Badass Artist Feature
Hello folks! I would just like to start this off by acknowledging what a CRAZY time this is right now. It feels weird to be blogging amidst the madness but the show must go on, right? I’m wishing everyone a safe and healthy week - I know it’s easy to get bogged down by the nonstop news and emails surrounding this state of emergency, but I encourage you to really prioritize self-care, and taking this downtime to reflect on what matters most. All we can do is take things day by day, and do our part to flatten the curve. So as I sit on my sofa maybe sipping on a glass of wine this evening, I hope to spread some light and be a gentle reminder to take care of your self this week.
Onward on upwards - I am thrilled to highlight some pretty dang talented humans I’ve had the pleasure of working with. We asked each artist to answer questions surrounding their journey - so here’s to getting to know some of the creatives behind a few of our favorite projects.
Enjoy!
Janie Rochfort, Betty Larkin
Tell us your story. How did you get where you are today as an artist?
I’ve been interested in drawing, painting, and making things as long as I can remember. In school, I was initially a Studio Art major, but then switched to Architecture after concluding I wouldn’t be able to make any money as an artist after graduating… which is so funny to look back at now. I am grateful that I went that route though, because it taught me how to think spatially and conceptually as an artist and designer. My career has really developed over the last several years thanks to my background in architecture, interior and furniture design.
My very first commission wasn’t until 2017, when I painted a canvas and mural for Salon Bordeaux in Normal Heights. I had no idea what I was doing, but there were about 8 of us women who all pitched in to make the mural happen. I was still working as Lead Designer for Moniker Group at the time, and after that they entrusted me to design and paint three different murals for them in their spaces throughout Liberty Station. That was a game changer for me since those murals were in such public spaces, and lead to other incredible opportunities. Last April I made the difficult decision to go off on my own, and focus on my design + art business, Betty Larkin. It has been the greatest experience, and I’m so grateful for everyone I’ve had the chance to work with along the way.
What do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’m really passionate about enhancing the spaces we inhibit and interact with through thoughtful and intentional design. So whether it’s through a small piece of art, or a large scale mural, I hope my work will leave you with a feeling of inspiration and connectedness to your surroundings.
Tell us your story. How did you get where you are today as an artist?
I studied fine art in college, graduating with a BFA in painting and printmaking. I then began working as a display coordinator for Anthropologie, a retail company with whom I spent most of my 20’s creating displays and installations for. I truly grew up within the company, learning so much about myself and creative potential during that time. My formal and applied skills are both self-taught and graciously learned from talented colleagues, artists, mentors, and friends over the years. With this knowledge and experience under my belt, I knew it was time to branch out for myself. Four years ago after giving birth to our daughter, I parted ways with Anthropologie to pursue work of my own. I began partnering with local San Diego businesses, helping transform and elevate their retail spaces and events through custom sculpture, display and fixture builds.
What do you hope others will take away from your work?
Creating custom installations means that every job is uniquely site-specific and one-of-kind. Working with a wide range of mediums, in a variety of spaces, keeps me in a constant state of discovery. It challenges me to continually explore new ideas, unique materials and push the envelope for each and every client. My hope is to simply delight and bring joy to others. I aim to exceed my client's expectations by creating beautiful environments and awe inspiring experiences for both them and their customers.
Attila Betyar aka The Canvas Way, aka Tilla
Tell us your story. How did you get where you are today as an artist?
I was in a government job that had an extremely toxic environment and I felt my potential was being limited so I quit after two years with no real plan ahead. A year before I had broke my foot surfing in Panama and while bed ridden after surgery and for some reason decided to paint. I just kept doing that everyday after quitting and teaching myself other sorts of art, mostly digital, and now I’m here.
What do you hope others will take away from your work?
I want my work to inspire others and/or make them think deeper about things they normally wouldn’t analyze deeply.
If you’re looking for ways to support these local artists at this time, please DM them on their Insta pages or head to their websites and shop their store pages.