Featured artist: Dace Youngblood
From Latvia to Joplin: an interview with multimedia artist Dace Youngblood
-Hello, Dace! Most Americans would assume your name rhymes with the band who gave us the unforgettable 1992 hit, "I saw the sign". However, we saw the sign and have realized that probably all that she wants is to have her name said correctly. How do you pronounce 'Dace'?
- Oh, this song is one of the hits I was listening while growing up!
Yes, it is a challenge with the pronunciation of my name here in USA. People mostly call me "Dace" as they would normally pronounce it, which perfectly rhymes with Ace! Ha, ha! Than I try to explain to people that it is pronounced as "Dot - se"! Or if they can not say that properly I just ask them to call me Dot! I really don't mind!
all photographs by Mark N.
-So, you're from Missouri then, right?
- No, not really. Though some americans I have met assumed Latvia, the country I am coming from, is some city in United States! I had to explain again - it is a country in north-eastern Europe with a coastline along the Baltic Sea. Latvia has borders with Estonia, Russia, Belarus and Lithuania.
It is a small country, I did not know how small it is till I came to USA and experienced the hugeness of this land!
I remember coming back to capital city's Riga airport in one of my back and forth Latvia-USA trips and being so amazed how tiny this airport (and Latvia itself) is, could not wrap my mind around it for a moment and than remembering that it has been all I have know most of my life - my tiny country!
Oh, I miss so many things about Latvia but the main and most important thing is people - my friends and family.
I also miss my European culture (which includes food) and the nature. Those are so different here which took me a while to get to use to.
About 50% of Latvia is covered with forest, it is decorated with lots of rivers and lakes, small hills, it is a breathtaking beauty. I grew up in country side and my childhood memories are packed with going to forest to pick mushrooms and berries, getting a Christmas tree with father every year through the deep snow and freezing winds, running and playing in meadows full of marvelous flowers and plants in summer time, working in garden and taking care of animals and plants.
Latvian forest- from Getty Images
-The obvious question- what on earth brought you from this European paradise to Joplin, Missouri?
- Well, I get this question a lot and my answer is always the same - my husband is american! Jeff brought me here. Missouri because part of his family lives here.
People also ask a lot how did we meet because logically Latvia and USA is so far away from each other.
We met on Facebook, we were introduced by a common acquaintance who thought that we should meet because we are both creative personalities and it would be a beneficial contact. After we told her that we are about to get married, she said it is not the first time people she introduced are getting married, so we were joking that she is unofficial match maker!
-This 'Jeff' guy... was he worth it? ;)
To this I will just say that he is a rare gemstone who has been buried deep in the earth and I have been called to a mission to help dig him out!
Jeff and Dace- image by Mark N.
-What do you feel like the biggest 'culture shock' is, that either you've gotten over or are maybe even still dealing with, being in this country?
- A huge people - I have never seen such big people in my life and still getting over this part of a culture shock because it really is shocking!
After living in United States for a while I started a joke with Jeff - if something or someone is very big I say that it is "an american size"!
-Do you feel like the folks of Joplin have really welcomed you and helped make you feel at home here?
-Definitely. I recall so many sweet ladies and families who reached out, helped to start life here, guiding me in culture and life in general over here and being there to listen to my heart. So thankful for them.
-Let's talk about your work. It is...beautiful. so vibrant, fun, joyful, and innocent. We've noticed that same joyfulness in you as a person, as would anyone that's met you I think. Where does that come from, for you? How do you think this happy style developed in your work?
self portrait of Dace
-That joy is planted in me by my Creator I think. He grew it in me through the ways of my life, through family I was raised in, through the place I grew up, the people I met along my path of life, through circumstances which molded and formed me. And through the Spirit of God which dwells in me.
I see this light in my art work myself and others are telling me about it. I think it is because I am taking care of that source of light in me, i don't ever want to let that fireplace to stop burning .
