Artist Interview: Littlebighead

Name: Andrea Gutierrez

Name of Business: Littlebighead
Creative Influences: childlike imagination, the natural world, storytelling, vintage eras, Edward Gorey
Preferred Medium of Creativity: pen and paper


Brief Bio:     I love to draw, plain and simple. I'm terribly fond of fauna, flora, constellations, victorian houses, old books and tea. I find inspiration from children and their secret stories. I also like children who have bird heads.

I have worked in oils, dabbled in acrylics and water colors, but I love inks best. I also like to challenge myself with needle and thread with occassional dolls, including making a few owls and mandrakes.

I have conceptualized and created artwork for a few bands, locally AND abroad, for use on album covers and merchandise. I have done logo designs, spot illustrations and designed business cards, T-shirts, and even tattoos for anyone that wants them.

I'm proud to have my work find permanent homes in private collections all over the  U.S. as well as Canada, England, France, Australia and New Zealand.

Links: mylittlebighead.com & ciderandfaun.blogspot.com

What is one of your earliest creative memories?

I remember my childhood home, always either drawing or playing dress up in the backyard. Since I have a older sibling by about nine years, I had learn to occupy myself through imagination. Sometimes that imagination lead to creating. The very first thing I can remember making is a school bus from a milk cartoon which probably lead to the realization of using everyday items for things (like my next creations, toilet roll dolls).

How did you find your creative voice?

I think it was both years in the making and instant if that can make any sense! I truly believe this is what is inherent in me, God-given, entwined in my very fibers. It does and can take some years to truly ‘establish’ yourself but mostly it is a continual discovery. I am not sure if I can really pin point in time when my creative voice came but I can tell you it had blossomed again about a year after my daughter was born. 

 

Did your creative habits make a smooth transition into your adult life?  What did the evolution look like?

I would say yes. Drawing is something I have always done, even doodling at work (my supervisors knew I was done with my tasks just waiting for the next assignment)! I use to hide who I was, never wanting to share so it was actually few people who knew that side of me until I was older. My boyfriend (husband now) encouraged me by gifting sketchbooks to me and really helped in bringing about my talent. Though it was hidden for sometime, it was a major part of who I was and I wasn’t going to lose that about myself.  

If you had a creative hiatus, what event/circumstance brought you back to your creative lifestyle?

I was plateaued for a time when I was working a lot, became pregnant and had my daughter. Shortly after she was born, I realized that I had lost a bit of myself by not expressing that daily creativity. I realized it was a necessity to my person, like something I needed to survive. I began exploring the internet and finding places and people whose aesthetics I admired and got right back into doodling again. It took me some time to find who I was again but I am glad that I did.

How has GOD been a part of your creative process/lifestyle?

I can not deny that this is a gift He has given. The talent I have comes from Him alone and I am so very thankful for it. As I get older I realize this more and more. I can honestly say that I never truly had a handle on that truth until recently. Now as I am given more opportunities, I see that I want to glorify Him through it. I want to allow the great stories of His truth into my art (and eventual story writing). I have been told in various ways how my work is both childlike sweet and sad at the same time. I know that is direct result of who I am as a person, how I saw life growing up. I am a realist in my surreal expression I suppose! Ultimately, all life is in His providence and I want that to be reflected somehow, whether subtly or otherwise.

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