Chuck Drumm- confessions of a book addict

What inspires you? Books. Words. I surround myself with books, as much for the visual appeal of them as the content. I have more books than I will ever be able to read in a lifetime. Books of quotes. 1950s Home Ec. textbooks. Old books about beauty and how to attain it. Books of personality tests. Old fiction and new. And don’t even get me started on Dictionaries. Words in many forms have consistently been part of my work. I use words as visuals, in addition to communication. I use book pages as “canvas” for drawings. I extract phrases for use as texture. I use diagrams from beauty books in quilts and cross-stitch. I use quotes by misguided males in installations. Words are an endless source of inspiration for me. When you are in need of inspiration are there particular things you read, listen to or look at to fuel your work? Any practices to get you in a creative mind frame? Ideas come to me when my mind is otherwise occupied. I keep a sketchbook or notepad in my car, next to my bed, almost always within arms reach. I periodically transfer these notes to folders in my studio. I have used ideas from 10 years earlier to develop new work. Simply flipping through these notebooks can trigger a concept that I’m excited to explore. Who taught you the most about art? My undergraduate professor, Ted Barnes (now the Dean of College of Visual and Performing Arts at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor). I began college as a Graphic Design major. Ted saw the potential in my work and encouraged me to pursue a degree in Studio Art and to apply to Graduate School. He also pointed out that my inability to meet deadlines defined me more as a studio artist than a graphic designer. His most useful advice to me was “Solve the problem.” and I use that advice in my work everyday. If I have an idea and don’t think I have the skills to execute it, I find another way to solve the problem. This has led me to exploring mediums beyond my comfort zone. Do you encounter misconceptions about being an artist? There is a misconception that being an artist translates into being able to impeccably decorate a home. This is not true. Words to live by . . . a favorite quote or motto? “Don’t rehearse unhappiness.” –Unknown “Re-examine all you have been told. Dismiss what insults your soul.” – Walt Whitman “Be nice to people because nobody likes an asshole.” – Darren Criss

Beulah, Cecile, Marie from Feminine Side Series

The Feminine Side Series is a sequence of maternal generational portraits. Each portrait is matched with a self-help personality quiz such as those found in popular magazines. For example, tests used in The Feminine Side: Beulah, Cecile, Marie include: How Much Excitement Do You Need in Your Life, How Comfortable Are You With Success, and How High is Your Self Esteem. The portraits consist of 3 layers of graphite on vellum. The top layer contains the portrait, the bottom layer contains the words, and the middle layer is made of squiggles that provide a buffer between the two.

Chuck Drumm's mixed media artwork examines aspects of identity and gender. Her work has been exhibited nationally. She received her MFA from Florida State University. She is currently a Professor teaching in the areas of Foundations and Illustration at Sam Houston State University.