Tacoma's Art at Work Month! Q&A with artist Mirka Hokkanen

On November 6th and 7th from 10am-4pm, studios and artist are opening their spaces up to the public for Tacoma's Art at Work, featuring forty-four locations throughout Tacoma.

City Arts spoke with some of the artists participating in this exhibition to give you a taste of what's in store. 

Name: Mirka Hokkanen.

Primary artistic medium/media: Printmaking.

Studio street address: 2926 S. Steele St.

Hours spent per week working in studio: I work in my studio anywhere from 80hrs-7hrs, depending on what's going on, but I average about 30hrs.

What art items you sell, do you think would fit in a City Arts December Gift Guide (designed to promote local artist)? Small, original, hand pulled prints, priced under $20, cards and small stuffed owls.

What are you working on now? I have two exhibitions going up in the first week of November in Seattle and Auburn. After those, I am work on comissions for Christmas and children's book illustrations.

Most dangerous tool in your studio: A four foot tall, clam shell letterpress. Watch your fingers!

Weirdest materials you're currently working with: Photopolymerplates, used as printing surfaces.

Mental health "drug" of choice: Chocolate.

Favorite part of your studio space: It's easily accessible to me.

Least favorite part of your studio space: It gets cold in the winter and there is never enough room.

Your favorite completed work: I just recently finished a tiny cat engraving, titled "Peeping Tom Cat."

Read more about Mirka Hokkanen and check in on the City Arts Blog for more interviews with Tacoma artists all this week.