PK127: Artist Kirsten Zirngibl on Da Vinci Syndrome, Synesthesia and Going Deeper With the Creative Process

How do you take what’s in your head and express the contents of your imagination as a finished piece of artwork? In this interview, artist Kirsten Zirngibl goes deep into the creative process and explains Da Vinci Syndrome, Synesthesia, and much more

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“You need to really embrace play. In the act of experimenting and trying different things, you can really grow and find out what you’re all about as an artist.”

~ Kirsten Zirngibl

Da Vinci Syndrome, Synesthesia, and the Creative Process Explained…

Are you one of those creatives who gets ideas faster than they can actually implement them?

Good news! You’re not alone. In fact, you’re in very good company.

In this inspiring, in-depth interview, artist Kirsten Zirngibl delves deep into the creative process and reveals the wide range of influences which inspire her to make art.

She sheds light on the fascinating subjects of synesthesia, abstract and fractal art, sci-fi illustration, concept art and many more.

And, she reveals how to get all those ideas out of your head and into production.

So, if you’ve been looking for a deeper explanation of the creative process and what it really means to be an artist, you’ll find plenty of food for thought here.

Da Vinci Syndrome and the Creative Process: Overview of This Interview

01:24 – 07:40

How does Kirsten describe her work and her influences?

Kirsten Zirngibl is a concept artist and illustrator whose work combines a wide range of influences including abstract art, fractal art, sci-fi art and many more.

In this part of the interview, she explains her creative process and discusses how many of her paintings are informed by synesthesia, a sensory condition where numbers and letters are perceived as having different shapes or colors, for example.

07:50 – 11:20

What do the terms ‘Synesthesia’ and ‘Ideasthesia’ really mean?

In this part of her interview, Kirsten goes deep into the creative process and explains sensory phenomena such as synesthesia and ideasthesia in a way most creatives will be able to relate to.

11:21 – 14:20

How can you learn to think more deeply about the creative process without over-analyzing things?

As artists, we can all fall into the trap of over-analyzing our work and procrastinating to the point where we get nothing done. Sound familiar?

In fact, this is a classic case of Da Vinci Syndrome. But don’t worry – despite its medical-sounding name, Da Vinci syndrome isn’t actually a sickness or a condition.

It’s more of a generic, urban term used to describe creatives who have more ideas than time, or have so many projects on the go that they never get to finish some of them.

As you may have guessed, this ‘syndrome’ is named after the famous artist and polymath, Leonardo Da Vinci, who would often leap from one project to the next without completing the first one.

14:53 – 21:20

How do you carve out your own new genre as an artist and find your voice?

Kirsten is an artist who doesn’t follow any particular style or art movement. Instead, she’s managing to carve out a whole new genre for herself and the type of art she creates.

So, how does she do this? And how can you do the same?

21:21 – 24:00

How can you find out more about singularity, smart matter and futurist thinking?

If you’re fascinated by the way in which Kirsten discusses Da Vinci Syndrome and other subjects such as singularity, smart matter, and futurist thinking, you’ll find plenty more to ponder on in this part of the interview.

As an artist, there really is no end to the possibilities you can explore – especially in a world of ever-changing technologies, scientific innovation and empowering communities to create a better world for all of us in the future.

24:01 – 29:25

How do you get your ideas out to a wider audience?

Having all these great ideas is one thing, but how do you get these out to a wider audience?

In this segment, Kirsten Zirngibl talks about exhibiting her work at the famous Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert.

She reveals some fascinating insights into how her work was received, and what others saw in the complex forms and fractals which feature in her art.

29:26 – 42:24

How can you find the one thing that truly inspires you as an artist?

In the concluding part of this interview, Kirsten shares her own experiences of trying to find the one thing that truly inspires and motivates her to make art.

Like many creatives, she’s had to wear a lot of different hats throughout her career as a concept artist, illustrator and animator to name just a few.

But how did she find that one important thing? Listen to this part of the interview to find out.We hope this week’s interview with Kirsten Zirngibl gives you plenty to think about and helps you make sense of Da Vinci Syndrome, Synesthesia, and what it really means to go deep with the creative process.

What truly influences you to make art? Let us know what inspires you in the comments box below – we’d love to hear from you 🙂

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Cheers,

Mitch

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