Studio Tour Sneak Peeks + A Great Giveaway

Welcome back to another Studio Tour Saturday!

How have you been this week?

I'm mixing things up a little today. Inspired by the Summer 2010 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Magazine, we're taking a quick peek at a few different spaces today.

(First we'll revisit 2 painters previously featured here on ArtSnark's. Then a sneak peek of 2 upcoming tours. Then we'll end with an announcement for a new random drawing.)


I was very excited to check out this edition of CPS Studios. I love peeking "behind the curtain" and this magazine features 30 studios over 148 pages. Now that is a lot of eye-candy!!

Also, several artists I've met through Etsy (and other online artsy venues) shared their creative spaces in this fun summer issue. Two have been featured on this blog before - Click any photo to revisit their tours:

Last summer we dropped in on Pam Carriker.

She had just given her studio a makeover using paint, 1 new chair, and items she already owned throughout her home.

What is Pam up to now? Her article Making Time For Studio Time can be found in CPS Summer Studios 2010 along with more photos of her studio (pages 104 & 105). Pam is putting the final touches on her upcoming book, Art At The Speed Of Life. This is in addition to painting, writing magazine articles, conducting workshops & teaching online classes. She is 1 busy lady! To find out about all of her projects, visit pamcarriker.com. You can also purchase her art through PamCarriker.etsy.com

On Jan. 1 Jodi Ohl invited us into her new studio, the Sweet Retreat

She had just purchased her first house. With it came a wonderful room lined with many built in shelves - just perfect for an art studio! Jodi likes to work on several pieces at a time and this room gives her the space to do that. Plus she can take a break without worrying about cluttering up the house with works in progress (she used to work on her dining room table).

So what has Jodi been up to lately? She continues to publish articles and tutorials in various art & craft magazines. Jodi shares her creative space on pages 131 & 132 of the new CPS studios. This year she has been very busy teaching workshops and online classes, as well as vending at Art Fairs. And all the while she is still creating! Read about Jodi's current projects on her blog sweetrepeats.blogspot.com. You can also see her art at her etsy shop, LucySweetLucy.

Now For Some Sneaky Peekies!

Both of these artists are in the new CPS Studios. The photos shown here are not from that magazine. They have been provided by the artists. I look forward to featuring both of these wonderful ladies on this blog later this summer.

Force of Nature by Rida Tritabaugh

Risa Tritabaugh is thrilled to posses a separate studio space after years of creating wherever she could around the house.

It is located in an artist filled building near her home. Easy to get to, but far enough away that she can set her cares aside and concentrate on her colorful pieces. Click on the photos to visit her blog, createdbyrisa.blogspot.com.

In July Risa will take us on a larger photo tour of her vibrant space. Until then you can see more of her studio on pages 118 & 119 in CPS Studios. And if you find yourself in St Paul, MN on the 1st Friday of any month, visit her studio during the open studio events held in lower St Paul. (visit her blog for details).

KC Willis new she needed a bigger space when she stumbled upon the house that would become Lipstick Ranch.

Lipstick ranch houses an art gallery, studios and workshop rooms. It even has a relaxing sun porch where KC can let her imagination wander. Take a peek inside her wonderful bungalow. It has such charisma!

KC's artwork is full of lush layers that evoke a feeling of history... and mystery.

Being Bernhardt by KC Willis

Her studio gives off that same intriguing vibe of years gone by.

I look forward to featuring KC later this summer & hope you will join me for her studio tour. In the meantime, you can read about Lipstick Ranch on pages 95 - 98 of the current CPS Studios. Find out more about her workshops at collagecamp.ning.com. Take a look around her website lipstickranch.com to learn about her artwork as well as classes & Collage Camp dvds.

There are many more artists & creative spaces in the current issue of CPS Studios. If you love going behind the scenes, I recommend tracking down a copy. You can find it at bookstores & craft shops, as well as on the Cloth Paper Scissors website.

Want to win a free copy?

I picked up an extra one the other day which I will ship to 1 lucky winner. Leave a comment on this blog before 1 a.m. on 6/5 to enter this random drawing. Please make sure to leave an email (if it isn't in your blog profile). This random drawing is open worldwide. Prize ships free to winner.

Thanks for popping by today. It has been a lot of fun! And thank you to all of the artist who open up their world to give the rest of us a peek at where they work their magic!

