Interview with Artist, Min

One of my dear friends Medina and her partner Ryan own the newest cereal café to grace the roads of Hamilton NJ called Spoony Sweets.  It is a business built on respect but mostly love, I’m saying this because you need to comprehend the full history of why it is that I asked Min for an interview. And must start at the very beginning.  Last year or so Medina and I were speaking she told me about a piece that she was commissioning by Min for Ryan.  At that point, I had never heard of Min. I asked for her moniker and researched her work.  I honestly fell in love with what I had seen.  Some of the most delicate and complicated pieces I’d ever seen created by the hands of a magnificent artist. I was already memorised by the craftsmanship of Min’s pieces and how she would add little nuances to enhance them but, when she added poetry — I lost it.  A beautiful art piece exquisitely built riddled with poetry.  My mind was officially blown.  If you are interested in your own commissioned piece, please follow Min on Instagram and reach out she is magnificent. @by.min.977 If you enjoyed what you read or saw check out Min\’s Etsy store here.

RMMW: We all have an inner critic; how do you contend with yours?

M: When I am just creating a piece on my own, most often I will just rework it until I am happy with the piece. I have learned that what sometimes starts out as a mistake usually ends up being the thing that I love best about the piece. When I am working on a custom piece for a client, I have to silence my inner critic. Otherwise, I would never be able to complete the piece. Creating something cohesive meshing both the clients vision with mine can often be challenging for me.

RMMW: Have you ever been creatively blocked? If yes, how did you overcome it?

M: I often become creatively blocked but as with the mistakes I make while working on a piece it usually tends to be a good thing in the end. Searching for my way out of a block…usually ends up with me trying something new. Whether it be a new technique, a new medium or using both to just create something entirely knew such as an hourglass, journal, birdhouse or lately a collection of mushroom houses.

RMMW: What is your favourite artist’s tool?

M: That would have to be my pasta maker that I use for my polymer clay. Or rather pasta makers…I have like five of them!

RMMW: Do you have any artist rituals before starting a new piece? 

M: PINTEREST! And music. Looking up quotes. I am addicted to quotes and lyrics…others seem to be able to express my own feelings better than I ever could. Usually during one of my quote binges I will come across a line that leads to an idea which leads to a work of art.

RMMW: What medium do you enjoy creating with the most? 

M: Polymer clay is hands down my favorite medium. Which I often find hilarious because my first go at it was in high school, and at that time I got so aggravated with it I ended up tossing it all out. It was about 5 years later after watching some tutorials I tried my hand at it again and fell in love.

RMMW: What is your favourite piece created by you? 

M: My first hourglass I ever successfully created. It is not the best looking piece by far. It took years and so very many attempts to find the right glass, right sand and the right adhesive so it would not shatter in the oven when I had to bake the clay it was decorated with. No matter how long it took. I never gave up until I got it right.

RMMW: How has your art evolved over the years? 

M: I used to go all in with my clay and do every tutorial I could find. Try and follow all the trends. Techniques. Now I have my own favorite techniques and create from the heart. It’s rare anymore for me to even look to someone else for a tutorial or a technique.

RMMW: What is your first artistic memory? 

M: Sitting in my room when I was really young. Maybe 6 or 7 years old. Armed with my sketchbook and a pencil, drawing everything I could see. My radio. My ceiling fan. My dresser. My stuffed animals. I often wish I held on to that sketchbook.

RMMW: What themes do you pursue within your work? 

M: I don’t think I really follow any themes. I just tend to go with the flow.

RMMW: What other jobs have you done besides being an artist? 

M: A little of everything! A portrait photographer, newborn photographer, banking for a few years, warehouses, insurance tech, virtual assistant. My job now I fell into by accident. It was supposed to be temporary until I finished my degree. Five years later and I am loving life…still working at that same “temporary” job…working at school with special needs children. I am one if the luckiest people I know. I get to work with my real life superheroes..those who have autism, add, adhd, emotionally or physically disabled. They may be children but they teach me about strength and never giving up every single day.

RMMW: What is it about art that you enjoy most? 

M: Art is my sanity. My stress relief. My peace of mind. It has made me the person that I am today. And I am happy with that.

RMMW: What is your dream project? 

M: I don’t think I have just one. Whatever piece I am working on at the moment is my dream. When I get finished with that I will find another dream. I don’t think I will ever stop until every one of my dreams come true.

RMMW: If you had a super power what would it be? 

M: The ability to fly. I grew up flying with my grandpa who was a pilot. Since he has passed…you can often find me at a playground with my kids flying high on the swings. If I could be anywhere it would be in the air.