tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10550323385540954482013-02-10T13:15:27.727-08:00ArtSeenArtSeen's mission is to expose readers to artists and their artistic methods via Q&A. Another part of ArtSeen's purpose is to report on art gallery openings and stories of interest in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky art community. If you are an artist and would like to be listed on ArtSeen, email Shawn Buckenmeyer at keyandra315@yahoo.com.Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-66321528396107882142012-12-23T20:26:00.000-08:002012-12-23T20:31:59.206-08:002012-12-23T20:31:59.206-08:00Winter Journal Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winter-journal-paul-auster/1107226425" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vlCC4DLY24/UNfWnU4NwHI/AAAAAAAABr0/LJ9xEFTyOY4/s640/9780805095531_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u><b>Winter Journal Book Review</b></u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By: <a href="http://patflafleur.wordpress.com/">Pat LaFleur</a></span><u><b> </b></u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“You think it will never happen to you, that it cannot happen to you, that you are the only person in the whole world to whom none of these things will ever happen, and then, one by one, they all begin to happen to you, in the same way they happen to everyone else.”</i><br /><br />With these lines, and now breathing in the steam from your freshly brewed cup of tea, you begin reading Paul Auster’s new memoir, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winter-journal-paul-auster/1107226425"><i>Winter Journal</i></a> (2012). You brought this one home to your chair because you’ve always enjoyed Auster’s work, and memoir is one of your favorite genres. <br /><br />But these opening lines halt your first sip and raise your brow. Not because they’re poorly written: they’re actually quite smooth, as his tend to be. And not because you disagree with what they say. They’re sharp in their commentary, if anyone were to ask. Instead, Auster’s opening sentence strikes you because, based on your understanding of memoir, Auster... well, he just doesn’t seem to get it. <br /><br />And then, over the course of the next 230 pages, your tea disappears, night turns to morning, and you find yourself standing corrected.<br /><br />Typically, memoir is the product of its author’s attempt to answer the question: WHO AM I? Marion Roach Smith, author of <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/memoir-project-marion-roach-smith/1100736964?ean=9780446584845">The Memoir Project</a> (2011), describes this process as a marking of territory, “staking out what’s yours, defining it and walking its perimeter.” In doing this, you will discover the boundaries of the truth of who “you” are, plotting a coherent outline of what makes you “unique.” And, hopefully, if you succeed, your reader will follow along.<br /><br />So, why on earth - you ask yourself - would Auster begin his memoir by describing his growing suspicion that he is, in fact, just like everyone else? The answer lies - as it usually does with Auster - in his way of writing it. <br /><br />Auster’s form, which has become critics’ chief complaint about Winter Journal, consists of loosely related thought-fragments. Some recollect places (a 50-page, chronological catalogue of the dwellings he has inhabited in his lifetime), some feelings (like the way his six-year-old bare feet feel on the cold morning floor) and other definitive episodes in his life (his mother’s death, to name the most vivid). And because Auster makes no obvious effort to link these sketches, it’s easy for you to think that this open weave of memory flies in the face of everything memoir promises. You wonder if they will ever merge into anything recognizable. Will they ever tell a story? Will they ever shape and define the truth of who he is? <br /><br />And then it hits you, the reason you hesitated with that first line: Auster’s memoir refuses to tell you this truth. There is, in fact, no single “truth” to tell. When describing his struggle to commemorate his mother, he explains that there are “too many gaps, too many silences and evasions, too many threads lost over the years for (him) to stitch together a coherent story” (132). Auster’s fragmentary style, you realize, works to make the same point about his attempts to reflect on his own life. The telling of his story must be as scattered and flighty as his own memory. This, for Auster, is no doubt the closest he or anyone else can get to authentic “truth.” <br /><br />Auster refuses to tell you a coherent story not because he disagrees with Smith’s description of memoir, but because he favors the mapping over the map it creates. The 50-page list of places he’s lived, dripping with tedious detail, might seem self-indulgent, but only if you read them as Auster’s attempt to squeeze them into “the truth of who he is.” Instead, you choose to read these pages as a demonstration of the often difficult road one must undertake when outlining this truth. Lest we forget Auster’s demonstrated skill spinning a good yarn (<i>The New York Trilogy, The Music of Chance</i>, anyone?), if Auster wanted <i>Winter Journal</i> to deliver a moving, fluid narrative, he could and would have. Instead, while Auster’s works of fiction plainly pursue their characters’ search for identity, <i>Winter Journal</i> gives a first-hand look at that process.<br /><br />This is because, for Auster, memoir - a word no doubt sharing ancestry with memory - happens underneath the level of straightforward story and clear understanding - or, as he puts it, before “the domain of conscious selfhood” (136). His life has no “arc,” in the literary sense of the word. Instead, it adds up to a heap of parts as crude, as ordinary and as (non)related as “sneezing and laughing, yawning and crying, burping and coughing, scratching your ears, rubbing your eyes, blowing your nose, clearing your throat...” (229). How many times, Auster wonders, has he done these things? Collecting these memories, holding an extended conversation with yourself (with no shame, he structures the memoir in 2nd person), these are where memoir lies, and in this way, it not only marks out what makes you you, but it also shows you how we all ask these questions of ourselves. <br /><br />In <i>Winter Journal</i>, Auster takes you on a journey through his mind, his body and everything in between. And if you’re left with any sort of grip on the author by the end, it’s an understanding not so much of who he is but of how he works. And you set the book down, having sipped its final drops, wondering if there’s any better way to understand someone.<br /><br />You set the book down, suspecting that maybe you’ve enjoyed thinking about <i>Winter Journal</i> more than actually reading it.</span></span><br />
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><sup><sup>[1]</sup></sup> From National Association of Memoir Writers
Teleseminar, posted 27 Apr 2012.</span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-58893235268611286392012-12-08T20:57:00.000-08:002012-12-08T20:57:35.403-08:002012-12-08T20:57:35.403-08:00A Conversation With Mary Syring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FCavkKIAI4s/UMQOP3UPqUI/AAAAAAAABp0/P1KiPkm4g3w/s1600/vanessblogsociety.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FCavkKIAI4s/UMQOP3UPqUI/AAAAAAAABp0/P1KiPkm4g3w/s640/vanessblogsociety.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.queenofthemay.org/#take-me-home">Mary Syring</a>, an artist from San Fransico, California, creates beautiful artwork that blends fairy-tales, the powerful presence of nature, and an elemental energy. What I <span style="font-size: small;">like the most abo<span style="font-size: small;">ut Syring<span style="font-size: small;">'s <span style="font-size: small;">artwork are the <span style="font-size: small;">multiple</span> laye<span style="font-size: small;">rs of meanings and imagery at work within each p<span style="font-size: small;">iece. </span></span></span></span></span></span>Syring spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and artistic inspirations.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic process, and what types of artistic materials you use?</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />My art is an extension of myself, I start off with an idea in mind, and it always grows. I'll be half way through a piece and then get some random idea to bring to it and just toss right up in there. Hardly do I ever finish a piece [that] looks exactly as I intended it to, in the beginning I have dozens of thumbnails that can attest to that. I prefer to use ink, watercolor, and gold ink; my favorite surfaces are wood, watercolor and Bristol paper.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b_JwMxLrOD8/UMQR6fJ4TQI/AAAAAAAABqg/8E_sUFrUjuU/s1600/selfport1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b_JwMxLrOD8/UMQR6fJ4TQI/AAAAAAAABqg/8E_sUFrUjuU/s400/selfport1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Self Portrait 1"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />I seem to be drawn to the slightly creepier aspects of life. Or at least that's what I've been told. But in all honesty, I've never seen my curiosities as creepy or strange, but beautiful and fascinating. I've never once told myself that my interests teetered on the strange side. It's only others that seem to point that out to me. But who is to say what is normal and abnormal really? I'm inspired by the breath and decay of life, I'm inspired by my fears, what frightens me equally interests me. Fairy tales, monsters, that which goes bump in the night, ghosts, hot summer nights, cold foggy days, the stars and the essence of space, the unknown, the unknowing, symbolism, faith, chance encounters, cake, you name it. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XrGzb1sPCU/UMQUH2wQ2lI/AAAAAAAABrA/ct0S9NcbpQ8/s1600/prey8round.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XrGzb1sPCU/UMQUH2wQ2lI/AAAAAAAABrA/ct0S9NcbpQ8/s400/prey8round.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />I create art because I don't enjoy expressing myself any other way, because I'm never happier then when I’m working on something of my own. I'm beginning to realize I have a very self-destructive side, I have destroyed many opportunities for myself before, it seems I never do with my artwork though. Me thinks it's a sign I should stick to it.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DhiQ8NevV0A/UMQSUrpFxlI/AAAAAAAABqo/9ZordnzE4CM/s1600/art.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DhiQ8NevV0A/UMQSUrpFxlI/AAAAAAAABqo/9ZordnzE4CM/s400/art.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Whatever pops into my head; existentialism in general. I'm fascinated by life cycles and seem to always go back to themes that incorporate them. Same with fairy tales and the innocents that riddle them. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GitLppHsAXg/UMQS_sOepGI/AAAAAAAABqw/RC5v9edvoa8/s1600/wipart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GitLppHsAXg/UMQS_sOepGI/AAAAAAAABqw/RC5v9edvoa8/s400/wipart.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Who are some artists that you admire, and why?</span></b><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well I'd be nowhere without <a href="http://rackham.artpassions.net/">Arthur Rackham</a>. His ink work is what has always inspired me to keep working on my own technique. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.muchafoundation.org/">Alphonse Mucha</a>; his design sense was and still is sensational. Nobody has ever been able to master him.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_de_Toulouse-Lautrec">Toulouse Lautrec</a>, his technique in general, the flow and life that dances off of his work fascinates me. But it's more the fact that he's the kind of artist I'd like to have a conversation with. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5jrdnIh72k/UMQTnzufdYI/AAAAAAAABq4/exEUiPbcmOE/s1600/tongueincheek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5jrdnIh72k/UMQTnzufdYI/AAAAAAAABq4/exEUiPbcmOE/s640/tongueincheek.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Tongue In Cheek<span style="font-size: small;">"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What’s the best and worst thing about being an artist?</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Everything and nothing at the same time. Sometimes you feel so in tune with all that goes on around you, you whole heartedly believe you see the entire world differently than others. The trees, the birds, the bay, even the air fills your lungs differently. You see through people as if they are just tufts of lace wandering about and conversing before you, and you have to pretend and play dumb. All the while watching the wheels turn inside them. This separates you from the numbers, and this is something you enjoy. Then you realize it's a double edged sword, and if you're not careful you will fall into bouts of loneliness because no one understands you and you feel no one ever really will.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k2W8MidJ34g/UMQVdoPYB8I/AAAAAAAABrI/mrn-G1uT8DY/s1600/deepwithin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k2W8MidJ34g/UMQVdoPYB8I/AAAAAAAABrI/mrn-G1uT8DY/s400/deepwithin2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Deep Within 2"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Syring and her artwork, visit her <a href="http://marysyring.blogspot.com/">blog</a> and <a href="http://www.queenofthemay.org/#take-me-home">website</a> for more details.</span></span><br /><br />Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-25276272575417900252012-11-28T21:17:00.000-08:002012-11-28T21:30:46.181-08:002012-11-28T21:30:46.181-08:00 Color: A Natural History of the Palette Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lWhFxrqJBic/ULbusF1Ns9I/AAAAAAAABoc/IrZtB28rgsM/s320/102210182.jpg" width="212" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Color: A Natural History of the Palette</u></span></b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By: <a href="http://patflafleur.wordpress.com/">Pat LaFleur</a></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you come across a copy of Victoria Finlay’s<i> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/color-victoria-finlay/1100021081?ean=9780812971422">Color: A Natural History of the Palette</a></i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/color-victoria-finlay/1100021081?ean=9780812971422"> (Random House</a>, 2002), take pause before opening and ask yourself at least 3, if not all 6 of the following questions:<br /><br />1) Do I like history books?<br />2) Do I like travel books?<br />3) Do I like reading other people’s journals?<br />4) Do I have a pathological obsession with the color wheel?<br />5) Do I actually like the unrelenting, scrupulously detailed narrative typical of my least favorite Victorian author?<br />6) Do I have a lot of time on my hands?<br /><br />Okay, I’ll back up. It’s only fair to say that Finlay’s book embarks on an admirable (and potentially interminable) task: to chronicle the cultural histories of the color wheel’s most ancient ancestors. While she admits that this fascination is not new, she’s right that it warrants continued pursuit - if only because it takes something that is easily shelved as part of “nature” and recasts it as a very human thing. In an academic sense, her scientific treatment of these pigments sheds a different light on why, for example, the Boddhisatvas in Dunhuang’s cave 419 appear with darker skin than the depictions of the Buddha in the foreground. Rather than reading the darker skin in a racial context, Finlay explains how these pigments simply darkened with time, and so, in one sense, her histories open new avenues of interpretation and meaning for us to consider. In an even more vital sense, though, Finlay describes the potentially bloodier side of some red dyes derived from the cochineal beetle, inhabitants of the prickly pear plant: “[The harvesters] made a surreal scene, with their hoods and gloves and glasses, and the constant hiss of the compressors echoing around the fields... The protection was necessary: one of those fine spines in the eye and a worker can go blind.”<br /><br />She’s got stories like this for all the major colors, and it’s no secret to anyone who has moved beyond a freshman-level art survey that there is more to color choice than hue, saturation and value<span style="font-size: small;">. </span>Colors have cultural connotations and consequences, too, and Finlay resolves to flesh out these connections between hue and humanity. <br /><br />And my, oh, my does she flesh them out. To a fault. Part history textbook, part travelogue, part art theory thesis, <i>Color: A Natural History of the Palette</i> takes what is a dense, rich topic and refuses to discriminate in its choices of detail or digression. In fact, where most lay history or travel writing relies heavily on careful narrative craftsmanship, <i>Color</i> reads more like a polished version of her apparently extensive field notes. And it’s not that her writing is bad. Finlay can certainly craft a sentence, a paragraph, and - like the cochineal example above - she has no trouble weaving drama into the production of these inks and dyes. <br /><br />Ultimately, though, she doesn’t seem to know the boundaries of her stories. Take her chapter on the color Yellow, which moves somewhat erratically from Mumbai to Hong Kong, to Britain, back to Hong Kong, and finally to Iran - with references to New Zealand, Macedonia, Tasmania and La Mancha, Spain sprinkled in for flavor. To a certain extent, I wonder if this is a consequence of her topic: these hues have rich, extensive human histories. But I think Finlay limits her audience by providing such meticulous historical detail, particularly when it’s crafted as a linear travel narrative. As a whole, <i>Color</i> shows little notable effort to shape these histories into something palatable.<br /><br />So my tone in beginning this review, I’m convinced, stems directly from the way in which I set out to digest Color. Some of you might be thinking: “Oh, he just doesn’t have the same passion for color that I do... I’m sure it would keep my interest!” Okay, maybe you’re right. But I’m not wrong in saying that if you try to sit down and read this book in one, two, or even five sittings, you will fail. The topic might be fascinating, but the writing fails to captivate. Take home the book if you must, but leave it on your coffee table, your night stand, or your bathroom sink, and read it bit by bit. Read it for the information, not for the storytelling. Otherwise, a rich, textured history of art will quickly be drained of all its color.</span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-82820557587119460482012-11-02T23:29:00.000-07:002012-11-02T23:29:51.999-07:002012-11-02T23:29:51.999-07:00A Conversation With Ramel Jasir<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8S9us-c34zA/UJSq39wn59I/AAAAAAAABmQ/MynEC496RlA/s1600/199498_169280073121664_4027498_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8S9us-c34zA/UJSq39wn59I/AAAAAAAABmQ/MynEC496RlA/s400/199498_169280073121664_4027498_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramel Jasir and his artwork.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Several words come to my mind when <span style="font-size: small;">describing the artwork of<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://rameljasirart.com/">Ramel Jasir</a><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a self<span style="font-size: small;">-taught artist from Portsmouth, Virgi<span style="font-size: small;">nia<span style="font-size: small;">:</span> <span style="font-size: small;">bold<span style="font-size: small;">, colorful, <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">and<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">filled with <span style="font-size: small;">rhythmic</span> tex<span style="font-size: small;">ture<span style="font-size: small;">s and elaborate line <span style="font-size: small;">deta<span style="font-size: small;">il</span></span>.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">All of these <span style="font-size: small;">elements come<span style="font-size: small;"> together to create <span style="font-size: small;">some very <span style="font-size: small;">poetic</span> <span style="font-size: small;">pie<span style="font-size: small;">ces<span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Jas<span style="font-size: small;">ir spo<span style="font-size: small;">ke with ArtSeen about his artwork and his artistic inspirations.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic process, and what types of artistic materials you use?