|
|
Interview 16
Duo Special Interview of
& Magical Artist Maxine Gadd
Please make special note that our questions are in this color, Diana's answers are in Blue and Maxine's are in Orange.
Please tell us your name, where you where born, place of residency now, if you are married and do you have any children?
Diana S. Zimmerman. Born in Chicago, Ill. Live in Los Angeles, CA. Single, no kids, except for my dogs.
Maxine Gadd, born in the U.K., now living in Western Australia. Married 22 years, no children.
You are an accomplished magician, will you tell us what made you desire to do magic?
Diana: I started in magic when I was eight years old. I loved to perform, and a friend and I wanted to put on a circus, but we couldn’t afford a tiger or an elephant, weren’t talented enough to be trapeze artists, so we decided to do a magic show. My father took us to the local magic shop, and I saw the man behind the counter produce coins. I was hooked. Being very poor as a child, I thought, any profession that could make money that easy was for me. And so my love affair with magic began.
Are you still working as a magician? Did you have any hurdles to overcome being the first famous lady magician?
Diana: I only do magic now for my book signings, as part my presentation to talk about the “Magic of Believing” (for students) and “A Novel Approach to Preventing School Violence” (for educators). I also work with a group of young magicians at the Magic Castle in a youth group that I founded with the help if the legendary actor, Cary Grant.
Being a lady magician at a time when there weren’t very many others, was both a blessing and a hindrance. The public loved the idea, but the “old boys’ club” in the world of magic were very jealous, and could be very nasty at times. This was not generally the case with the professionals, but the semi-pros--especially when I started commanding higher much fees and winning awards.
How long have you been drawing? Have you always drawn fairies?
Maxine: I have been drawing since I was three. I drew fairies as a child but became passionate about fairies when I was in my early twenties.
Did you ever take any formal artist classes? Would you please explain?
Maxine: I did study graphic design at college where we had drawing lessons. I could already draw before I entered college and had won several art competitions. The so-called art tutors were not very good at drawing, and one I later found out couldn't draw at all! For these reasons I consider myself self-taught.
Do you have a medium preference for your art?
Maxine: My favourite medium is oils. However I have been doing strictly digital work for the past few years. I can’t believe how quickly I can get results. I absolutely love working with Photoshop – it’s amazing!
Do you have a certain style to your art?
Maxine: I think my work is most often described as surreal. I want my art to be realistic enough to be believable but the subject to be unbelievable.
As a teenager, were you popular or unpopular? Can you share something that was a life-changing event for you as a teenager?
Diana: I was VERY shy, so kids thought I was conceited. I was just too shy to talk to any one. My magic was my sanctum. It gave me special world that I could be in and escape the bullying and teasing from the other kids.
I won my first international magic competition when I was thirteen. I knew at that moment I was going to grow up to be the world’s greatest lady magician, so I did. I came to LA when I was 18 with 45 dollars to my name, to pursue my career in magic. I often didn’t know where my next meal was coming from, but eventually, I had my own TV show, started in revue shows, toured the world, and was extremely successful.
When you decided to write a book what was your motivating force?
Diana: I have always loved to write. I purchased a painting from Maxine Gadd called “Frost.” It was the inspiration for a short story, which turned into a book—then three books. Maxine is the illustrator of all three of the Kandide books—“Kandide and the Secret of the Mists,” “Kandide and The Lady’s Revenge,” and “Kandide and the Flame is Fleeting.”
Is the place of Calabiyau, inspired by a real place? If so, where, and if not, how did you get the idea of such a magical place?
Diana: Calabiyau lives in all of us. It is a place where our worst nightmares can become our greatest fantasies—simply by believing in the magic of ourselves. I truly believe that we are all magical beings—we just need to follow our dreams. That is the inspiration—a place of unimaginable beauty, and at the same time darkness beyond compare.
The name comes from Physics. Calabi-yau is the term used to describe the 12 collective d-branes or different dimensions that String Physicists think exist. Since Kandide’s Kingdom is in another dimension, it seem like a good choice of names.
Do you have a favorite character? Why are is he or she your favorite?
