12/3/09

New Giveway & Artist Feature - Maureen Tillman

Hey there. How've you been?

Looking for the 2 winners of this morning's random drawing? If so, click here. Seeking the latest Artist Feature & info on the newest Thursday Giveaway prize? Then you've come to the right place.

Today we're visiting with artist, Maureen Tillman. I feel very fortunate to have met Maureen though Etsy where she sells her ACEOs, collages and other artwork - her shop is MaureenTillman.Etsy.com. We are also both members of the Melange Team on Etsy (a fantasic group of mixed media artists).


She is a creative spirit with a kind heart. Her art and writings are both colorful & thought provoking at the same time. Maureen is a very open person; she shares her thoughts, favorite poems & vintage finds on her blog Santuary, Dreams & Shadows . Now I'm going to step aside so she can tell you about herself & her art. By the way, you can click on any of the images for detailed info.


MT: Throughout my life people have told me that I live in my own little world. It is true. In my world there are three gardens where I spend my time making art - the Secret Garden, the Zen Garden, and the Fairy Garden.


MT: The Secret Garden - I have come to relish my explorations into the shadowy Secret Garden where deception, trickery, and betrayal cultivated for years were left hidden to become a wild tangled enigma of a garden. I entered timidly at first but learned to feign courage as I turned over stones and cut back thickets to reveal its mysteries.


MT: Today I find my work in the garden of secrets quite fulfilling and empowering. It is a place where I can tell my stories and seek the truth. When others view my artwork from the Secret Garden they find themselves telling their own stories and discovering their own truths. Occasionally I get lost in that secluded place but eventually I make my way back to the sunlit path. I have spent so much time in that forsaken place that I have acquired an odd fascination and appreciation for the macabre beauty found there.


MT: The Zen Garden
- Another garden I frequent is the Zen Garden. It is a simple peaceful place to retreat to for meditation, study and mindfulness practice. It is a quiet green place where one can breathe deeply, walk the labyrinth and learn to be truly awake and open. When I go there to paint I want to share the beauty with anyone who wants to venture in. My art from the Zen Garden is meant to be a meditation on mindfulness.


MT: The Fairy Garden
- My final garden, the Fairy Garden, has been a place of refuge, solace and joy my entire life. When I was a child, my sisters and I would gather around the kitchen table for a bedtime snack of graham crackers dipped in a saucer of milk. When we were finished the remainder of the milk with cracker crumbs in it would be set on the basement stairs for the fairies that evening.

MT: I learned early on that when the monster came out in our house, the enchanted Fairy Garden was a place of shelter. My artwork from the Fairy Garden is full of whimsy and joy and lessons learned about the world of make-believe and fairy tales.


Wings by Maureen Tillman

MT: My Work - I have been an artist all of my life, mostly freelancing in commercial and fine art in a wide variety of media for corporate and private clients. Currently my joy comes from my collage and mixed media/altered artwork focusing on the empowerment of women, abuse of women and children, and opening doors to anyone long closeted by denial and secrecy.

MT: I create in a variety of materials and sizes. The collages are done with a base of acrylic paints on canvas or created directly on to stone tiles. I prefer working on a 12"x12" canvas or smaller. Occasionally I produce a 16"x20" or larger piece but they are rare. Each piece is original and one of a kind. For display purposes original canvases are ready to hang. The deep sides are painted so there is no need of framing. Small tile collages come with decorative wire display easels for presentation on tabletop or mantle. My images and ephemera come from numerous sources collected over a lifetime that are in the public domain and others invested in with rights of use.

MT: My life as an artist and as a person changed dramatically over the last few years. I found myself stripped of so much that I knew and trusted about my life for the past four decades. All I cared to salvage from the ruin was my art. That would be my life now - that would be enough.

MT: So I set about, a neophyte in an unfamiliar world, determined to find a place of my own...a life of my own. I had only two necessities - an inspiring view of the Mississippi River bluffs and ample space for an art studio, a sanctuary to restart my life and reclaim the beauty and creative spirit that had always stirred within my soul. I entered resolutely into my resurrected life as an artist, poet, and dreamer, approaching each new day as an adventure.


Maureen, many thanks for sharing your thoughts and artwork with us today.

To see more of Maureen's art & jewelry, visit her online:

Etsy Shop: http://www.MaureenTillman.etsy.com

Blog: http://maureentillman.blogspot.com

Maureen has also invited us all on a photo-tour of her sanctuary/studio this weekend. Be sure to stop back in a couple of days to see where she creates her treasures.

She is also generously sponsoring the new Thursday Giveaway. Maureen's fabulous prize is this bejeweled butterfly box. Here is her description:

MT: This is a wooden box 6 inch square, 2 3/4" deep - outside under the beaded fringe is paper mosaic with tiny glass tile along base, beaded fringe hangs from green satin ribbon. Inside is mosaic in 1 inch glass tiles - 4 in square porcelain tile butterfly is painted with Pebeo porcelain glazes - there are also 6 Swarovski crystals highlighting the hand painted butterfly. Between the butterfly tile and the inner edge of the box there are aquamarine chips set in polymer medium.