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By the way have you entered next Thursday's drawing for a Mosaic from Tortuga Tile Works? Click here for details & photo of this colorful prize.

Visit with ceramics artist LuRu + enter to win art from Tortuga TIle Works

Hey there. How have you been?

Ma & Pa Death Head double portrait mosaic by LuRu

Did you make it by last Saturday for the photo tour of Tortuga Tile Works?

If not, click here to check out the backyard/garage studio of ceramics artist, Luru. Just remember to come back since LuRu has stopped by for a visit today.

This past weekend was the Grand Opening of Tortuga Tile Works on Etsy.com. You can also see more of LuRu's artwork over at her website, TortugaTileWorks.com. By the way, clicking on the tile photos throughout this post will take you to more information on each piece. All photos are courtesy of Tortuga Tile Works

LuRu works mainly in tile and mosaics. She carves, casts, fires & glazes her pieces in her Hollywood, Florida studio. She kindly took a few minutes today to share some more information about herself and her art. So this is the part where I make myself scarce - I'll go make us some sandwiches or something....

Wahine Gold Tile by LuRu

LuRu: I have been creating ceramic work since 1992. I earned a BFA in Ceramics from the Ohio State University in 1995. In the beginning of my career I predominantly made large scale figurative sculpture. Increasingly, I began incorporating more materials into my works. This mixed media direction led me to pursue a masters degree in Sculpture rather than Ceramics.


LuRu: While in graduate school I explored metal fabrication, casting, textiles and video. After earning my MFA degree in 2004, I worked as an adjunct professor at Baton Rouge Community College and as the Special Events Coordinator at the Baton Rouge Gallery CCA. Although I enjoyed teaching art appreciation, sculpture and design classes, I found the event position more interesting.


LuRu: Upon moving to Florida in 2006 I continued my career in the event industry. I spent four years designing city wide and corporate events. Although creating decor schemes was akin to large scale installation art, I left the industry to return to my own art.

Large Tree Of Life And Death by LuRu

LuRu: More specifically I've returned with renewed vigor to ceramics and started my artisan tile company, Tortuga Tile Works.


LuRu: I am attracted to tiles because of their ornamental quality. In addition the press molding process allows for a large quantity to be produced economically.

Card Table Top Mosaic with red felt center by LuRu

LuRu: The collections thus far have been influenced by my experiences and interests. The Tiki Atoll, Atomic and Chance collections are a reflection of my lifestyle which is heavily steeped in poly-pop, mid-century and retro trappings.

Mermaid Blue Gloss Tiles by LuRu

LuRu: The idealized escapism of tiki mixed with the exotic raucousness of rockabilly is incorporated into these works.

LuRu

LuRu: I was introduced to the traditions of Dios de los Muertos during my undergraduate years while studying in Mexico. The balance of the life and death cycle and the honoring of deceased relatives appealed to my sensibility. I have created altars throughout the years for my departed grandparents. The Death Head collection is my tribute to these cultural conventions .


Thank you, LuRu, for stopping by today to share about yourself and your creations. And thanks for sponsoring the new Thursday Giveaway!

What's the new prize? It is the eye-catching piece at the top of this post, the Ma & Pa Death Head Double Portrait. This fun mosaic is mounted on luan with felt. With hanging hardware on the back, it is ready for display. This piece measures 10.5"H x 12"W. It is item #DHM 11 on the TortugaTileWorks website and normally sells for $65 (+ tax and shipping). Prize ships free to winner. However, this random drawing is open to USA residents only.

Want To Enter? 1 lucky winner will be randomly selected from comments left on this blog over the next 2 weeks. So be sure to leave yours before 1 a.m. (EST) on 6/3. Please add an email address if it isn't already in your blog profile.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful & creative week!

Where else can you find Tortuga Tile Works?

http://tortugatileworks.com
http://tortugatileworks.etsy.com
http://www.facebook.com/tortugatileworks
https://twitter.com/TortugaTile

In June LuRu will be vending at:

The Hukilau, Bahia Mar, Ft Lauderdale, FL (6/10 - 6/13)
Ohana-Luau at the Lake, Tiki Motor Inn, Lake George, NY (6/25- 6/27)

Thursday Giveaways part 1 - We Have 2 Winners!!

Woo Hoo!

It is that time of the week again. Never paid much attention to Thursdays before. Now I love 'em! I love the idea of putting a smile on some one's face each week. And this week we have 2 smiles!

