Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eileen Ferara. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Eileen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The natural world has been important to me for as long as I can remember. As a kid I played in overgrown empty lots in my suburban NJ neighborhood, and collected pine cones from the trees in our front yard as subjects for drawings. Today my artwork is a reflection on the time I spend in urban wild spaces. I make paintings, sculptures, prints and paper installations which are all connected to my observations, research and speculation about my surroundings. Through this work I have learned a lot about the overlooked ecosystems in densely populated areas, and the importance of preserving green spaces.

One of my most meaningful projects is an ongoing paper making and print installation project. The work combines handmade paper forms that are cast on the stones of an old railroad Embankment that runs through my neighborhood, with my imagery of non native plants that grow at the location. The Embankment is one of my favorite walking places, a small slice of urban wild space in the midst of the busy city. Currently the top of the Embankment creates a habitat for plants and animals away from human life. Nature finds a use for our abandoned structures, highlighting the part we inadvertently play in shaping the environment. While much of this forest is out of my reach, the flora above spills down from the top and reaches up from the base of the heavy stone wall. Through time spent observing the life along the perimeter I’ve gained intimate knowledge of some of the plants that populate the Embankment. Through this project, I have had the opportunity to share my art making and love of urban nature by involving other people in the activity of making paper alongside the Embankment wall, connecting the community directly to local green spaces while creating art that reflects on our ecosystem.

Eileen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a multidisciplinary artist who is interested in our relationship to the natural world. I create paintings, prints, sculptures, drawings and installations. I enjoy experimenting with different materials and my work shifts from abstract mark-making to representational imagery in a process I think of as akin to poetry.

I can’t remember a time when I did not make art, and my first love was drawing. My intention was to become an illustrator after college, and while I have worked in art departments at different companies, for me it does not feel the same as working on my own artwork. So regardless of other jobs I may have had, I’ve always spent time creating my own work. I see life as an artist as always evolving and I’m constantly learning new things. 

Making art is my way of thinking about our world and my place in it. Spending time in nature is an important part of my process. Most of that time is spent in urban wild spaces near developed areas, such as the Hudson River estuary, abandoned railroads and alleys near my home. Many things captivate me in these places, and I often gravitate to overlooked items: leaves, seaweed, roots, and insects. Mingled with these nature objects, I find a large assortment of discarded wood and other detritus left behind as trash. Collecting this debris led to my series of sculptures that reflects on how human waste changes natural habitats. While some of the imagery I create is rooted in realism, much of the artwork is atmospheric and interpretive, and inside the studio a lot of improvisation takes place during the creative process.

Along with spending time making art, it is important to me to share the work with others. Sometimes this is by sharing my work in an art exhibit, but I also think it is important to bring art to the community in other ways. Art workshops are a great way to teach art making to people and share the power of creativity.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The biggest pivot that I have experienced is becoming a mother. It is such a dramatic shift from mainly being responsible for yourself, to loving and caring for this new tiny person. It is something that you can’t fully prepare for, and it changes you. Before I was a parent, I would only make art when I had longer chunks of time to focus. Having a baby forced me to learn new ways of creating. Being an artist is an important part of who I am, and I had to break out of old routines and discover new ways to make time to be creative. I learned to work in smaller windows, and keep sketchbooks with me at all times. I still remember pushing the stroller to the studio to work for the 45 minutes to hour and a half that my son would nap, then heading out again! It wasn’t always easy, but it taught me to be much better at making the most of the little time I had to myself. I also learned to be patient, and focus on the long game, which turns out to be an essential skill for maintaining a career as an artist.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the process of making art. For me this includes appreciating the world and attempting to interpret it, and curiosity about all the plants, animals and other organisms in my surroundings and how they adapt. Also the physical act of painting, printing and building making new discoveries in the studio. Being an artist gives me the opportunity to always be learning new things and finding beauty in unexpected places.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eileenferara.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eileenferarastudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eferara?ref=tn_tnmn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileenferara/

Image Credits

Megan Maloy