Teale Mayse is an illustrator who works with mixed media and found material to compose images that convey a visual story. He enjoys experimenting and juxtaposing paper to stumble upon an unplanned but happy accident. In turn, this method keeps his process fresh. He has a BFA in illustration from the Kansas City Art Institute.
Enjoy this exhibit until August 22, 2022.
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What comes first – the medium or the message? Tell us a little about the process of using found materials and how that influences the piece.
When starting my pieces, I allow the materials and medium to influence the message. Typically, through that process the idea and narrative come to me, it allows me to flow and not worry too much about the direction. Most times it's a happy result that ends up making sense halfway through.
Has your practice/process changed over time? If so, in what way?
Yes, before my process was rigid and not too creative. I would start with an idea and try to translate my medium and materials to a blank piece of paper and it felt forced every time. Over the years I've been able to find a way of beginning my pieces by shifting found paper materials and shapes around on a sheet of paper until I start to see a form or direction, then from there I'm able to construct a vision from that. It makes the process fun for me, it also allows me to accept the happy accidents and moments of juxtaposition that I couldn't ever plan for. It helps keep things fresh and continuously inspires me.
What themes do you pursue?
When making art I tend to go back and forth between a couple themes. One being creature based, with creating animal hybrids that relate to nature and made out of paper and other mixed media. Another mostly living in my sketchbooks, where I enjoy making ink drawings that are more dark. Switching between these two themes allows me to keep my energy and creativity up, I always get excited to start the other theme.
What areas of your work or personal development are you hoping to explore further?
I'm hoping to explore more ways to use mixed media materials to create drawings, like I've been able to do with paper. Constantly changing and finding new routes of creating art truly inspires me. I'd say that's what's most important to me and my personal development.
What is your most important artistic tool? Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?
Yes, the most important artistic tool that I can't live without in my studio is random assorted paper and found textures. Secondly, something that's very important for my process is many different pens and types of ink.
What are some books, movies an/or music that currently inspire you?
Books that inspired me when I was younger were Where's Waldo, Calvin and Hobbes, Farside, Nature books, and Bird/Insect Identification trail books.
Movies that inspire me are Nature documentaries, Oceans by Disney, James and the Giant Peach,
What Dreams May Come, and Pans Labyrinth.
Music that inspires me typically are groups that I can play in the background in my studio. Like: Slenderbodies, Tycho, Alt-J, Little People, Sinewave, Bluetech, and Loess.
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