Kota Phillips & Josey Belladonna

I have had a great pleasure to interview two amazing artists Kota Phillips and Josey Belladonna.These two are the best of both worlds: masters of portraits and goddesses of landscapes. Both are not afraid of color and each and every piece of art they make tells a story. Both Kota and Josey thank you for your time!

~ Mike Blu 8th (interviewer)

Josey Belladonna

Where do you find inspiration for your paintings?

I look at all the beautiful things that God created for us to see around me and want to get what I see on canvas. It amazes me that He could have created the world in black and white but instead filled it with so much color.

When did you first start painting and how was the beginning for you?

I started painting in SmallWorlds in June 2010. I was not familiar with the graffiti boards at all and tried to paint like I would have in real life. I ran out of paint! This was a big frustration for me but I met Wheezy Bee who gave me some great pointers on how to extend the paint that you had to work with. This was a big help and over time I have learned my own little tricks that help me in my painting.-Where do you find ideas for your wonderful landscapes? Since I don't live near an ocean or take trips to one I have to search the internet for my inspiration. I am glad that there are so many amazing photographers out there to help inspire artists like me.

Are you an artist outside of SmallWorlds?

As far back as I can remember I have always been involved in some art form or another. I was designing digital scrapbook kits a year ago but have since given that up to paint. I use my paintings on here to make and sell cards for my friends. So yes I guess I am an artist in real life but just not a famous one.

What do you like the most about painting?

Until coming here I had forgotten how much joy painting brings me. I had put away my brushes years ago as I just didn't have the time or money to invest in supplies. So the digital painting opened a whole new world for me. Painting for me expresses to the world who I am and how I feel that I can't express any other way.

Which part of the painting process do you like the most?

I think all of it. It is much like birthing a child in that each stage is a struggle but in the end you are amazed at this beautiful child you have created. I am always amazed when it all comes together and a new work has been birthed from my efforts.-When did you open your first gallery? I can't remember exactly but I would say maybe six months after starting painting.

How did the SmallWorlds art scene look when you first started compared to how it looks now?

The art here has always looked amazing here and with the new boards it just keeps getting better.

How long does it take you to finish a painting?

It depends on what I am working on and how the energy of the painting is going. Some times I can complete one in just a few hours or it can take weeks.

Kota Phillips

What encouraged you to use such big variety of colors in your paintings? It seems really creative and out of the box.

Ive always loved colorful art and was greatly inspired by SW artist Truble King when I first began to paint here. He taught me a great deal about how to use color in unique, impactful ways adding to the emotion of a painting.

Where do you find inspiration for your paintings?

I'm inspired by everything around me as well as my own emotions. Although some of my art can be studies in technique and composition, most of my paintings are reflections on human nature and have subtle meanings and symbolism built into them. I very rarely paint just to make a pretty picture.

When did you first start painting and how was the beginning for you?

I assume you mean in SW? I found SW during thanksgiving break 2009 and was immediately enamored with the concept of painting in a virtual reality. I'm not a game player so I had never seen anything like this before. The online arts community in SW reinforced what a useful tool for creative growth this could be with their support. It was damn hard painting here at first and I was incredibly frustrated so the encouragement was vital to keep me practicing until I finally started to get the results I wanted in the boards.

In your portraits there is so much emotion and depth how do you achieve that?

The most emotional pieces seem to come when I paint while feeling something deeply sometimes personally or sometimes about the human condition. It amazes me that people see so much of what I was feeling at the time I was painting it is like I left little pieces of myself in the paint. There are a few paintings I cant bear to part with because they carry so much emotional memory in them even if they are just bits of digital code.

Are you an artist outside of SmallWorlds?

Yes I am. I have a degree in painting but also write and work as a designer so I get to be creative outside of SW every day as well.

What do you like the most about painting?

What it communicates complex ideas in completely unique, multi-faceted ways. For passionate artists there isnt an option to not create we are compelled to do so much like breathing. It is completely a part of who we are. Art is diverse and it is an exploration of ourselves and our world. What is not to like. Well the frustration maybe but even that is good since it pushes us harder to attain whatever artistic goal we've set for ourselves.

Which part of the painting process do you like the most?

It is wonderful to get lost in the act of creating, come back into awareness and stare at the painting in shock thinking wow I created THAT? There is no way to express how cool that is to someone who hasn't experienced it. Kinda magical.

When did you open your first gallery?

For the first year in SW I ran the Coffeehouse which was a fun gallery that had a stage for performances. I opened it the first month I was in SW and kept it open for a year before taking a break from the pressure of maintaining a gallery. I recently reopened a tiny gallery and have turned it into a tanning salon which is wonderfully fun and funny. Get a tan while looking at art. :P

How did the SmallWorlds art scene look when you first started compared to how it looks now?

The art scene itself is not so different. Some of the avi faces have changed but many are still around and just as supportive, which is what the art community is all about. The art market however has changed dramatically. There is less gold circulating so most artists make less now for their art, even though it is better art, than they did a year and half ago. SW in a way reflects the economic challenges of real life. There too artists struggle to make a living.

How long does it take you to finish a painting?

It varies on the painting, the complexity and the problems encountered. Some paintings have taken days or even months to complete because they present painting challenges that have to be handled with patience; others can be done in a few hours.

___________________________________

Both Kota and Josey were interviewed by Mike Blu 8th... who has been awarded 2000 Gold for his efforts - thanks Mike for a great read!