marine Claire Cook Where were you born? I was born in San Francisco.
Where were you raised? Raised there untill I was 9 and moved to Alemeda.
Where are you living currently? I'm living in Santa Cruz
What are you studying? And, I'm studying marine biology.
What does your art aim to say? My art is often an attempt to give a sense of personality to the creatures and characters I draw. These characters are often strange creatures, but in their action and expression that bring them to life. I want the audience to love my subjects as much as I do!
What do you love and get inspired by? Every time I learn something cool about nature, I am inspired to incorporate it into my art. That's why I take biology lessons instead of art classes!
Does your art define who you are, if so how? I personally think art is what I'm best at. I may be forgotten, but my works will live on beyond me. Everything I experience is inspiration for my next work, every picture I take is potential reference. I think and breathe the potential in the pages of my sketchbooks!
Do you have an art theme, if so how do you name it? It's hard to nail down a theme because I draw so differently based on my mood, but nearly everything I draw is based in my knowledge of biology. So speculative biology is probably the best.
Do you have certain sayings or quotes you go by that help keep you motivated? I don't know about a specific quote, but I am comforted by the fact that my original inspiration, Hiyao Miyazaki, he seems to complain about his own artistic shortfalls as much as I do.
Do you have a favorite art piece of yours or do you like them all equally? I fall in love with everything I draw! And then as the process drags on I usually start to hate it. And then I look at it again a year later and realize it looks fantastic and what I was thinking not pursuing the concept any further? It's a wierd cycle. It means that my favorite piece is always in flux. That being said, I am especially proud of a piece I did of a mermaid attacking a boy (a rare work with a completed background) and another depicting Realistic gryphons.
What do you like about your art? I am wholly content with my art style, even though it tends to naturally change over the years. My ability to depict flow and movements is generally one of my strongsuits.
What don't you like about your art? I still can't draw backgrounds with confidence! It's a weakness for many artists, I am no exception. Building cars and other manmade objects frustrates me especially.
Do you have a special hideout where your imagination takes place? No particular hideout, I get a lot of thinking done while riding my bike but anywhere with good lighting and a calm atmosphere is a must. I often take long walks through nature to sort of "reset" my brain. Inspire the settings of my next rounds of works. My favorite places to draw are usually cafes.