Creative Q&A with Valley raised painter Lori Teich

WASILLA — Lori Teich is a local painter whose work can be seen across the Mat-Su Valley. Teich recently participated in a question and answer interview to discuss her craft, locally grown talent, and creativity as a whole.

Q: How long have you been making art professionally?“Seven to 8 years… I’ve had jobs on and off, but that’s just to get out of the house. So, it’s my main source of income.”

Q: Did you make much art as a kid?“It’s kind of hard to say because I don’t remember a lot. I was in the Coast Guard for six years and then after that, I kind of lost sense of what happened in my life,” she said with a laugh. “My mom always had us doing crafts when we were little, from what I understand; and I would always use it as an outlet, like an escape from reality.”

Q: Nowadays, is it kind of the same way for you? Does it help you cope?“If I don’t paint that day, I feel completely lost… It’s been very therapeutic.”

Q: So it seems like painting is your favorite medium, do you dabble in any others?“Acrylics with painting. I just sold my second drawing the other day. I was pretty proud because it’s hard to sell a drawing.”

Q: What’s your creative process look like?“You have to find inspiration, so I’ll go through other people’s art, photography, maybe the music that motivates me. One of my favorite things to paint is rappers and musical artists. It’s kind of weird.

Q: Who are some of your favorite musicians?“I’ve always loved Brother Ali and Atmosphere. He’s amazing. I got to go to his concert... Nothing compares to live music now. I wish we had more of it up here.”

Q: What’s your take on the local talent we have out here?“You know what, I really think it’s awesome that Portugal. The Man made it, because I remember going to their shows when they first started. I even have like, their first CD. It’s like, if they can make it, I can do something,” she said with a laugh.

Q: What’s some of your favorite things about making art?“There’s just so many things that go along with it. It’s definitely made me feel like I found myself.”

Q: Can you imagine a world without art?“No, it wouldn’t exist, you know? Everything we look at has art in it… Anything man made is art, pretty much. It’s literally just creating.”

Q: How did you gravitate to art as a career path?“It started out as a therapy. My dad asked me to do a project in the house, and it was a big canvas… He was like, ‘I know you can do this. I know you can do it because you’re good at drawing and stuff.’ And, I was like, ‘yeah, I’ll do it.’ But as I was doing it, it felt like meditating. So it’s more of a form of mediation I guess.”

Q: When did you realize you making art for a living is what your life was turning into?“I still don’t know that it is,” she said with a laugh.

Q: What’s the future look like for you and your art?“You know, if I could keep going the way I’m going today, the painting a day, getting anywhere from 100 bucks to a couple hundred bucks… I can be happy. If you’re happy, then it’s all worth it… I think the goal is just to constantly improve.”

Q: Do you get to do many art projects around the community?“I’ve gotten to do quite a bit, like the wall at Wasilla Lake… It’s really cool. It’s amazing.”

For more information about Teich’s work, search “Alaskan Artist Lori Teich” for her official page.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com