It's Interview Time!

So to get to know our Back on My Sweets contributing artists, I've compiled a list of interview questions and nagged and nagged until I was blue in the face and our talented group of illustrators, graphic designers, and watercolor artists finally got back to me...  So drum roll please....

Featured Artist: Johanna Pabst

And here goes!   

What is your favorite muffin or cupcake?
Vanilla/vanilla - As a cupcake aficionado, it is more about the particular recipe than a specific flavor.  Vanilla/vanilla is the perfect test case for comparing different bakeries' cupcakes.


Apart from making beautiful artwork, what else do you do?
I am pursuing my PhD in Sociology at Boston College.  I also teach sociology at undergrad level.  My interests are on media and technology, the digital divide, pop culture, and culture in general, and gender.  I've been working on this for a long time, hopefully I'll finish sometime soon.  But art certainly distracts me!

Where does your inspiration come from?
From the world around me, from the things I love. I painted for awhile before I became really prolific about a year and a half ago, and honestly, my inspiration was cupcakes. That was when I realized I didn’t have to paint fruit and flowers all the time, as we had in my watercolor classes. I could paint anything I wanted, and the prettiest little things I knew at the time were cupcakes. So I went crazy. Since then, I just try to look around me and remember when I see something that I might want to paint a picture of. I also save lots of photos on my computer- sort of my inspiration folder! I am also inspired by many artists, especially the artists around me on Etsy. 

When did you know you were an artist/maker? 
I'm not sure if I know it now, but it's definitely more now than before I had an etsy shop and people requesting me to do things. It's always amazing when someone wants my art (and is willing to pay for it). Before that, artistic and crafty things were definitely occasional hobby only, and hardly even that. Now it's a part of me and something I have to do. Of course, now I worry about turning it into too much work and ruining the fun.

Check out more of Johanna's art on her Etsy Shop, JoJo La Rue!  I'd like to also congratulate Johanna on her first solo show at Petite Robert in Brighton, MA.  The reception is this Saturday, Oct 15th from 4:30-6PM, click here for the facebook invite.

I know I'll be stopping by!  

Stay tuned for the Back on My Sweets book for Johanna's contributing recipe, Pineapple and Cream Cheese Muffins!    

Just a runner with a sweet tooth!  Nom Nom Nom...

-Andrea