</b></span><br /><br />My artistic process always starts with color and music. Many of my paintings were created to the timeless sounds of Fela Kuti, Ismael Rivera, Donny Hathaway, Syl Johnson, and Gil Scott Heron to name a few. I often let the music set the mood, pace, and creative flow. Then I use the colors that I see in the music like a big color swatch. I rarely have a concept when I start to paint. The colors, the texture, and the random shapes and images created by the paint brush or palette knife drives the creation if that make sense. Within the random abstract image I may see a face, city, or some other image that I may decide to isolate or paint over. It is a fun process of discovery because I never know what I am going to paint so it is a treat for me every time.<br /><br />I mostly create my paintings with acrylic paint but often use oil when needed<span style="font-size: small;">, </span>especially when creating eyes or lips because I like the realism that you can achieve using oils. In general, I will create on anything I can<span style="font-size: small;">, </span>which I often do because of financial constraints. When I cannot afford canvas I create on hardboard or wood and have even used hard Styrofoam blocks in which I coat in polyurethane for hardness.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6arow2gy5Ms/UJSrzlD-nYI/AAAAAAAABmY/uvg9fUWMJsg/s1600/Where+is+the+Honor2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6arow2gy5Ms/UJSrzlD-nYI/AAAAAAAABmY/uvg9fUWMJsg/s400/Where+is+the+Honor2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Where is the Honor 2"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</b></span><br /><br />My greatest inspiration has and will always be my family. I have always been surrounded by my children while creating my artwork. As much as I would love to paint in peace they add a certain energy to the room and my work. Other than that, my desire to create, share, and create dialogue via my work is insatiable at times. I am always in the process of creating whether it be in a tangible form or in mind; I am always working on the next project.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-fEsu7L5a8/UJSsM8vtTRI/AAAAAAAABmg/GfgpcR4KQ4U/s1600/185448_233965276726763_2007599529_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-fEsu7L5a8/UJSsM8vtTRI/AAAAAAAABmg/GfgpcR4KQ4U/s400/185448_233965276726763_2007599529_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />My artwork at its current stage is but a reflective of my four year journey as a visual artist. As I often say, it is “my voice in color.” Not only through my artwork do you see my journey towards discovering and getting to know my cultural and multi-ethnic roots but you may also see many different themes that include love, family, politics, human rights, and social activism. I like to think that my work is representative of the diverse human experience through the four year lens of a visual artist.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CiZBy3djRho/UJSsjYlXiuI/AAAAAAAABmo/6x7h2lUB2ZY/s1600/6078_233967353393222_424712489_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CiZBy3djRho/UJSsjYlXiuI/AAAAAAAABmo/6x7h2lUB2ZY/s400/6078_233967353393222_424712489_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Who are some artists that you admire, and why?</b></span><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are a few local artists such as <a href="http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/wayne-potrafka.html">Wayne Potrafka</a>, <a href="http://www.valentefrazier.com/">Valente Frazier</a>, <a href="http://www.claytonsingleton.com/">Clayton Singleton</a>, <a href="http://www.thehaikugallery.com/">Trish Doolin</a>, and <a href="http://www.sarahpaints.com/">Sharon Hanson</a> that I admired because they were the ones that took notice of my artwork early in 2009 and 2010 before I had ever shown my work publicly. They not only encouraged me to keep developing my craft but some actually took the time to help guide me in the right direction in regards to the business of art and introducing me to other talented artists.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWCV_l9ez5c/UJSs2RF5JmI/AAAAAAAABmw/wm3lJL3SsFk/s1600/The+Taureg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWCV_l9ez5c/UJSs2RF5JmI/AAAAAAAABmw/wm3lJL3SsFk/s1600/The+Taureg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<strong></strong>The Taureg" </td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What’s the best and worst thing about being an artist?</span></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />The best thing about being an artist is being able to share and meet people from all walks of life and from all over the world with the help of the vast social media networks available nowadays. Going from creating my work to seeing it hung for exhibition is the ultimate high because it is like seeing my work for the first time. I get to enjoy and talk about my work along with everyone else with equal excitement. Because of the lack of storage space my work goes from creation to being stored very quickly in which I may not see it again until show time. So often when I am engaging with the public about my work I enjoy hearing what people see in my work. I am always amazed at the images people see in my own work that I would have never thought of. So again, it is always a treat for me as well. </span></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The worst part about being an artist is the financial hardships as a developing artist. The rejection, be it a gallery or collector, is difficult at times, but it is part of the process. Yet being able to show my work with an engaging public makes it all worth it every time.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FK-grzXkQns/UJStWImSPGI/AAAAAAAABm4/5-wtrbSbn0I/s1600/The+First+Dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FK-grzXkQns/UJStWImSPGI/AAAAAAAABm4/5-wtrbSbn0I/s640/The+First+Dance.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The First Dance"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Can you talk about any current or future projects you are working on?</span></b><br /><br />Right now I am working on portrait series for 2013 featuring many interesting people that I have met or read about during my journey as an artist. Most of the portraits are women who have been victims of abuse, human rights violations, or just symbols of power. I plan to create portraits in my style of art which will also consist of a couple of collaborations with other artists. I know a portrait series does not sound that interesting but I promise something new and interesting in regards to technique and presentation.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojx6b0budDc/UJSt26GivtI/AAAAAAAABnA/MQPvL-eh3JE/s1600/The+Color+of+Love+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojx6b0budDc/UJSt26GivtI/AAAAAAAABnA/MQPvL-eh3JE/s640/The+Color+of+Love+3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<strong></strong>The Color of Love 3"</td></tr>
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<br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />My advice to other artists is to keep doing what you love and develop your craft. Create quality work, learn the business of art if your goal is to create for a living, and most importantly have fun. Don’t let the drive to make money and the competitive nature of the business make you forget why you started creating in the first place. Most people are very successful at doing things that they love and it will translate into your work and presentation. Support other artists whenever you can and never give up. If I may be of any assistance in any way feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39BrwWaxJaA/UJSuMhDs6yI/AAAAAAAABnI/pJo9p5_SQ80/s1600/The+Wedding+Planner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39BrwWaxJaA/UJSuMhDs6yI/AAAAAAAABnI/pJo9p5_SQ80/s400/The+Wedding+Planner.JPG" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Wedding Planner"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Jasir, you can visit his <a href="http://rameljasirart.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/rameljasir">Facebook page</a> and follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/RamelJasir">Twitter</a> for more details.<span style="font-size: small;"> You can also check out an <span style="font-size: small;">interview PBS did with Jasir <a href="http://ideastations.org/video/virginia-currents-coach-of-year-artist-ramel-jasir-2012-10-10">here</a>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8K8liZ5-f8/UJSxU8c1_oI/AAAAAAAABnw/Zv3QGruFTLg/s1600/The+Color+of+Love+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="335" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8K8liZ5-f8/UJSxU8c1_oI/AAAAAAAABnw/Zv3QGruFTLg/s400/The+Color+of+Love+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Color of Love 4"</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All images provided by Ramel Jasir.</span></span></i><br />Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-82274698585363416552012-10-29T21:21:00.001-07:002012-10-29T21:22:38.604-07:002012-10-29T21:22:38.604-07:00A Conversation With David Camisa<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKdgRepmjz8/UI8tjzlEkmI/AAAAAAAABlI/b3FFiL9dTPQ/s1600/_Prelude+To+A+Monster_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKdgRepmjz8/UI8tjzlEkmI/AAAAAAAABlI/b3FFiL9dTPQ/s640/_Prelude+To+A+Monster_2011.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Prelude To A Monster" 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.davidcamisa.com/">David Camisa</a>, an artist fro<span style="font-size: small;">m Vancouver, British Columbia, <span style="font-size: small;">creates fantastic<span style="font-size: small;">, surreal paintings that explore mytho<span style="font-size: small;">logy<span style="font-size: small;">,<span style="font-size: small;"> nature, feminine be<span style="font-size: small;">auty<span style="font-size: small;"> and more.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Camisa spoke with ArtSeen about his artwork and his arti<span style="font-size: small;">stic inspirations.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic process, and what types of artistic materials you use?</span></b><br /><br />My work has changed a lot over the years but I'd say I've been drawing for as long as I can remember. I grew up obsessed with comic books and, as a result, spent a great deal of my time emulating my favorite artists. It wasn't until I left high school that I began exploring with other mediums and fell in love with painting. After trying my hand at a number of techniques I began exploring with oil paint and wood and finally found the perfect fit for the type of work I wanted to create. Now most of my pieces generally go through the same transformation process: sketch, to full scale illustration, to completed painting. <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b><br /><br />As generic as it may sound I draw a bit of inspiration from everywhere. Whether it's our relationships with one another, the world of nature around us, or even the lyrics in a song - the catalyst for that next idea could be anything. For me, the challenge is to take something we can all relate to, something familiar, and twist it slightly; creating a surreal image unlike something you're likely to see in real life. I can't say exactly what it is that drives me to create art, it's simply something that has always felt so natural to me and I don't think I'd feel whole without it. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fz5Ju8ekFT4/UI8vU-fVrdI/AAAAAAAABlQ/vz6CudFEEBs/s1600/_Crossroads_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fz5Ju8ekFT4/UI8vU-fVrdI/AAAAAAAABlQ/vz6CudFEEBs/s640/_Crossroads_2011.jpg" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">""Crossroads" 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b><br /><br />I think a great piece of art is like a great story; it pulls you in and begs you to know more about its characters and surroundings. My aim for each piece is to convey emotion in such a way that people feel that connection and become compelled to delve deeper into what that piece means to them. There's no right or wrong way to interpret my work, simply discovering what story it unfolds for you. <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Who are some artists that you admire, and why?</span></b><br /><br />There are a number of artists whose work I love but I would have to say two artists I really admire would be <a href="http://www.muchafoundation.org/">Alphonse Mucha</a> and <a href="http://www.audrey-kawasaki.com/">Audrey Kawasaki</a>. Both of their works are so unique but they share a crisp, clean style and feature captivating characters whose emotional state always packs a punch. Mr. Mucha is obviously no longer with us but I'm always awaiting new work from Audrey Kawasaki and she consistently blows me away every time. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdld-rl16a4/UI8vgO6Z87I/AAAAAAAABlY/J5lUluSzJNY/s1600/_Helen_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdld-rl16a4/UI8vgO6Z87I/AAAAAAAABlY/J5lUluSzJNY/s400/_Helen_2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Helen" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What’s the best and worst thing about being an artist?</b></span><br /><br />The best thing about being an artist is getting to do what I'm so passionate about while getting to share it with others. It's wonderful to create art and be given the time to produce work I'm interested in making and it's equally as rewarding to share that work with an audience and have them respond to it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The worst thing would have to be that it can sometimes be an awful lot of work with little to no payoff; shows can fall through, submissions can be rejected and, all in all, a fairly uncertain road can lie ahead. That's why it's always important to be up for an adventure and continue to create work that means something to you because that's the one thing you can be in control of. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CrrhArcT_Xs/UI8vyJkHZ-I/AAAAAAAABlg/uEqZPAHb9l4/s1600/_Arachne_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CrrhArcT_Xs/UI8vyJkHZ-I/AAAAAAAABlg/uEqZPAHb9l4/s640/_Arachne_2011.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Arachne" 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Can you talk about any current or future projects you are working on?</span></b><br /><br />I certainly can! I've spent the last few months preparing for an exhibit featuring my work at Tasty Gallery (<a href="http://www.shoptastyart.com/">www.shoptastyart.com</a>) in Seattle. Opening on November 9, "Triumphs & Tragedies" is a collection of work all inspired by Greek mythology. I've always been drawn to dramatic stories and myths and it's been so much fun to put my own spin on such classic tales. <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b><br /><br />Just keep creating. If you're pursuing a career as an artist then keep practicing, persevere, and never give up. You're bound to hear a few "no's" along the way (and if you don't, I'd love your secret as I certainly have!) but stay true to yourself and keep honing those skills. It will pay off in the long run.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1uVqdluTg4/UI8v_eiQiAI/AAAAAAAABlo/R4xGMfMk0Rs/s1600/_Pandora_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1uVqdluTg4/UI8v_eiQiAI/AAAAAAAABlo/R4xGMfMk0Rs/s400/_Pandora_2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Pandora" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more info<span style="font-size: small;">rmation about artist David Camisa<span style="font-size: small;">, </span>you can visit his <a href="http://www.davidcamisa.com/">web</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.davidcamisa.com/">site</a><span style="font-size: small;">, <a href="http://www.davidcamisa.wordpress.com/">bl</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.davidcamisa.wordpress.com/">og</a><span style="font-size: small;">, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/davidcamisaart">Fa</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/davidcamisaart">cebook page</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/davidcamisa">M</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/davidcamisa">y<span style="font-size: small;">s</span>pace </a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/davidcamisa">Page</a>, <a href="http://davidcamisa.deviantart.com/">Deviant Art page</a>, <a href="http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/203416-david-camisa">A</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/203416-david-camisa">rtslant profile</a> and follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/davidcamisa">T</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/davidcamisa">witter</a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>for more det<span style="font-size: small;">ails. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All images courtesy of David Camisa.</i></span> </span></span></span></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-33202935478498845932012-10-22T22:21:00.001-07:002012-10-23T10:46:18.477-07:002012-10-23T10:46:18.477-07:00A Conversation With Cory Benhatzel<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LXDRWs1T9E0/UIXu94iOW5I/AAAAAAAABjU/O_Yg3kUavd8/s1600/Talisman2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LXDRWs1T9E0/UIXu94iOW5I/AAAAAAAABjU/O_Yg3kUavd8/s640/Talisman2012.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Talisman" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.corybenhatzel.com/">Cory Benhatzel</a>, an art<span style="font-size: small;">ist<span style="font-size: small;"> fr<span style="font-size: small;">om Amherst, New York,<span style="font-size: small;"> creates <span style="font-size: small;">gorgeous<span style="font-size: small;"> artwork t<span style="font-size: small;">hat <span style="font-size: small;">combines elements of nature, the occult, symbolism<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">, layers of <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">multiple</span> m<span style="font-size: small;">eaning and much m<span style="font-size: small;">ore<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">What strikes me the most about Benhatzel<span style="font-size: small;">'s artwork are the ornate, decorative qualities and the beautiful colors<span style="font-size: small;"> that<span style="font-size: small;"> make up her <span style="font-size: small;">creations.<span style="font-size: small;"> Benhatzel spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and artistic inspirations.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background, and artistic processes?</b></span><br /><br />Ever since I was a kid I loved drawing and painting, and it always made me feel very special from the attention that it got me. Making art always made me so happy and I always knew that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.<br /><br />At eighteen I moved cross country, alone, to Los Angeles to attend Otis College of Art and Design and continued to live there for several years after I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts.<span style="font-size: small;"> After graduation I tried several art-related fields including tattooing, teaching, and gallery work, but I always felt unsatisfied. Particularly from working for galleries, I came to realize that I wanted to be a full time artist, making artwork for myself, and to one day be self-employed<span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span>It took me a long time to become disciplined enough to develop a work ethic for this and humble enough to realize that I had (and have still) so much more to learn.<br /><br />My artistic process involves using reference material mostly from the natural world that I find inspiration from and can then attempt to create the images that I see in my head. I make a design and transfer that onto birch panels. Then I draw more freehand onto the board and add a layer of matte medium. I then paint with Liquitex acrylics and Golden gloss medium, sometimes layering more, glazing colors, and sometimes keeping it simple, letting the wood grain show through. I love white gesso, and oftentimes use black gesso, and other color tinted gessos that I’ve mixed and always seem to gravitate towards. Once the painting is to where I want it I varnish it to make it nice, glossy, and fade resistant.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_j6HdLVBRqM/UIYOQUb38fI/AAAAAAAABkA/llzp3k6FgkQ/s1600/Conjuring2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_j6HdLVBRqM/UIYOQUb38fI/AAAAAAAABkA/llzp3k6FgkQ/s640/Conjuring2012.