With this piece in the #HookonWiHM series, I made an executive decision and took a little deviation. Most of the pieces in the series feature a man or women interviewing a woman in horror in some capacity. This is an interview I sought to do myself to add another dimension to those being spotlighted: artistry! I don’t know if you’d normally think of this woman I’m about to introduce as specifically in horror, when you think of gloom and doom, but she does paint monsters inspired by Stranger Things and The Strain, so to me, she’s in! Some of the monsters could be considered cool or even cute, more than scary, but she paints all types and her interest in carving out this niche in art intrigued me. I hope it does you as well. Please join me in celebrating Kendra and her work by learning more about her in this interview.
Again, I’m celebrating Women in Horror Month by featuring various interviews, or guest articles, on Oh, for the Hook of a Book! I thank those who’ve taken the time to interview a woman in horror and to those who’ve answered! Because it’s not just a month long endeavor to support women in horror, please feel free to send them in to me anytime throughout the year too. You’ll find more information at the bottom of the post.
For now, let me introduce you to artist Kendra Sartorelli….
Best known for her textured acrylic paintings of original monsters, Kendra Sartorelli is a Toronto-based artist who has been showing locally for several years. She received her BFA degree from OCAD University in 2007 and has since shown her artwork in several solo and group exhibitions, most recently at Super Wonder Gallery, Imagine Cinemas, The Mod Club, Black Cat Gallery, Project Gallery and Propeller. Her paintings can regularly be found on display and for sale at See-Scape Sci-Fi Lounge. Originally from Belleville, Ontario, Canada, she now lives in Toronto with her husband, artist Joel Sartorelli, and manages Above Ground Art Supplies in the Junction.
Interview with Kendra Sartorelli –
Your bio says that you are best known for your acrylic paintings of original monsters! They are almost too cool to be “horrible.” Where do you find the inspiration for your monsters and what is your process in creating them?
My monsters are all original and unique creatures, but they are inspired by a variety of different monsters from popular culture and entertainment. I use my love of monsters and horror to create new monsters in fine art that I hope will put a smile on the viewer’s face. My paintings are made using a variety of different acrylic paint mediums, as well as several different painting and sculpting techniques. I use these different methods to create different textures for the various parts of the monster’s body, such as the eyes, lips, tongue, teeth and skin. Finishing a monster can sometimes be a long process, but I always try to take my time and aim to create the most interesting monsters I possibly can.
You have a long list of exhibitions in which you’ve shown your work across Toronto, Canada. What is the response like to your work? Does it match what you hope the response will be?
I find that in general, the response is very positive! I aim to put a sense of humour in my paintings, and I find that most people smile when they see my work. People of all ages can love monsters, and I’ve had everyone from children to seniors tell me they love my paintings. I always love hearing about a viewer’s interpretation of my work. Different people make different associations with the images, and I love that.
Are your monsters always scary or do they invoke other emotions or feelings?
I try to create images that are open to interpretation, where the monster doesn’t always need to be scary. The monster could be trying to scare you, but it could also just be surprised to see you, and be just as scared of you as you are of them. In my painting “We Need Monsters #3,” which features two monsters facing each other with their tentacles intertwined, I like to think that the monsters could be fighting each other, but they could also be embracing. One of the beautiful things about art is that everyone will have a different reaction to each piece of work.
What are your favorite monsters in legend, history, currently?
The monsters that I’m most inspired by are from popular culture, and I especially love movie monsters from the late 20th century and 21st century. Some of my favourite movie monsters are The Thing, the Alien, and the dinosaurs from Jurassic Park. The monsters in my paintings are often reptilian or amphibian in nature, and I find dinosaurs to be inspiring. I also find inspiration in Cthulu and the work of H.P. Lovecraft, as well as television shows such as Stranger Things and The Strain, and I’m always finding new monsters to love.
Do you hope or want to sell your work online or internationally? Where do you sell them now?
I have an Etsy store where I sell my smaller original paintings, as well as merchandise such as greeting cards, prints and stickers. You can find my work for sale there.
You can also order prints and other merchandise featuring my monsters online at Fine Art America.
What other hopes and goals do you have for your monster line of work? T-shirts, mugs, posters, etc.? Children’s books?
I’m always open to new opportunities for my monsters. Some merchandise is currently available for sale online at my Etsy and Fine Art America shops. I’m currently focused on expanding my “We Need Monsters” series of acrylic paintings, and I have several paintings in my studio that I’m working on.
Where are all the places people can find you?
In addition the shops listed above, you can find my work online at my website.
You can follow me on Facebook.
You can follow me on Twitter: @ksartorelliart
If you live in the Toronto area, you can also regularly find my monster paintings on display and for sale at See-Scape, a sci-fi themed bar and games lounge with an art gallery section. You can find See-Scape at 2840 Dundas Street West, Toronto, (647) 853-9892.
Watch for more to come in the #HookonWiHM series….
February is Women in Horror Month! Though I agree women should be celebrated on the same level as men every day of the year, I like to partake in Women in Horror projects as a catalyst for spreading the good news and works of women in the genre in hopes that it will carry on throughout the year. It’s time to celebrate and show off what we got! For those of you reading, men AND women both, try to read and watch more horror produced by women this year.
For the #HookonWiHM, or Women in Horror Month at Hook of a Book, we’ll be hosting interviews conducted by men and women with other women in horror. But I won’t only take them in February, I’ll take them all year long. Read the past articles here. If you’d like to participate, let me know.
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