Interview with an Artiste: Donna Roddy Wieters

A few people have inquired about my avatar. She's lovely and her name is Coco. With this curiosity about her, I decided to sit down with her creator, Donna Wieters. Incidentally, Coco, an original, has sold.

Donna Wieters, 44, is an aspiring artist in San Antonio, TX. In the past, she has created everything from pastel portraits to bronze sculptures. Her latest creations are hand-crafted porcelain masks. These beauties personify different time periods in life. Donna's art is innovative and I felt it needed to be celebrated and explained.

Speaking with Donna, I found some interesting and original thoughts.

Tonya: How long have you been an artist?

Donna: Since "life imitates art," not the other way around, forever is the only answer.

Tonya: That a bit confusing to me, could you elaborate?

Donna: Ok, in a nut shell, Sci-fi movie comes out, decade or two later, technology advances to that level from the movie.

Tonya: You've referred to movies, do movies inspire you? Is that where your art is coming from?

Donna: Probably some older movies locked in my head from my impressionable years. Have you ever seen a Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy movie? Probably not, they sang opera and were filmed in black and white. A lot of their story line seemed to revolve around the powder-wig era.

Tonya: Powder-wig era?

Donna: Powder wig, peri-wig...these were worn by the more affluent of society during 18th century before regular bathing was available. Heads could get infected with lice, roundworms, and people wore wigs to cover their short or infested hair. The wigs were white and powdered, probably to help with odor and dryness. I'm sure there is more accurate information available on this somewhere.

Tonya: Why do you call them masques instead of masks?

Donna: Masque is the correct spelling for the origin of the type of mask they represent.

Tonya: So, when you say masque, are you referring to the 17th and 18th century balls?

Donna: Balls...Yes, think of King Louis, number whatever, from France and his Masquerade balls, like the movie.

Tonya: There's that word movie again? I wonder if movies of the past inspire you.

Donna: When I was young and impressionable, I watched a lot of period cinema; for example, Louis of France, pirates and buccaneers, also Mae West and the flapper era. The Spanish Flamenco dancers and their attire appealed to me as well, with their fans, hair adornment, eye liner, and all of that. Also, my time is affected by Alaska, my taste for furs, feathers, and lace. I spent many years in the Alaskan Bush. I believe there is a store there called, "Alaska Fur, Leather, and Lace," nothing like the real thing, and all.

Tonya: When you decide on a masque, where does the idea come from? And could you explain the process for me?

Donna: I always do the fan first. I decide what colors, beads, go good together. By the time the fan is done, I already see the face that goes with it. Sometimes, I know her name before her face is done, like Chloe and Coco.

Tonya: How long does each creation take?

Donna: Just like any drawing I might do. If I sit down and do it, mere hours. The next one I may do a little and not touch it for a week. That old saying about when the mood strikes me? Well, that is how artwork is. That's what works for me, anyhow.

Tonya: What are you currently working on?

Donna: Currently, I am working on a face and fan set but I can't decide which way to go. Earlier I mentioned that it doesn't take much time to do this artwork. Rather, it has to be the right time. Here, again, is a different twist to that. I have a fan I finished, knew what face and name to go with it, but I changed my mind on the design and name of the face midstream. Now she sits, waiting, and unfinished, until I decide. If I force myself to finish her undecided, she won't turn out the way I want. So I have to wait until something happens to decide this. I guess you could say this is a prime example of what is meant by an artist having to be in the right mood.

Tonya: Who are your favorite artists and why?

Donna: Well, the great ones, of course. No, not Picasso or Renoir. Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo DaVinci, Sir Frank Dicksee, Gianlorenzo Bernini. The first two, in my opinion, could capture the human form as no others could. The third was a true romantic and an obvious lover of women. The fourth could make solid stone look like smooth muscle. A lot of the sculptures in Rome and Vatican City were done by Bernini; whereas, a lot of people would assume Michelangelo did them.

Tonya: "Life imitates art," is a quote from Oscar Wilde. Could you give a final comment to that?

Donna: He also said, "The critic has to educate the public; the artist has to educate the critic." Art comes from within. It oft times can be the embodiment of an individual. It is usually created, then copied. Created is art, copied is life.

Truly intriguing, Donna, thank you for your candid thoughts and I wish you much sucess in the future. I believe your creations will mean a lot to many. Donna's artwork can be found at www.loganberrys.com.