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Conjuring" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b><br /><br />The animal world has always been my major source of inspiration; the intelligence, magic, and dignity of animals has fascinated me since I was a child and was a major factor in my decision to move back to upstate New York three and a half years ago from Los Angeles. The duality of the beauty and brutality of nature is another source of constant inspiration.<br /><br />Besides nature, music, the occult, including various forms of divination, and magic are all inspirational. The idea of hidden messages, all forms of symbolism, has always been important, as well. I use Floriography (the Victorian era practice of sending coded messages using flower arrangements) in my work, so every flower in each painting holds a specific meaning pertinent to the overall theme of the work.<br /><br />Basically I create work because I have to; it’s compulsive, and it’s the only thing I’ve ever been really good at.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b><br /><br />The natural world meeting the mystical world; the occult, Norse paganism, the doppelganger, divination, victory, protection, the dance between life and death, triumph, and love.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b0EfZZGcKW8/UIYO5LCYGDI/AAAAAAAABkI/n6M7W7GSj5M/s1600/Charming2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b0EfZZGcKW8/UIYO5LCYGDI/AAAAAAAABkI/n6M7W7GSj5M/s640/Charming2012.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Charming <span><span class="yiv1055641266Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="yiv1055641266Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">(The Spirits)</span></span></span>" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</b></span><br /><br />Yes, there are always artists who make me feel like I need to up my skill level, too many to list. It’s inspirational to see what other people are up to.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b><br /><br />I honestly have no idea how to answer that question. For me personally, I can really think of myself as an artist now because I work really, really hard at what I do and always try to get better. I’ve learned that it’s best to stay humble and learn as much as I can; that it’s always best to be as kind as possible.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s0-imalkEGg/UIYRbkfs9lI/AAAAAAAABkQ/J0Zo6PXcPVc/s1600/UnmaskingSecrets2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s0-imalkEGg/UIYRbkfs9lI/AAAAAAAABkQ/J0Zo6PXcPVc/s640/UnmaskingSecrets2012.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Unmasking Secrets" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What projects or gallery shows would you consider career highlights or personally important to you as an artist?</b></span><br /><br />Well, I recently had my first real solo show called Talisman at Modern Eden gallery in San Francisco, so that was especially exciting. <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b><br /><br />Work hard, stay humble, and be nice! Never stop researching and putting yourself out there. Be as professional as possible. Learn time management! Always put out the highest quality of work that you possibly can. Whatever your idea of success is, don’t stop working towards it, and keep making the goal bigger and bigger. <br /><br />The best advice is to figure things out for yourself. Like anything else in life, you will make mistakes and have bad experiences, but it’s important to learn from that, and persevere.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tx1iLka9HL8/UIYSFCMAS6I/AAAAAAAABkY/UJ0aK9gWzaA/s1600/ThePeafowlWidow2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tx1iLka9HL8/UIYSFCMAS6I/AAAAAAAABkY/UJ0aK9gWzaA/s640/ThePeafowlWidow2012.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Peafowl Widow" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Benhatzel and her artwork<span style="font-size: small;">, you can visit her <a href="http://www.corybenhatzel.com/">website</a><span style="font-size: small;">, </span><a href="http://corybenhatzel.blogspot.com/">blo</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://corybenhatzel.blogspot.com/">g</a><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">and <a href="https://twitter.com/corylou">Twitter</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All images provided by Cory Benhatzel.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-41830955412704666882012-10-12T22:57:00.000-07:002012-10-14T00:04:18.252-07:002012-10-14T00:04:18.252-07:00A Conversation With David Amorando<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wX0ZmAh4vek/UHj2-xK4DiI/AAAAAAAABhk/qFmDxtCv6Z0/s1600/PhantomColor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wX0ZmAh4vek/UHj2-xK4DiI/AAAAAAAABhk/qFmDxtCv6Z0/s400/PhantomColor.jpg" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<b></b>Phantom"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://lightningman.backpagecomics.com/">David Amorando</a>, a freelance cartoonist living in Cincinnati, Ohio, is saving lives everyday. Well maybe he isn't, but his artistic creation, Lightning Man, is. Amorando spoke with ArtSeen about his creations and his artistic process. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic process, and what types of artistic materials you use?</b></span><br />Sure. I'm a freelance cartoonist who writes and draws a print and webcomic based on my own character “Lightning Man.” Lightning Man at its core is a superhero story. I basically started drawing this character in high school.<br /><br />When it comes to the process, usually I just start drawing the story I want to tell. Since comic books are a visual medium it's important to be able to convey the story with pictures. The approach is a little backward as most comics are scripted first, but it's the process I feel most comfortable with.<br /><br />As for materials, it varies. For the printed comic I use industry standard comic art boards and two mechanical pencils (a 0.5 with 2H lead and a 0.7 with HB lead). The colors are done on the computer. I send it off to my publishers at Hazzum Productions who inks and letters on the finished product.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hR7TJa5jTfs/UHj301HEnOI/AAAAAAAABhs/3wou7-nqhAY/s1600/belle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hR7TJa5jTfs/UHj301HEnOI/AAAAAAAABhs/3wou7-nqhAY/s400/belle.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Belle"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</b></span><br />The cop-out answer for that would be "everything inspires me" but that's the truest answer: everyday life, people, and humans wanting to do more for their community. That's what a hero is. And when I write/draw comics I take that away. Also, the city of Cincinnati; it has inspired much of the background art in the Lightning Man webcomics. That made the transition of taking the universe of Lightning Man from the fictional city of Mineport to setting the printed book in the very real Cincinnati, OH.<br /><br />The reason I create is simple; I like telling stories. I always try to tell a fun story with great characters.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</b></span><br /><br />The themes are pretty basic ones: power, responsibility, maturity. What makes a man turn into a monster? What makes another become a hero? Though, it's not really that deep or philosophical. After all, how is that fun?</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hMcTHJCGWTk/UHj6ZYemUII/AAAAAAAABh0/8ED7OXeSFO8/s1600/Spideyandbelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hMcTHJCGWTk/UHj6ZYemUII/AAAAAAAABh0/8ED7OXeSFO8/s400/Spideyandbelle.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Spidey and Belle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Who are some artists that you admire, and why?</b></span><br /><br />Four creators stand out to me: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Timm">Bruce Timm</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_MacFarlane">Seth MacFarlane</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Whedon">Joss Whedon</a>, and <a href="http://www.southparkstudios.com/">Trey Parker & Matt Stone</a>.<br /><br />Bruce Timm's art helped me develop my style. It's a take on his work on <i>Batman: The Animated Series</i> and <i>Superman: The Animated Series</i>. Seth MacFarlane's work ethic has been something I've tried to follow. He is involved with every aspect of the shows he runs. I try to be that involved. Joss Whedon's a master at playing with tone. Buffy and Avengers are two examples. Both are serious with flawed individuals trying to save the world. Some can't take the job seriously until the danger is thrust upon them. Matt and Trey stick to their guns when they tell their stories. When they're censored by ANYONE they let them know. I know it's dangerous to mention Family Guy and South Park in the same topic, but they are really the risk takers in cartooning.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCzFsVaQX1g/UHmXiCcthkI/AAAAAAAABio/zrT_NPAAVjY/s1600/lightning+man+comic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCzFsVaQX1g/UHmXiCcthkI/AAAAAAAABio/zrT_NPAAVjY/s320/lightning+man+comic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lightning Man Comics<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you talk about any current or future projects you are working on?</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Some of my webcomic readers and Facebook followers know that the end of <i>Lightning Man: The Official Webcomic</i> is coming. And if they don't, they do now. <i>Electrifying Lightning Man</i> (the alternate reality of the webcomic) has been taking up most of my creative time and energies. I will say this won't be the end of Lightning Man in webcomic form. I've been building in the last few stories the idea of a team called The United. I've always been interested in the idea of a group of super-people. I used to read a lot of Spider-Man comics with crossovers. Plus, I know what it's like to work with a group of people. Some get along, others have friction, but the goal is always the same. Should be fun.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esDx8ru46BA/UHj7DZVjYBI/AAAAAAAABh8/GC6UcqS5eG4/s1600/Blaze-Season-Finale-Version.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esDx8ru46BA/UHj7DZVjYBI/AAAAAAAABh8/GC6UcqS5eG4/s320/Blaze-Season-Finale-Version.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Blaze Season Finale Version<span style="font-size: small;">"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</b></span><br /><br />Don't be afraid to show off! Not everyone will like what you have, but those who do? They'll be the ones to help you, to push you into improvement. Also, don't get into comics just to make millions of dollars. That's not going to happen. Not overnight, anyway. If you love your art, it will love you back. It may be a long road, but it's worth the journey. Facebook, Deviant Art, Tumblr, Twitter. All these are great places. You meet so many new and exciting artists. Some of my favorite comic artists have Deviant Art accounts, so it's a great way to follow them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Keep everything in balance and you'll go far. Reach for the stars. No, scratch that. That's too cliche. Just do your best. That's all anyone can.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Amorando and his latest creations, you can visit his <a href="http://lightningman.backpagecomics.com/">website</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lightningmancomic">Facebook page</a> for more details. </span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All images provided by David Amorando. </span></i>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-66612993255694576572012-10-10T20:46:00.001-07:002012-10-14T00:04:51.486-07:002012-10-14T00:04:51.486-07:00A Conversation With Patrushka<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FF-Yee2hTdw/UHYqh2K7YqI/AAAAAAAABfI/F4qH5Xg6NWE/s1600/Persephone_Patrushka_web10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FF-Yee2hTdw/UHYqh2K7YqI/AAAAAAAABfI/F4qH5Xg6NWE/s400/Persephone_Patrushka_web10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Persephone</span>" Gouache on wood, 2012</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.patrushka.net/">Patrushka</a>, an artist from California, finds inspiration for her dynamic and evocative artwork through all facets of life. Her artwork is colorful, poetic, daring and full of emotion. Patrushka spoke with ArtSeen about her creations and her artistic process. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background, and artistic processes?</b></span><br /><br />I have always spent time creating art. As a little girl I found coloring and doodling to be a favorite way to spend time locked in my room playing records, pouring over the artwork on their covers. It is a kind of therapy for me, something that relaxes me, helps me escape from troubles and worries. It takes me to another world, somewhat like a spiritual experience. I have worked in almost all mediums over my career, illustrating almost every kind of subject, either through employment opportunities or private commissions. Most of my recent artwork is heavily portrait-based. I love the human face and all that a personality, occupation, or expression may inspire, reveal, and contain. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</b></span><br /><br />Almost every aspect of life can inspire me: from a snippet of an overheard conversation in a coffee shop to a passing face in a window, the lyrics in a song, a story in the news, the neon lighting in a dark alley, a killer brocade in a fashion show, an expression on a waitress’ face, or the gnarled wood of an ancient tree trunk. Inspiration is everywhere, all the time. It is a force that cannot be controlled or directed. Dreams, and the minutes before I sleep, often conjure up surreal images for paintings. For some reason my brain is especially imaginative during this time. The only problem is I am usually too sleepy to get up to capture them in a sketch! I have often fantasized about a device which could plug in to my brain that would record these images in a slideshow for me.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o67bltxGnew/UHYtQYmFb5I/AAAAAAAABf0/Dm2tJVudoPg/s1600/The+Gaga+Bird-+Patrushka-web8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o67bltxGnew/UHYtQYmFb5I/AAAAAAAABf0/Dm2tJVudoPg/s400/The+Gaga+Bird-+Patrushka-web8.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">The Gaga Bird</span>" Oil on wood, 2012</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</b></span><br /><br />My main theme is all emotion-based, the good and/or bad that is threaded through those emotions. Good and evil, yin and yang, they pretty much cover all the bases. There can be beauty in the bad and bad in the good; one should embrace that fact and enjoy both aspects. For me, personally, evil might entail: politicians like Karl Rove, violent abusers, the symbolic devil within and without, bigotry, environmental polluters, greed, ignorance, and dishonesty. Good would entail: artists and their visions, music, nature's beauty, strong leaders, selfless and brave people, hard working people, integrity, odd or unique images, drop-dead fashion, and compassionate respect for all forms of life on earth. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izAN-gkWj0w/UHYwi51J8jI/AAAAAAAABgM/yXqfWB21pqE/s1600/Sir+Guardian-Patrushka-web8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izAN-gkWj0w/UHYwi51J8jI/AAAAAAAABgM/yXqfWB21pqE/s400/Sir+Guardian-Patrushka-web8.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Sir Guardian</span>" Gouache on wood, 2011</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</b></span><br /><br />Oh, so many inspire me! Narrowing it down to five here: <br />1) <a href="http://thedali.org/home.php">Salvador Dali</a>: because he is "The Master" in surreal imagination and technique. He can capture perfect realism within unreal contexts. <br />2) <a href="http://www.johnsingersargent.org/">John Singer Sargent</a>: because of his beautiful wet brush strokes which show so much of a person or their costume, gestures and suggestions rather than realist translation. <br />3) <a href="http://www.markryden.com/">Mark Ryden</a>: because he married pop culture to modern day surrealism using icons and familiar images in compositions of incredible design and impact.<br />4) <a href="http://www.fridakahlo.com/">Frida Kahlo</a>: because she persevered through so much hardship and captured so much dreamlike imagery in a strong style, she wasn't afraid to paint the dark. <br />5) <a href="http://www.davidbowie.com/">David Bowie</a>: because he crossed so many boundaries, his art is graphic, visual, and auditory. His lyrics, music, and images have rebelled and spoken for a generation of misfits giving them a place to belong. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu1F0N3xFjM/UHY6AEHU4mI/AAAAAAAABg4/wrAG7Ul_zRk/s1600/Lady+MaryGold-Patrushka-Web8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu1F0N3xFjM/UHY6AEHU4mI/AAAAAAAABg4/wrAG7Ul_zRk/s400/Lady+MaryGold-Patrushka-Web8.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Lady Marygold</span>," Oil on wood, 2011</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you think the role of the artist is?</b></span><br /><br />Ah, this is a hard one. Maybe to create beauty out of the sad grime of life? To share interpretations of a personal perspective, to emote visually another reality, to show us the impossible? Actually, I think most artists just do it because they have to. They see something and they have to create it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What projects or gallery shows would you consider career highlights or personally important to you as an artist? </span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Personally, I think my "The Hunters and Hunted" series has been the most important. It is a series I have worked on off and on for a few years now based on men who abuse (The Hunters) and the women they violate (The Hunted). It is not a body of work that was created to be popular or to sell well; it was just something I felt I had to do, something I had to say. It is sad that so much art is created nowadays just to sell, something pretty or pleasing to match someone's couch. Art should move someone when they view it, it doesn't matter that it makes them sad or happy or angry, but just that it elicits a response or a dialog. Many artists just paint pretty young women with a bare breast or two because it sells. These artists have to make a living and, understandably, that is what becomes most important. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UaG9Mt7T_Hk/UHYvGAlE6oI/AAAAAAAABgE/TCS2L5rcBfo/s1600/BlackAndBlue-Patrushka-web7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UaG9Mt7T_Hk/UHYvGAlE6oI/AAAAAAAABgE/TCS2L5rcBfo/s400/BlackAndBlue-Patrushka-web7.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Black and Blue</span> (a Hunted)" Oil on wood, 2011</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOwNp1Wc3wU/UHYul8SuMrI/AAAAAAAABf8/so_-JI5iRa8/s1600/Steven+-+Hunter+WEB6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOwNp1Wc3wU/UHYul8SuMrI/AAAAAAAABf8/so_-JI5iRa8/s400/Steven+-+Hunter+WEB6.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Steven</span> (a Hunter)" Scratchboard, 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> My Hunters series portrays various men from their mug shots who have committed crimes against women. They are all smaller in size, black and white scratchboard, and based on real men. The Hunted are, for the most part, symbolic set-up images, larger in size, done in color and painted in oil. Most victims of violent crimes don't broadcast their photo all over the internet, they are hard to find. I felt this juxtaposition in styles, size, and medium gave more importance to the Hunted, lessening their "victim" role. Violence against women is a huge issue and not a popular one to address. No one wants to hear or think about negative issues. But change can only occur by confronting the issues and dealing with them. Women shouldn't have to go through their lives feeling hunted, stalked, and scared. I feel this body of work asks many questions and raises important dialogs on many different levels. One example aside from the obvious is the reaction to my Hunters; does creating a portrait of someone do them some kind of honor? Does it make them a good person? I think not, but the general misconception is yes. I hope this series makes people think, discuss, and raise awareness to an issue that has shaped women's mindset in an unfair way, throughout past history and current times.