Diana: I love Teren because he is a prankster. I also like Lady Aron, because she is as nasty a villain as any could ever meet. I am fascinated by how she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. I love Tara because she loves animals. I adore Egan, because he is so innocent, yet wise. And who could not love and hate Kandide? She starts out as the Paris Hilton of Faeryland—vain, pampered, and selfish—but unlike like Paris, learns a few lessons along the way.
Maxine: My favorite character would be Tara. She is kind, compassionate and caring. I also like the way the portrait of her turned out. I am seldom pleased with my artwork!
How did you pick Maxine Gadd to be your illustrator? And why?
Diana: I bought a painting called “Frost” from a gallery, then several others from her. She is my all-time favorite faery artist, and I am so honored that she agreed to do the illustrations for my books.
How did you meet Diana Zimmerman and become the illustrator for her book “Kandide”?
Maxine: Diana had bought some of my originals from a gallery in Georgia. She wrote me and told me that one of my works had inspired her to write a story and could she use it for her book. The artwork was in fact a character for a book I had written and so Diana commissioned me to illustrate some of the characters for her novels.
Is Maxine Gadd the illustrator for all the books in the series? If not who is the new illustrator? Will we see new characters in the next two books?
Diana: We have lots of new characters in the next two books, including Cyndara, Lord Mywerk, Viviana, the Banshees, and more, and Maxine does them all.
Did you use a model for your drawings?
Maxine: No, I never use models. I have been painting so long now I hardly ever even have to look at reference material as a guide.
Where do you get your ideas for your drawings?
Maxine: My ideas come to me intuitively and in their own time. I believe that the difficulty for the creative person is not so much how they make things happen but rather more how they stop themselves from hindering the creative flow.
How do you think Kandide will impact young people in the future?
Diana: It has already affected kids. I speak at a great many schools. I get letters all the time from kids telling me how it has helped them. Here is one example:
The following conversation is between me and two students.
I asked one of the boys in a class I was speaking to what his name was.
“Oh, that’s Jon, he never talks much,” one of the other students answered.
“Really, why is that, Jon?” I asked.
“I… don’t know. I… I just don’t like to.” Jon replied.
I learned why Jon didn’t talk. He stuttered.
“Well, your storyboards are pretty amazing,” I said. “Would you break your rule just once and tell me what you think of my book?”
“I think that… that… it’s really good.”
“Because… um… it… it says… it says it’s okay to be different.”
“So, it’s okay if… if I don’t like to talk much. I’m just… different, and now I know that… that … it’s okay.”
“Not only is it okay, Jon. But with your artistic talent, I’d say you are more than okay—you are amazing. Will you be the official Storyboard artist for Kandide?”
Kandide changed Jon’s life, and his classmates. With their own stories to write as a follow-up to the Kandide project, several of the kids in Jon’s class drafted him to help create the illustrations for their stories. Suddenly, Jon’s “differences” didn’t matter. A year later, one of Jon’s classmates told me, “Not only does Jon talk now, he talks a lot.”
I have so many stories like this. Books do change kids. Which is why I am speaking to schools all over the country—and never charge to speak. If some one would like me, just send an inquire to my media person at cynthia@kandide.com and we will arrange it.
Do you think the Kandide series will ever become a movie?
We have begun talks with a couple of producers—so keep your finger crossed.
The book “Kandide, and the Secret of the Mists,” does not have any animals in the story, do the others? Do you have any pets, do you have a story to tell about them?
Diana: Actually, there are animal—the Garglans, and the Griffins. Kandide recues a mother Griffin from the Garglans in Book One. It is an important plot point—and, as animals always do, it changes her life.
The Fée, are also vegetarians, as am I.
All five of my dogs are rescues. One is a 147-pound Irish wolfhound mix named Ari who was locked in a closet, another is a one eyed terrier name Allie who was going to be killed at the pound, as was my deaf dachshund mix named Sarah. The fourth is a pit bull mix named Socrates who I found in the street covered in mange and ringworm. The last one is a lab mix named Tara, who was in the middle of an intersection when I rescued her.
Maxine: I keep fish for pets. My workplace is surrounded by three aquariums. If I had the space I would have more! I have done many sketches of my fish.