It is directly connected - what's in you it will nonstopably come out of you. Especially if you are a creative personality and make things. It reflects you, your soul, your heart. That is why I think it is so, so important to guard your heart above all else. It looks very different for each one of us. That's why it is also important to find out - what does it mean for me - to guard my heart.
-Have you always been artistic? Were you always sketching and painting as a child, or did it come along later in life?
-I have. I remember myself in a very early age answering to a question from adults and other kids "what do you want to be when you grow up?" . The answer was always - "An Artist".
As far as I recall myself I have always admired art, beauty and creativity. I was always drawn by it and it gave me that rich feel of life. It seemed - if I don't create, I don't live. I have to have it.
As a child I hanged out with my aunt Lidija, my fathers sister, a lot. She was a professional visual artist and I was watching her making some art - paintings, sketches, postcards, collages. I was so inspired by it and I loved watching how the art forms through her hands, it was fascinating for me.
I remember myself writing poems, songs, making sculptures from the clay, making dress designs and making them, drawing and painting a lot through all my school years and after graduating high school I went to study to become an Art Teacher. That love to visual art and music had taken a deep root in my heart which had to be nourished and grown further.
portrait of Grace
I think trying out all kinds of art mediums during my artistic exploration period lead me to the style I'm working in right now - collage portraits.
-Some of these pieces- the sketches with collage elements- came from a specific sketchbook. Is this something you add to every day or week? Where did this idea come from?
poem, sketch and collage journal entry
-I have always loved sketch books, diaries and note books. It is something what helps me to stay accountable to myself and not forget the good things I have been blessed with in my life because I am recording it all - through visual expressions and through words. A lot of drawings comes in a set with a poem dedicated to the person depicted in the sketch. This sketch book is my visual diary, it seems the self expression becomes much deeper when done through the visual image than just words.
And honestly - that sketch book has helped me to keep my sanity through these more than 5 years of mothering! Parenting has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. (I have several sketch books piled up starting from the time I became a mother and I cherish them dearly.)
I do a sketch every week or every other week. I am learning to not put on my shoulders more than I can carry, though it is so hard for me, I always want to think that I can do everything but reality is I can not. I refused to set the goal of sketch making every day because I knew I will fail, that's why I allowed myself to sketch whenever I can to keep the fireplace of creativity burning.
I also know it's a necessity for me, I knew I will come back to it - willingly or forced by at times overwhelming life.
Sketching helps me to calm down from every day tiredness and stress, it renews me and restores me, puts my thoughts in the right perspective.
-The painting series has something you've referred to as a 'prophetic' element. What does that mean? How did this series originate?
Yes. I call those portraits a "prophetically intuitive" paintings. (Tried even forming a one word name for this kind of art like "Intuphetic", but not sure if this could work!)
I see it forming already back in Latvia. Step by step.
I always loved drawing and painting portraits, I felt that's something what I call mine. And I was able to dig deep through creating them, as some of my teachers at university said that I have ability to paint a soul in that face. I assumed that is my gift and I need to be using it.
The last art show I had back in Latvia was called "Karaļnams" (Engl."The Kings Palace") in 2013. In that show I started using the technique I have never used before - I was layering mediums and combining them and I realized I'm enjoying it so very much. My husband Jeff is such a talented visual artist and he has been inspiring me to study mixed media in depth.
I found an old black and white photographs at antique shops of different strangers and I cut them out of there or incorporated the photo in the painting giving it totally different look. Than I also discovered the technique when I sanded the oil painting almost completely, that I could see the parts of the canvas but the previous painting was still visible, just fainted, it looked like an ancient art work. And than I layered acrylic paint on the top creating a smooth, see through layer and combining it with the painting under it.
These discoveries led me to the next step - prophetic paintings.