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b><br /><br />The three P's are of utmost importance: Practice, Produce, and Publicize. Try to work, paint, or doodle every day. Get your chops down and experience other's art. Network and get your work seen whether it be through social media or gallery shows. And always thank those who help you along the way. There is no excuse for bad manners. Thank You, Shawn!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For more information about Patrushka and her artwork, you can visit her <a href="http://www.patrushka.net/">website</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Patrushka/175919062423089">Facebook page</a> and <a href="http://patrushka-art.blogspot.com/">blog</a> for more details.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All images provided by Patrushka. </span></i></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-39031763477462711122012-10-06T00:07:00.003-07:002012-10-06T00:09:59.156-07:002012-10-06T00:09:59.156-07:00A Conversation With Jaclyn Alderete<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O7udB_1gcb0/UG_F8VE-6HI/AAAAAAAABdY/ZK32hrexI38/s1600/wind-up+bird-2012_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O7udB_1gcb0/UG_F8VE-6HI/AAAAAAAABdY/ZK32hrexI38/s640/wind-up+bird-2012_resize.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wind-up bird" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://jaclynalderete.com/home.html">Jaclyn Alderete</a>, an artist from California, weaves together powerful imagery, potent emotions and beautiful, dreamlike female figures. Alderete spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and artistic practices.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background, and artistic processes?</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since I was a child I have been interested in art and have rarely been without a pencil or art tool in my hand. I pursued that desire and graduated with an art degree in 2009. I primarily paint figures using oil and acrylic paint, but also enjoy working with ink and watercolor. Each piece begins with a concept and a sketch. Once the idea has solidified, I then photograph a model. I rely both on my photo references and my imagination to complete the composition. I have learned to be flexible with the outcome as each painting seems to evolve on its own and often looks quite different from the original idea. For me, it’s important to allow myself to make changes, play with new ideas, and revamp as I’m working.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe most artists find inspiration in anything and everything around them. I am inspired by the human condition, social and environmental concerns, the birds and animals I’ve helped rescue, memories, and our connection to other living things around us. Having grown up in New Mexico, I was greatly influenced by the desert landscape and rich culture. I am also especially inspired by other artists I meet and whose work I follow. Seeing others create is a huge motivation for me. In addition to having diverse sources of inspiration, I simply can’t stop creating. When I’m not making stuff I feel anxious and bored. I am happiest when I can create.</span></span> <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DW4Zkwd__yE/UG_LgH1ZeeI/AAAAAAAABeE/celaWsaiDmQ/s1600/Untitled_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DW4Zkwd__yE/UG_LgH1ZeeI/AAAAAAAABeE/celaWsaiDmQ/s640/Untitled_edited.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My concepts vary, but there is always an underlying concern with social issues, often dealing with gender or class. I am also very interested in our relationship and response to other living things, as well as a lack of awareness about our effect on our environment in general.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So many! I am especially inspired by artists whose work reaches beyond aesthetics. Artists like <a href="http://www.gagosian.com/artists/jenny-saville">Jenny Saville</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlene_Dumas">Marlene Dumas</a> who touch on issues of body image and sexuality are inspirations to me.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DKSn1diXLhE/UG_LvOWqnTI/AAAAAAAABeM/mrJR71qaP0E/s1600/Flying+Blind-2012_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DKSn1diXLhE/UG_LvOWqnTI/AAAAAAAABeM/mrJR71qaP0E/s400/Flying+Blind-2012_edited.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Flying Blind" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I suppose it is different for each artist, but I believe the overwhelming desire to communicate with, and find a connection to, the world around us plays a major role in each artist’s work. I really believe content is just as important as technique and aesthetics, if not more so, which is used to further illustrate your ideas. I think artists of all types shape creative thinking in general and can be a catalyst for new ways of approaching challenges or problems.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3lOqarKIXk/UG_L-Lu5M4I/AAAAAAAABeU/C-kSTI2g0Vg/s1600/Oneiromancy+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3lOqarKIXk/UG_L-Lu5M4I/AAAAAAAABeU/C-kSTI2g0Vg/s640/Oneiromancy+2012.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<b></b>Oneiromancy" 2012</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you want viewers to walk away with when they view your artwork?</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I try to employ symbolism that is open to interpretation. If a work is too personal I feel it doesn’t deserve an audience, so I try to leave some things open-ended. Oftentimes people find certain meanings in things I didn’t anticipate because of their own personal experiences. Other times people are spot-on and describe my intended message better than I could. I always hope I have been successful in conveying an idea or message, or even just imparting a feeling that my audience can relate to or are at least left thinking about.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdLaeFPvTx4/UG_MHMFBw8I/AAAAAAAABec/0msOw7dE3kE/s1600/La+Misma+Sangre-2012_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdLaeFPvTx4/UG_MHMFBw8I/AAAAAAAABec/0msOw7dE3kE/s400/La+Misma+Sangre-2012_edited.jpg" width="387" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<b></b>La Misma Sangre"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are so many things I still have to learn myself. The most obvious, and I believe most crucial, thing is to simply keep making stuff. Spend as much time as you can creating and use every resource at your disposal, and look at lots and lots of art. Be informed about what other art is out there, and what came before you, and it will help you identify your place in the art world.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about <a href="http://jaclynalderete.com/home.html">Jaclyn Alderete</a> and her artwork, you can visit her website for more details. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All images provided by <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jaclyn Alderete.</span></span></i></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-17079255588122485262012-10-04T22:15:00.002-07:002012-10-05T09:57:32.228-07:002012-10-05T09:57:32.228-07:00A Conversation With Courtney Blazon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DvBv6o4U8H8/UG5gbpClFCI/AAAAAAAABcU/0Gr62oRYQoE/s1600/Newly+Rich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DvBv6o4U8H8/UG5gbpClFCI/AAAAAAAABcU/0Gr62oRYQoE/s640/Newly+Rich.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Newly Rich" Pen and Marker on Paper, 22" x 30", 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What strikes me the most about <a href="http://courtneyblazon.blogspot.com/">Courtney Blazon's</a> artwork is the many layers of meaning that they evoke. Blazon, an artist from Montana, creates beautiful illustrative narratives with a focus on inter-connectivity. Blazon spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her artistic processes. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background, and artistic processes?</b></span><br /><br />I have drawn as long as I was able to hold a drawing implement. My style has always been very strongly developed with an emphasis on a kind of realism. I attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the freedom of SMFA gave me the opportunity to start to explore some of the narrative themes that I still explore a decade later. After SMFA, I attended Parsons School of Design where I studied illustration. My time at Parsons helped me develop a more business minded approach to art; making and selling, and this has helped me make a career of my art.<br /><br />My artwork is rooted in the natural, the real, and the historical. My drawings are often combinations of elements from many different references mixed together into a cohesive narrative.<br /><br />I have always been a drawer, not a painter, and have used many different tools: charcoal, pencil, colored pencil, and oil pastel. For the past six years, I have used, almost exclusively, pen and marker. I find it to be very malleable and painterly.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dZeBxUmpleQ/UG5e7_m-BZI/AAAAAAAABcM/LPxexd-pwNo/s1600/The+Ethical+Culture+School+of+Disappointment+Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dZeBxUmpleQ/UG5e7_m-BZI/AAAAAAAABcM/LPxexd-pwNo/s320/The+Ethical+Culture+School+of+Disappointment+Island.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Ethical Culture School of Disappointment Island" Pen and Marker on Paper 36" x 48", 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b><br /><br />I don't know what I would do or who I would be without drawing. It is an essential part of my waking and sleeping life. I create art because if I did not, I would probably be a neurotic bundle of nerves. I create it for the joy it gives me. I am grateful that I can create it and have it be my sole source of income. <br /><br />I find inspiration in almost anything. I am an artist who doesn't wait for the "muse" to strike. Rather, I seek out inspiration in all things. Living in Montana may seem like a cultural black hole but it offers up much inspiration for my drawings in its natural beauty and its proximity to nature's beasts.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within your artwork?</span></b><br /><br />I think that the major theme in all my artwork is what I see as the inter-connectedness of all things. That all stories, real and imagined, are woven from the same fabric and all that fabric needs is some new stitching to make new connections.<br /><br />I like combinations of history and fables together, of science interwoven with fairytales.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQoiQDT6LVY/UG5imh5SClI/AAAAAAAABcc/ZFoI4FrngFg/s1600/Frog+Prince,+Slime+is+your+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQoiQDT6LVY/UG5imh5SClI/AAAAAAAABcc/ZFoI4FrngFg/s400/Frog+Prince,+Slime+is+your+House.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Frog Prince, Slime is Your House" Pen and Marker on Paper, 15" x 23", 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</b></span><br /><br />I love the Pre-Raphaelite painters, like <a href="http://www.artmagick.com/pictures/artist.aspx?artist=sir-john-everett-millais">John Everett Millais</a>, and those influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, like <a href="http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/">JW Waterhouse</a>. I love the artists of the Golden Age of Illustration (like <a href="http://dulac.artpassions.net/">Edmund Dulac</a>, <a href="http://sterrett.artpassions.net/">Virginia Frances Sterrett</a>). I am in awe of Persian miniature paintings and illuminated manuscripts. I loved what John James Audobon did for the art of natural science art.<br /><br />For contemporary artists, I love <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walton_Ford">Walton Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.vermontstudiocenter.org/amy-cutler-2/">Amy Cutler</a>, and <a href="http://www.chrisberens.com/home">Chris Berens</a>. What I feel all these artists have in common is their great sense of narrative and the ability to transport the viewer into another world.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b><br /><br />I think that the role of the artist is to listen to their true voice and to make work from their inner voice, not the outer noise. I understand that outer noise is part of all of our experience but it must be filtered from within, not from the outside. The "eye" inside should be the guiding light for an artist.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jEANGdjRsd8/UG5jHeRyWgI/AAAAAAAABck/vGcrDEnNf6s/s1600/The+Harrowing+Story+of+Child+Miners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jEANGdjRsd8/UG5jHeRyWgI/AAAAAAAABck/vGcrDEnNf6s/s400/The+Harrowing+Story+of+Child+Miners.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Harrowing Story of Child Miners in the Early 1900s" Pen on Paper, 32" x 40", 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you want viewers to walk away with when they view your artwork?</b></span><br /><br />I want the viewer to see the complexity of the ideas I am weaving together in my drawings without needing the viewer to understand completely what my true meaning was. I think that if the viewer can feel something, be it positive or negative, then my work has done its job.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b><br /><br />My advice is similar to what I think the role of an artist is. That is, listen to your own voice. Don't make artwork that is reflective of other contemporary artist's visions, but make art that is reflective of your internal vision.<br /><br />Also, working hard and making your art all the time is the surest way to succeed and to get better at your craft. Carve out a name for yourself by showing up on time, making all your meetings, keeping dedicated hours, and being a professional.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AfhdKvL8hXA/UG5kAFUfsiI/AAAAAAAABcs/8IfX0PELAQU/s1600/L%27Enigme+des+Enfants-Loups+Color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AfhdKvL8hXA/UG5kAFUfsiI/AAAAAAAABcs/8IfX0PELAQU/s400/L%27Enigme+des+Enfants-Loups+Color.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"L'Enigme des Enfants-Loups" Pen and Marker on Paper, 9.5" x 9.5", 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Blazon and her artwork, you can visit her <a href="http://courtneyblazon.blogspot.com/">website</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Courtney-Blazon/86858638216">Facebook </a>page for more details. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>All images provided by Courtney Blazon. </i></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-18323990444263242822012-09-16T21:55:00.002-07:002012-09-16T22:06:51.578-07:002012-09-16T22:06:51.578-07:00Folksiders<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hn_m4T-59pA/UFajUL5BacI/AAAAAAAABac/57ygYTYvQeQ/s1600/IMG_0860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hn_m4T-59pA/UFajUL5BacI/AAAAAAAABac/57ygYTYvQeQ/s400/IMG_0860.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jarrod Becker, co-founder of Folksiders, and his artwork.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My fiancee and I recently went to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky on assignment with <a href="http://aeqai.com/main/">AEQAI </a>to cover the Folksiders consortium and the local Rabbit Hash Art Gallery.<span style="line-height: 115%;">Folksiders, a brand new creative consortium with members
from the Cincinnati, Southeast Indiana and Northern Kentucky area, includes
artists, crafters, pottery makers, bakers, antiquers, printers, designers and
much more. Folksiders, a play on outsider and folk art, is the joint brain
child of artists <a href="http://www.jabart.com/">Jarrod Becker</a> and Susan Utley. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">"It’s kind of a soft version of Kentucky, quirky art meets
conceptual,” Becker said, “Outsider art meets folky, funky country folk.” </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Every second Sunday of the month, Folksiders, in a market
style setting, will showcase the creative wares of their members and various
local vendors in downtown Historic Rabbit Hash. </span></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">You can view the rest of the article <a href="http://aeqai.com/main/2012/09/historical-rabbit-hash/">here</a>. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">For more information about the Folksiders you can visit their <a href="http://www.folksiders.com/default.html">website</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Folksiders?ref=ts">Facebook page</a> for more details.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">You can also check out another artistic endeavor by Jarrod Becker and associates called </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.willowfrog.com/">Willow Frog</a> and their first interactive eBook for children called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Glow-Kindle-Tablet-Edition/dp/B008JK6JX0/">"The Glow."</a></span></span></span></li>
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Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-39758274406966743502012-09-12T19:27:00.004-07:002012-09-13T06:35:20.215-07:002012-09-13T06:35:20.215-07:00A Conversation With Cecilia Sánchez<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgVuyrUuuEc/UFE2o3ylMzI/AAAAAAAABWk/zlsc7BJPYsE/s1600/paco,tlf,Cecilia+Sanchez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgVuyrUuuEc/UFE2o3ylMzI/AAAAAAAABWk/zlsc7BJPYsE/s640/paco,tlf,Cecilia+Sanchez.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"In Bathrobe"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://ceciliasanchezsanchez.blogspot.com.es/">Cecilia Sánchez</a>, a designer and illustrator from </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain, creates potent, expressive imagery within her artwork. What I love the most about Sánchez's work is how she uses a limited color palette and line details to express so much emotion, whether it be positive or negative emotions. The expressive nature of them is beautiful. Sánchez spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her inspirations.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background, and artistic processes?</b></span><br /><br />My job entails illustrating or telling a feeling through my paintings. The main artistic processes I use are drawing with the pencil; the lines and shadows and after that I color the drawings with the computer. I usually use the same colors; my favorite ones are dull and pastel colors.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b><br /><br />I am inspired by non-specific details. I am not sure why I create art but I like it. I love to look at what surrounds me and try to give expression on my paintings.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Peojh9asWOM/UFE4doRpJJI/AAAAAAAABWs/f-jgLfdv7i8/s640/india,tlf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="416" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Turban"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within your artwork?</span></b><br /><br />The main themes and ideas are usually the same: human anatomy, such as naked bodies, faces, etc. Although, I also love interior decoration and sometimes I create baroque backgrounds for my drawings.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</b></span><br /><br />Yes, there are many artists that inspire me such us <a href="http://www.artchive.com/artchive/S/schiele.html">Egon Schiele</a>, <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/freud/">Lucian Freud</a>, <a href="http://www.ottodix.org/">Otto Dix</a>, also the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Paintings">Black Painting of Goya</a>, <a href="http://www.abcgallery.com/E/elgreco/elgreco.html">El Greco</a>, etc. Basically, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressionism">expressionism movement</a> inspires me because of its gestures, its lines, and lifeless colors. I also feel inspired by illustrators of nowadays, but they are not very well-known.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqfARDdlAKA/UFE5354sbRI/AAAAAAAABW0/iVg17RzQaWg/s1600/colcha,+tlf,+cecilia+Sa%CC%81nchez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JqfARDdlAKA/UFE5354sbRI/AAAAAAAABW0/iVg17RzQaWg/s640/colcha,+tlf,+cecilia+Sa%CC%81nchez.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sleeping Child"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b><br /><br />I think that is one of the most important things. The artist should be a critic of reality. We are surrounded by a lot of pictures shown in the media, which usually are fake.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What other interests do you have outside of your artwork?