Interview
Ana Lillith Bar
Ana Lillith Bar was born in upstate New York. She has lived in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and is currently residing in Michigan. She is the founder of the company, Land of Lillith, through which she channels her creativity. Ana’s artwork is extensive as she loves to work in a variety of styles, from landscapes to abstract, and she has a special series titled ‘Menses’.
As a late-blooming artist, Ana loves to explore every creative endeavor. She believes: ‘You are never too old. Too late is when you are dead’. Failure, to Ana, is proof that you are trying, so be willing to fail. The only opinion that matters is found in the eyes in the mirror.
Ana has always had a long term aspiration to have her work shown through a variety of product types. Through websites such as DeviantArt, Society6, Zazzle, ShopVida, and RedBubble, that aspiration is being filled. A more recent collaboration is with the Italian Shoe Company, AliveShoes, where Ana created 5 shoe styles, and she has more on the drawing board. You can view her creations here.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I have always doodled, but did not begin to take the creative process seriously until the early 2000s.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is eclectic. I have no signature style or preferred medium. Some pieces are inspired by others, some by scenes on television shows or movies, others are derived from notebook doodles, dreams, or making use of extra paint.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I do not have a specific theme nor an underlying message. I see art in two ways. First, it is subjective and should be left to the viewer's interpretation. Second, I am a conduit. Once a piece is finished, it is no longer mine.”
“From the Sistine Chapel's reflection of our close yet distant relationship with the divine in ourselves, to the quirky personalities and creations of the likes of Dali and Warhol, to the genre-creating influences of the Luminous Years group, art shows us that we can be ourselves.”
What inspires you most?
“Everything inspires me. My daughter explained it as starting at one tiny moment of inspiration, which then branches infinitely. When discussing it with my best friend, we determined that ‘everything' is relative inspiration, opportunity, and materials.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I admire many artists throughout history, from those considered the Masters, to the renegades featured in the art history documentary ‘Paris the Luminous Years’, to the artists of today. I include those who are well-known, and others who are just beginning their journey. Much like the pieces I produce, those who influence or inspire me are equally extensive.”
What is your creative process like?
“I don’t have a particular process. Each piece is inspired differently, and therefore requires a different process. Some pieces are completed quicker than others, while some take years to complete. I let each piece dictate what it wants, where it will go, and how it will end.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I cannot speak for others. The opinion I have of my work is that it’s more ethereal and insubstantial, and is completely at the mercy of the viewer. As with love and beauty, it is in the eye of the beholder. We as creators are merely vessels for the creative source. What others derive from art is a personal experience, and is indefinable. I know only that art and artists, even before taking on the wholehearted attempt to create, moved me in ways I cannot explain.
Art shows us that we and our art may be disliked and ridiculed, and still find some support and an unerring willingness to try despite failure. I’m thinking of the reaction to Henri Matisse's 1906 showing of ‘The Joy of Life’, which was met with ‘jeers, angry babble, and screaming laughter...’ (You can read about this here.)
In short, an artist's role is to prove convention a sham and the worthiness of the present, in terms of future success.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I participated in two art shows nearly a decade ago. Since those showings, I have dealt with health issues that have reorganized my life, my mind, perception, work, and priorities. I am only looking to what the present and future have to offer.”
