Real People: Artist Carmen Fulford
It's not everyday I get to talk to an artist. To me, stick figures is art and I can't even get that right. Biloxi, Mississippi artist Carmen Fulford, on the other hand, can make even stick figure come to life. When she's not ducking hurricanes, she spends time in studios creating some of the most amazing things. If you're lucky enough to own one of her pieces, hold on to it...she's going to be big.
When did you first think, "I want to be an artist?"
Well, that's a two part answer. I don't think I ever thought to myself "I want to be an artist." I never thought of it as a career choice. I don't think being an artist is like being a policeman, or being an accountant. If you quit your job as an accountant, you don't have to be an accountant anymore. You can't quit being an artist. You can either do something with it, or just keep shuffling it to the back. For me, art is not about- you know, being the best, or how well you can paint or draw. I think it's about plugging a hole. It's how I identify in life, and how I connect with the world.
But the second part- the answer I think you're looking for, is when I decided to go back to school for art. It was halfway through college. I'd been depressed for years. I'd changed colleges twice, and dropped out for two years- I was exasperated, and really at a bad point in my life. I'm sitting in my room and trying to sort it all out, so I started drawing, and I think it just hit me, "You idiot. Art. Art is how you feel 'okay'." I knew it motivated me, and that I felt consumed when I was drawing or painting.
What is the first painting you remember creating?
Wow, that's tough..I've always done a lot of drawing, painting, creating. I guess the first time I really remember a specific painting was when I was 10 or 11...I painted a picture of my dad and his friends playing guitar.
How would you describe the type of paintings you do?
Well, it really depends on what I'm fascinated by at the moment. I went through a phase where I was really into circus freaks, sometimes I'm into the volume of meat, I'm really intrigued by birds, and the shapes that they make. I like that “twitchy” quality of a bird, I love to try to capture emotions, and attitude in people, though I don't consider my self a figurative painter at all. I work with a lot of mixed media. Newspaper, coffee, oil, acrylic, conti, charcoal. It's usually a bit heavy handed.
What meanings do your paintings have?
It depends on the painting. I like to explore boundaries sometimes- like in the Meat painting. It's so gross and so beautiful. I can't buy ground hamburger meat- it makes me sick to look at ground meat. But the beauty of the volume of the meat, and feeling the weight of it “hanging” was really interesting.. It was beautiful and gross. I like that. Meanings to other paintings are different. I really depends on the piece, and how I'm feeling. I like to unload. It's very cathartic just surrender rational thought and let your mind work with your hand. So the meaning depends a lot on the emotion behind the particular piece. They all differ.
Being artistic usually comes with a bit of eccentricities. How eccentric are you?
I've been kind of weird since I was a kid, really. I guess you would say it is eccentric, if you're being polite. When I was little, I actually wanted to be a lunch lady. I used to cut the tops off of my moms pantyhose and use them as hairnets for my stuffed animals.
But today? I guess I do silly things that have a purpose to me, but seem weird to others. Usually it's stuff taken out of context. Like putting a painting in the shower, or tracking down dead bees, or pouring the last of the coffee on a piece to tone my paper. I like to hang things from my ceiling. Not in a creepy way- just flowers, and notes and things..maybe books one day. I get really freaked out when people hand me a piece of scotch tape. I won't take it...I don't like seeing their skin cells on it. I save my quarters and then deposit them into candy machines at the mall or supermarket, then turn the knob halfway. (When I was a kid I used to like turning the knobs to the candy machines. The unexpected avalanche of candy from that cold metal chute was like hitting the jackpot. It was a great feeling).
When people say, "so, what do you do?" what do you say?
I tell them I'm an artist. On the gulf coast people are quiet open to it, because so many people here are related to Walter Anderson or George Ohr. I think people would be surprised by how much respect the Mississippi Gulf Coast has for art. I think the coast is really underrated, and overlooked in terms of art. There are some amazing artists here. I mean, before I moved here, I wouldn't have necessarily thought if Mississippi for it's great artist. But now I certainly do. I wish more people knew about it.
What is life like for an artist?
Oh, it's great. I really love my life. I think it has made me more empathetic, and I see beauty in the strangest things. I get a free pass for being myself, and I don't have much fear of others judging me. I've learned to open myself up, and not be afraid of what people might say. Also, I have no shame, you know, about dumpster diving, and things like that. So what? People just chalk it up to being creative, and that's fine by me. I feel more free. I'm not scared to grow old.
For kids out there who have the talent, what would you suggest for them to succeed?
You don't HAVE to go to school for art- there are plenty of fantastic artists who aren't academically trained. However, I feel that if you don't go to school, you really need to learn things like composition and how to mix color, even if you grab a book and learn it on your own. I feel that school is beneficial because I've learned many different techniques, and have access to equipment like good printing presses. I also enjoy the feedback I get from critiques.
But the real advice, of course, is don't be afraid to try it. Don't be afraid of what people will say. There will be people who love your work, and people who criticize it. The first step, I think, it being an artist, is learning to stop caring if you are “any good”. THEN you can really begin to improve.
When did you first think, "I want to be an artist?"
Well, that's a two part answer. I don't think I ever thought to myself "I want to be an artist." I never thought of it as a career choice. I don't think being an artist is like being a policeman, or being an accountant. If you quit your job as an accountant, you don't have to be an accountant anymore. You can't quit being an artist. You can either do something with it, or just keep shuffling it to the back. For me, art is not about- you know, being the best, or how well you can paint or draw. I think it's about plugging a hole. It's how I identify in life, and how I connect with the world.
