Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts

3/31/11

"My Editor" from Curioddities & other artist on FaceBook

My Editor from Curioddities

Clara Boo's Curioddities just posted this to her FaceBook Fan page (http://www.facebook.com/curioddities)& I had to share. Love everything about this photo from the color & compostion to the doodles & kitty curator.

Funny thing. I was a FaceBook holdout for a long long time. I still find it a bit of a silly time sucker but one thing I love is being able to keep up with what my favorite artists are up to, especially the ones that have been kind enough to pop by the blog for a chat or studio tour.

Clara Boo is the latest featured artist & sponsoring next week's random drawing. If you missed last Thursday's visit & prize details, click here.

In my state of perpetual procrastination, I was messing about on FB & here is what a few past featured artist are up to:

Clara with Leaf Bag by Harry Boardman

Harry Boardman (of the 365 Monster project & this interview and studio tour) posted a fantastic portrait earlier tonight. Love his linework  & the model's personality feels like it is really coming through. Harry's FB is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harry-Boardman/9012343994

from lesson 2 of Pam Carriker's online  journal workshop

Remember Pam Carriker? She kindly shared her studio with us in 2009. Not only does she have a new book published, Art At The Speed Of Life, she is still now traveling the globe teaching mixed media & journaling workshops. By the way, tonight (3/31) is the deadline to sign up for her Journal 365 online workshop. Visit her website for details or her facebook http://www.facebook.com/pamcarriker.

The Albatross (+ detail) by Myke Amend

The always fantastic Myke Amend (who shared his steamy-genius & a cool prize here last fall) never stops painting (real & digital) and shares his newest creations on his site as well as his facebook wall: http://www.facebook.com/mykeamend.

And the list goes on & on.... Actually this is kinda fun. Perhaps on the Thursdays I don't have a new interview or giveaway I should do a Where are they now? post. What do you think?

Well I've got to go. I've got to get the little guy off to bed & the grown-ups dinner on the table. Tomorrow I'm doing my first judging gig for a local photo competition so I'm pretty excited (& a wee bit nervous) about that. I'll let you know how it goes.... Till then, happy creating!

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3/21/11

Chalk Walk Tampa 2011

The Mourning Dove by Beth Shistle

This weekend was the 3rd annual Chalk Walk in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Tampa, FL. We popped over and had a great time viewing the wide variety of 2-d artwork. There were 60 + artists showing off their stuff. (plus frozen lemonade & a bouncy house - what's not to love?)

Creature from the Black Lagoon by Tim Ritter

Many were creating colorful chalk murals on the sidewalk while others were plein air painters, busy interpreting the sights around them.

Terry Klaaren paints Tim Ritter & his chalk creature

So here are some of our favorites from the show. (On the aside, I think this was the first time my family actually agreed on what pieces we liked the most)

B.K. Lyons and her fun Sea Horse

Thank you to all of the artists who took the time to talk about their work (and for letting me take pics).  For more info on these talented people, click the captions under each photo. You'll be taken to their websites or FaceBook page.

Artist Unknown - awaiting info

Silly me I forgot to get this gent's name. He was out of business cards but has my email. I will be sure to add his info if I hear from him. Aren't these chalk monkeys too cool?

It is truly amazing all that goes into these pieces. Most of the artists were working with small reference photos or drawings. Some made grids on their papers and then enlarged the grids on the ground before getting started. Others just jumped in and free-handed their colorful creations. Remember these murals are all made out of chalk. I did see lots of hairspray canisters for fixing things into place - good thing as it was a bit blustery on Saturday.

So there they are, trying to get their art-groove on. Keep in mind they are dealing with lots of people milling about & asking questions. Plus temps hit the mid 80s this weekend - phew! I have to say I am impressed.

I've been told there is a whole chalk circuit that some of these artists follow, traveling from town to town.  Hmmm ... wouldn't it be fun to talk to one of these guys & find more about this unique art form? I'll have to look into that. 

Well, thanks for coming along. Next weekend is Greenfest & I need to find some new trees to replace the bay & mango that we lost to the freeze. If you are in town, check it out. And if not, pop back here - there are always photos to share!
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1/30/11

Art, recipes & other ramblings today

Hey all! What'cha been up to lately?

It has been a non-bloggity, non-artsy month so far around here. Day job & other real life stuff taking precedence. My non-creating crankies haven't kicked in yet, but I'll need to get dabbling soon. In the meantime I am loving this piece by one of my favorite collage artists, Nancy Lefko:

Surrender by Nancy Lefko

Which reminds me- the new IllustrationFriday.com prompt is "Surrender". What fun, eh? You've still got a few days to add your piece or see what others have been inspired to create.

A couple of other fun prompts for January have been Mixed Media Monday/monthly's Size Matters (okay okay, you caught me snickering) & MelangeOnEtsy's Begining. By the way, you don't have to belong to Melange to play along. If you have a mixed media piece that fits just add a link to it in the challenge comments.

So, this month I've kept an eye on things while the husband & staff went to Hong Kong. Yep, I was a bit jealous but had a "when the cat's away" mentality. Unfortunately the business has grown too much & the mouse didn't get to play much.

But - I did manage to fix some busted nesting tables. Haven't used my tools in so long (& studio is still a mess) so made do with packing tape instead of clamps. Works surprisingly well.

Much to my families pleasure I've been cooking more lately. I used love to experiment in the kitchen but had less time in 2010. Too busy blogging - haha! The Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potatoes were a big hit as were adaptations of Martha Stewart's Roasted Egglant, zucchini & chickpeas  & Food.com's Broiled Steelhead trout with rosemary. I also had a tasty tini-variant at Mitchell's Fish Market (after a shhh-Mommy-needs-a-cocktail kind of day) last week and look forward to duplicating it once I track down some Soho Lychee Liquor.


So..... that is my story & I'm sticking to it. Just a basic month of domestic bliss.  However, I did manage to finally pick up supplies for the online De Meng class that started 2 weeks ago. And while out supplies shopping I ran into artist  BK Lyons.

Oriental Poppies (a painting on 15 canvases) by BK Lyons

We both belonged to a local art group 8 + yrs ago (wow - time has been flying!). Bk used to be into  creating murals & cool mosaic looking drawings/paintings back then. Now she is making what she calls more "Florida-style art" - lots of birds, sea creatures, flowers, & bright cheery colors. She has a new website up BKLyons.com & will be stocking her etsy shop soon. I'm trying to talk her into popping by for an interview or studio tour one of these days.

Have to run. That's all I've got for today.... 

Love ACEO by Sammie Flame

But - Oh Hey! If you haven't entered Sammie Flame's ACEO giveaway..... why the heck not!? On Thursday I pick one random winner from those who've left a comment on my blog over the past 2 weeks. To enter just leave a comment now - easy peasy! The lucky winner gets to choose between this  original art card or $5 credit at the artist's online shop RawkMama.Etsy.com.

Ok, I'm really leaving this time. Hope you are all off to a frabjous week!
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1/1/10

Studio Tour # 17 - Jodi Ohl's Sweet Retreat


Welcome to the 1st studio tour of 2010!

Today we're off to North Carolina to visit the Sweet Retreat of mixed media artist, Jodi Ohl. You can find Jodi's colorful art in her Etsy shop, LucySweetLucy, as well as on her blog, SweetRepeats.blogspot.com. If you pop into your local craft or bookstore, you can also find her in the latest edition of Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine. But today you will find Jodi in her new art studio - so let me get out of the way so she can show you around.


JO: I moved into my first home at the end of September. I must have looked at 25 different homes but the first one I saw and the one I kept coming back to. No doubt it was the awesome room that kept my head dreaming of all the wonderful creations that would come out of this new space if it were to be mine. After going back and forth with all the different houses I had before me to choose from, I came back to the home that kept calling my name, the place with the studio already there for me. No more dining room table and boxes of supplies everywhere you turn. I can spread out, organize, create and be me without the stresses of knowing my art was taking over the home my youngest son and I share.


JO: Since the end of September, I've held 4 workshops, 3 demos, participated in 1 outdoor show, created 2 custom pieces,45 magnets, 25 6x6 Sweet HeART blocks, 25 4x4 heart blocks, 1 30 x 40 painting, 6 6 x12 pieces, 3 6 x 6 paintings, 4 6x6 paintings, 3 15 x 30 pieces, 25 2 x4 paintings, 3 4x6 paintings, 6 3 x5 canvas paintings, 12 12x12 pieces, 1 9x12 painting, 2 16 x 20 pieces, several journal spreads, wrote 1 article, and started working on preparing for the 14 workshops locally I'm holding this year and one online class I'm conducting. So. yea. I've been busy! Plus work a day job and take care of my wonderful son who puts up with tagging along to shows, demos, and classes with Momma. With that said, my studio isn't exactly set up the way I want it yet, but I can say I've been productive in it!

JO: Someone told me that you don't set up a studio, you grow into it. A studio evolves as the artist evolves. I'm definitely growing into my new space but I still dream of a day where I have all the pretty labels everywhere and areas colorized with banners of inspiration, idea boards, a place to put all my extensive papers collection, a spot to store all my large canvases.


JO: With time, I will evolve into my new space and you will see this studio mirror where I am as an artist more authentically than it does today. Today, it's my haven, my "Sweet Retreat" and it's been so good to me. More than you will ever know.


Whether I'm inspired by colors of my paints and crayons,


or dabbling with new colors and brands of paint,


sketching out my ideas or shading in an area of my painting,

JO: Or creating a new collection, I'll be forever grateful for finding the place I can evolve as an artist and plant some roots with my family. Planting roots, finding a community, buying a home-all things that have been common themes in my art over the last few years. It's almost as it's all manifested itself through my art. Kinda magical, huh?

Green Apple Village Imagine (as seen in Cloth Paper Scissors) by Jodi Ohl

Definitely, Jodi, and many thanks for showing us where you make your magic!

Want to see more of Jodi's fantastic art?

She kindly stopped in last Thursday to share some of her work and thoughts. If you missed it, you can catch that post by clicking here. While you are there, sign up to enter next Thursday's random drawing for a $25 gift certificate to her Etsy shop, LucySweetLucy. All who leave a comment before 1 a.m. (EST) on 1/7 will be entered in this drawing but only 1 will win. Will it be you?

Here are some more places on & offline that you can find Jodi & her latest creations:

Online:
Store - LucySweetLucy.etsy.com
Blog - SweetRepeats.blogspot.com
Online Workshop - Fun With Faux Encaustic
You can also sign up for her new artsy newsletter

If you find yourself in North Carolina:
 Swank Coffee Shop and Handmade Market in Southern Pines, NC
Circa Gallery in Asheboro, NC
Fayetteville Museum of Art, Fayetteville, NC
Fine Tracery in Pinehurst, NC
Jodi will also be teaching a Jerry's Artarama Work Shop "in the village" in Raleigh NC on March 7th.

Many thanks to those of you who stop by ArtSnark's Artifacts today. While I always love peeking behind the scenes, it is your continued interest that keeps this project going. I have more studio tours & other fun stuff planned for 2010 - so please keep popping back! Also, if you are interested in either sharing your space or sponsoring a Thursday Giveaway/artist feature just let me know (my email is in my profile). Again, thanks for stopping by & I hope you have a creative weekend!
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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.
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3/6/09

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

My home is where I want to be and
it looks like all my dreams
- from The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater

Play House by Juli Waller
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Juli's art at Grrraphics on etsy

3 more fabulous houses have been added to the OzBushFireAppeal etsy shop. Each unique house has been altered & generously donated by a different talented etsy artist. The OzBushfire shop was created by the owner of FeliciaFairy & the Etsy Dust Team in response to the recent fires in Australia. 100% of proceeds from the shop's sales goes to the Australian Red Cross. Since February 8th, 889 sales have brought in "about $15,000 "(AU) .

Choices by Yin Hoong Lai
See more of Yin's art (& popcorn)
at What's Eating Yin on etsy

Also Every Item Has Free Shipping! Now you can't beat that: help others in need, get cool stuff & free shipping - please take a few minutes & check out some of the 190 items still available. They might have just what you're looking for...Cottage House by Shiela Bradley
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Juli's art at CreateItCottageArt on etsy

To visit all the available houses, click here. For a direct link to each house, click on a photo. If you get a chance, please visit the shops & blogs of these wonderful artists and tell them just how cool they really are! Also please check back before March 31 (when OzBushfireAppeal closes) to see more one of a kind houses.
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2/25/09

New Houses! Good Prices ! Great Cause!

