For our sixth interview of the 2022 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to artist Caity Serva about working with mixed media art, gouache paint, rescue animals, D&D, cosplay, and crochet. Thanks, Caity!
We like to know how people are connected to Delaware Fun a Day - are you a resident, born and raised? What opportunities have you found being in the exhibit?
I grew up in Bear and went to undergrad at University of Delaware (UD)! I have family in the area so even though I'm living in North Carolina, Delaware feels more like home. I first participated in DEFAD in 2018 and have wanted to participate every year since but have always been too busy. This year the show aligned with my break from school so I jumped at the chance to participate again!
This is going to be your second year participating in DEFAD. Your first year with us was in 2018 when our venue was The Delaware Contemporary. What can you tell us about your first time participating in that show versus now, four years later gearing up for your second show? Do you feel like you approached this year differently either in your mindset or in your preparation to start making art? What brought you back to DEFAD?
A lot has changed in my life, not least of all my approach to art. The first time I participated in DEFAD, I was finishing up my undergraduate degrees and this year I'm working on finishing my graduate degree as a Physician Assistant. In 2018, I took a more academic approach to trying different media and improving my skill. This year was more about having fun. I've been so busy with grad school and wanted an excuse to paint something I love!
Your 2018 project was called “Media Exploration” and you described it as a motivation to use some of the materials that you bought over the years but never got around to using. You also talked about exploring your go-to art medium more in depth. As a fellow mixed media artist I really felt this on a personal level too. So I’d love to hear how it went. Did you accomplish the goals that you set out to do with that project? Would you recommend other folks do the same? Why or why not?
I think every artist should try as many art supplies as possible. It's amazing how differently I approach the exact same piece with different art supplies and it teaches me a lot about my gaps in knowledge and ability. There's a lot to be learned from being bad at something! Plus, it's fun to just feel like a kid with a brand new box of crayons every once in a while.
Now in 2022, your project for this year is “Animals in Gouache” and you’re painting shelter animals in the Delaware area. All of your paintings will be for sale at the show to benefit a local animal shelter! It sounds amazing. What brought you to this subject matter, and to this particular cause? Are you a dog mom? We love to hear more about your pup(s) if you’d like to share!
I am extremely passionate about animal rescue! This month I celebrated 5 years since adopting my rescue bunny, who I am mildly obsessed with. I plan to rescue lots of dogs and cats in the future, but for now I foster when I can and volunteer at my local shelter. I've always primarily painted animals, so I thought highlighting the adoptable animals in the DE area would be a fun idea for a DEFAD project, and hey, if I can raise a few bucks for a rescue organization, that's even better!
I think we all have to know - are you open to folks reaching out to you for pet commissions?! Or do you prefer to determine your own subject matter? There’s no wrong answer, as this is a classic art community question… do we let customers dictate the direction of our work, or not. What are your feelings?
I'm always flattered when I'm asked for a commission but right now I'm only taking small-scale crochet commissions, such as dice dragons. I take a great deal of care with all my painted commissions, and I'm just not able to dedicate the required time between studying, clinical rotations, and life!
The photographs that you’ve shared during Maker’s Month use some of your art supplies as details or props around the artwork itself. There are so many art supply options out there. What tools, supplies, or brands did you use for this year’s project? Do you have any local art supply stores or online retailers that you would recommend to folks? Help point us in the right direction!
This year, I mostly used Arteza gouache, which is a great low cost option for those just getting into gouache! It's re-wettable (not all gouache is) so you can leave it dried up on your palette and use the same glob the next day, which was perfect for this project! I always have my Posca pens handy for fixing mistakes, adding fur texture, or to loosen up my style. As for brushes, I used the same two cheap brushes for the entire project, one filbert, and one round.
I'm not sure about local shops, but I'm a big fan of Make and Mend, an art supply thrift store that sells gently used supplies online. It's a great place to find mixed media materials and to feed my yarn addiction.
