Interview with painter/publisher/blogger/model Katelan Foisy.
I met Katelan Foisy on the second day of the NYC Zine Fest while tabling for ABC No Rio. We got to talking and became friends fast. The more we talked the more amazed I was at the quality and amount of work she was producing in multiple mediums. I always had vague dreams of doing something creative and getting paid for it and here was someone who was actually doing that and doing it well with a set business plan. As my go-to person on self-promotion, I wanted to pick her brain on the state of zines versus blogs, the printed page in general and a few other things.
What's your full name and age?
Katelan Victoria Foisy
I'm 30
Where are you from?
Originally from MA but I've lived in NYC for the past 12 or 13 years.
In a nutshell, how'd you wind up in New York?
I got into art school before I even applied. I went to a portfolio review and they accepted me on the spot so I packed up my bags and moved to Brooklyn to attend Pratt.
Where in the city are you? Are you happy there?
I'm currently in Astoria. It's okay because I have a garden in the back. I would however like to move to the LES. I know, how hipster of me.
So you're a painter, model, photographer, founder of Constellation Magazine, a co-founder of Knickerbocker Circus Press, and a blogger. Have I left anything out?
Ha! I have no idea anymore. I started off as a an illustrator but my work has definitely gone more into the fine art direction these days. I still do illustrations for record companies, bands, and the occasional magazine. I'm also doing a lot of modeling these days for different artists and photographers. Although I don't consider myself to really be a model it does help out in rough patches. Ahhh the life of a freelancer. Constellation Magazine was originally conceptualized by Tet Kay and Sherene Schostak. I came in about a month after as a designer, and during my 4 years there (on and off) we've worked to find a look that we felt represented us. We've also gone to print which is a huge load off my shoulders. Flash and formatting. It just didn't work for me. I'm more of a print and blog type of girl. Oh, you mentioned my baby Knickerbocker Circus. K.C. was formed one night Spring 2009 in a cafe on the LES. My partner Emily and I had been discussing books that were not considered publishable because they fell in between genres. Both of us were interested in publishing and it runs in my family. (My grandparents founded The Horseman's Yankee Pedlar and my parents founded Vetten' USA a corvette magazine) It just seemed like the right thing to do and it's been amazing ever since. You know when you've chosen the right path when everything falls into place. Now, as for blogging I have my personal blog which is really just a hodgepodge of everything I do, from modeling, to art, to silly photo booth pictures. It's the same with my tumblr (my self-portrait blog). I also blog for Constellation, They Be We, and Knickerbocker Circus. It's a lot of work but I am happy to do it.
Would you say that your rural upbringing influenced your artwork?
Funny, I just asked Amanda Palmer the very same question. I'll probably give the same answer she gave as well. I think we are all products of our surroundings. I grew up in the country but I have always been a city girl at heart. The streets speak to me more than a highway or a dirt road does. Growing up there was very little to do so I had to create art and zines to keep me occupied. In that way I was influenced, but I guess growing up near cemeteries influenced me as well. My work can be dark and I'm very much influenced by the dead. But again I didn't really understand my influences until I moved to the city and witnessed Dia de Los Muertos events as well as other rites of passage.
I saw a book you were in of self portraits, They Be We, recently. Have you done any further exploration of this since then?
I usually pull out my camera when I'm stressed out. It has a very calming effect on me. I do have a few new self-portraits on my tumblr account but I'll be pulling out the camera again soon enough. I just got news that there is going to be a new They Be We coming out. Emmily Federer, who was in the first book is starting her own and she asked me to do a few portraits for it. I'm really excited that people are as passionate about it as I am.
You also produce Constellation Magazine. How much of the work would you say you do?
That's a hard question to answer. Sherene and I have weekly meetings to discuss the blog, the magazine, the covers etc. I write for the magazine as well as art direct and design. I can honestly say I do spend a lot of time on it but I enjoy doing the work so it's ok. Sherene and Mandy handle the editing. I won't go near the editing.
What's the concept of Constellation for someone not in the know?
Constellation is an astrology inspired arts magazine. For those asking "what is that exactly?" we basically take the essence of a sign, take Scorpio for instance. Scorpios are are water signs, sexy, dark, and temperamental. They are mysterious but speak their mind. You will almost always notice a gorgeous Scorpio in a room. They have a style all their own. Famous Scorpios? Adam Ant, Pablo Picasso, Ezra Pound, Larry Flint, Demi Moore, Hedy Lemarr, Voltaire, well you get the picture. So we take that sexy, dark, temperamental, mysterious and we run with it. What did we come up with? I automatically think Punk rock when I think Scorpio and when I think punk I always think of NYC. Amanda Palmer rockin' a NYC shirt for the cover, Adam Ant street art for the inside, an interview with writer Caitlin R. Kiernan, and de-materialization art. We're also featuring a story on ABC No Rio which was my home away from home when I first moved to NY and fairly goth.
