Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Questionnaire: Debra Claffey

The Questionnaire is meant to be a lighter version of a bio, a little more revealing in some respects and personal without all the facts bogging it down. I supply the questions and the respondents supply the answers. Either one or both of us supply the images.


             D e b r a  C l a f f e y            


What is your favorite color?  
Sap green or lapis blue


Debra Claffey, "Behind and Through", 2010,
Encaustic on panel, 24"x24"


























What is your favorite word? 
Yes or imagine


What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? 
Nature and pattern

Debra Claffey
What turns you off? 
Selfishness and greed


What profession other than artist would you most like to be?
Musician - pianist or singer









What is your favorite book or movie? 
The Gold Bug Variations, by Richard Powers or the Raj Quartet, miniseries and book


Who is your favorite musician, musical group or style of music? 
Jazz - Thelonious Monk or Keith Jarrett

Thelonious Monk



















Thelonious Sphere Monk (October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser" and "Well, You Needn't". Monk is the second most recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington, which is particularly remarkable as Ellington composed over 1,000 songs while Monk wrote about 70.


What do you most value in your friends? 
Honesty and empathy



Name three (or more) artists whose work has influenced your own or whose work you most relate to. 
Degas, Picasso, Jim Dine, Matisse



Edgar Degas, After the Bath




Pablo Picasso, "Portrait de l'homme a l'epee et a la fleur





Jim Dine, "Jessie With Skull"




Henri Matisse, "Odalisque au tamarin"




Name an artist (or more than one) whose work you admire but which may be unlike yours. 
Michael Mazur, Frank Auerbach, Louise Bourgeois



Michael Mazur, "Branching"




Frank Auerbach, "Tower Blocks, Hampstead Road"




Louise Bourgeois


What is your idea of earthly happiness? 
Free time to explore from a safe home with good food and great love.

Realized I can't give single answers to anything!





WORKS BY DEBRA CLAFFEY




"Pipe Dreams, Revision 2," Encaustic on Panel, 24" x 24", 2010



"Mandolin Airs," Encaustic on Panel, 24" x 24", 2010




"In Reverence," Oil, acrylic, encaustic collage, 6"x6", 2009




Repercussions, Encaustic, oil, paper on panel, 20" x 20", 2008



Check out Debra's websites:

5 comments:

Terry Jarrard-Dimond said...

I love this format! Direct, easy to read, fun and insightful. The questions hit on many elements of our personalities and lives that make a person who they are. Thank you for sharing this.

Elaine said...

Enjoyed your questions and answers. I started a blog this weekend about my art and making to get back into thinking about it with more focus - especially since my work is very laborious (embroidery)and sometimes there is a disconnect between inception, process and completion. Your responses to questions are very thoughtful - I may give it a go - love your work too! Elaine McBride

Nancy Natale said...

Terry, thanks for your comment. I'm glad that you are enjoying The Questionnaire.

Elaine, it's good to hear from you too. Best of luck with your blog and with your laborious work.

Anonymous said...

I love this format too, light but insightful!

Hylla Evans said...

It's so great that Deb Claffey is profiled here but it makes me regretful that I haven't been in touch with her. Thanks for the nudge!