</span></b><br /><br />I love cinema and reading about art and illustration. I also like animals and nature.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abcna5zx7uQ/UFE8clf0kGI/AAAAAAAABXc/AYF2bxFhUHE/s1600/mono1,tlf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abcna5zx7uQ/UFE8clf0kGI/AAAAAAAABXc/AYF2bxFhUHE/s640/mono1,tlf.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Monkey Gafapasta"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b><br /><br />I would just say that people should keep doing what they like and work hard doing what they believe is good for them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Sánchez, you can visit her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ilustracionesCecilia">Facebook profile</a> and <a href="http://ceciliasanchezsanchez.blogspot.com.es/">blog</a> for details about her artwork.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrOkUhG5V40/UFE_gqm9E9I/AAAAAAAABYE/WtXmC_2bhXY/s1600/novia,tlf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrOkUhG5V40/UFE_gqm9E9I/AAAAAAAABYE/WtXmC_2bhXY/s640/novia,tlf.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ni con el pétalo de una rosa"<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> All images provided by Cecilia Sánchez.</i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-18893465744591893942012-09-04T14:15:00.000-07:002012-09-05T10:48:14.670-07:002012-09-05T10:48:14.670-07:00A Conversation With Raquel Sturges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UuclZjOek3c/UEZofb4VMGI/AAAAAAAABVU/BgYGZIF4uMw/s1600/bliss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UuclZjOek3c/UEZofb4VMGI/AAAAAAAABVU/BgYGZIF4uMw/s640/bliss.JPG" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bliss"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The artwork of <a href="http://painturdreams.weebly.com/rockee-sturges-whimsy-art.html">Raquel Sturges</a>, an artist from San Francisco, California, is composed of delicate line work and stylized textures. Sturges, a self-taught artist, has managed to create with the stroke of a pen, artwork that dances and vibrates with life. She spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her artistic inspirations. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background and artistic processes?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />I do all my work in ink. At times I have pieces that have charcoal or pastels inserted in the drawing but I love my India Ink, markers, and various types of pens. I draw on heavy stock paper and canvas paper. I have a few "paintings" floating out there but I used paint pens...I LOVE those! <br /><br />I have no formal background in art; I started drawing last year in July to help me with my long battle with depression caused by PTSD from traumatic childhood abuse.<br /><br />I have no artistic process. I draw from emotions and my daily life. I don't ever plan out my drawings and often I don't pre-sketch. I find that I lose some momentum when I sit and plan and grid. I just uncap and go. One thing that most do not know is that I always start with a swirl and see where it takes me. True story! </span></span><br />
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<img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q4vAqzvf_E/UEZqN8A6B8I/AAAAAAAABVc/g-HZ_fL8Rxk/s640/Rockee_2_edited.jpg" width="452" /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</b></span><br /><br />My inspiration comes from the simple fact that art brings me wellness, peace of mind, and an uncluttered head that was once filled with voices of the past and visions of childhood abuse.<br /><br />I create so I can put my story on paper without the use of words or explanations. My patterns, lines, and swirls are my stories.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />In my early work I focused on getting a lot of sadness and pain out of my head and onto the paper. As time passed and I learned to deal and accept my past, I started to draw from my daily happy thoughts and just life in general. I don't really stick with a theme. I have done a couple of series but in general my drawings and whimsical images just happen.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RP-PYoqehMk/UEZqiY9wNPI/AAAAAAAABVk/DkPpGrVwDdM/s1600/whimsy+humming+bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RP-PYoqehMk/UEZqiY9wNPI/AAAAAAAABVk/DkPpGrVwDdM/s400/whimsy+humming+bird.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are there any artists that inspire you? If so who would they be and why?</b></span><br /><br />My absolute favorite artist is <a href="http://www.vangoghgallery.com/">Vincent Van Gogh</a>; the lines, swirls, and flow of his work just speak to my quirkiness.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />As I embarked on my journey through art I have met and connected with some fabulous people; my art friends. They are amazing because they do not bend to please anybody but themselves, they have conviction in their work, and you can feel the passion in what they create. I started a group on FB that is strictly for artists; a community of sort that provides info on upcoming shows or publications, etc. It's a small group but what talents: Stephen Ford, Gerry Madness, Kevin J. Bates, Jesse N. Molina, Fernando Barron, Jeannie Scott Hesse, Noel Zepeda and every single one from my group “UNITED COLORS OF ARTISTS.” Under the generous guidance of artist and magazine owner Johnny Esq Otilano, our group was able to publish a limited edition magazine available to the public with part of the proceeds going to charity. It's a great collection of works from members of my group!</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CukyqLlty3E/UEZseY4NUII/AAAAAAAABV0/PjTdfi4f54s/s1600/rockee_4_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CukyqLlty3E/UEZseY4NUII/AAAAAAAABV0/PjTdfi4f54s/s640/rockee_4_edited.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you think the role of the artist is?</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Wow, I find this question to be a difficult one to answer. I want to answer this just from my own thoughts on what MY role is as an artist. <br /><br />I want to inspire and to motivate others. If I could simply touch one person with my work then I would feel that I have done my job. I want people to know that just because you suffered most of your life from traumatic events it does not mean that it defines who you are as a person or who you are today. It is far easier to fall into the trap of alcohol or drug addiction to simply "forget." It is harder to face it and move forward but it can be done. You can undo your way of thinking and self blame for things that happened in your past. I am proof that it can be done.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ScMwnP3RuEE/UEZqzJXPpUI/AAAAAAAABVs/R_-xMVPnLtk/s1600/rockee_3_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ScMwnP3RuEE/UEZqzJXPpUI/AAAAAAAABVs/R_-xMVPnLtk/s640/rockee_3_edited.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />What projects or gallery shows would you consider career highlights or personally important to you as an artist?</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />A highlight for me would be to do a public installation of my work, something huge like maybe for FB headquarters or Google. But let me say this; I treat every show, gallery, event, or ArtWalks equally. I prepare and give it my 200%! I consider every magazine that I have been published in a highlight and I get excited every time I do a show and I get to connect with my audience.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cL3CDeULoes/UEZswyIlpuI/AAAAAAAABV8/pw6qDeh8AzE/s1600/IMG_3633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cL3CDeULoes/UEZswyIlpuI/AAAAAAAABV8/pw6qDeh8AzE/s320/IMG_3633.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Here is my advice for others; they won't come to you or seek you out. You, as the artist, must put your work out there, talk to anybody who will listen, answer their questions. Don't get discouraged so easily. Create, share, connect!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh, and always smile. They love it when I smile!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>For more information about Sturges and her artwork, you can visit her <a href="http://painturdreams.weebly.com/rockee-sturges-whimsy-art.html">website</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RockeeSturgesWhimsyArt">Facebook page</a> for more details. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All images provided by Raqel Sturges. </i></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-29118292699221928632012-08-28T21:33:00.002-07:002012-11-28T21:28:05.902-08:002012-11-28T21:28:05.902-08:00Ignore Everybody (And 39 Other Keys to Creativity) Book Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7Q2ibnfKzM/UD2YkuGknqI/AAAAAAAABUE/MkI27kWSpxs/s1600/102085624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7Q2ibnfKzM/UD2YkuGknqI/AAAAAAAABUE/MkI27kWSpxs/s640/102085624.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Barnes and Noble</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><i>Ignore Everybody (And 39 Other Keys to Creativity)</i> Fails to Make a Lasting Impression</u></b></span><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By: <b><a href="http://patflafleur.wordpress.com/">Pat LaFleur</a> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If creativity can be summed in a greeting card, Hugh MacLeod’s <i>Ignore Everybody</i> (Portfolio, Penguin Group) has probably come closest to doing so. And I’m not sure that’s a good thing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ignore-everybody-hugh-macleod/1100310844">Ignore Everybody (And 39 Other Keys to Creativity)</a></i> consists of short chapters, sprinkled with dozens of sometimes-relevant business-card cartoons (MacLeod’s creative bread & butter). This style, eventually, makes perfect sense. As the author reminds us again and again, he is a skilled copywriter, and the titles of each brief chapter read like ad copy. On the whole, the book drips with the clever language and direct delivery of an ad agency, dissecting the creative process into 40 bite-sized chunks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MacLeod’s strength lies in the refreshing clarity of his “keys.” He is a skilled wordsmith, distilling some of the creative-type’s biggest anxieties into some helpful “a’ha” moments. “Inspiration precedes the desire to create, not the other way around.” “It’s hard to sell out if nobody has bought in.” “The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.” There are more of these gems buried all over MacLeod’s book, making it a decent source for words of creative encouragement and inspiration.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Despite the sharp edges of these aphorisms, though, <i>Ignore Everybody</i> fails to be more than a creative-devotional, and one that’s missing the practical, go-do-this-now part at that. Over and over, MacLeod has me wringing my fists: okay, I get it, but how do I put this into action? The closest MacLeod comes to such a thing is when he advises you to, whatever your work, “put your whole self into it.” Really? This cliché is surprising coming from an accomplished copywriter. The rest offer brief, loosely related anecdotes, mostly from the author’s personal life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The root problem with MacLeod’s book lies in how vague a model of creativity these aphorisms provide. MacLeod’s image of the artist is familiar: a solitary figure - in this case, a dude at a a bar scribbling over the back of a business card, while waiting for his date to arrive. And while this image strikes as poetic, and maybe even romantic (seize inspiration when it’s there; don’t be bound by traditional forms; art must be for the artist as much as the audience), we’re still left staring at this silhouette from all the way across the room. In other words, this book leaves me with about as much as his cartoons: a brief, abstract image, easily lost in my pants pocket, among all the rest.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ultimately, <i>Ignore Everybody</i> could have moved beyond the business-card-copy format, and taken the time to develop concrete descriptions of the author’s process. This would have added some much needed - and much wanted - substance to MacLeod’s unique style. But that would have required more than what a greeting card - or a business card - could hold. I’d say this one’s worth flipping through, but doesn’t need space on your bookshelf.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">* What’s more worth checking out: his website at <a href="http://gapingvoid.com/">http://gapingvoid.com</a>. He’s got a pretty fresh approach to ad copy and illustration.</span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-16599479994418303762012-08-26T21:34:00.000-07:002012-08-26T21:37:44.496-07:002012-08-26T21:37:44.496-07:00A Conversation With L. Nguyen<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BizfVtsoyNA/UDrld1FmGKI/AAAAAAAABR8/OOE9o61N4GE/s1600/umbrella+trap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BizfVtsoyNA/UDrld1FmGKI/AAAAAAAABR8/OOE9o61N4GE/s400/umbrella+trap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://cryingpapersouls.comyr.com/">L. Nguyen</a>, a self-taught artist from Vancouver, B.C., Canada. </span><span style="font-size: small;">L, works as a freelance illustrator and concept artist. Working in both oils and acrylics, he spins surreal narratives with his</span><span style="font-size: small;"> beautiful anime-infused paintings. </span><span style="font-size: small;">L. Nguyen spoke with ArtSeen about his artwork and inspirations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How would you describe yourself?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <br />I would say I am a funny guy, and simple in that all I need is a pencil and paper to work away into the night. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How do you describe your art? How is this is different than how others would describe your work? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />I would describe my art as animation captured in paint. I am a big fan of classical animation and I try to create pieces that display movement as if ripped from a single frame of a cartoon. I see my art in motion but others may describe my art as detailed pop art.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8DSqYBWQpLA/UDrrkdqRp7I/AAAAAAAABSk/sjNSxpTDkj0/s1600/tree+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8DSqYBWQpLA/UDrrkdqRp7I/AAAAAAAABSk/sjNSxpTDkj0/s400/tree+light.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Tree Light" </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What medium do work in and why?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I prefer to work with oil or acrylic paints because of the way you can mix colors easily as opposed to pen or pencil. It is kind of an experiment process, being that I can mix the paints easily and even come up with some nice colors by accident, the surprise element of painting for me.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDetbi8h16E/UDrs-Ps4mXI/AAAAAAAABTE/GV_7TVneFfk/s1600/white+apple+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDetbi8h16E/UDrs-Ps4mXI/AAAAAAAABTE/GV_7TVneFfk/s400/white+apple+.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"White Apple"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">How did you start your art career? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I purchased some digital software instruction books, learned to do some digital art years ago, and began to do freelance illustration work by commission and contracts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Did you attend any formal training or schools?</b></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />No, I am self-taught because it just kind of worked out that way. I have been going with the flow of life and this is how it’s been working out so far.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqQMbzM4Q_U/UDrtQcQng3I/AAAAAAAABTM/r5FsDridUNU/s1600/angel+paper+wings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqQMbzM4Q_U/UDrtQcQng3I/AAAAAAAABTM/r5FsDridUNU/s400/angel+paper+wings.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Angel Paper Wings"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is your inspiration and what do you try to capture in your work?</b></span><br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Animated/ anime films influenced these paintings greatly, especially films by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayao_Miyazaki">Hayao Miyazaki</a> and <a href="http://www.studioghibli.net/">Studio Ghibli</a>. I try to capture a freeze frame, a story in motion within my paintings, which is especially seen in the drifting paper souls that are in all my paintings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is your most memorable piece and why?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />"A thousand faces" is my most memorable piece. The reason for this is [because] I began the series of paintings “Cryingpapersouls” with that very first piece. While trying to write a story I decided to use paintings as a brainstorming tool and created the number one piece, “A Thousand Faces.” This painting set the tone for all other paintings that followed.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVQ16ipT76o/UDrsKeBXteI/AAAAAAAABSs/Y3QaN9xHQfw/s1600/a+thousand+faces.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVQ16ipT76o/UDrsKeBXteI/AAAAAAAABSs/Y3QaN9xHQfw/s320/a+thousand+faces.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A Thousand Faces"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What other artists or individuals have influenced your art?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My influences range from <a href="http://www.robertbateman.ca/art/arttitlepage.html">Robert Bateman</a>, <a href="http://www.leonardoda-vinci.org/">Leonardo Da Vinci</a>, <a href="http://www.vangoghgallery.com/">Vincent van Gogh</a>, <a href="http://jacksonpollock.org/">Jackson Pollock</a> to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Mack/21231086294">David Mack</a>, a comic book artist. I like a lot of different art but there are too many great artists to list them all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why are you an artist? What does art mean to you?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am an artist because ever since I was young I had a big imagination and it has allowed me to bring that imagination to life. Art means a lot to me, it’s a way of life and dictates the way I view everything in life. It makes me appreciate my surroundings, noticing how every little thing can be a work of art. It is an outlet for me to express myself and connect with other people in a unique way. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzwbbtHc_0E/UDrtcrdx_xI/AAAAAAAABTU/-ylAQtAkVNg/s1600/doorway+to+heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzwbbtHc_0E/UDrtcrdx_xI/AAAAAAAABTU/-ylAQtAkVNg/s400/doorway+to+heaven.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Doorway to Heaven"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What goals do you currently have as an artist?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have only just begun to share my paintings to the public recently, but I am hoping to build a brand off of my current work rather than just a theme. I want to get really creative and take my art to a more unique place and try different styles; having people see my art evolve within its theme over time.<br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Other things you would like us to know?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a dream that one day an animated film could be made from the story of my paintings.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBr2wt--baw/UDrtnDUmVRI/AAAAAAAABTc/KjAEle5-vmQ/s1600/paper+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBr2wt--baw/UDrtnDUmVRI/AAAAAAAABTc/KjAEle5-vmQ/s400/paper+face.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Paper Face"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about L. Nguyen and his artwork, you can visit his <a href="http://cryingpapersouls.comyr.com/#%21home/mainPage">website</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cryingpapersouls/497210410296171">Facebook page</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Cryingpapersouls">Youtube channel</a>, and <a href="http://cryingpapersouls.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a> page for more details.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All images provided by L. Nguyen.