We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wren Halpern a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Wren, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned in school and why that lesson is important to you?
One of the most important lessons I learned while majoring in animation in college was how crucial critique is for the artistic process. As someone who has been writing and drawing since I was little, I had some experience with critique, but I also tend to take things too personally. I love the work that I do and feel strong about it, but that also means I can get too close to my projects. When I get stuck or feel that I can’t move forward on a project, getting outside opinions or talking through the issues I’m having is always incredibly helpful. Furthermore, it is so important to listen to other viewpoints and experiences when creating art, especially when you’re depicting an experience or identity different from your own.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Wren Halpern, and I am a writer and illustrator with a BFA in Digital Media and Design and a concentration in Motion Design and Animation. I am passionate about storytelling, and that passion is at the core of all of my creative work. I love to illustrate characters and scenes from fiction as well as write my own. Developing characters and storylines is one of my favorite parts of what I do.
I am also interested in visual storytelling, whether in the form of illustrations or graphic design. I have created artwork to help educate and assist in the development of native plant gardens throughout Long Island. I am also an avid reader, which provides endless sources of inspiration. I have a particular love for birds of all kinds.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is the amazing feeling of creating something out of nothing. While I sometimes struggle to get the exact ideas in my head down on paper, I find the process of taking an idea that doesn’t exist to a final product to be invigorating. No matter how much art I create, I am always thinking about making more. When I feel stuck, I also find learning about the process of other artists to be incredibly inspiring, and it reminds me of why I love creating so much.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
When I was a kid, I was always inspired by books and animated movies. Not only did they fuel my creativity, but they helped me to feel seen and less alone. That feeling has never gone away. As a queer artist I understand first hand the importance of representation in media. If a piece of my art or writing can someday inspire someone or make them feel seen, I will feel that my work is worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wrenhalpern.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrenhalpern
