gallery the information is at the end of this interview.
What kind of artist do you consider yourself?
I don't tend to classify myself, I try to work with as many materials as possible. Maybe a recycled artist in that I like to use recycled materials as much as possible, in addition to painting and woodworking.
What is your favorite type of art?
My favorite type of art isn't necessarily a certain media, but more having to do with the message that's being told. I love art that truly tells a story and tries to open people's eyes, expand their views, express what the artist has felt or experienced. I love art that challenges something, the status quo or the powers that be.
What is your favorite media to work with?
I think that paint is my favorite to work with, mainly because I've not been at it very long. I learn so much each and every time I start a new project. I'm exploring and expanding my abilities each time I paint and I really enjoy that.
What started you in art?
I've always been interested in art, from childhood. As I grew up I got more and more into trying new things and exploring new forms of art. I took Photography in college and fell in love with that; I've work with mixed media for years since then which is always new. Now I'm getting into painting more and more and loving it.
Do you have a favorite artist (Past)? Why?
Probably Ansel Adams. I absolutely love his photography. His black and whites are so crisp and clean, and he beautifully captures the elegance of nature. I never tire of his photos and would love to fill my home with them.
What inspires you?
It's hard to say what inspires me, it comes and goes in waves. Some days it's the beauty of the nature, some days the pain of depression, other days it's something I see somewhere that I want to try and emulate. Sometimes I feel like I should be inspired and nothing comes, other days I'm exhausted but the ideas flow like water. Inspiration is a strange and fickle friend.
What do you feel is an overused media?
Instagram photography. I'm tired of all the filters, frames, easy editing. I miss the darkroom, the personal creation, the feel that work really went into the photo you're seeing. I've never been a huge fan of digital photograph, I feel like such a photography snob, but darkroom created photos have such a depth to them that, for me, digital does not have. Instagram has made it so much worse I think.
Do you find a judgement for the type of art you do? If yes what kind and how do you feel about it?
I haven't found much judgement for what I do, but I'm also just now starting to get into the really edgy kinds of pieces. I've been pretty lighthearted in my art up to this point, and the few darker pieces I've done haven't had many views.
Does art energize or exhaust you?
I think this goes back to being inspired. If I'm feeling inspired and the work is flowing out the way I see it in my head, then I feel energized. If things aren't quite coming out right, or if I get stuck with an idea and can't complete it, then I feel exhausted. I have a lot of unfinished projects that make me tired just thinking about trying to complete them. But too, I look at the things that I love how they turned out and I feel stoked to start another project.
Why did you start a gallery?
I started the gallery because I tried to get into Lowe Mill a couple times and never got juried in. At the time I was working out of a studio apartment style place but my lease was coming up, so I needed to move elsewhere with my finished work and supplies. I had friends that also happened to be looking to set up somewhere, so I thought why not start my own sort of gallery. I wanted to help others starting out, grow my own art following, and take on the challenge of being a business owner.
How does it feel to be a gallery owner?
It's terrifying. Honestly, it's much more of an undertaking than I ever thought that it would be. Part of me loves the challenge, part of me wishes I had a business partner. I love the personal side of things, the art side of it, the supporting locals artist portion; however, I wish I had more business experience and this is a huge learning curve for me.
What kind of art or what brand of artist do you want to represent in your gallery? Why?
I just want to represent local artist, regardless of media or artist message. I just want to support local works, up and coming artists; if they have a political message, that's great; if their art pushes boundaries, that's great; if it doesn't fit any mold then that's great too. I just want to bring art to people and share it with everyone.
What does the name of your gallery mean and why did you chose it?
Originally The End, Not was in reference to my recycling materials in my art, as in this is "the end" of this item....NOT! Like the 90's term Psych and what not. So it was a play on that. Now it's continuing to mean that for my art, and for the theme of the store in a lot of ways. The displays I use for the art are all recycled, one of the photographers in my gallery uses upcycled frames. I'm trying to encourage and continue the recycling and upcycling throughout my gallery, even with the other artists coming in, at the very least by using upcycled displays. It's also sort of a push for me to keep going. Not getting into Lowe Mill really set me back and for a while I thought that would be the end of my art career, but then I decided to start my own business and that was my "NOT" moment. So I wanted to keep the name.
Ms. DeAtley's etsy page can be found here: www.etsy.com/shop/TheEndNOT?ref=shop_sugg
Ms. DeAtley's gallery: The End, NOT!