What's been your favorite interview so far?
I loved interviewing Amanda Palmer and Lenora Claire. Hands down they have been my absolute favorite.
You had a recent technological mishap with Constellation with a crashed hard drive. Did that experience have an impact on how you'll produce future issues?
Luckily I had backed up previous issues so all I had to do was go into my email and pull up the files again. And for everyone who scolded me, the ironic part was I was backing up the files when the hard drive crashed. I now back up constantly.
What's Knickerbocker Press working on right now? Anything in the works that you can hint at?
We're working on a number of amazing new projects and events. Ocha ni Lele will be coming out with a book on the proverbs of Santeria in the winter. Sherene Schostak is working on an art and poetry book, Anya Kless is currently at work on a devotional to Lilith, my memoir will be coming out shortly, and we'll be doing zine trades with Corndog Zine Distro in the UK as well as distributing Peter Jame's (From Some Secret Place UK) occult punk zine. We also have another typewriter/dive bar takeover scheduled for October 23rd and guerrilla style marketing for They Be We. Readers should keep an eye on the Knickerbocker Circus blog for details.
With the chattering classes talking about "print is dead" for the past decade, what do you think about that as someone who runs a small press AND a blog?
I think that now is the perfect time to go DIY. Publishing will always have its ups and downs but it's also important to not get caught up in all the hype. If you want to submit to publishing companies, do so. If you want to self-publish then do it. I've been doing a lot of research as of late on the publishing industry as well as self-publishing. There's pro and cons to each of them but what we do have to keep in mind is that self-publishing is no longer the scarlet letter of the industry. There are many people out there making decent money and having complete control over it. You just have to find your niche. As a small press we can't give our authors advances but we do offer what we think is a fair portion of sales. I think the most important thing to remember when publishing a book is promotion. Whether you go through a small press, a large house, or self-publish you need to promote the book. Promotion increases awareness and if you truly want something to be a success you will go out there no matter what state the industry is in.
As far as blogging is concerned it is a continuation of what I have written and put out there. I not only advertise on my blog but I give my readers opportunities to participate in shows, share great findings and events with them, and post silly pictures from my meetings. A blog is a great way to brand yourself as a writer, publisher, artist, etc... It gives people an easily accessible way to find out who you are, what you are doing, and what you are passionate about. Anyone who wants to promote themselves or their books should have a blog attached to their websites or at least a twitter feed. That's the lazy man's blog, but I love it.
As a model, what's the criteria that makes you decide whether or not to accept a job?
I always check out the photographers website first. If I am not sure I usually ask for references. Most of the photographers I work with I have either worked with through Constellation or know from other models. Sometimes I will meet one off of the modeling sites. I usually ask them to call me first and then if we vibe ok then I will ask for a personal meeting beforehand. I've only had one horror story involving a photographer I met. As it turned out he was a huge misogynist. That was a huge red flag. Most of the time the photographers are cool. I usually have a good sense of who to trust and who not to trust based on their work and our conversations.
On your website, I've seen you've not only produced a lot of paintings and illustrations, but you've also sold a lot. What's he key to selling your work?
Promotion. I try to network as much as possible and attend as many of the gallery shows I'm in as I can. Interviews and press help. If potential buyers can google you or see your name in print it makes them feel more confident. I also place some of my work up on etsy and join artist collectives. The more places you have your work then the easier it is to sell. Pricing is always debatable. Know your audience and your worth. Don't underprice yourself just because you want something to sell. That rarely works. price it fairly and accordingly and it will sell. This all comes in time though. I still have a closet full of unsold work which I will be unloading onto etsy soon enough.
Statistically speaking, there is still a large lack of women being exhibited in major galleries and museums. As a female artist, why do you think this is still happening? Do you think it'll change anytime soon?
This saddens me greatly. To tell you the truth I'm not sure why it's still happening. Oddly enough most of my friends that have really hit it big have been women and it really makes my heart grow 10 times bigger. With all that good news I do feel slightly out of the loop when it comes to statistics. I don't pay attention to them. I just do.
You said you live in Queens. What is it about NYC that's so conducive to artistic expression? Is it just because the population is so huge and dense or is there more to it? Has living here influenced your painting at all?
You never have to explain who you are when you are in NYC. This allows for much more artistic freedom than in most places. Also we have such a variety of galleries, museums, street art, etc that provide visual stimulation as well as inspiration. NYC has influenced how I paint, how I live, and how I breathe. No matter where I end up living, NYC will have a special place in my heart.
Finally, what's your main goal right now, the first answer that comes to mind?
Only one? I can't pick one. I have a few. I want my publishing company to be successful, my art to sell and many more gallery shows around the world, and to finish this issue of Constellation. There we go. I've condensed it a bit.
