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Interview 6
May 2008 CAROL OCHS The Fantasy Art Gathering
Please tell us your name, a little about your family, and the area you live in?
My name is Carol Ochs (like "oaks"), I'm married to a very funny and fantastic guy I'm crazy about - David; he's a plumbing contractor and jazz guitarist. We have three kids, two boys and a girl, 24, 20 & 17. The boys are grown and out on their own now, my daughter is still home and about to start college in the fall. We live in San Diego, Ca.
Can you tell us how old you were when you did your first piece of art? And what did you draw?
I can't really remember a time I wasn't drawing, and many early childhood memories are of myself and friends sitting at the picnic table in our front yard drawing and coloring for hours on end, making up stories and plays to act out of our pictures and writings.
You appear to be really drawn to all things magical. As a child did you have an imaginary friend? Did you name him/her? Could they do magical things?
I didn't have "imaginary friends" that I recall...but I did have an experience sighting a fairy when I was quite young. This convinced me, was proof positive to me that the magic realm existed!
Captured
Where do the faces and ideas for your magical art come from? Who or what is your inspiration for your art?
Fleeting glimpses pop into my head at the oddest times...usually when I'm NOT looking for them. Those, usually end up being art pieces I like, or that turn out best. And they usually are associated with how I imagine the creatures of enchanted realms to look or behave. I've also used photographs of my children as references.
 Dark Arts Sorceress
Do you have a favorite piece of art? Which one and why?
Not really. I usually always like whatever art piece I'm working on "at the moment" and am attached to it for whatever inspiration was in it for me when I painted it....then I quickly go on to find fault with it and try to improve on my next piece. But even though I may find fault with it later...each piece still continues to remind me of a special spark I felt when I painted it, or a bit of magic I'd hoped to capture on paper.
 Sweet Autumn Rain
Do you ever have brain freezes where your art does not come to you easily? Where or What do you do to get inspired?
I don't really ever remember having brain freezes on ideas. If anything, I tend to have too many ideas at once, they all run together, and I have a hard time deciding which one to work on next. My biggest struggle is finding the time to *do* art in between the rest of my busy life. When I have time to draw and paint, I feel like I've been gifted and am very protective of that time--known to snarl at usurpers and interruptions!
 Take Flight, My Friend!
On your website you say you learned your art from the school of hard knocks, however have you ever taken any lessons in art?
I took art in school, and I've taken many art seminars over the years, but always felt as though I was being taught to conform to the teacher's idea of what art should be, which I tended to internally rebel against, I guess. While I desired formal education for technique, I think I didn't want it for concept. And then with everything else happening in my life like raising a family and running businesses, I've had less and less time for school, and resorted to books, tutorials, online venues, and good old fashioned practice when it comes to art learning. My collection of art books is rather formidable ....and a serious addiction.
What made you decide to make soaps? Did it start off as a hobby and get bigger?
I began making soaps after my mother-in-law introduced them to me via a gift of soap. She knew I had sensitive skin and often suffered rashes and weird reactions to regular soaps...but when I tried the soaps she ordered for me, it was the first time I DIDN'T have a bad reaction; a real thrill for a sensitive skin sufferer! So I learned to make soap for my own use, controlling what went into it. Over a year's time, I made so many batches in my quest to perfect my recipe that we soon had soap cut and curing on practically every surface of our home, on bookcases, countertops, tabletops...everywhere! That first Christmas after I'd learned to make it and felt I'd finally achieved perfection in my recipe, we were a bit financially-strapped, but I looked around at all the soap and decided to give soap as gifts that year. A couple months after Christmas, everyone we gave it to came back asking to "buy" more! Ta-da! A business was born! I was in-between deciding whether or not to go back to work in surgical nursing after my third child was born, and really not wanting to leave home. The internet was just coming into it's own about then, so I put up a website, and the convolution of good timing with a good product adn wanting to be home-based launched my soap business.
Will you tell us some of your personal favorites of your soaps?
My own personal favorites are my earthy-herbally soaps with lots of ground botanicals in them, and I LOVE lavender! Strangely, I used to hate the smell of lavender, until I realized there are different species of it, and I discovered Bulgarian lavender---in my opinion, the best! I also love good old unscented soap.
How long have you had your Fantasy Art Gathering website?
I believe it's been up for a couple of years now.
What is the purpose of the Gathering site?
I put the site up to honor, showcase, as well as link fantasy artists who wish to participate, and we all benefit from the joint linking and exposure. I've met some of the nicest artists through doing so! I think sometimes some of us lesser-known artists tend to be overlooked on our paths to becoming the artists we're meant to be and this site helps shine the light on "everyone", not just a select few. And more importantly, I feel that by requesting to join, there is a commonality among artists there who all recognize that whether just starting, or well-established in the fantasy art community, we ALL share that "something", that "spark of magic" that bonds us in a common goal of spreading that magic! We are, in effect, ambassadors of magic! Those looking to view or purchase fantasy art enjoy being able to find so many artists all in one spot!
Will you please tell us all your sites url addresses?
Sure...and thank you!
Wild Oaks Art - http://www.wildoaksart.com
Enchantasies - http://www.enchantasies.com
The Fantasy Art Gathering - http://www.wildoaksart.com/TheFantasyArtGathering.htm
The Fantasy Art Gathering on MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/thefantasyartgathering
Simply Soap - http://www.simplysoap.com
There is also an online tour of our soap workshop and art studio at: http://www.simplysoap.com/workshopstudio.htm
Do you have a favorite saying you would like to share with us?
I have a lot of favorite sayings, but perhaps one I remind myself of most often is a line from a Seal song....
"You're never gonna survive, unless, you get a little crazy." *wink*
 Thank you very much for the interview, Cindy.
~Carol~
------------------------------------------------------------------ Photos attached :
Photo of Me Art Studio At Night (when I most like to, get a chance to work on art)
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