1026 Winchester rd STE B 35811
Hours vary
What kind of artist do you consider yourself?
I don't tend to classify myself, I try to work with as many materials as possible. Maybe a recycled artist in that I like to use recycled materials as much as possible, in addition to painting and woodworking.
What is your favorite type of art?
My favorite type of art isn't necessarily a certain media, but more having to do with the message that's being told. I love art that truly tells a story and tries to open people's eyes, expand their views, express what the artist has felt or experienced. I love art that challenges something, the status quo or the powers that be.
What is your favorite media to work with?
I think that paint is my favorite to work with, mainly because I've not been at it very long. I learn so much each and every time I start a new project. I'm exploring and expanding my abilities each time I paint and I really enjoy that.
What started you in art?
I've always been interested in art, from childhood. As I grew up I got more and more into trying new things and exploring new forms of art. I took Photography in college and fell in love with that; I've work with mixed media for years since then which is always new. Now I'm getting into painting more and more and loving it.
Do you have a favorite artist (Past)? Why?
Probably Ansel Adams. I absolutely love his photography. His black and whites are so crisp and clean, and he beautifully captures the elegance of nature. I never tire of his photos and would love to fill my home with them.
What inspires you?
It's hard to say what inspires me, it comes and goes in waves. Some days it's the beauty of the nature, some days the pain of depression, other days it's something I see somewhere that I want to try and emulate. Sometimes I feel like I should be inspired and nothing comes, other days I'm exhausted but the ideas flow like water. Inspiration is a strange and fickle friend.
What do you feel is an overused media?
Instagram photography. I'm tired of all the filters, frames, easy editing. I miss the darkroom, the personal creation, the feel that work really went into the photo you're seeing. I've never been a huge fan of digital photograph, I feel like such a photography snob, but darkroom created photos have such a depth to them that, for me, digital does not have. Instagram has made it so much worse I think.
Do you find a judgement for the type of art you do? If yes what kind and how do you feel about it?
I haven't found much judgement for what I do, but I'm also just now starting to get into the really edgy kinds of pieces. I've been pretty lighthearted in my art up to this point, and the few darker pieces I've done haven't had many views.
Does art energize or exhaust you?
I think this goes back to being inspired. If I'm feeling inspired and the work is flowing out the way I see it in my head, then I feel energized. If things aren't quite coming out right, or if I get stuck with an idea and can't complete it, then I feel exhausted. I have a lot of unfinished projects that make me tired just thinking about trying to complete them. But too, I look at the things that I love how they turned out and I feel stoked to start another project.
Why did you start a gallery?
I started the gallery because I tried to get into Lowe Mill a couple times and never got juried in. At the time I was working out of a studio apartment style place but my lease was coming up, so I needed to move elsewhere with my finished work and supplies. I had friends that also happened to be looking to set up somewhere, so I thought why not start my own sort of gallery. I wanted to help others starting out, grow my own art following, and take on the challenge of being a business owner.
How does it feel to be a gallery owner?
It's terrifying. Honestly, it's much more of an undertaking than I ever thought that it would be. Part of me loves the challenge, part of me wishes I had a business partner. I love the personal side of things, the art side of it, the supporting locals artist portion; however, I wish I had more business experience and this is a huge learning curve for me.
What kind of art or what brand of artist do you want to represent in your gallery? Why?
I just want to represent local artist, regardless of media or artist message. I just want to support local works, up and coming artists; if they have a political message, that's great; if their art pushes boundaries, that's great; if it doesn't fit any mold then that's great too. I just want to bring art to people and share it with everyone.
What does the name of your gallery mean and why did you chose it?
Originally The End, Not was in reference to my recycling materials in my art, as in this is "the end" of this item....NOT! Like the 90's term Psych and what not. So it was a play on that. Now it's continuing to mean that for my art, and for the theme of the store in a lot of ways. The displays I use for the art are all recycled, one of the photographers in my gallery uses upcycled frames. I'm trying to encourage and continue the recycling and upcycling throughout my gallery, even with the other artists coming in, at the very least by using upcycled displays. It's also sort of a push for me to keep going. Not getting into Lowe Mill really set me back and for a while I thought that would be the end of my art career, but then I decided to start my own business and that was my "NOT" moment. So I wanted to keep the name.
Ms. DeAtley's etsy page can be found here: www.etsy.com/shop/TheEndNOT?ref=shop_sugg
Ms. DeAtley's gallery: The End, NOT!
1026 Winchester rd STE B 35811
Hours vary
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