Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Lanzel.
Hi Charlene, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a visual artist all of my life… I started drawing and painting at age five and never stopped. I moved to New York City at age 20 and began working as a display artist. That led to mural painting, which I continued doing for many, many years. I was doing really well as a mural painter, but the emergence of digital technology eventually affected the business of muralists.
I needed to try something new and different. This is when sand animation entered my life. I remembered this art form from my childhood and how much I loved it. Someone mentioned to me that sand animation was becoming desirable for events. I thought I’d give it a try and see if this was something I could do for a living.
In my own little studio, I built an illuminated sandbox attached to a video camera and projector. I spent a year teaching myself the art form through experimentation. Eventually, I became confident enough to post a few sand animation videos on YouTube. Two weeks later, I was scouted to perform at a party for the opening of Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana show. I’ve been creating sand animation videos and performing live ever since.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
All of my life, people have told me that I couldn’t be, shouldn’t be, and would probably never be a professional artist. When someone tells you that you can’t, it’s usually because they can’t. The cause is often jealousy and fear. There will be a lot of trial, error and mistakes. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There’s a lot you can learn from them.
Fear often holds us back from success. You accomplish in proportion to what you attempt, so if you attempt nothing, you will get that or less. If you attempt a lot, you will most likely get something in return. Listen to your heart and do what’s right for you… then never give up.
Being a professional artist is not an easy path. It requires focus, hard work and determination. It’s not for everyone. It’s for someone with an entrepreneurial mind, as well as a good skill set. It’s important to be flexible and to be aware of trends.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Sand animation is an advanced art form which requires a huge amount of time, hard work, focus, patience and practice. Drawing skills are needed, along with an understanding of shadow & light, a dancer’s flow and coordination, and a very steady hand.
The most difficult part of creating a sand animation is transitioning from scene to scene, with a smooth flow from one image to the next. It has to look pretty in all stages of development, even when scenes are changing. Adding music takes it to a much more dramatic level. Syncing with a musical soundscape is very challenging. There’s a lot of back and forth between the music and the artwork until a time balance is achieved.
Sand animation is an ephemeral art form that flows by right in front of your eyes. I spend about three weeks of my time coming up with a new story, only to be performed once, usually. So, whoever is in the room gets to see that effort. Watching a live sand animation is a very special thing. My fingers skate through sand on illuminated glass, like a dance, which is then projected large screen for crowds to experience.
People have often told me that my sand art is awe-inspiring. A visual language is created that transcends linguistic barriers. It is animated storytelling that showcases new ideas. It makes people smile… and that’s my goal.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The recent pandemic has been difficult for so many performers, including myself. Fortunately, I have been able to keep going by creating sand animation videos for virtual events. I’m just starting to perform live again, with hope that the future is very bright for live events. I’ve just relocated to Los Angeles and am excited to bring my sand art to a whole new audience.
I’ve recently created my very own ethical clothing and product line, bringing my sand art to the fashion world. The products are humanely and environmentally responsible, with ethical sourcing and sustainable production. All fabrics are vegan with environment-friendly water-based inks and focused on sustainability. It’s a way for me to make my sand art available to everyone, and I’m having a lot of fun designing new fabrics.
VISIT MY SHOP: https://www.legaleriste.com/charlene.lanzel
Pricing:
- Custom Live Sand Animation Performance = $4,500 – $10,000
- Custom Sand Animation Video = $3,000 – $8,500
- Sand Art Fashion = $35 – $200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sand-artist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlene_lanzel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandArtistCharleneLanzel
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlenelanzel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CharleneLanzel/videos
- Other: https://vimeo.com/charlenelanzel
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of the artist.
