On reenergising creativity:

Chuck Close once told a close friend of mine that Inspiration is for Amateurs, implying that making art is work just like anything else. I fully relate to that. One of my few rules in my studio is just to show up. Even when the work is sub-par, I just keep working, shifting, painting. I like the idea that I am gathering knowledge or tools regardless of whether I am completing a piece.

On reflection of one’s own work:

I find one of the greatest tools for analyzing work is the iphone. I take pictures of my work as I move through the collage process, but I never finalize a piece until I sit with it for a full day. So before I go to bed I will review my photos and see what’s working and what’s not. It’s also an easier way for me to gain perspective. I work in a small space, so I can’t always find the ground to step back. The phone gives me this ability to see the work on different scale, rotate it, invert it.

On getting into a great creative space:

Music sets a tone in my space to which I am not mentally attached but almost acts as a buffer between my studio and the outside world. From punk, to African, to classical – I will listen to it all (albeit good music). I need a work song, ya know? Which brings to mind Maria Muldaur’s Work Song. Geez, I will even to listen to campy music such as that.

On family traditions:

I’m really excited about making up new traditions with my family. I recently read Jonathan Foer’s email interview with Natalie Portman in the New York Times Magazine. He mentioned a family tradition of his own called “clearing the Wonder Line”, where his children recounted noted events in their day. If they made their parents express a sense of wonder with a raise eyebrow, or a “hmmmmm”, then they cleared the Wonder Line and then rightly got to choose how they ended the night.

On general wellbeing:

I make sure to spend a spell of time with my husband at the end of every day. If I don’t get to anything else, I make sure to get to this one. Human connection makes a giant impact in shaping my life.