Meet the Makers: Aaron Tinder
We are so excited to host Aaron Tinder in our space for this month’s Meet the Maker and Valley Junction Gallery Night.
We came to meet Aaron through our friends at Olson Larsen Gallery. The moment we saw his work and read his “about” page on his website we couldn’t contain our excitement at the idea of collaborating with him. As Gallery Night quickly approaches, we invite you to learn a little more about Aaron below as we asked him a few questions regarding himself, being a creative and also being a creative educator.
Let's start by introducing yourself. Tell us your name, hometown and 3 things you consistently do every week:
My name is Aaron Tinder. I'm from Indianola, Iowa. I always drink at least two cups of black coffee every morning, no matter where I am or what else is going on. I devote time every week to listening to music (like, really listening; not just having it on in the background), and I actively seek new music all the time. And I've usually got a small sketchbook nearby, even if it's just for making mindless marks.
Were you always interested in making stuff or is there a moment you can pinpoint that caused a shift of interest?
I've probably always been a maker. I loved drawing and building models as a kid, and it's never really stopped. I enjoy working with my hands in lots of ways: drawings, paintings, found-material sculptures, even working on cars and playing around with musical instruments. It's all sort of the same thing.
What medium do you find yourself drawn to more often?
My practice includes painting, sculpture, collage, and mixed media, but I always come back to drawing. Everything starts with drawing.
What is your favorite and least favorite parts(s) about the creative process?
It's hard to define my favorite part, because I honestly enjoy every stage of it, from idea generation to presenting finished work. Least favorite? Just wishing I could dedicate more time to the creative process without distractions, but I suppose that's what we all say.
You also teach at Grandview in the Art Department — can you share a little bit about what motivated you to teach and what your role is there?
I come from a family of teachers, so it's always been something I saw myself doing. My undergraduate degree is in Art Education, and I spent a few years as a public school teacher before moving to the college level. My current role is teaching painting and drawing mostly, and working with Art Ed students as they train to become art teachers too.
How do you inspire/encourage your students to create?
It's sometimes hard to be everything you want to be for everyone, but I do my best to set an example of how regular work pays off; if you draw every day, you're going to get better at drawing. I also try to encourage them to take risks and try things, even if they're not always completely successful.
Can you tell us a little bit about the work people can expect to see at Gallery Night?
I'm still deciding what exactly to bring, but it will most likely be a lot of recent pattern-based drawings. The work I'm really invested in right now is primarily abstraction, using some elements that are drawn from multiple sources. I'm also really excited to see how The Side Garage folks are able to do some cool collaborative things with my imagery!
Where can people follow along and support your work?
The place I'm most active is on Instagram (@thenewspeed), and I also have a Facebook page (Aaron Tinder: Art) and a website (aarontinder.com).