Winner #1 is Whyte

Whyte gets a $20 Gift Certificate to get some goodies at any of my 3 etsy shops
ArtSnark.etsy.com
ColorTheSky.etsy.com
SteamDreams.etsy.com

Winner #2 is Vmichelle
Vmichelle gets to choose 1 free ACEO from my ArtSnark shop

A hearty Congrats to you both! I will be in touch today with instructions for collecting your prizes.

To everyone else: Thank you for playing! Pop back later today & I'll have the next giveaway posted. Running a bit behind today (seems to be an ongoing theme around here...)

I'll give you a hint - I was lucky enough to win something this past week & am going to pass it on.

See you later today! Thanks again for visiting

It's that time again!

...or is it ?

Freakin' daylight savings time....grrr... Ben Franklin, yah should've stayed in bed, man! If you're really curious, here's a copy of his illuminating suggestion. I've gotta admit I love this part:

I went home, and to bed, three or four hours after midnight..... An accidental sudden noise waked me about six in the morning when I was surprised to find my room filled with light......Your readers, who with me have never seen any signs of sunshine before noon...will be as much astonished as I was, when they hear of his rising so early.....

Actually Ben was a pretty funny guy ...... but I still hate daylight savings

But I loooove Random Thoughts Tuesday! So, do you feel linky? Got a bunch for you today

Feeling Random? Try the luck of the draw:

Mike over at The Mental Kavity is giving away some original art - Hell On High Heels ACEO

Totus Mel's giving away some of her seriously cool Needle Tatting pieces.

Joy over at Joy to the blog is giving away scrapbook supplies and a gazillion rubber stamps

Over at Grosgrain they're giving away a gift certificate to Cinnamon Sticks - check it out. Not what you think. Thanks to Melissa at January Wish for sharing this 1 on her blog

All these creative folks have fun blogs & Fab etsy shops too. So... go check them out!!

Thanks to Nullalux for tweeting (or is it twittering?) about mykeamend.com and to Myke for mentioning this seriously cool site - steampunkwallpaper.com

Before I forget, A hearty congrats to fellow ZNE member & Uber talented artist Barbara Moustafa of RustyMermaid ! She was recently published in Somerset Digital Studio Magazine. There's a pic of the mag on her blog

Want to try your hand at getting published? Here's the guidelines for a gazillion different Stampington Magazines as well as Cloth Paper Scissors

Dang, Wednesday rolled in when I wasn't looking. (yes I type sloooowly) Don't forget to cast your vote over at this month's Mind Wide Open challenge. As always a fascinating mix of entries

And if you get the time, pay a call on the Queen Mother of all things Random :

Mind Wide Open February Challenge -Dream

Then through the shady forest

the little maiden went
And though her steps were fleetest
the day was well nigh spent

from an 1863 version of Red Riding Hood

Red's Dream

The sleep of reason breeds monsters - Goya

Gail has posted all the entries on her blog. Over 20 wonderful pieces representing a variety of styles & interpretations! Worth checking out if you have the time - just visit here

SNEAK PEEK - Red's Dream

Playing with a piece for the MWO challenge - Dream. Pop on over, say hi to Gail, snag the image & play! You've still got til Midnight tomorrow to enter....C'mon....you can do it!

Here's a sneak peek of the piece I sent in. It's just the center but I think I may like the crop better than my full piece....harumph...I suspect I will have to tweak it more in the future ....

Even if you don't get around to interpreting Gail's lovely image, check back with her on Sunday. She'll be posting all the submissions to her blog then. And if you pop back here this weekend I'll have the full piece up eventually.

Happy Creating!

Mind Wide Open November Challenge

I've wanted to participate in these monthly challenges for a while. Each month Gail Schmidt puts a great image on her blog mind-wideopen.blogspot.com with a word or phrase for inspiration. Anyone who wants to can submit their interpretation. Readers then vote on their favorite piece. The winning artist gets a gift certificate to her store Shabby Cottage Studios

It is very cool to see the variety of art submitted each month. Go check it out if you get a chance.

For quite some time I've been intrigued by the Al Stewart song Fields of France. This month's MWO challenge image spoke to me immediately. So combining the 2 ideas, here is my end result. It can be hung on a wall or used as a suncatcher:

"Oh she looks, but there's nothing to see....still she looks, saying come back to me..."