</span></i></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-60172982706038535062012-08-21T19:53:00.000-07:002012-08-22T13:11:14.089-07:002012-08-22T13:11:14.089-07:00A Conversation With Stephanie Allison<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZM-XwB1di2o/UDQ41ChtI6I/AAAAAAAABOw/lEQe2puoOvA/s1600/natasha_2012_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZM-XwB1di2o/UDQ41ChtI6I/AAAAAAAABOw/lEQe2puoOvA/s400/natasha_2012_1.jpg" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Natasha" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.stephallisonart.com/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stephanie Allison</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, an artist from Clovis, California, weaves together color, elaborate line details, lush settings and fashionable ladies, creating gorgeous paintings and illustrative artwork. What I love the most about Allison's artwork is the use of decorative line work and vibrant colors; the images magically pop off the page/canvas. Allison spoke with ArtSeen about her artistic process and her inspirations. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic process, and what types of artistic materials you use?</span></b><br /><br />Although I began as a ceramic artist, following in the footsteps of my parents and relatives, I switched gears to painting with acrylic on canvas and wood while I was high school. That was about fifteen years ago and I've never looked back! Although, I've also added another artistic process which is almost more enjoyable than painting with acrylic. After I inherited a set of Winsor & Newton watercolor tubes and watercolor paper from my late Aunt, I began to delve into the world of painting on paper rather than canvas. I now create more illustrative work with this mixed media process of first tea-staining the paper, then adding ink pen details, followed by watercolor. I've elaborated on that in the past year by adding watercolor collage pieces, gold & silver pens, and acrylic highlights. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hTdv78p13Ys/UDRCp9OWwEI/AAAAAAAABP4/8BPd6R34KhY/s1600/Kindred_2010_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hTdv78p13Ys/UDRCp9OWwEI/AAAAAAAABP4/8BPd6R34KhY/s640/Kindred_2010_1.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Kindred" 2010</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b><br /><br />I'm inspired by so many things; my brain is constantly churning with thoughts for my next painting. Top 5 things that inspire me would be: nature, music, travel, color, and fashion. I'm pretty sure I have an extremely over active imagination. I love art because it is a way for me to release my day dreams onto paper or canvas, and it's pretty cool that other people get to see them and enjoy. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_AJzAT8ZMg/UDREjoglN2I/AAAAAAAABQI/f1X2uG-f_pM/s1600/Metamorphosis_2011_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_AJzAT8ZMg/UDREjoglN2I/AAAAAAAABQI/f1X2uG-f_pM/s640/Metamorphosis_2011_1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Metamorphosis" 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within your artwork?</span></b><br /><br />I like to think about life in other dimensions; if there is such a thing what would it be like? My current body of work focuses heavily on this idea and I'm excited to see where it will take me. The girls that I paint have grey skin because they do not belong to any race that we know of on planet Earth. "Aliens" are thought to have grey skin, rather than the green aliens that are portrayed in movies. I'm obsessed with painting tiny atoms and DNA strands lately as well. I think a lot about who we are as people, what makes us human, and how did we get this way. I'm preparing for a solo show in October so I have a lot more ideas that I need to get out of my head and completed in time for the show. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ed6kDKrK5RQ/UDRESgQ7KOI/AAAAAAAABQA/S7_MmYpLZ6c/s1600/Galassia_2012_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ed6kDKrK5RQ/UDRESgQ7KOI/AAAAAAAABQA/S7_MmYpLZ6c/s640/Galassia_2012_1.jpg" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Galassia" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><b>What do you think the role of the artist is?</b></span><br /><br />I don't think there is one certain role for us. I simply love to create and I will do it for as long as I'm on this Earth whether people care to see what I'm creating or not. I will never stop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you want viewers to walk away with when they view your artwork?</b></span><br /><br />I want them to make their own conclusions about what my paintings might mean. I just hope that they take the time to look closely at the entire picture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are so
many it's hard to pick just a few. <a href="http://www.amysol.com/">Amy Sol</a> is one of my all time
favorites. Her paintings ooze with dreamy, magical goodness. I just love
the creatures that she creates and the muted colors she uses. Although I
use much brighter colors in my own work, I tend to be drawn to those
who paint with more subtle hues. Also inspiring are <a href="http://becwinnel.com/">Bec Winnel</a>, <a href="http://danmay.net/home.html">Dan May</a>,
<a href="http://camillerosegarcia.com/">Camille Rose Garcia</a>, and <a href="http://www.audrey-kawasaki.com/">Audrey Kawasaki</a> to name a few. Each of them
has so much talent and creativity.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X6eSFMzwwTY/UDRE2lsh_iI/AAAAAAAABQQ/krejgIqOweA/s1600/AnotherDimension_2012_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X6eSFMzwwTY/UDRE2lsh_iI/AAAAAAAABQQ/krejgIqOweA/s640/AnotherDimension_2012_1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Another Dimension" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</b></span><br /><br />I still have a long journey ahead of me, but I've gotten a taste of what it's like to be a full-time artist this year and it is no easy task. It helps to have the fire within you and keep it burning. Never give up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">For more information about Allison and her artwork, you can visit her <a href="http://www.stephallisonart.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://stephallison.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, <a href="http://society6.com/stephallison">Society6 shop</a>, <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/steph_allison">Zazzle shop</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Allison/85203499802">Facebook page</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/8stephallison8?ref=seller_info&atr_uid=0">Etsy shop</a> or at the <a href="http://badappleartists.weebly.com/">Bad Apple Artist Collective</a> for more details.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />All artwork provided by Stephanie Allison.</i></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-23312783119401310832012-08-19T21:24:00.003-07:002012-08-19T21:24:49.783-07:002012-08-19T21:24:49.783-07:00A Conversation With Christina Lank<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1ALTEhX87Q/UDCB33k_tTI/AAAAAAAABNY/M3a_ZbtnDho/s1600/Equilibrium_share+quality_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1ALTEhX87Q/UDCB33k_tTI/AAAAAAAABNY/M3a_ZbtnDho/s400/Equilibrium_share+quality_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Equilibrium" 40 x 100 cm acrylic on masonite board</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://plantiebee.blogspot.se/">Christina Lank</a>, a self taught artist originally from Maryland and currently living in Sweden, creates beautiful, striking imagery that explores human emotions, nature, dark vs. light and the female form. What I love the most about Lank's artwork is the emotional weight each artistic piece has. Lank spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her creative process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic process, and what types of artistic materials you use?</span></b><br /><br />My artwork is mainly acrylic on Masonite board – depicting women in settings which I find to be symbolic to emotions and situations people go through in life. I use Golden Open Acrylics, which are my absolute favorite! Ever since I switched from standard paints to the Open range I could see the immediate difference in my artwork. I like to paint on Masonite as it’s nice and smooth, letting me get lots of little details in there. My process is pretty simple at this point – I get an image in my head and I find a model (sometimes the two are intertwined! You’d be amazed how my models can inspire me!), I make a sketch, put it on the gessoed Masonite, and have at it! </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Creating my art this way allows me to make express changes along the way. Often the image I think of and the final product are vastly different – but I really do enjoy learning throughout the process!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G3flXtMwBI8/UDCFU68EGlI/AAAAAAAABN4/x5re7p95Yf4/s1600/Rebirth_share_quality_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G3flXtMwBI8/UDCFU68EGlI/AAAAAAAABN4/x5re7p95Yf4/s400/Rebirth_share_quality_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="hasCaption">"Rebirth" - acrylic on masonite board 43.5 x 60.5 cm</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am like many other artists; I have just always created art. When I was a child I would make entire journals full of stories using only pictures, and got into endless trouble for doodling on everything I owned. I think we all have our way of expressing ourselves, and for me it’s through my paintings. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Things that inspire me are stories I hear from others; basic truths that come out of their words. The journeys people have to go through in life are quite amazing but their emotions are something we all can relate to. I like to take those thoughts and turn them into images I love: forests, birds, animals, and beauty. I know the meaning behind each painting but I like others to look at them and find their own as well.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ho2mGAQTRno/UDCFrK0WDLI/AAAAAAAABOA/4UN1PK0ok10/s640/Torn_share+copy_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="318" /></td></tr>
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<span class="hasCaption">"Torn" acrylic on masonite 40 x 80 cm</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think one theme that has come up as of late is the dark and light in people. It can be seen clearly in my paintings “Torn” and “Equilibrium”, but also in many others in more subtle ways. We get beaten down by others, or we beat ourselves down. What’s worse is we tend to think everyone else is somehow perfect, and we are isolated in our own bad traits.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the more people open up to you, no matter how perfect on the outside they may seem, they are all struggling with something. It’s this cohesive battle we all fight that I like to paint at the moment.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh, there are so many! The amount of talent in this world is incredible. However, people who inspire me most are actually those I know. All the artists in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RedSirenCollective">Red Siren Art collective</a> are daily inspirations to me! For example, every morning I wake up and have a breakfast chat with <a href="http://www.lauriemcclave.com/">Laurie McClave</a> and my fiancé. We gabber a lot on our forums, complain, cheer others on, and collaborate. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My fiancé is my greatest support. He is incredibly honest, understanding, and has a wonderful creative mind. If I didn’t have him to help me see things from another perspective and push me to greater heights I could never be where I am today!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-addHYD0sFAo/UDCF5AgxlQI/AAAAAAAABOI/2hdJ9mj74-M/s1600/Omen_share+quality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-addHYD0sFAo/UDCF5AgxlQI/AAAAAAAABOI/2hdJ9mj74-M/s640/Omen_share+quality.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
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"Omen" 40 x 60 cm acrylic on masonite</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As it is for anyone in the creative field, I think it is to communicate with the viewer. Even just painting beauty can communicate with a person. We are all visual creatures and I think an artist brings into the world the visions inside our heads not everyone is able to capture or bring to light. It makes us think without words, and share pieces of souls within moments. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you want viewers to walk away with when they view your artwork?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Probably understanding, even if it’s just within themselves. I like to make art that transports the person into the image they’re seeing so that they can find their own meaning and feel at peace that someone else understands maybe just a bit of them. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh0mg-h1k5U/UDCGs6yN5YI/AAAAAAAABOQ/g6gjNu-PVaI/s1600/The+Messenger_share_file_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh0mg-h1k5U/UDCGs6yN5YI/AAAAAAAABOQ/g6gjNu-PVaI/s640/The+Messenger_share_file_1.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="hasCaption">"The Messenger" acrylic on masonite board</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There’s no simple road to making art. It can be a long isolated path without a map so try not to stay stagnant. Be honest with yourself each step of the way and find good friends around you who will do the same. If you listen and don’t stop pushing yourself out of your comfort zone you’ll find you’re capable of more things than you give yourself credit for.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Lank and her artwork, you can visit her <a href="http://plantiebee.blogspot.se/">blog</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/plantiebees">Facebook page</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PlantieBee">Etsy shop</a> for more details. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All artwork provided by Christina Lank.</i></span></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-44204260507818698942012-08-18T02:33:00.002-07:002012-08-18T02:36:03.037-07:002012-08-18T02:36:03.037-07:00A Conversation with Abril Andrade Griffith<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Anka" 10 x 14" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNQdtfNUIFA/UC8NAj_rTxI/AAAAAAAABLc/LFrfw499QUA/s640/anka_abrilandrade.jpg" title=""Anka" 10 x 14" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" width="466" /></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Anka" 10x14" 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The artwork of <a href="http://www.abrilandrade.com/">Abril Andrade Griffith</a>, a self-taught artist from <span class="fwb">Chillicothe, Ohio, can be described as whimsical, dark, ornate, decorative, and emotive. Their is a sadness and fragile nature that strikes me the most about Griffith's artwork; you can see it in the eyes of her characters on canvas. She spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her artistic inspirations. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fwb"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background, and artistic processes?</b></span><br /><br />My artwork is done with oils and, sometimes, acrylics. I like to work on wood surfaces but canvas is great too. Sometimes I sketch directly on to the canvas and other times on my sketch book first. Sometimes I start from nothing and see where that takes me. The eyes are the first thing I paint in many of my paintings. <br /><br />I was always very active in drawing, especially on my text books. I remember drawing cartoon characters and taping all the drawings on my bedroom door. I didn't start painting till I was 16 years old. I took painting classes after school and I was always very excited to learn new things. A few years later I realize that painting was what I really wanted to do for a living. I moved to Spain to continue my studies. School didn't teach me what I actually do now, but it did help develop techniques and open my eyes to a whole new world of art. I consider myself self taught since I had to learn on my own how to paint the portraits I do now.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ff1B3-9H49Q/UC9NPp0G2yI/AAAAAAAABL8/sGKWorqQ26Q/s1600/unappreciated_abrilandrade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Unappreciated" 20x30" 2011 by Abril Andrade Griffith" border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ff1B3-9H49Q/UC9NPp0G2yI/AAAAAAAABL8/sGKWorqQ26Q/s640/unappreciated_abrilandrade.jpg" title=""Unappreciated" 20x30" 2011 by Abril Andrade Griffith" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Unappreciated" 20x30" 2011</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fwb"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</b></span><br /><br />Art is not my hobby. It is a necessity of my life, an act I do instinctively which makes each piece a reflection of myself. Every day things inspire my work; movies, people, events, memories, emotions, hurt, love, death, loss, hate. I am able to escape to a fantasy world when a brush is in my hand. I need to express my ideas and feelings through art. It’s hard to explain to people how art makes me feel. I don't see myself doing anything else. I see myself painting till the day I leave this world.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b0m9Tj2b-pU/UC9PIDCQBHI/AAAAAAAABMI/3XmkfKjRfkw/s1600/Jolenta_AbrilAndrade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Jolenta" 10x10" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" border="0" height="395" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b0m9Tj2b-pU/UC9PIDCQBHI/AAAAAAAABMI/3XmkfKjRfkw/s400/Jolenta_AbrilAndrade.jpg" title=""Jolenta" 10x10" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Jolenta" 10x10" 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fwb"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fwb">My themes are usually dark/gothic with a touch of innocence, sad but beautiful and very emotional. A lot of people connect with my work and means different things to different people. I enjoy creating Dia de los Muertos inspired paintings to show a bit of my culture to everyone. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Are there any artists that inspire you? </span></b><br /><br />My list changes from time to time but the following artists always remain.<br /><br />Those I draw inspiration from include: my husband, <a href="http://www.2dollarpistoltattoo.com/paintingsbymatt.html">Matt Griffith</a>, who is also a painter and a professional tattoo artist. His work is beautiful and always amazes me. I have learned a lot from him and whenever I need help with something he is there to support me and lend me a hand. <a href="http://www.fridakahlo.com/">Frida Kahlo</a> is one of my old time favorites. Her art and her life are a big influence in my work. She painted till the day she died, she lived for the arts and I connect with her a lot. I understand her love for painting. <a href="http://www.colinchristian.com/">Colin</a> and <a href="http://www.saschristian.com/">Sas Christian</a>; I’ve been a big fan and follower of this couple. Their work and love for each other is beautiful and I hope to meet them in person one day.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBQvHexak4o/UC9SUWZiuaI/AAAAAAAABMo/7WNkaGgVGNQ/s1600/Night_Creatures_Abril_Andrade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Night Creatures" 18x24" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBQvHexak4o/UC9SUWZiuaI/AAAAAAAABMo/7WNkaGgVGNQ/s640/Night_Creatures_Abril_Andrade.jpg" title=""Night Creatures" 18x24" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Night Creatures" 18x24" 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fwb"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you think the role of the artist is?</b></span><br /><br />To give visible or tangible form to feelings, dreams, and ideas. I bring viewers in to my world with each painting.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">What projects or gallery shows would you consider career highlights or personally important to you as an artist?</span></b><br /><br />Gallery shows are very important to me. It’s a way to build up your exhibition history and to get your work out to the public, not to mention meet a lot of awesome people. I try to be part of as many exhibitions I can manage. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""My Conscience" 20x30" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-miEFbaa2BcA/UC9T-mrD7RI/AAAAAAAABMw/Yna8AG1V15E/s400/My+Conscience_abrilandrade.jpg" title=""My Conscience" 20x30" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" width="332" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My Conscience" 20x30" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fwb"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b><br /><br />Love what you do, enjoy painting, don’t force yourself to create or you will hate it.<br />Practice, practice, and more practice. Don't try to be the artist you look up to, be humble and accept there is much to learn. Create a portfolio. Promote your work. After all that is done, practice some more. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Corazon" 20x20" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MfmlGa2bzgM/UC9U2aylUqI/AAAAAAAABM4/XjT6pxY4WX0/s400/Corazon_abrilandrade.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""Corazon" 20x20" 2012 by Abril Andrade Griffith" width="397" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Corazon" 20x20" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="fwb">For more information about Abril Andrade Griffith and her artwork, you can visit her <a href="http://www.abrilandrade.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://abrilandrade.blogspot.com/">blog,</a> <a href="http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/surreal_wonderland">Artfire store</a> and <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Abrils-Art-Gallery">Ebay</a> for more details.</span></span></div>
Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-2439181169791342942012-08-13T20:32:00.000-07:002012-08-13T20:32:27.922-07:002012-08-13T20:32:27.922-07:00A Conversation With Amanda Christine<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0Tvlwvp8Ok/UCh2qJzbnlI/AAAAAAAABJ0/vQYUszpOIsU/s1600/download_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0Tvlwvp8Ok/UCh2qJzbnlI/AAAAAAAABJ0/vQYUszpOIsU/s640/download_5.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Really Love Your Secrets (Wanna Shake Your Trees)" 22x28" acrylic on canvas, 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amanda-christine.net/">Amanda Christine</a>, a mostly self taught artist located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, paints lovely creations that are a fusion of strong women, symbolism, fantasy elements and deep ties to the natural world. Amanda Christine spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her artistic inspirations. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic process, and what types of artistic materials you use?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I paint feminine portraits with a surreal feel, that often fall into the lowbrow category of art, and fantastical animal art. I am primarily self-taught and educated in art by practicing artists, both who lived in my small hometown in my youth. One mentor taught me oils for a short time and another taught me a little about so many other mediums, but I actually studied a lot of psychology in college. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most of my surreal portraits start with a drawing, a sketch, or sometimes an idea that I have jotted down into a notebook. I have a lot of those. The drawing is fleshed out more once it is transferred to canvas, paper, or wood panel that has been prepped. I have recently been working with oils more than I used to, and my acrylic process has merged where I like to used layers of both, and embellish with metal leaf and other elements when I feel it right. All are built up in layers.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="387" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cah1jrKGuag/UCh7hh3pcEI/AAAAAAAABKk/Mg0edGuO1hE/s400/download_4.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Eva Considers His Offer" 12x12" acrylic on canvas, 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am continuously inspired by nature. I love being outdoors and going on little nature walks with my camera and finding interesting birds and bugs. I was a re-enactor (where you dress up in Renaissance costumes, make up a character, and go camping...essentially) and studied women in history and absorbed what I learned here like a sponge to apply to creative works. I was raised on "oldies" music and classic movies and many things from these memories are timeless to me. Mythology and fairy tales are big influences. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes I feel I am expressing myself and re-connecting with myself at the same time. I am inspired by so many strong women, and so many great stories, but the thing I know I do and have been drawn to do since I was 4 years old is make art. So that's what I do. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KfU9G45G8nA/UCh5-VPnsOI/AAAAAAAABKU/xFq9wtsCz_E/s1600/download_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KfU9G45G8nA/UCh5-VPnsOI/AAAAAAAABKU/xFq9wtsCz_E/s640/download_3.jpg" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lady Disdain" 8x24 acrylic, ink, paper on canvas, 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork? </span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Isolation and longing are big themes in my work. I have been one who has been drawn to a sort of "sad beauty" aesthetic, so many of the women I paint will be shown at a moment of vulnerability. My ladies will represent icons, archetypes, and feminine roles that have societal duality or quiet controversy, like courtesans for example. Fairy tales and folklore help complete the women-animal link in my work. Comparative religion and mythology are themes I want to focus on more in future pieces as well. I have a few paintings that portray ladies in the role of Eve.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could go on about this for weeks! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Dor%C3%A9">Gustave Dore</a> is one of my absolute favorites- I love the fantasy and narratives, <a href="http://www.adriangottlieb.com/">Adrian Gottlieb</a> for the "glow" in his portraits, also <a href="http://parrish.artpassions.net/">Maxfield Parrish</a>, <a href="http://www.muchafoundation.org/">Alphonse Mucha</a>, <a href="http://www.klimt.com/">Gustav Klimt</a>, <a href="http://jamesjean.com/">James Jean</a>, <a href="http://www.sylviaji.com/">Sylvia Ji</a>, and <a href="http://www.davemckean.com/">Dave McKean</a>, to name a few more. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2dCTl80Fpto/UCh6yojSCSI/AAAAAAAABKc/7XHLW1L9-cE/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2dCTl80Fpto/UCh6yojSCSI/AAAAAAAABKc/7XHLW1L9-cE/s640/download.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Estella and Archimedes" 16x20" oil on canvas, 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In college there was this major in the art dept.- "visual communication"- I thought that phrase summed it up perfectly even though I wasn't there for art originally. We are visual communicators. In past years I had higher expectations for the title "artist", and felt maybe I was not doing enough, being enough of an "activist", but I have come to understand that I make the work and put it out there for others, and that is the most basic of the definition. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you want viewers to walk away with when they view your artwork?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love that it is viewed! It is really special for me when someone connects with my work, and I enjoy it when they notice something small or subtle that I did not expect anyone to notice. I also notice a lot of women connect with my pieces so I like when I see men enjoying my ladies, too.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ig2McOGT8Y/UCh8A6txyeI/AAAAAAAABKs/cQLGRquowdk/s1600/download_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ig2McOGT8Y/UCh8A6txyeI/AAAAAAAABKs/cQLGRquowdk/s640/download_2.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Letting Go" 20x24" oil on canvas, 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Find a healthy balance between trusting your intuition and good business practice. Only you will know what is right for your creative path, and also- don't give up on it! If you are in an area that is not favorable to your style, put it in front of the eyes or markets for which it is a better fit before you reconsider any of your dreams. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Amanda Christine and her artwork, you can visit her <a href="http://www.amanda-christine.net/">website</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/blueshiftartist">Facebook page</a> for more details. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All images provided by Amanda Christine. </span></i></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-65802041451221245732012-08-11T21:04:00.002-07:002012-08-11T21:18:33.204-07:002012-08-11T21:18:33.204-07:00A Conversation With Dottie Gleason<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Silly Dreamz" 11 x 14 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iw4TxTx2mu0/UCb0pTYMtlI/AAAAAAAABIs/Qiv5GZ_G534/s640/Silly+Dreamz+11x14.jpg" title=""Silly Dreamz" 11 x 14 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" width="496" /></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Silly Dreamz"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">11 x 14</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Acrylics on Canvas</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Created February 24, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dottie-Gleason-Art/153561461380320">Dottie Gleason</a>, an artist from Laguna Niguel, California, creates charming paintings filled with mischievous characters and playfully dark elements. I am drawn to the inherent sense of fun within Gleason's paintings; you can tell she's having a lot of fun while creating these whimsical paintings. Gleason spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her artistic inspirations. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic process, and what types of artistic materials you use?</b></span><br /><br />I have always had a passion for art. Even at a young age I always found myself drawing or coloring on blank paper. I enjoyed the fact that I could create whatever I wanted and had no limitations. This was very exciting to me! I always found myself drawn to paint wicked, playful characters hiding in the corners of my imagination. I wanted to take my artwork to a whole new level and started painting murals. I dedicated several years to mural painting, which was fun, but I found later on in the years sitting and creating on a smaller scale was much more comfortable for me. I love working with pencils but my most favorite medium would have to be acrylics.<br /> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p3TrE5d-GoE/UCb2mIUaHYI/AAAAAAAABI0/CbWC6S0X0xY/s1600/Wickedly+Beautiful+16x20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Wickedly Beautiful" 16 x 20 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p3TrE5d-GoE/UCb2mIUaHYI/AAAAAAAABI0/CbWC6S0X0xY/s640/Wickedly+Beautiful+16x20.jpg" title=""Wickedly Beautiful" 16 x 20 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div id="yiv298730797yui_3_2_0_21_134455127883740" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Wickedly Beautiful"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">16 x 20</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Acrylics on Canvas</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Created March 25, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As an artist I've always been inspired to create playful paintings. I sometimes think people take life too seriously and get caught up with the headaches and stressfulness of the day to day rat race. If I can make someone smile with one of my paintings, then I know I have done my job as an artist. Not only is creating art very relaxing to me, but spending a lot hours a day painting is just what I love to do.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEdzofiHuPw/UCb4XWFJ5zI/AAAAAAAABJE/c4_eOo8Uq2I/s1600/Little+Miss+Performer+16x20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Little Miss Performer" 16 x 20 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEdzofiHuPw/UCb4XWFJ5zI/AAAAAAAABJE/c4_eOo8Uq2I/s640/Little+Miss+Performer+16x20.jpg" title=""Little Miss Performer" 16 x 20 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div id="yiv298730797yui_3_2_0_21_134455127883740" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Little Miss Performer"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">16 x 20</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Acrylics on Canvas</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Created March
14, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most of my works are a little dark, yet very fun and whimsical. I love making monsters cute and happy, because not all monsters are scary. Growing up, I always read </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">fairytales</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and would always imagine, “what if the woman who lived in the shoe was really a wicked witch that would cut up old stinky socks and add them to a soup and feed the little monsters that live under her bed?” I would always find the darker side to each fairytale. This would explain why I paint the way I paint. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Claire & Her Magical Dreamz" 16 x 20 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYp-_xKjjag/UCb3mLEy8yI/AAAAAAAABI8/fjaU2V0tX10/s640/Claire+&+her+magical+dreamz+16x20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""Claire & Her Magical Dreamz" 16 x 20 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" width="506" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Claire & Her Magical Dreamz"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">16 x 20 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Acrylics on Canvas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Created February 29, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am inspired by all artists in every way, but one artist that inspires me so much would have to be <a href="http://www.benjaminlacombe.com/index2.html">Benjamin Lacombe</a>. I find his works so mesmerizing, captivating, and sometimes spellbinding. I could sit for hours and really analyze all of his works. I also love the works of <a href="http://www.markryden.com/">Mark Ryden</a>. All of his paintings are breathtaking,yet with a beautiful touch of darkness.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vMmZh58tc20/UCb5pFUmNxI/AAAAAAAABJM/9f792AmxSps/s1600/Pink+18x36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Pink" 18 x 36 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vMmZh58tc20/UCb5pFUmNxI/AAAAAAAABJM/9f792AmxSps/s640/Pink+18x36.jpg" title=""Pink" 18 x 36 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" width="347" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div id="yiv298730797yui_3_2_0_21_134455127883740" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Pink"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">18 x 36</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Acrylics on Canvas</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Created July 5, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe as an artist my job is to create and leave the mystery up to the viewer. I love leaving room for your imagination to wander into your own path. I think by explaining my paintings it takes away the mystery of the painting. Even if I told a story for each of my paintings, people would have already made their own interpretation. So, as an artist, a painting should always stay a mystery and leave room for your mind to wander. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you want viewers to walk away with when they view your artwork?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I want my viewers to always want more. I put my heart and soul into every piece and they all have a special meaning, always.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""The Daydreamer" 16 x 20 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHNEJdelM9s/UCb7JGzWDOI/AAAAAAAABJU/kG_Smr2Zrjc/s640/The+Daydreamer+16x20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""The Daydreamer" 16 x 20 Acrylics on Canvas by Dottie Gleason" width="486" /></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div id="yiv298730797yui_3_2_0_21_134455127883740" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"The Daydreamer"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">16 x 20</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Acrylics on Canvas</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">March 4, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First advice to any artist is to always paint what your passion is. Never compromise your artwork for anyone. Stay true to yourself and who you are as an artist. I still remember those famous words my mom once told me; “Stay true to yourself and always follow your passion. Let no one stand in the way of your dreams!” Always believe in fairy tales and the fairies that hide in the flowers when you walk past a rose bush and, also, the whimsy monsters that hide in the corners of your closet at night waiting to come out and play on your canvas. I know if you work hard anything is possible, stay positive in all that you do and things will come your way!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Gleason's artwork, you can visit her <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dottie-Gleason-Art/153561461380320">Facebook page</a> for more details. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All images provided by Dottie Gleason.</i></span></span></span><br />
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<br />Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-43844377974513353722012-08-09T20:05:00.002-07:002012-08-09T20:05:55.469-07:002012-08-09T20:05:55.469-07:00A Review of Stephen King's On Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHZuoWmw_dU/UCR49UMCLXI/AAAAAAAABIM/T85pkexmZuU/s1600/Onwriting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHZuoWmw_dU/UCR49UMCLXI/AAAAAAAABIM/T85pkexmZuU/s400/Onwriting.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Book Review by <a href="http://patflafleur.wordpress.com/">Pat laFleur </a></span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stephen King almost didn’t finish his memoir, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/On-Writing-Anniversary-Edition-Memoir/dp/1439156816/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344567754&sr=8-1&keywords=On+Writing"><i>On Writing</i></a>, because, while out for an afternoon walk, he was struck by a blue Dodge van and almost died. As it turns out, this event will become the conclusion to his book. As an ending, it works, and not because he’s known best for a suspenseful and horrific storyline. It works because King isn’t just writing about writing. He’s writing about what it means to live, and almost die, an artist.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, okay, let’s back up: this is a book on writing... writing fiction. King hammers this point, again and again, actually. He discusses craft technicalities like dialogue, paragraph, character development, and others -- things that might cause artists of other disciplines to look the other way. But, to borrow a phrase, let’s get one thing clear right now, shall we? That would be a mistake.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As much as King sculpts a model of a writer, he also frames a particular view on what it means to create. Oddly enough for King, creativity is less an act of creation than one of discovery. He repeatedly refers to his stories as fossils, and he is the archaeologist. A story is buried in the earth, he says, describing the common notion, among writers anyway, that stories often take themselves in directions he never imagined, and he warns beginning writers against plotting too heavily. Instead, he prescribes a more spontaneous, exploratory approach. In other words, King offers a model of the artist as a sort of medium, transmitting something perhaps beyond his or her conscious self.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Whether this fits your method or not, King’s chorus sings the importance of... well, being methodical. Write. Paint. Sculpt. Sing. Whatever your craft, make it routine. And read, view, or listen to others even more. No doubt this will seem obvious to serious artists everywhere, but to King, it’s just that simple. It’s action. It’s habit. It’s impulse.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Because writing fiction is King’s linchpin here, it’s true that his memoir has its limits for other types of artists. King’s writer is, in certain ways, a lonely soul, working mostly behind a closed door. Many would cringe at such a solitary prospect, but even certain writing circles should see how King makes little room for more collective types of composition, like writing workshops (King hates these), collaborative digital texts, or social media.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the end, though, King prescribes finding your method and sticking to it. He admits: this is hard and takes patience. But, it might even save your life, pulling you back into yourself, even after a blue Dodge tries to knock you out of it. If you are an aspiring writer, this is a must-read, hands-down. King is not preachy, but firm and real. There’s no sugarcoating; making it as a writer is damn hard. And if you’re an aspiring artist of any kind, note how we turn 100 pages before King digs into the technicalities of writing itself. The rest tells the story of a craft in practice. For this reason, it’s a must-read for artists of all stripes.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">****As a writer myself, I’d be remiss if I didn’t trim this review with a few of my favorite Kingisms on writing:</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. “Put vocabulary on the top shelf of your toolbox, and don’t make any conscious effort to improve it. One of the really bad things you can do to your writing is to dress up the vocabulary.... This is like dressing up a household pet in evening clothes.”</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. “If you can remember all the accessories that go with your best outfit, the contents of your purse, the starting lineup of the New York Yankees or the Houston Oilers, or what label ‘Hang On Sloopy’ by The McCoys was on, you are capable of remembering the difference between a gerund and a participle.”</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. “The adverb is not your friend.” </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. “...the paragraph, not the sentence, is the basic unit of writing -- the place where coherence begins and words stand a chance of becoming more than mere words.” </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. “Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Pat laFleur you can check out his </span><a href="http://patflafleur.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">blog</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> for more details. </span></span><br />
