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[ November 1, 2000 ]
The name "slow Hearth" is arguably an odd choice for a design firm. Inspired by the film Prosperos Book, an interpretation of Shakespeare's Tempest, co-owner Sean Moser-Smith, chose two overlapping lines that resembled their layered and blended photomontage images. Husband and wife team Katie and Sean Mosher-Smith explain how the union was more of a melding process than a decisive action. "We both had similar ideas and ways of looking at things. If I felt my work was getting too dark, Katie would help bring the lightness back into it" says Sean. We depend on each others opinion and we each approve the project before it goes out," added Katie.
The result of this innovative collaboration is evident in their work, which is lighting artistic fires for such labels as Universal Records and Warner Brothers, and on the covers of Newsweek and GQ. With any luck this is a partnership whose embers will smolder for years to come. Who are some of your clients? Katie: BMG International, MTV On-air graphics, Castle Records, Viacom Interactive Services, IBM, Internet Underground, Fuji Film, Japan Airlines, The Web Magazine, The Village Voice and Avon Books. Are you still doing a lot of album covers? Sean: Last year we probably did fifteen. We did about six or seven book covers, and we did a lot of editorial for Pulse Magazine and Village Voice. Last year my time was spent designing and co-authoring Webart published by Madison Square Press. We've done a lot of photography recently for ourselves. When you shoot for yourselves is there a particular subject matter that you like? Sean: A little bit of everything. It's not necessarily what's in the picture, it's how it feels. This piece was done for the Village Voice. Although they didn't pick this particular one, it represents us more.
Katie: We never photographed the hanger, we just put it on the scanner. So when you design for someone else, are you able to bring in your own ideas? Sean: Yes. Our favorite thing is to work as a team and do all the design and photography ourselves, which happens once in awhile. When you do a job together, do you both have specific roles? Katie: The only thing that's specific is that Sean always does the design. I may give him input but he's the designer. We're both very involved in the photography and postproduction. 
How would you define your style? Sean: We try not to limit ourselves because we do so many things. We do the design, illustration, craft work and we've done Web design. We work as a creative team across many different disciplines. What do you do to keep yourselves inspired? Katie: I do a lot of crafts. I make dolls and when I have time, I embroider. We travel a lot and have started getting into more architectural photography. Sean is also an avid reader of historical novels. What's the most challenging thing about working as a husband and wife team? Katie: The only challenge is fitting it all in. And I think we're doing a really good job at it. We're able to balance our work and family really well. - Contributed by Mary Beth Holland >> See other member spotlights on the artist spotlight index >> Find out more on how to become an altpick.com member |
Although both Katie and Sean come from a fine arts background they don't consider themselves purists. "We select maybe five things to work with" Sean explained. "We don't do a traditional photo shoot. Our work is more interpretive and illustrative". Their use of lighting is completely improvisational and their editing expresses their shared vision. 
