Welcome back to new Thursday Giveaway & Artist Feature!
Today I'm thrilled to be visiting with the fun & talented artist, Steve
Loya. I discovered Steve's blog last year thanks to
IllustrationFriday.com and immediately took a liking to his fantastic lines & whimsical work.
I also love the way he plays with the page, sometimes allowing his colors & shapes to roam free, other times mixing the abstract and realistic.
Steve has just opened an online shop, GoFlyingTurtle.etsy.com. As you enjoy this post, click on any of the images to visit the shop. He is still adding inventory, so some of these great pictures are not yet listed. If you see an image you are interested in, just drop him an etsy convo or leave a comment on 1 of his blogs and he'll get back to you. His main blog is GoFlyingTrtl.blogspot.com and his art only blog is SteveLoyaArt.blogspot.com.
By the way, Steve is also the latest Thursday Giveaway sponsor. He has generously donated a softcover copy of his book A Splotch Monster Compendium Volume 1, a splotch monster postcard and an ATC to one very lucky winner. See bottom of this post for details. I'm going to grab a fresh mug of tea (It is cooold here today) so why don't you hang out with Steve 'til I get back.....
SL: My name is Steve Loya and I live in Leesburg, Virginia. I grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before moving to VA for an art teaching job. I've taught art professionally now for nine years, and was a sub in and around Pittsburgh for several years. As a kid I drew all the time and had an interest in wildlife. I also drew a lot of Star Wars, a movie which has, in many ways, influenced some of my art and way of thinking. SL: After lots of drawing in college, I abandoned doing visual art for almost seven years. Looking back now, I can't believe it, but at least I started drawing again, getting back into art slowly but surely. Sadly enough, a lot of people let their love of drawing and art-making fall by the wayside, which is all too easy to do.SL: I can thank the encouragement of some friends as well as the internet for making me want to get creating again.. Plus, being an art teacher, it seemed kind of hypocritical to not also be making some of my own work as well. I'm still highly influenced by wildlife and animals, as well as more fantastical subject matter. SL: After several years of consistently participating on Illustration Friday, I found it kept me on track as far as creating at least one little work a week, even if it wasn't so good. This kept me on a schedule, and keeping a blog kept me in check. This year, I want to move in a newer and somewhat different direction, taking off the I.F. training wheels and working larger, incorporating my own subject matter into paintings, etc. I've built up of a wealth of work in my sketchbooks over the years that I'd now like to translate into more serious, more developed works. SL: I'll still be making fun, little pieces as well, including my Splotch Monsters, which I just started to sell at my new Etsy shop - something my wife Kris put me up to doing by the first of the New Year. In many ways, she's also a big influence on my work, always encouraging and inspiring me to create.Hey, Steve - so glad you could stop by & share with us today. Many thanks! Also, thank you for donating a collection of your playful creatures to next Thursday's random drawing. On 1/14 one lucky winner will receive a softcover copy of this entertaining book, 1 splotch monster postcard and 1
ATC. The book measures 7" x 7" and consists of 50 pages on premium quality paper.
You can get a sneak peek at the colorful critters inside by clicking here.Readers, to enter this random drawing simply leave a comment before 1 a.m. (EST) on 1/14. Just make sure your contact info is in your blog profile or comment in case you're the winner. This giveaway is open worldwide with free shipping.Where else can you find Steve's art?
Main Blog
:http://goflyingtrtl.blogspot.com/Art Only Blog:
http://steveloyaart.blogspot.com/
New
Etsy Shop:
http://www.goflyingturtle.etsy.comFor
A Splotch Monster Compendium Vol 1:
http://www.blurb.com/books/1023323Also, if you pop back here on Saturday, Steve will be giving a tour of his studio space. So be sure to come back on 1/9 & see where he exercises his imagination.
Here's Link To Studio Tour--------------------
Totally off topic. I'm also hosting a giveaway for Uprinting.com. 1 random winner gets 250 custom printed business cards.
Click Here For Details
January's Wish has one with photographer/jewelry designer Jude McConkey. And this one comes with a drawing you can enter!