But the second part- the answer I think you're looking for, is when I decided to go back to school for art. It was halfway through college. I'd been depressed for years. I'd changed colleges twice, and dropped out for two years- I was exasperated, and really at a bad point in my life. I'm sitting in my room and trying to sort it all out, so I started drawing, and I think it just hit me, "You idiot. Art. Art is how you feel 'okay'." I knew it motivated me, and that I felt consumed when I was drawing or painting.
What is the first painting you remember creating?
Wow, that's tough..I've always done a lot of drawing, painting, creating. I guess the first time I really remember a specific painting was when I was 10 or 11...I painted a picture of my dad and his friends playing guitar.
How would you describe the type of paintings you do?
Well, it really depends on what I'm fascinated by at the moment. I went through a phase where I was really into circus freaks, sometimes I'm into the volume of meat, I'm really intrigued by birds, and the shapes that they make. I like that “twitchy” quality of a bird, I love to try to capture emotions, and attitude in people, though I don't consider my self a figurative painter at all. I work with a lot of mixed media. Newspaper, coffee, oil, acrylic, conti, charcoal. It's usually a bit heavy handed.
What meanings do your paintings have?
It depends on the painting. I like to explore boundaries sometimes- like in the Meat painting. It's so gross and so beautiful. I can't buy ground hamburger meat- it makes me sick to look at ground meat. But the beauty of the volume of the meat, and feeling the weight of it “hanging” was really interesting.. It was beautiful and gross. I like that. Meanings to other paintings are different. I really depends on the piece, and how I'm feeling. I like to unload. It's very cathartic just surrender rational thought and let your mind work with your hand. So the meaning depends a lot on the emotion behind the particular piece. They all differ.
Being artistic usually comes with a bit of eccentricities. How eccentric are you?
I've been kind of weird since I was a kid, really. I guess you would say it is eccentric, if you're being polite. When I was little, I actually wanted to be a lunch lady. I used to cut the tops off of my moms pantyhose and use them as hairnets for my stuffed animals.
But today? I guess I do silly things that have a purpose to me, but seem weird to others. Usually it's stuff taken out of context. Like putting a painting in the shower, or tracking down dead bees, or pouring the last of the coffee on a piece to tone my paper. I like to hang things from my ceiling. Not in a creepy way- just flowers, and notes and things..maybe books one day. I get really freaked out when people hand me a piece of scotch tape. I won't take it...I don't like seeing their skin cells on it. I save my quarters and then deposit them into candy machines at the mall or supermarket, then turn the knob halfway. (When I was a kid I used to like turning the knobs to the candy machines. The unexpected avalanche of candy from that cold metal chute was like hitting the jackpot. It was a great feeling).
What or who, in your life, has shaped you into who you are and what you do?
Well, my family. My mom, dad, and sisters. We were kind of a madhouse. My dad was a real free spirit. He was always on the go. He used to do crazy things like bringing home alligators for us to keep as pets in our pond. I remember once an alligator went missing from our pond, then our neighbor's poodle went missing, and dad had to sit us down and remind us “You never saw daddy bring an alligator home, right?” But they found the poodle, thankfully, and we found the alligator hiding under my dad's VW bug. Looking back on it, I realize how reckless it was, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. I remember another time I was doing a science report on Nutrias and my brought home a sack full of swamp rats and let them loose in the laundry room. My mom was fuming, you know. I think she went to stay at a hotel. It wasn't unusual for us to come home from school and find an alligator in the kitchen, or a snake, or baby squirrels, before he took them to a wildlife rehabilitation center. My mom loved my dad, but I think he was just too crazy for her sometimes.
Also my teacher, Ms. Halat. Her wisdom, patience, and generosity know no bounds. She is the reason I continued in art. She pushes me, supports me in every way possible, and has opened up so many new avenues in the way of art.When people say, "so, what do you do?" what do you say?
I tell them I'm an artist. On the gulf coast people are quiet open to it, because so many people here are related to Walter Anderson or George Ohr. I think people would be surprised by how much respect the Mississippi Gulf Coast has for art. I think the coast is really underrated, and overlooked in terms of art. There are some amazing artists here. I mean, before I moved here, I wouldn't have necessarily thought if Mississippi for it's great artist. But now I certainly do. I wish more people knew about it.
What is life like for an artist?
Oh, it's great. I really love my life. I think it has made me more empathetic, and I see beauty in the strangest things. I get a free pass for being myself, and I don't have much fear of others judging me. I've learned to open myself up, and not be afraid of what people might say. Also, I have no shame, you know, about dumpster diving, and things like that. So what? People just chalk it up to being creative, and that's fine by me. I feel more free. I'm not scared to grow old.
For kids out there who have the talent, what would you suggest for them to succeed?
You don't HAVE to go to school for art- there are plenty of fantastic artists who aren't academically trained. However, I feel that if you don't go to school, you really need to learn things like composition and how to mix color, even if you grab a book and learn it on your own. I feel that school is beneficial because I've learned many different techniques, and have access to equipment like good printing presses. I also enjoy the feedback I get from critiques.
But the real advice, of course, is don't be afraid to try it. Don't be afraid of what people will say. There will be people who love your work, and people who criticize it. The first step, I think, it being an artist, is learning to stop caring if you are “any good”. THEN you can really begin to improve.
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