Wouldn't you like to win this colorful box? Well, you've got to enter first! Simple leave a comment on this blog before 1 a.m. (EST) next Thursday (12/10) and you're automatically entered in the random drawing. Please make sure your contact info is either in your profile or comment, in case you are the lucky winner. Also, please note: this random drawing is open to USA addresses only & this beautiful box ships free to the winner.

Thanks again for stopping by & pop back this weekend to visit Maureen's studio space.

45 comments:

  1. What a great piece on one of my very favorite people, MaureenTillman. And her work is diverse and just plain beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maureen, thank you for sharing your wonderful gardens with us. Your art is so beautiful and expressive, and I'd love to own your butterfly box!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What beautiful work! I especially love 'Tranquility'. This interview has been a fascinating read and a source of inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maureen a wonderful person and a wonderful artist, so good to read this feature on you. Miss chatting with you....
    ~xx~
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is a wonderful feature on a good friend and exceptional artist. I'm so proud of your strength, Maureen. And Tranquility moves me so much. I just love that piece. Can't wait to feast my eyes on that studio of yours again!

    Thank you again, Stacey, for your wonderful featrues.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, what a wonderful profile. Maureen, you work is just stunning and I love the narrative. Very inspirational.
    Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such beautiful works of art. Maureen is such an expressive artist...I love it!! Thanks for sharing your art with us and your gardens.
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great insight to a wonderful artist! Maureen your work speaks so well! You keep your determination up and you'll climb high mountains!! Thanks Stacey! What a favorite feature!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very moving artist feature, so many layers to Maureen, it's know wonder she favors collage and mixed media to tell her story and the story of others that she associates with.

    "All I cared to salvage from the ruin was my art. That would be my life now - that would be enough." I can really associate with this quote, I hope this new life continues to be a place of sanctuary for her. Art is so healing and uplifting, whether you are viewing it or creating it. Looking forward to seeing the studio feature!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great works. Gorgeous butterfly tile and box. I love your gardens. Blooming takes time and energy. The blossoms you created are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  11. beautiful box- I love butterflies

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love to win this!! Please enter me:) Thanks!!
    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  13. beautiful box...it would make a wonderful present! :)
    sp82877 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. This was so interesting... Maybe I should feature her on Inspiration!! Thanks for your comment on my blog - yours is very interesting...
    Frankie
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love mixed media! Maureen is a truly talented artist. I would love to win this for my daughter...her room has a butterfly garden motif. thanks

    ReplyDelete
  16. So glad you told us about her beautiful art.
    kim

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a beautiful box! I know either of my girls would love it.
    Thanks!

    mrsthistle at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  18. I just love the beautiful butterflies.
    spiphibus at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. That is a beautiful box! I have some new shelves in my craft room and it sure would look beautiful up there!

    tiggeria@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow, you melange makers come up with amazing stuff! That box is fantastic! Great interview, too!

    carapacenator(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. very cute, please enter me.
    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is lovely, very creative.

    ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful and so intricate. I love it.

    clenna at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. My daughter would love this!


    arewethereyetla5[at]verizon[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love this unique and beautiful box! I am crossing my fingers. jacquecurl1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love the use of mixed media. It's very beautiful yet with a hint of whimsy.

    simply_me4@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Maureen, you are truly very talented. And what a beautiful tile box.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Absolutely gorgeous work!! I love the feather/woman journal. So impressed.

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a great giveaway! This is a beautiful piece
    kerriekg@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a beautiful pice- would love to have this! Lovely inside and out! khaski78 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. my daughter collects butterfly items and this would be a lovely addition to her collection, so colorful and a great design!

    micaela6955 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Stacey and kudos for another great post on another fascinating artist! Very rich body of work--you two have some things in common when it comes to materials and their use, I'd say...and please enter me into the drawing for her little art box! willoaksstudio (at) aol.com
    Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ooops - I thought I already commented here.

    I LOVE Maureen's collages. Just beautiful and thought-provoking.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh, wow, this piece is beautiful. It would be a blessing to win such a beautiful butterfly box!

    veronica78617 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I found your blog via the COMM site. I would love to win the draw for this and will now return to visit all of the beautiful images you have posted.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wow What lovely work of art from this artist!!!I love Maureens butterfly box...love mosaic tile work and especially butterflies!!All my favorite things. Thank you for the opportunity to enter a chance for this exciting work of art.

    ReplyDelete
  37. What lovely art! I love the use of butterflies... my DH proposed in a butterfly garden so they are special to us...

    hopeiwon at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Very inspiring to another dreamer, poet, artist in becoming. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wow the boxes take your breath away!

    lankylegslass(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. How beautiful. I would love to own this piece.

    ReplyDelete
  41. fabulous interview and artwork! Thanks for introducing us to this artist!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Awesome, thanks Stacey for sharing :)

    Maureen, I love "Exquisite Curves" and "Decolletage" amazing work :) off to heart your shop :)

    regards, T.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I would be thrilled to win this piece. It's very original with all the little danglies. I'm keeping my fingers crossed !!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete