Monday's Muse & a new interview

Tis that time again.

Stayed up too late reading Wolf Hall last night & my brain isn't on yet, so random shuffle picked today's Musical number.

While I like the tune, this is the 1st time I've seen the (absolutely dreadful) video. Wish I hadn't - now it'll be all dancing carrots & cowboys until the end of time...sigh....

What tunes are jump starting your week? Click the top button & share your musical genius over at GoodMourningGlory today. Be sure to have a listen while you are there.

And if you have another minute, pop on over to MizKatie.com - she was kind enough to post a wee interview with yours truly. Shameless plug, I know. Subtlety is a challenge today... so is typing .... perhaps more caffeine....

A couple - o - interviews today

1st I want to apologize.

I feel the blog has been a little meh lately. Can you believe that Life has been interfering with not only art-time but blogging too?! Sheesh...... hopefully things will slow down in a couple of weeks so I can get my groove back. But enough of that.

Bit of a drive by tonight - running late on a prior commitment but I really want to pop in & share links to a couple of interviews.

Etsy's Blog, The Storque, has a great interview with Victoria founder of the Hearts For Haiti online store. (By the way HFH sent its 2nd payment to Doctors Without Borders - you can see it on their blog. Thanks to all who have donated & shopped. More items are still being added daily)



Also, if you'd like to read about the volunteers working behind the scenes to keep the Hearts For Haiti store going visit the blog & look for the links on the right side

January's Wish has one with photographer/jewelry designer Jude McConkey. And this one comes with a drawing you can enter!

Ancient Traveler by Steve Loya

Remember artist Steve Loya? (He stopped in a few weeks ago for an artist feature & studio tour) He's started posting interviews on his blog, Go Flying Turtle & Lucky Me! I got the 1st spotlight!

Thanks for stopping by! I wish everyone a fantastic weekend!

P.S. IllustrationFriday's prompt is Focused. Pop over & check out all the fun interpretations and add your own if you're feeling creative!

Saturday Studio Tour #6 - Artist Amber Freeman

Innocence by Amber

Welcome back for another behind the scenes peek into where artists create. Today our tour guide is Amber Freeman of Cinnaber.etsy.com. Skilled with a pencil, Amber also creates with photoshop and paints. To read Part 1 of her interview & see more of her beautiful drawings click HERE. I'll step aside now so Amber can tell us a bit more about her art & work space.

Amber: I have been drawing all my life, but it was not until my freshmen year of high school that I got serious. It was during this time, I could no longer draw simply for my enjoyment. Drawing became something my grade rested upon. I had to push the boundaries of my comfort zone to get an A. It was during this time that my art cocooned. No longer was my art in its paper-munching, caterpillar phase. It was time for it to mature into something new and beautiful.

The Fruits Of Your Labor by Amber

Amber: Now, I am a college art student sophomore. College is considered to be a time of letting go of one's past in return for heightened understanding and adaption. I can confess to this especially in the realm of art. While abandoning the house I grew up in, and taking up residence in a university dormitory, I all but signed away my privacy, space, and personalized zone of retreat.

Amber's Home Studio

Amber: At home, my father and brother were kind enough to carve away a studio space for me in the garage. If our house were a human, our garage would be the intestines, the buffer zone between useful and used-up material. Under the course of twenty-four hours, I watched the storehouse of junk and debris be transformed into a creative grotto. In which, I spent many afternoons, painting the hours away. It became a tradition to have friends and family paint on the room's walls. Today, it is filled with a spectrum of creative footprints sketched by loved ones.


Amber: In college, I work with a much more limited space. My portion of the dorm room is sprinkled with pictures from my art collections. I keep my art supplies tucked inside my desk drawer. I use a slide-out tray to draw on which I line the edges with as many supplies as I can make fit. When I draw larger than my standard 8.5x11, I use a large clipboard.


Amber: This clipboard is stored between my unreasonably tall bed and a wall. I keep it and an assortment of other art supplies inside my portable studio, also known as my big black bag of wonder. This bag is waterproof, large, and study. It is the perfect vessel for a roaming artist.

"bag of wonder" portable studio

Amber: Despite the “cozy” living conditions I have been exposed to in college, I am greatly enjoying the submersion into art it has created for me.


Amber: I have always had a love of art, but only recently have I begun selling it. I've sold at several anime conventions across Florida and done well. I hope to find a job as an illustrator and illustrate children's' books. But so long as I can find employment as an artist, I'm happy.

Feets by Amber

Many thanks, Amber, for showing us your workspace - a perfect example of how an artist will make the best of a modest situation in order to create magic. Even if a space is small, if the imagination is large, wonderful things will happen! My goal is to feature all types of studios & artists here on Saturdays. Readers, if you would like to share your space & art, please send me an email (address is in my profile).

Amber's art is available through her online store www.cinnaber.etsy.com where she sells prints as well as stickers and custom portraits. You can view more of her art at http://cinnamonsoldier.deviantart.com/. You can also read Part 1 of her interview, where Amber shares about her first art experiences HERE

Little Gift by Amber

Would you like to win a free print of Amber's drawing, Little Gift? If so, just leave a comment on this blog to be entered in the random drawing at noon (EST) on Thursday 10/1.

-------------------------

By the way, I'm also hosting a custom vinyl banner giveaway for Uprinting.com, click here for details. 1 winner will be randomly chosen on 10/22.

Thursday Giveaway #2 - Art by Dr. Laura Koniver

Hello again. What a great Thursday!

A New Day by Laura Koniver

There has been 1 winner of the craft supplies giveaway today. Plus 2 prizes have been generously donated for next Thursday's random drawing. There will be 1 winner each. For details on how to enter the Uprinting.com contest for prize #1, a customized rolled poster, click HERE.

The other prize I'll be giving away next week is a gorgeous glicee print by the talented artist, Laura Koniver, M.D. - One lucky winner gets to choose from the wonderful selection of prints in her etsy shop, Koniver. Entry details at end of this post.

Laura has a beautiful philosophy on art & life: "If I could draw it, I could learn it." She has kindly popped by today to share her other thoughts on creativity & art.

Path Filled With Sunshine by Laura Koniver

Laura: I have been drawing and sketching all my life. In elementary school I was sketching life around me. Years later in medical school I created posters of all the information I was expected to memorize, collages of viruses and bacterium,cellular structures, etc...

Driftwood by Laura Koniver

Laura: Working in the hospital, my patients pain and suffering left me filled with compassion yet unable to relax. I felt full of the inflow of the gorgeous healing energy of human life, yet had no valve to allow it to flow through me and outward again, back to the universe. One day I bought a huge canvas & acrylics. I started painting a lakeside landscape and and found a peace I had never felt before. Painting was it for me.

Evening Song by Laura Koniver

Laura: I have continued painting through years of medical practice & motherhood. I practice Reiki and use this energy flow to deepen my paintings, putting universal energy directly into my intention with each brush stroke, and directly onto the canvas. I paint each piece with the absolute, unwavering faith that health and healing is always available to all of us, no matter what our physical condition is.

Organic Branch Wall Art by Laura Koniver

Laura creates in a variety of mediums. I really love the organic feel to her pieces. Nature appears throughout her artwork. The striking lines of Laura's beautiful sculptures capture the eye. I then find myself lingering over the subtle hues and textures. Her centerpieces have even greater depth & meaning for the people who commission them.

Baby Shower Centerpiece by Laura Koniver

Laura: I create sculptures and centerpieces from recycled materials. What started out as a hobby has turned into a special event business, making decorative pieces for weddings & other celebrations. By recycling special vases, bottles, fabrics and papers into something unique, I am adding joy to a very special day. These centerpieces are permanent reminders of the unique events they represent, a one of a kind memento.

Special Event Centerpiece by Laura Koniver

Laura: It is my sincerest goal that my artwork brings health and joy to each person who welcomes it in to their home.

Love Is Everywhere by Laura Koniver

Thanks, Laura for sharing your thoughts today. And for donating one of your lovely prints for next Thursday's random drawing. The lucky winner gets to choose their favorite piece from the glicee print section of Laura's Etsy shop, Koniver.

To enter the random drawing for this prize, simply leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) on 9/24. It is that easy! This giveaway is open worldwide with free shipping. Please make sure your contact info is either in your profile or leave an email address.

To view more of Laura's art visit Koniver.etsy.com as well as at GardenPlum.com. You can also find her work at these Charleston, SC area locations:

Ladles in West Ashley and Kiawah Island
Eileens in Summerville
All is Well in Mount Pleasant
Primary Plus in North Charleston

If you're browsing the blog-o-sphere on Saturday, stop back here for a virtual tour of Laura's Studio & see where she makes her magic.

One day Laura got tired of having her art space hidden away & decided to give it a place of prominence. So she rearranged her house! What had been the main entry and dining area is now her wonderful art studio. Be sure to pop back here 9/19 for the photos and a "walk through" by Laura.

CLICK TO VISIT 9/19 STUDIO TOUR

Thursday Giveaway - Win Free Jewelry By Solange

Do you like jewelry?

Purple Passion Swirly Earrings by Solange

Today's Thursday Giveaway is sponsored by Etsy artisan & jewelry designer, Solange. She works with a variety of materials: semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, glass beads & crystals among others. Please visit her Etsy shop, Jewelry By Solange, to view her latest colorful creations.

Solange will be crafting a one of a kind prize for next week's lucky winner. (See details below to enter). Lucky us, she's also popped in for an interview today.

Have you always been interested in making jewelry? What got you started?

