8/20/09

Double Giveaway .... with a twist !!

1st off: sorry about the occasional wonky links (most work). I've been fighting blogger all morning to get this post up. Now it won't let me fix errors.....grrr... but please enjoy & thanks for visiting.

Welcome! How are you? Lots going on around here today….

Featuring a new artist, Felicia Kramer & her fabulous creations. Plus she has generously donated a piece of her colorful art for the next Thursday Giveaway!

Now for the Double Trouble: At the same time Felicia is featuring my art on her blog.… and she’ll be giving away one of my matted drawings!

So, after you’ve enjoyed this post and signed in for your chance to win 1 of Felicia’s gorgeous prints, visit her blog FeliciaKramer.blogspot.com and enter the giveaway that she is hosting over there.

Now, on with the show!

I met the talented artist Felicia Kramer through the Visual Arts Street Team on Etsy. Her wonderful etsy shop, Another Bright Idea, contains an assortment of colorful pieces in a variety of mediums. Felicia has been kind enough to join me for some virtual coffee and talk about her creative process. For more info on the pieces featured here, just click on the image.

So, Felicia, have you always been interested in making art?

Landscape of an Artist Soul - Digital Collage Print

Felicia: I have been making all sorts of art and crafts ever since I can remember. My mother taught me to sew when I was a child so my creations will sometimes incorporate fabric and sewing techniques. I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University with a printmaking emphasis, during which time I developed my papermaking technique. I decided after college that I couldn’t afford to be a “starving artist” so I joined the corporate world as an event producer, where I often used my creative talents. At the same time, I continued with art projects, mostly for friends and my large extended family. I don’t limit myself to any one medium; I like to explore all types of materials and techniques and my cluttered workroom is a happy testament to that!

You work in several mediums. What are some of your favorites?

Felicia: I suck at drawing. I really do. I took so many drawing classes in college but I destroyed almost all my work, keeping just a few. I have a hard time doing very precise artwork; I’m much happier when I’m freely exploring color and line, overlapping different images and delighting in the happy accidents that result. That’s why I enjoy doing my handmade paper sheets – there are limits as to how much you can control the process, and the colors and textures and uneven edges that result when the paper dries are a lovely surprise.

Antiquities 2 - Handmade Paper Collage

I began making handmade paper while still in college and have used it in various artistic creations since. The technique I use to unmold the pulp creates a smooth surface texture much like parchment, and since any sizing have been removed in the process, the paper is very soft and delicate.

Like most artists, I’m always picking up bits and pieces of the outdoors in my small garden and when traveling, so my handmade paper collages often include nature’s bounty.

Nature Preserved 1 - Handmade Paper and Pressed Leaves Collage

My cards and photographs also offer a peek into my postage stamp sized garden and my neighborhood.

In My Neighbor's Garden

I really love the colors & movement in your Digital Collages. They are so organic! How do you go about creating them?

Felicia: My most recent passion is digital collage. I love exploring by manipulating my original photos and combining them with all sorts of ephemera to create a particular mood. And by producing limited editions, I am able to offer the prints at affordable prices for original artwork.

Hope for a New Beginning

Serendipity plays a part in many of my digital collage prints. I use Photoshop, and overlaying art pieces over each other and adjusting the opacity can result in some of the most mouth-watering effects. A perfect example are my “liquid” prints. As I was taking photos of blue iris, I accidentally over-exposed a few shots. They were so unusual and textural that I decided to work with them, layering them with other backgrounds and adjusting color and opacity. I’m so pleased with the results!

Readers will be pleased too. Felicia has generously donated 1 of her gorgeous "Liquid" prints for the latest Thursday Giveaway! Even better, the winner gets to choose their prize from a dozen beautiful pieces in the Liquid series.

Liquid Blue Iris 1

To enter this random drawing, just leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) next Thursday (8/27). Contest is open worldwide with free shipping. It is that easy! Just make sure there is a way to contact you if you win.

Liquid Magenta Digital Collage Print

To view the selection of "liquid" prints, go to Felicia's Etsy shop, AnotherBrightIdea.etsy.com. Above her shop banner is a search box. Looks like this:

Type in liquid & click search. Alternatively you can find them by looking through her Digital Collage Prints & Floral Photo shop sections.

Special thanks to Felicia for sponsoring this week's Thursday Giveaway! Knowing how much I love peeking into studios, she's also sent several pictures of her workspace. Tune in Saturday for a virtual tour of Felicia World & see where she makes her magic,

Also, when you have the time, pop on over to her blog Felicia Kramer Has Another Bright Idea to read about yours truly and try your hand at winning this original drawing:

Ready to frame, Idle Hours is signed/dated and is mounted in an 8" x 10" acid free mat.Containing a hint of my Red Riding Hood obsession, it originally appeared in this post for Illustration Friday.

While you are there be sure to tell Felicia what you think of her creative thoughts and awesome art!

51 comments:

  1. She's got some mad skillz!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice interview, Stacey. And, absolutely beautiful digital collage by your featured artist. So pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow, those are awesome! thanks for a cool giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great art! I'm always impressed with collage artists, because that's not one of the mediums I'm gifted in!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cool interview! Really lovely work, too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. These are stunning and would look great in my apartment. Please enter me!

    Amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love Felicia's work!! Wonderful and the interview was terrific. I will definitely explore her ETSY shop. Thanks so much for introducing her to me.
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the great interview!

    lmrspdr@dreamscape.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great interview! I love your blog by the way and posted a link on my blog. Feel free to check it out and link back if you want.
    http://coatofpaintstudio.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fantastic post Stacey. hey, btw, drop by my blog when you get a chance, ok?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I checked out her etsy shop-all I can say her work is stunning. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=273265-
    the liquid blue iris 2 is beautiful

    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love Felicia's work! We have been friends for many, many years. I can say that her Christmas Card is the one I wait by the mailbox for as it is always beautiful and I show to all my friends. She is very talented and you will not be disappointed if you order from her! Her talents always amaze me!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Please enter me, they are so beautiful.
    Karen, civ05@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. These prints are so gorgeous-I especially like the Liquid Blue Iris 2.

    Elaine R
    emrosser@shaw.ca

    ReplyDelete
  15. wow, the liquid blue Iris 2 is simply stunning~love the photo example of what it would look like matted and framed on a wall...

    micaela6955 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awesome! Thanks for bringing our attention to another wonderful artist! What amazing depth of colour while showing the subtlety of transparency. Would like to wish you great success! Regards, T.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Beautiful stuff! Collage is such a great form.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stunning. I love to decorate with interesting and unique prints.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I really like her interesting and unique style. Love her colors!

    heatherdemke(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. great giveaway! I really enjoyed your interview with Felicia! thanks for the entry! dreamzz12{at}aol{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  21. WOW, WOW, W-O-W! I've never seen anything like this. What elegance dancing on the canvas of her imagination!
    fun.mom.cheratgmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  22. gorgeous. I fell in love with

    Comes the Dawn Digital Collage Print

    it would look great in my bathroom...I have her bookmarked whenever honey says, I never know what to get you...

    ReplyDelete
  23. What talent and skill. I love Felicia's digital creations. Now I actually know where to send friends who are pondering over what to buy for me since I am, as my sister says "a hard one"...I'll send them to Felicia's Etsy shop.

    Thanks for introducing me to this fab artist--great interview!

    espressogurl at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. The prints are beautiful!

    Thank you!

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Her work is beautiful and so unique! Love it!

    craziedee3@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Great giveaways. Love the liquid prints.

    smrtmouse at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Her prints are Amazing! I would be proud to display one in my house! Thanks! jacquecurl1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Her artwork is great. I would love to win this for my sister. She will be moving into her first apartment and this would be great house warming gift.

    mccataquet(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  29. How beautiful! It would make our house brighter!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Very creative artwork. I'd love to win.

    transamws602(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. that liquid blue iris 1 is GORGEOUS!

    contact me through my etsy shop: KaceyKendrickWagner

    ReplyDelete
  32. Those photographs are really amazing. I love the lightness and complexity of the liquid series. Nice, especially Liquid Blue Iris 3.
    squareby@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. beautiful artwork-a very talented artist!

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. she has a magic touch, nice works!!
    thanks for the giveaways.
    silverlilacc at hotmail com

    ReplyDelete
  35. The liquid magenta is my favorite. How creative!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love the iris photo.

    Caroline
    design4less at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. All her creations are great!

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love that all her works are inspired by natural elements. They are all absolutely gorgeous pieces. I went to her etsy store to favorite her and discovered that she lives right by me! I love finding local talent.
    Thank you for introducing us all to her art! and for offering this giveaway.
    -Lily


    lilygreig@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. I really enjoyed reading this interview, and the artwork is lovely.

    stuparyk@sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  40. Beautiful artwork --- I would love to win. Thanks for the great giveaway:)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hmm, I love the colors. I'd love something like this in the kitchen to brighten it up a bit. :D

    soypea@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I too thought the colours were wonderful. I love iris and have about 30 different kinds if not more. I would love the Liquid Blue Iris 3.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I woul dlove one of these for my cottage bedroom

    ReplyDelete
  44. my fav liquid print is the Liquid Pink! so beautiful! thanks, shari
    spearmintbaby@gmail.com
    spearmintbaby.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. Very beautiful. Thank you for the cahnce!
    valuedcustomer(at)live(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Great interview and beautiful work. So happy I found this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  47. What a gorgeous picture (loved 2 or 3 of them; imagined where they would go in my house). Thank you

    candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I wold love to win - thanks for the cool giveways chance.

    ReplyDelete