Artist of the Week: Diana Sudyka

I always get excited when I come across an artist that combines their work with either literature or music or both. Chicago's Diana Sudyka has many facets to her work, and one of them is creating remarkable silk-screened concert posters. She has worked with the likes of Andrew Bird, Camera Obscura, Jeff Tweedy, The Decemberists, Feist, Iron and Wine, and many more. When not creating posters she is making other silkscreens, etchings, and paintings that involve nature. Birds seem to be a big focus, and she has manage to find the more beautiful elements of Chicago's wildlife. Whether it illustrating books, creating personal art, or bringing musicians sounds to life, Diana is a big time talent.

Recently, Diana was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): How would you describe your work?
Diana Sudyka (DS): Narrative, illustrative, organic.

OA: You incorporate a lot of animals and elements of nature in your work, but live in Chicago. Where do you find your subjects and inspiration for your creations?
DS: There is quite a variety of nature in Chicago. The more you learn to look for it, the more you will see. Chicago, because it is on a major body of fresh water is a main flyway for many species of migrating birds. I've always been interested in how nature adjusts to urban environments, and there are quite a few species that have learned to adapt well (coyotes, Peregrine Falcons, etc.).

Anyway, I see quite a bit within the city, and then I go hiking and camping outside of the city on a fairly regular basis. In addition to my outdoor excursions, I have been volunteering at the Field Museum of Natural History for sever years, in the bird division of the zoology department. The museum, its collections, and scientists provide me with a tremendous amount of inspiration.

OA: You work with many different mediums (screen print, canvas, etchings, etc.), do you prefer one over another?
DS: I like different mediums for different reasons. I like watercolor for its sort of instant gratification, and alternately I like the printmaking mediums for their labor intensive processes. I especially love intaglio, and I think it yields some of the most beautiful results. It's also the most involved of all of the mediums that I work in.

OA: I love concert posters you have done and you have been able to work with a lot of great bands. How much input do the bands have on the posters, and what is your process like?
DS: For the most part, the bands have very little direct input. One reason is that most bands cannot afford standard design fees, if they even have an art budget at all.

So the trade off for creating an original design and limited edition screenprint at severely reduced rates, is that I get to do what I want and there is no revision process.

I try not to work with any bands in which I don't think my visual aesthetic is a good match for their music. When I am approached to do work, hopefully I am already familiar with the band's music, but if not, I do my best to immerse myself in it for a week or so while working on the project.

OA: You have illustrated several books covers, do you find it harder to do illustration for literature than music? What was it like working with Susannah Felts and the boys from Featherproof?
DS: No, not really. Usually for the book work, though, there is a pretty involved revision process. Authors and art editors at publishing companies usually have pretty specific things they want to see, and have the budgets to accommodate those kinds of demands.

Working with Susannah Felts and the folks at Featherproof was great. I love working with smaller, independent publishers when I can. Susannah's a very talented
writer, and she and Featherproof had a good idea for what they wanted to see for cover art.

OA: What's next for Diana Sudyka?
DS: Just to keep working and making art, in whatever shape or form it may take.

Bonus Questions:
OA: If you could sit down to coffee with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?
DS: E.O. Wison or Jane Goodall.

OA: What type of music do you listen to and who are a few of your favorites?
DS: I listen to all types. Just picked up the new album by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.

I have the National, Bon Iver, Neko Case. Dirty Projectors, and Lady Gaga on constant
play in the studio.

For more information on Diana Sudyka please visit her website.

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