Solange: I started making jewelry at a very young age and mostly leaned towards shiny beads and fishing string. I loved my beads, while my sister loved drawing. In High School, we were obligated to take an art class and so I decided to take jewelry. The professor was one of the best teachers and he taught me how to work with all kinds of metal, epoxy and so many other materials. At that point it became more of a hobby to me then an elective I had to take for school. I loved it so much, that I ended up taking it my 4 years in high school.

GOLDEN HARVEST Necklace by Solange

Then while in college, I could never find the time to fit jewelry in my schedule so one winter break, I decided to take a class at the local art workshop. There, I created my first soldered sterling silver ring…one that I cherish very much. Now, jewelry has become a huge part of my life and is very therapeutic for me as well. If you’ve never made jewelry before and want to start, I say do it, but be careful, because it’s pretty addicting!

CAVIAR Necklace by Solange

I really enjoy the titles on your jewelry items. Where do they come from?

Solange: They usually pop in my head after I create the pieces. I try to look at each piece, style and color and try to see what name fits with it. Sometimes Ill put one name and later change it if I think of something better but normally I like to come up with unique names other then putting Blue Necklace

UNDER THE SEA Necklace by Solange

Are most of your creations One Of A Kind?

Solange: One thing you’ll find about Jewelry by Solange is that my pieces are never duplicated (excluding my rings), so you’ll be sure to be the only one wearing one of my pieces.

MULTICOLOR TURQUOISE FLAT OVAL 16" STRAND from BeadieandThings

I see you also have a jewelry supplies shop on Etsy. What great items do you sell there?

At BeadieandThings you’ll find a great selection of unique quality gemstones, plastic beads, perler beads, vintage beads, Mother of Pearl, Freshwater Pearls, Dichroic, Lampwork and Murano, findings, gift wrapping, art projects, ribbon and much, much more at the best lowest prices.

What are some of your other interests?

Solange: Aside from jewelry, I love all things crafty. I’ve made several picture collages for family and friends and I really enjoy taking pictures and scrapbooking. My friends always tell me that I’m glued to my camera, but I don’t think I am…I just like being able to capture moments in my life and be able to look back at them and laugh.

AGLOW PEACOCK GLASS PENDANT from BeadieandThings

What else would you like to share with curious ArtSnark readers?

Solange: A few things about me: I’m a Pisces. I’m the youngest of my family, if you don’t count my dachshund. I love flip flops. I’m highly obsessed with butterflies. I have a candle and purse fetish. I’m finishing my degree to be an early childhood teacher and would like to teach preschool or kindergarten. My favorite colors are blue and black. Pluto is my favorite Disney Character. I had a goldfish that lived to be 9 years old. I spend way too much time on the etsy forums, but I’ve made some long lasting friendships. I think that everything happens for a reason. Orchids are my absolute favorite flowers. I love drinking banana/strawberry fruit smoothies. I’m allergic to chocolate. Friendships are really valuable to me. I think the key to an outfit is accessorizing. Honesty, trust and communication is the way to a healthy life.

ICE PRINCESS Necklace by Solange

I was checking out your blog - you have quite a bit going on right now. Your Scrumdiddlyumptious Mega Giveaway is amazing - 30 prizes for to 30 winners ! That is too cool to pass up. I hope everybody reading this pops over to check it out.

Solange: Please visit my blog at jewelrybysolange.blogspot.com where you’ll find updates, other giveaways and links to websites such as myspace, indepublic, twitter, flickr and facebook where I have my jewelry and supplies posted.

Beaded Stretchy Ponytail Holders by Solange

Now for this week's fun giveaway! To enter, simply leave a comment on this ArtSnark blog before noon (EST) next Thursday 9/3. A lucky Winner will receive a one of a kind custom jewelry piece made by Solange.

Solange, can you tell us anything more about this unique prize?

Solange: Once the winner is picked, I will contact them to find out more about personal preferences (color, style etc) and make a one of a kind piece based on our discussion. I usually will make a cute pair of earrings, a small keychain or ponytail. Sometimes a very simple pendant. Thank You for taking the time to read a little about me and I hope the lucky winner enjoys their prize.

Thanks so much for stopping by for an interview, Solange, and for donating your custom creation to Thursday Giveaway. Solange is also sharing pics of her workspace here for Studio Tour Saturday so come by & take a peek.

Again, to enter this great giveaway simply leave a comment before noon (EST) 9/3. 1 lucky winner will be randomly picked at that time. This contest is open to USA and Canada residents only. Make sure you leave contact info if you email is not in your profile. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit Solange's shops & be sure to check out the gigantic giveaway that she is hosting on her blog this month.

------------------

Please note, I am also running 2 more random drawings right now:
500 custom business cards to 2 winners - ends 9/10

&

A 24" square custom wall sticker to 2 winners - ends 9/13