Can you share what it’s like working with gouache paint? It seems like most folks in the painting community start with acrylics or watercolors, and then graduate to oils, gouache, etc. Did you start with a different type of paint and then move onto gouache? Tell us more about it and your experiences working with it so far.
I started with acrylic paint as a teenager and used it almost exclusively for years. I tried oil paint for the first time in college and liked it, but I get frustrated with the long drying times. I absolutely HATE watercolors, and I knew gouache was similar to watercolors, so I resisted trying it for a long time. I don't remember what finally pushed me to try it, but it was love at first sight. You're able to get smooth washes, like with watercolors, but it's opaque, meaning you can build up layers and get fun textures. Plus, it has the most beautiful matte finish and pairs perfectly with Posca pens (my other favorite medium). I prefer re-wettable gouache over acryl gouache. My favorite brands are Arteza and Turner design gouache.
From exploring your social accounts, and reviewing your past DEFAD project, it’s obvious that you’re a talented crocheter as well. Most notably you have a series of mini dragons that hold D20 and smaller dice. Are you yourself a D&D player? If so, can you tell us about your character? How has D&D influenced your artwork?
I do play D&D! I started about 4 years ago and have been playing with the same group of friends since! We're currently playing The Ghosts of Saltmarsh in which I'm playing a firbolg druid. The dice dragons came out of a love of D&D and wanting to merge my hobbies. They are a ton of fun to make, who doesn't want a cute plushie dragon guarding their dice?
Funnily enough, I taught myself to crochet only a few months before my first DEFAD project and I presented a few of my first crochet projects during that show! My love of crochet has exploded since then!
Smaug dragons, Shire landscapes, sleeping Hobbits, Horses, and Forests… these are just some of the recurring themes in your artwork. So tell us which of the LOTR (Lord of the Rings) books or films is your favorite and who is your favorite character? Do you identify with their personality?
I love many fantasy franchises, but for some reason, LotR is the only one that has compelled me to make fan art. The books and movies hold a special place in my heart. My favorite of the three is definitely Fellowship of the Ring, I love the Shire, which you can probably tell from my fan art. Obviously the best character is Samwise Gamgee, he's the underdog holding it down for everyone in the series.
If you found the Ring of Power, like Sméagol/Gollum did… would you have kept the ring of power and used it to master all art mediums? One ring to rule them all…
I think Sauron would probably want me to paint portraits of his orcs which I would find endlessly boring. However, if Theoden would like me to paint all the horses of Rohan, I'll be there.
Has cosplaying, and creating cosplay outfits strengthened your talents as an artist in other areas of your craft? And do you have any practical advice for setting and keeping “goals” for completing projects, especially to our younger creators who are just starting to discover the direction they’d like to head in?
It has! Costuming and cosplay are very different applications of artistic skill, and I'm always happy to add one more thing to my repertoire.
My advice? Just make something! It doesn't matter if it's good, just make something. Do you know how many paintings of mine haven't made it to the light of day? Lots! The important thing is that you're making something. A great way to fight art block is to intentionally make something ugly. It forces you to get out your art supplies, make yourself laugh, and remind yourself why you like this whole art thing in the first place.
Is it even important to have a creative “direction”? Speaking as a mixed media artist, do you think that folks should find an artistic lane and stay in it, or do you think artists should experiment and keep experimenting wherever their interest takes them?
I think social media has given us the impression that we all need to make art that fits into a singular style so our feeds look tailored and cohesive. I'm not trying to be a social media tycoon or beat the algorithm, I just like making art and sometimes sharing it. I feel like my style changes daily and I just go where my paints take me on that particular piece. Granted, I'm an art hobbyist not a professional and things are very different if you're trying to make a career out of art.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Please pet your dog/cat/bunny/horse/chicken/lizard/etc for me.
Where can people see or purchase more of your work?
Instagram: @cservart
Etsy: Shop Online
Mercari: Shop Online
Instagram is the place I update most frequently. You can always reach out to my DMs to ask if a piece is available! Right now I'm mostly selling on Mercari (link in my Instagram profile) but I'm working on updating my Etsy page, follow my store by the same name, cservart, to get updates!