TWO multi-talented artists - Australian Caitlin Reilly and American Redic - talk to Andrew Chin about music, painting, fashion, design and the art scene vibe in Shanghai.

Caitlin Reilly's Yongfu Road apartment is an artistic dream. Her paintings adorn the wall and a large piano surrounded by traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu (two-stringed bowed musical instrument) immediately catch the eye.

While the 45-year-old looks at an early cut of a short video made of her recent art collaboration with local poet Hang Xiao at JUE Festival, Reilly reflects on how Shanghai has influenced her work.

"I love making art here," the Australian says. "I find that the scope here is larger and I am constantly intrigued by this place in this time. It's a fantastic time to be here and I don't know how long this will last."

It's been a life of artistic pursuit for Reilly. She moved to Sydney when she was 15, playing piano at bars before relocating to Melbourne and starting a band called The Drive that had some songs on local radio.

"I was gigging seven nights a week and working at cafés during the day," she recalls. "I made a living out of it but I didn't see daylight for 10 years. It was time to see daylight so I moved up to Byron Bay to take a break. I started doing yoga, fell in love and had children."

Since moving to Shanghai in 2009, she works as a yoga teacher and her art has been shown at the Shanghai Art Museum and the EDB Art Pavilion in 1933 Old Millfun. She's been playing every Monday at Brick for the past year and is wrapping up an album, "Slow Songs in a Fast World," that's set to be released in late spring.

"If you want to make art or if you want to write, just do it," she says. "Someone said the only difference between an artist and someone who wants to do art is just doing it. So just do it. Have that box of pencils sitting on the table. Have that paper out and make that mark on the piece of paper."

It's a sentiment that the Chicago-born Redic shares. Every Wednesday at Unico on the Bund, Redic and his band play their brand of "eclectic soul."

They're currently working on an album tentatively called "Redic Unraveled ... China Travels." It's just one of the projects that the multitalented artist is working on, including an art book, fashion design and an art exhibition of pieces made from found objects, with shows planned in Beijing and Hong Kong.

"My philosophy is not either-or but both-and," he says. "When I'm performing, I'm usually wearing something that I've designed. When I'm designing, it's usually something that's based on a painting or lyrics. So, all of these things go hand in hand."

While Redic traces his artistic tendencies to grade school where he wrote and performed a school play, it wasn't until completing his degree in psychology that he devoted himself to his artistic pursuits.

"The difference between a hobby and a profession is a state of mind," he says. "Sometimes a hobby is just that. The minute I let myself look at what I do as a passion and not a hobby, it took on a whole other dynamic. People and audience looked at me differently because I accepted myself as different."

Start from scratch

While the two had been immersed in art communities back in their home countries - Reilly in Sydney and Melbourne, Redic in Atlanta and Los Angeles - moving to Shanghai meant starting in a place with no connections. However, they say that barrier can be easily overcome.

"If you scratch the surface just a little bit here, automatically, you're plugged into the scene because it's still developing," Redic says. "When I got here, I didn't know anybody but I met my songwriting partner Asaph Lerbern at a jam session and I've met agents at performances. You can't stay in your comfort zone. If you're a visual artist, go to art openings. If you're into music, there are many musicians at jam sessions looking to put bands together."

It was a route that Reilly took. She was finishing up her degree in visual art when she arrived in Shanghai and was eager to continue her work. "There was an art talk at the Elisabeth de Brabant Art Center about the business and process of art in China," she says.

"The conversation was intriguing and I wrote a list of speakers I thought were interesting. I put Elisabeth on the list and contacted her. A week later: she came by, saw the work and asked if I was interested in exhibiting with her."

Reilly's experience with her first Shanghai exhibition, "Suspended Arrival," serves as an example for art's long game. Exhibited in November 2010 for four weeks, it led to unexpected opportunities that continue to pay off today. Pieces were chosen to be exhibited at the Shanghai Art Museum celebrating "Women in Art" and recently 20 pieces had been commissioned to be displayed at Aussie chef Craig Willis' new restaurant, Henkes.

"Self-funding is an issue but it's not about financial reward; it's about doing it regardless," she says. "For me it's about creating work in this time and place because I'm alive now. Whether it will or won't be collected doesn't really matter. It hopefully inspires my children to do what they want to do and enjoy what they're doing."

Better opportunity

Redic emphasizes the importance of rolling with the punches and how misfortune can lead to a better opportunity. He cites his moving to Shanghai from Los Angeles in 2010 as a happy example. He was invited to Guangzhou to perform at a new club for three months.

"The gig quickly fell apart due to typical things that I have since learned are normal. But I immediately felt that there was something going on in China. I thought what am I doing in Guangzhou when the world is in Shanghai. I jumped on a plane and came over to Shanghai and next month it will be three years."

While focusing on your art and keeping an open mind are important, so is promoting the work. Redic jokes that while he's an artist, the flip side is that he's a hustler.

Reilly advises aspiring artists. "First make the work," she says. "And then make more work. Give it to the world in a context that you feel is true to what you're doing. Have great resolutions of your work and whatever medium you're exposing your work, do it in a way that's true to yourself. Be certain of why you're doing it and understand that people will or won't like the work."

In addition, the two stress the importance of having the proper paperwork. They have performance visas with the venues where they have residencies and their reputations allow them to play special events.

Reilly has performed at the Waldorf for Japanese magazine Uzi's 10th anniversary while Redic was a speaker at TEDxShanghai and will be headlining the yearly naked by Candlelight music festival in Moganshan, Zhejiang Province, on April 13.

While Shanghai's art communities may not be as established as those that they have left behind, Redic sees a unique advantage in its multi-ethnic mix.

"As an artist with global aspirations, I use it as a test pilot," he says. "If my art, music or fashion is resonating on this diverse audience, there's a strong possibility that it will fare well on the global market. Also by working with people who are connected to other places your network base expands. We have strong inroads into Australia, Europe and parts of Africa just because of the individuals involved in the project."



? Caitlin Reilly plays every Monday at Brick (30 Sinan Rd) and her art can be seen at Henkes (1/F, 1601 Nanjing Rd W.). Her new exhibition "Spring" opens today at 195 Anfu Road. Visit her website at caitlinreilly.com.

? Redic plays every Wednesday at Unico (2/F, Three on the Bund) and his art can be seen at Riverside Art Space (Rm 301, Bldg A, 160 Ha'erbin Rd). Visit his website at theartistredic.com.