Fairies 'Round My House by Heather Holbrook
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Heathers art at PisforPaper on etsy

The 1st altered houses for the OzBushfireAppeal shop have been listed for sale. Each house is a one of a kind creation by a different talented artist & was designed specifially to be donated to the Oz shop. 100% of proceeds from every sale goes to the Australian Red Cross. (Since Feb 8 they have made over $15,000 AU). For more details on the shop & the artists involved, click here.

Where My Heart Resides by Nancy Lefko
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Nancy's art at CollageArtGirl on etsy

To visit a specific house listing, click on any photo on this page. Also, here is the link to the METSY Team Houses section of the shop. Another dozen or so houses to be listed for sale soon.

Flower Cottage by Jen Maddison
Read about Jen on her blog.
See more of her art at jemjoop on etsy

Keep checking back, more houses will be featured here as they are listed in the OzBushfireAppeal shop. Some things to remember (& hopefully send you shopping): your money is going to a great cause, You get to be the proud new owner of a one of a kind piece of art, And there is also Free Shipping on every item. Don't wait too long though as the Oz shop will be shutting down on March 31.

Home Is Where The Heart Is by Pam Carriker
See what Pam is doing on her blog.
See more of her art at The BagladysArt on etsy

Originally I wanted to interview each artist, while showcasing their house. But I dropped the ball on this one (hmm... seems to be happening a lot lately). Here's a thought! How about YOU interview them for me ?! Simply leave your questions. I'll gather them into a survey & post the artists' responses in a week or so.... Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Play House by Alisa Norholt-Dean
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Alisa's art at PrettyLittlePendant on etsy

If you get a chance, please visit the blogs & etsy shops of these generous & talented volunteers. Show them some love & tell them how great they are, k?
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2/16/09

Monday's Muse -Be Inspired! Make a Difference

February 8th the OzBushFireAppeal shop opened on etsy.

8 days later it has sold 544 items for around $ 10,000 (AU).

100% of Proceeds goes to the Australian Red Cross.

At this writing there are 210 items in stock, with "new items listed almost around the clock..." All items have been donated by Etsians worldwide.

IF YOU ARE ON ETSY and would like to donate an item click here for more information.

IF YOU LIKE TO SHOP get a great handcrafted item (with free shipping ) & donate the full amount of your purchase to a worthy cause.

IF YOU HAVE A MOMENT think - who can you share this info with? Please pass it on. It will only take a minute.

I heard about this shop on Thursday & donated a necklace. Looking around my studio for some art supplies to contribute, I came across some little houses
I was about to donate them when I realized that a one of a kind altered house would fetch more money than a blank one. I put out a call to the gifted members of the METSY Mixed Media Team. I would send each volunteer a house to decorate & they would work their magic. The final pieces will be donated to the Australian wild fire relief shop. So far 14 generous Artists have offered up their time & talent for this project. I am very excited! Please stop by and visit them when you get a chance:

Sheila Bradley - Createitcottageart & Creatitcottage - createitcottage.blogspot.com

Juli Waller - grraphics - grrrdesign.blogspot.com

Aimee Wheaton - mazerdesign & Mazerdesign.com - creativeflutter.blogspot.com

Carmen McCullough - ArtsyJutsu - artsyjutsu.ning.com

Alisa Nordholt-Dean - PrettyLittlePendant - prettylittlependant.blogspot.com

Jen Maddison - jemjoop - emjoop.blogspot.com

Jodi Ohl - lucysweetlucy - sweetrepeats.blogspot.com

Vivian Bonder - desertbloom

Once these talented ladies send me photos of their creations, I will post them here for you to enjoy. I would also like to share a brief interview with each artist, if I can get them to agree. Dunno about you, but I always enjoy reading a bit about the person behind the creation.

Now, what else can you do to help? In addition to the suggestions above, let's get the word out! I'm too behind the times to twitter. So after phone calls & emails, I went the old fashioned route printing up fliers to promote OzBushfireAppeal. Then posted them at my son's school as well as at some local businesses. Will anyone notice them & respond? I don't know. But I had to try.

I truly believe everyone can make a difference. So does FeliciaFairy and The Etsy Dust Team. They are the kind souls behind this generous shop. I don't know what type of response they initially anticipated. Lets blow them away....be generous....go shopping....and spread the word!

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