Meet Wendy Constantine | Artist, Designer, Printmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wendy Constantine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Every time I submit my work to a gallery show, present a design concept, invest in the tools I need or simply click the shutter when taking a photograph there’s risk. The risk of being rejected, or not financially rewarded for my creative efforts, is very real and it gets easier the more frequently I do it. The rejections and critique have helped my vision grow stronger and pushed my work forward faster than easy wins and praise.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am deeply passionate about the value of art and design to provide new perspectives, dialog and appreciation of the beauty that surrounds us. My art practice combines photography with hand-crafted printmaking with techniques from the 19th century aided by modern technology. I’m lucky enough to have a dedicated studio space in my home in Broomfield, which includes a darkroom and etching press. My design career has enabled me financially to be an artist and afford the expensive equipment and noble metals needed to create my work.

As a user experience designer, I’ve learned how to think about the emotional impact a product has on its users. The agile methods of problem solving in the making of software has made me a better artist as well. Experimenting with new materials and toolsets can be freeing creatively, and feels like a design sprint in the end. Will this new method achieve the goals I’ve set for myself? Will others connect emotionally to the work?

Looking back on my days in college at UCLA, I never thought that I could have the career I do today. As a fine arts major, I couldn’t see then how creativity could become the driving force of my every day, from storytelling in design strategy presentations to building cohesive bodies of work to present to curators and art galleries.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
On a beautiful day like today, a bike ride on the Cherry Creek trail would be essential. Further north, I’d take them on a long walk along my favorite creek in Lafayette and Louisville starting a Public Trail Head for Coal Creek. Inevitably, we’d return to one of the many breweries, most notably Cellar West or Bruz Beers as I love their saisons and Belgian style beers. With more time, we might venture down to Golden and bike on the trails, or head into the city to see an art show at the DAM or to River North for you guessed it, more art and beer!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a strong support network that has fostered my creative growth, and I have Jaqueline Webster to thank for that! Mentorship from Jeanne Wells and Susan Burnstine have enabled me to take my work to the next level. My father, William Constantine, is a one man cheering squad that believes in everything I do, often before I believe in myself.

Website: http://wendyconstantine.com

Instagram: @wconstantine

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyconstantine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.constantine

Image Credits
Portraits by Amelia Ann Photo. All others (c) Wendy Constantine