Keri Smith on Winging It

by Katrina Martin

Keri Smith, the illustrious illustrator who shares her creative struggles at her website Wish Jar Journal, has made a living of winging it. In fact, she wrote a book about it. Living Out Loud is a book that encourages those with a passion for creating--whether with words or illustrations or paintings or anything at all--to play more in order to unleash their creativity.

Smith answered some questions for me through email, providing a glimpse into her imaginative mind.

Katrina: When did you first realize you wanted to create?

Keri: While in grade school I found many creative ways to fake illness so that I could stay home and watch my favorite show, Mr. Dressup. He was always making great stuff out of egg cartons, paper and anything you had lying around the house. I became obsessed with making stuff out of nothing.

As a 10 year old I fell in love with Mad Magazine. I would spend many hours copying the drawings. Artists like R. Crumb, Don Martin and Antonio Prohias became my drawing teachers. The funny part was that a lot of the subject matter was quite "adult" in nature, dealing with themes I didn't fully understand. It didn't really matter to me, I just loved the linework. I had no idea at the time you could actually get paid to do this work. A small spark that would grow into a larger flame.

Katrina: What does the phrase "Winging It" mean to you?

Keri: I find it hard to believe that anyone in the process of creating feels like they know what they are doing. The whole experience of it is akin to jumping off a cliff. You start with something, a mark, a note, a chunk of clay, and you head in a direction. Most of the time you end up in a different place than you expected. That is a good thing. It is really about the "experiment." If you don't allow for anything spontaneous to occur, (read: control it too much), you limit the outcome. The work becomes forced, contrived. But if you allow yourself to enjoy the process, play and get dirty, you might get to something that comes directly from your center.

Katrina: You said you wing it often in the "I have no idea what the hell I'm doing" sense. Do you have an example?

Keri: Hmmmm, now let's see... pretty much everything I've ever done goes like this: I sit down to start a project. I draw with a pencil. I throw some paint down. I use my intuition as a guide. I move things around. If I don't like it, I go away for a while. When I come back I might notice something I didn't see before. Sometimes I start over. Occasionally I fall in love. Lots of times I don't. EVERY time I start a piece I question my ability. I wonder if I will be able to do it again. The goal is to enjoy the drawing, mixing the colors and dipping the brush. That is when the magic happens.

Katrina: What inspires you creatively?

Keri: Books, paper, walks, seeing, stories, lines, shapes, packages, portability, space, old illustrations, comic books, string, sewing, poetry, friends, conversation, little worlds, color, food, toys, tea, secrets, hidden doors, mysteries, flowers, trees, nature, comfort, quotes, small boxes, actually anything in miniature, things made with the hands, musicals, dance, smells, foreign films, simple directions, Japanese brushes, glue, to-do lists, vintage suitcases.

I have to stop, I'm getting excited.

Katrina: What do you enjoy doing most? Creating characters like Hortence and Giles or sketching memories of your walks or writing?

Keri: I enjoy it all. For me it is the act of jotting stuff down that does it. When I'm in the throes of creating a new character I become consumed by it. Nothing else exists.

Katrina: How did you come up with the idea for your book? I got the sense that you like to live life one day at a time and you enjoy living by inspiration rather than rules.

Keri: The book is also a case of teach that which you most need to learn. Sometimes I have to look at it myself as a reminder to stop for a moment and give myself permission to play. There should be no rules involved. Discipline maybe (in terms of being present and allowing creativity to emerge) but rules, no.

The book evolved over a period of a few years. I started by just writing pieces and creating various activities one by one. I didn't even think about making a book. Because I have a short attention span it wouldn't work for me to sit down and say, "Okay, now I must write a book." Way too overwhelming. But over time I noticed that there was a theme that ran through all of the pieces. That theme was "play;" I was attempting to get to the root of what play meant to me, and how it brought me back to an integral place in terms of creativity. That concept tied it all together and I was able to package it and send it off to a publisher.

Katrina: Who are your influences? I know this might be difficult since you quote numerous artists and writers in your journal.

Keri: My teachers from art school, Ross Mendes and Linda Montgomery, are two big ones. My mom and grandmother (both passed away). They taught me to sew, cook, dream, laugh and sing and dance daily. Charles and Rae Eames, May Sarton, Chipp Kidd, Seth, Basquiat, Sark, Lynda Barry, Maira & Tibor Kalman, Siddartha, Peace Pilgrim, Anais Nin, Henry Miller. That is a VERY short list, but I could be here all day.

Katrina: How do you "live out loud?"

Keri: Well, THAT is an ongoing pursuit. I think the direct answer is to say I would like to live as close to my truth as possible. That means confronting fears, experimenting regularly and doing the opposite of what I "think" I should be doing. All works in progress. Am I doing it? Yes. But I have a long way to go yet.

Katrina: What projects are you working on currently?

Keri: Right now I am writing a book similar to "L.O.L" but for the 8- to 12-year- old market, with more of a craft focus. The great thing about that is I don't really have to change much about my voice; I think I tend to write from the 8- to 12-year-old in me already.

I always have a few editorial pieces on the go, and a couple of greeting cards. I've been doing work for Shoebox lately.

There are always several ideas brewing in my brain at any given time. I wish I could get them all out, but I also need to spend some time living (and reading, my other passion).

Katrina: What can you see from the window of your office?

Keri: This one made me laugh. Currently the Royal Canadian Legion branch #234. A place where old veterans go to drink. The view from my painting studio is much nicer (pine trees, garden) but it's a little chilly in the winter.