Knowing that you love fairies what do you think they would tell us about preserving the earth? Do you personally have something to share about going “Green”?
Diana: Green is the single most important movement, next to the humane treatment of animals. Society is slow in understanding this, but it is happening. The Fée would (and certainly are) appalled at the way we treat our earth and the creatures who live on it.
We will never be kind to each other until we are kind to animals. The really good news is that we are making strides. Harvard University teaches a class on animal rights. Many medical schools are shifting away from the barbaric torture of animals in their labs, and companies are realizing that going Green can be green.
Maxine: I always recycle everything and use recycled packaging. I always use the minimum packing materials. I am also happy that Photoshop has prevented me from using tons of paper and gallons of paint and mediums, brushes etc. I used to hate that so much junk gets washed down the sink when you constantly re-clean palettes and brushes.
As a motivational speaker, Co-founder and owner of CMS Communications, Intl., a marketing communications agency, what advice would you give to motivate young people today to achieve their dreams?
Diana: I live by several credos:
Never, ever, listen to the experts. They were wrong about Harry Potter, Star Wars, Roots, Jonathon Livingston Seagull, and Kandide—all of which have become bestsellers.
No doesn’t mean no. It means not yet.
Believe in the “Magic of you.” It’s real.
Would you please give any advice to other artists to become successful artists?
Maxine: I hate to give advice because everyone's path is different. I believe that being an artist isn't a choice. Success means different things to different people. For some it is fame and fortune. When I was younger my driving force was self expression at all costs. Now it is completely different. I no longer feel a need to express my emotions my pleasure comes from creating art that I feel people want to see. I see my roll more as a type of entertainer. I want to paint for people the things they would like to see.
Has the economy affected the sale of your book and/or do you think that it will have any affect on the other two books?
Diana: Kandide has nine full-color illustrations and is priced at only $9.99 in trade paperback. So, it is a tremendous bargain. They just keep selling. The first edition of Book One is almost sold out—so that will become a collector’s item shortly. One of the limited edition hard backs sold on eBay unsigned for $80.00. I’m told a copy signed by both Maxine and me was up for $250.00—but I don’t know if every actually sold.
Has the economy affected your work in anyway? Please explain how or how not?
Maxine: Yes, the economy has affected my work. Sales of prints has greatly reduced. I have also intuitively stopped working on the projects I was doing before the crash. I am now working with my husband on an interactive website that will be free to use. If it becomes popular then we may be able to use space for advertising but the main motivation is that it is our gift mostly to children in these hard times.
Do you have a dream that you hope will come true for you in the future?
Diana: I have so many. Here are two:
On a personal level to see “Kandide and the Secret of the Mists” and the other two books made into successful movies.
And on a global scale to see an end to all animal suffering.
I hope that I will be able to finish the many projects I am working on.
If you could do anything differently, what would it be and why?
Diana: I would have learned much earlier in my life that “No doesn’t mean no, it means not yet.”
Maxine: I wouldn't do anything differently. I am so stubborn and don't care what anyone else thinks of me or what I do and for those reasons I have always done what I wanted to do. It is tough being an artist especially when everyone else seems to have a 'proper' job with a regular income. If I couldn't work on my art like I do I don't think I would want to live.
Will you please tell us what the names/titles of the three book series are? When will all of them be for sale?
Diana: “Kandide and the Secret of the Mists,” (Available now) “Kandide and The Lady’s Revenge,” (Fall release) and “Kandide and the Flame is Fleeting.” (Spring 2010 release)
Thank you Diana and Maxine for allowing us to do this interview. I love the book “Kandide” and believe it is a wonderful book to teach young adults about diversity and the importance of knowing ones own self worth however appreciating what makes others just as important. As for the art it is so awesome every girl wants to be a fairy! Thanks for all the dreams. I feel the same ladies. It was a pleasure to work with you both and I am a big fan. I could learn lots from you Maxine. Thanks for sharing with us artists.
Cindy Thorrington Haggerty and
Peaceful Art Jewelry Design LLC and
|
All artwork & content © Peaceful Art Jewelry Design LLC
& Respective Artists.
No unauthorized usage of artwork is permitted.
|
|