While already living in USA I painted a portrait of my mom to send it to her for Mothers Day. While I was painting it the idea struck my mind - to glue a collage elements in the portrait, layer and blend it with the paint and express my thoughts about her better in that way. So I did. It became something more to me as just a plain portrait. It told a viewer a much wider story about my mom than if I would just paint her face.
portrait of Sara
Dace & Sara
I loved creating this portrait so much that I started to advertise it and several people commissioned me to paint their portraits in this style. So the prophetic element grew out of the collage idea - an image combined with another image explaining one another and performing a beautiful play together. Intuitive because I was using my senses to feel this person as good as I can and I also prayed for the person I painted for God to reveal things for them and heal them trough this art. I discovered a whole new world for me - that prophesies can be spoken not just through the words in the prayer meetings, but also through visual images and it seems so much more powerful to me.
-What is your favorite medium to work with?
-Mixed media for sure.
portrait of Ebony
-You are a mom of two exuberant little children, a wife, you just moved and got a dog, you've held several jobs to help make ends meet over the years- yet you've stayed fairly consistent in your art. For those other moms out there- or really, anyone who feels like they are too busy and too drained to make the things they want to make- how have you kept it up? What would you say to encourage others in this same busy boat?
Moses, Esther and Dace. Image by Mark N.
- You know, I truly believe that the consistency is the key to a success. Even if I'm able to do just a tiny bits and pieces to continue to create, like little 5 minute sketches I was doing when my son Moses was born. I simply didn't have time and energy for more but it was enough for my hand to not forget how to draw. I have stayed faithful to this belief and it has proven itself in many areas of my life. The kids have only toughened me in this area, I have been challenging myself to not give up even more because I'm doing it not only for myself but for them as well!
It asks from me to be focused and dedicated but it is something what every one can work on starting from very small and simple goal and being built and strengthened from there. Yes, there is a struggle of motivation, I understand it. But if you think you are created to create, than the motivation should be birthed through those tiny steps naturally!
I'm very fascinated by the book by Mason Currey "Daily Rituals" which has helped me to understand better how the every day routines have helped artists to become what they were. They all had their rituals, their "consistencies" which empowered them to be very productive and successful.
-For anyone reading this who has found themselves really connecting to your work- what is the best way for them to contact you about commissions?
-You are most welcome to write me an e-mail to dace.jangblude@gmail.com. You can also find me on Facebook (Dace Youngblood) and Instagram (@cre8ive_dot) or simply call or text me: 417-772-6356!
-If you ever went back to the land of your childhood, what do you think you'd miss most about Joplin?
- I would miss friendships I have formed here. And food places like Bruncheonette and Forest+Field Bakery which actually reminds me of a food of my home.
-Lastly, and very importantly, comes the question we ask all our interviewees. What is your favorite Nicolas Cage movie, and why?
(Laughing loud and long)
I will be honest - at first I thought maybe you have talked to my husband and maybe he somehow mentioned to you the fact that I had a crush on Nicolas Cage when I was a teenager (Jeff thought it was very funny) thats why this question!
Well, considering the fact, I loved all the Nicolas Cage movies! Ha!
If being a bit more serious in answering this question, I really remember enjoying a movie "Birdy" (1984) starring Cage and Matthew Modine. It really spoke to my heart how strong the friendship can be - one friend is dedicated to regularly reach out and try to help another friend who is in a desperate state of his life.
-Thank you so much, Dace.
- Thank YOU! I truly appreciate you inviting me to share here with my art and thoughts.
This artist spotlight originally featured in Issue 2 of the Joplin Toad printed magazine. You can find a copy at any of these fine Joplin Missouri locations:
Bearded Lady
Zinc
Joplin Avenue
Joplin Greenhouse
Chaos Brewery
Spiva Center for the Arts
Bookhouse Cinema
Just a Taste Vinery
MArk N.
Mark N is a herder of cats. A defyer of curmudgeons. A slayer of convention. And an instigator of creation, collaboration, and community. He also takes photographs for a living, fathers some miniature humans, and husbands an intoxicating potter.
@marknphoto