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<br /><br />Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-12730862909511260492012-08-06T22:52:00.002-07:002012-08-06T23:08:33.167-07:002012-08-06T23:08:33.167-07:00A Conversation With HeatherRose<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Chilopodophilia" - 2011 - from the Phobophilia series" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P2V7TPl4GS0/UCCLAkyrJVI/AAAAAAAABF8/7zj5mubEV2I/s1600/Chilopodophilia_12inch_300dpi_1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""Chilopodophilia" - 2011 - from the Phobophilia series" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Chilopodophilia" - 2011 - from the Phobophilia series.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://heatherrosestudios.com/">HeatherRose</a>, an artist from Massachusetts, takes the viewer into a world where beautiful and dark imagery collide. There is a dangerous and sexy quality to HeatherRose's artwork that is both stunning and disturbing at the same time; where lovely ladies coexist with creatures of nature. The artist spoke with ArtSeen about her creative process and artistic inspirations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background and artistic processes?</b></span><br /><br />I graduated from Montserrat College of Art with a BFA in illustration, but it took me a while to decide on that major. First I studied graphic design, but realized quickly that it didn't allow the freedom and creativity that I desired. The art I craved to create was a bit too "low brow" for the fine art scene, so I ended up majoring in Illustration.<br /> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A lot of my art is greatly inspired by music. A certain song or record will give me a feeling that I am compelled to make into something visual, that others can see. This is how my process usually begins. From there I'll try to visualize a way to depict the emotion. I don't really sketch things out, but am more likely to actually enact them myself by putting myself in positions and trying to imagine how it would look as a figure in a painting. Then I take my own reference photographs, using other models when available. From there I study the photograph and do my best to capture the lighting and shadows, while adding all the surrealistic elements mostly from my imagination. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJzvzIrbx4c/UCCXGHTIW-I/AAAAAAAABGc/wGHMm_TnOwY/s1600/Apiphilia_8x10_300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Apiphilia" - 2012 - from the Phobophilia series." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJzvzIrbx4c/UCCXGHTIW-I/AAAAAAAABGc/wGHMm_TnOwY/s1600/Apiphilia_8x10_300.png" title=""Apiphilia" - 2012 - from the Phobophilia series." /></a></td></tr>
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"Apiphilia" - 2012 - from the Phobophilia series.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most often, its music, but I am often inspired by people in real life. I love to draw portraits. The human face is an amazing and beautiful thing. Sometimes upon seeing someone I instantly long to paint their portrait. And I create art because I can't imagine not doing it. Since childhood I've felt as if it was the only thing I was really meant to do. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am very intrigued by the things that most would find to be unsettling. I love to take things that others find unattractive, and show that they can be quite beautiful. I did a series of pin-up style portraits of side-show performers for this very reason. Fear is also something that I love to explore. My current series, Phobophilia, is about the excitement of fear. It's about that adrenaline rush we can't resist. I'm exaggerating the concept and turning it into a sort of fetish by taking common fears (and some not-so-common, as well) and putting them in a borderline erotic setting.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jb6-C2-qbNk/UCCZcfmW50I/AAAAAAAABGk/vGoA3o4OYac/s1600/Zombie_8x12_300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Freshening up after dinner" - 2010" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jb6-C2-qbNk/UCCZcfmW50I/AAAAAAAABGk/vGoA3o4OYac/s1600/Zombie_8x12_300.png" title=""Freshening up after dinner" - 2010" /></a></td></tr>
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"Freshening up after dinner" - 2010</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are there any artists that inspire you? If so who would they be and why?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh gosh, there are hundreds! However, I am most inspired by classics such as <a href="http://beardsley.artpassions.net/">Aubrey Beardsley</a> and <a href="http://www.muchafoundation.org/">Alphonse Mucha</a>, as well as many modern artists like <a href="http://blog.stuntkid.com/">Jason Levesque (Stuntkid)</a>, <a href="http://mooncalfe.deviantart.com/">Ross Campbell</a>, <a href="http://www.charmaineolivia.com/">Charmaine Olivia</a>, <a href="http://www.sylviaji.com/">Sylvia Ji</a>, <a href="http://barnabywhitfield.com/pages/main.html">Barnaby Whitfield</a>, <a href="http://aperfectmonster.com/">John Baizley</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Cullen_Hart">Will Cullen Hart</a>, just to name a few! I am drawn most to artists whose work really evokes emotion within my soul. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Creating art is revealing a part of oneself to the world that is secret, and often magical. I think that is why art is so appealing. We are allowed to view tiny glimpses of a universe that only the artist can see. I believe that artists provide another world to escape into when this one becomes too much to handle.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bT3RB29WDhA/UCCh7vu96cI/AAAAAAAABHk/cZn4w3OMLlc/s1600/Chiroptophilia_8x10_300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Chiroptophilia" - 2011 - from the Phobophilia series" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bT3RB29WDhA/UCCh7vu96cI/AAAAAAAABHk/cZn4w3OMLlc/s1600/Chiroptophilia_8x10_300.png" title=""Chiroptophilia" - 2011 - from the Phobophilia series" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Chiroptophilia" - 2011 - from the Phobophilia series<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What other interests do you have outside of your artwork?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really enjoy reading, mostly cult fiction and a few choice graphic novels. Chuck Palahniuk is my favorite author. His writing often inspires my paintings. And I watch entirely too much television, especially lowbrow comedy such as The Mighty Boosh and The Venture Bros. Also, I play banjo. I'm not very good at it, but its fun. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't ever give up. And take everything everyone says with a grain of salt. Some people will tell you they love your work when they don't mean it at all, and other people will tell you they hate it just because they're jealous. It's cliche, but really, just do what you love and do it with your whole heart. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Hematemesis" - 2010 " border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRnoMiyS99A/UCCiBFxMekI/AAAAAAAABHs/ND9aSx-e2qo/s1600/Hematemesis_300.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""Hematemesis" - 2010 " /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hematemesis" - 2010 </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about HeatherRose's artwork you can visit her <a href="http://heatherrosestudios.com/">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheRealHeatherRose">Facebook page</a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/smokeandhoney">Etsy shop</a> and at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BadAppleArtistCollective">Bad Apple Artist Collective</a> for more details. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All photography provided by HeatherRose. </span></i></span></span>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-54604508996036194472012-08-03T15:06:00.000-07:002012-08-04T16:55:25.353-07:002012-08-04T16:55:25.353-07:00Revisiting Imagine: How Creativity Works<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In April writer <a href="http://patflafleur.wordpress.com/">Pat laFleur</a> reviewed <i>Imagine: How Creativity Works</i> for ArtSeen. In this latest article he reassess the book after controversy emerged surrounding some of the book's content.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another Take on Imagine: How Creativity Works </span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by Pat laFleur</span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This past Monday, Jonah Lehrer - darling of the journalism and
pop-science communities - was crucified.
In an article posted this afternoon,<i>
</i><a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/107779/jonah-lehrers-deceptions"><span style="color: #000099;">Michael Moynihan outed</span></a> the bestselling author
for fudging facts regarding Bob Dylan’s career as they pertain to his most
recent book <i>Imagine: How Creativity Works</i>. Lehrer himself, in a public statement, has
corroborated Moynihan’s claims.
Nightmare, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well, let’s step back and think about this for a moment. It’s easy to challenge - no, totally erase
Lehrer’s credibility here, and it wouldn’t be the first time. Lehrer has a track record of questionable
evidence in his writing, whether it’s the accuracy of information or
over-simplified interpretation. But here
Moynihan is right on to conclude that, with <i>Imagine</i>,
Lehrer has proven himself more troubled professionally than a young journalist
just gaining his footing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I worry, though, that readers will be quick to throw the baby out
with the bathwater here... or, at least leave the room and forget the baby’s in
the tub. In wondering how crucial the
Dylan facts are to Lehrer’s scientific accuracy, I went back and read over my notes. I found that I never once scribbled the words
Bob or Dylan on my notepad. Why
not? Because, for Lehrer, Dylan is a
model of a theory in practice, which we need not confuse for evidence
supporting that theory’s accuracy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In re-reading the chapter in question, it became clear to me that we
could remove the Dylan anecdotes from the chapter without diminishing the
scientific information. Lehrer devotes
at least half of the chapter to outlining psychology professor Mark Beeman’s
research on moments of insight (“Eureka!” moments). For Lehrer, Dylan’s process provided an
instance of “find[ing] the strange thread connecting...disparate” things. This, according to Beeman, is a right-brain
process central to gaining insight and thinking with originality. In the chapter<i>, </i>we don’t see much evidence at all, actually; instead, simply a
summary of Beeman’s research. Dylan, on
the other hand, is Lehrer’s evidently failed attempt to link that science to
popular culture. Nothing more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately for Lehrer, this failure is precisely where the
book - and, admittedly, <a href="http://patflafleur.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/review-a-book-thats-not-pop-psych-or-self-help-imagine-that/"><span style="color: #000099;">my earlier review</span></a> - wrongly claims that it
succeeds. But still, I’m not ready to
throw away my copy just yet. Maybe it’s
because I’m wondering why it took a self-identified “Dylan obsessive” - rather
than a neuroscientist, or (*gasp*) an editor at Houghton-Mifflin - to point out
the book’s lack of citation of any kind.
It’s now more evident than ever that Lehrer’s use of information should
be scrutinized with a gigantic microscope, especially when he practices such
disregard for reference or citation.
But, until someone points out misleading reference to scientific studies
like Beeman’s, I think I’ll throw out the Dylan, but keep the science. It is, after all, still pretty cool stuff.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-40085424995519853852012-07-24T21:51:00.001-07:002012-07-24T21:51:14.909-07:002012-07-24T21:51:14.909-07:00A Conversation With Anne Angelshaug<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVyU2up8cEI/UA9H2uznS5I/AAAAAAAABDQ/5NRVZhKMLoM/s1600/After-2010-90x90cm-Acrylic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""After" Acrylic painting 2010 by Anne Angelshaug" border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVyU2up8cEI/UA9H2uznS5I/AAAAAAAABDQ/5NRVZhKMLoM/s400/After-2010-90x90cm-Acrylic.jpg" title=""After" Acrylic painting 2010 by Anne Angelshaug" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"After" Acrylic 2010</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.angelshaug.com/"><span class="email">Anne Angelshaug</span></a>, an artist from Norway, creates beautiful surreal paintings that evoke a delicate sadness when viewed. Through the juzatopositon of humans and nature in dreamlike landscapes, Angelshaug's artwork is exploring many themes dealing with the destructive nature of humans. Angelshaug spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her artistic inspirations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background, and artistic processes?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have always drawn and painted and my parents always ensured I had creative materials to "play" with as a child. When I started my creative education it was not considered the "done thing" to work figuratively and be a fine artist in Norway. So I went into illustration instead. This allowed me to develop in a way that was more natural to me and it turned out that fine art was meant for me after all. I work very instinctively with little sketch work in advance. It starts with an idea and the image grows from that. Since I work fast and am an impatient painter, acrylics suits me better than oils.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since I have always enjoyed "drawing stories" it is what I still do. I have fun creating, I like the challenges to my mind, and also the technical challenges it makes me face. But it is also a medium for me to communicate to others my thoughts and feelings around subjects that I find important. One of the subjects that "drives" me and I feel there should be a lot more focus on is the state of the planet and the destructive side of man. Again and again, we make bad choices with horrendous consequences for this beautiful planet and this saddens me more than I can say. There is a lot of this in my work.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q5p1MzrscQ/UA9OP8lFJjI/AAAAAAAABDc/e7mr5D6gQNw/s1600/After+the+party-2011-1x1m-Acrylic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""After the Party" painting 2011 by Anne Angelshaug" border="0" height="398" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q5p1MzrscQ/UA9OP8lFJjI/AAAAAAAABDc/e7mr5D6gQNw/s400/After+the+party-2011-1x1m-Acrylic.jpg" title=""After the Party" 2011 painting by Anne Angelshaug" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"After the Party" 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As I already mentioned I am very environmentally concerned. Norway is one of the lucky countries where the destruction is not very visible yet. The nature is incredibly beautiful and mighty impressive. This inspires me immensely and plays a huge part in my work. Also I listen to audio-books all day long, I love all types of literature, and what I am listening to at the time has a tendency to creep into my painting that I am working on. Sometimes just a mood and sometimes actual items. I also love mythologies and like playing around with symbolism. The actual look of my work has a lot to do with my background as an illustrator. Since the subject matter that I want to explore and communicate is so dark and melancholic I like to juxtapose this with a beautiful fairytale-like look to the image. I want to "draw" the onlooker in and then let them discover that everything is not as it should be in this "beautiful" place. I love the uneasy pairing of innocence/cute and ominousness.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6i4sA-8DTC8/UA9QOUoSdCI/AAAAAAAABDo/GLCNCsN5hRo/s1600/Paper+cuts-2012-1x1m-Acrylic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Paper Cuts" 2012 painting by Anne Angelshaug" border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6i4sA-8DTC8/UA9QOUoSdCI/AAAAAAAABDo/GLCNCsN5hRo/s400/Paper+cuts-2012-1x1m-Acrylic.jpg" title=""Paper Cuts" 2012 by painting Anne Angelshaug" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Paper Cuts" 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are there any artists that inspire you? If so, who would they be and why?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The last few years I am finding more and more artists that excite me. Before I discovered the pop surrealist art scene (it has been very late making it to Norway), I felt all alone and that I was maybe wasting my time on the type of work I was doing. And it was so wonderful to discover other artists that seemed to think like me! Before that I was very inspired by street art, and I still find that to be one of the most exciting art forms today. But I also find loads of inspiration from books. I devour everything that comes my way and find so much to work on from that. I especially love the Norwegian writer- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gert_Nyg%C3%A5rdshaug">Gert Nygårdshaug</a>, his work is so poetic and beautiful while still dealing with subjects like environmental-protection, political conflicts, imperialism, and he has quite a critical outlook at European attitude and behavior. His work has a huge impact on me, if any of it is translated give it a go. But I have to say that the most inspiring artist I know is my husband. He´s got the most brilliant ideas and an eye for what works and what doesn´t. He is the only one that knows what I am trying to achieve and has the guts to be brutally honest about my work.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon_%28artist%29">Francis Bacon</a> once said, “The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery." I love that. Even if I have subjects and themes that I use in my work to create stories, I have no answers. My work is not puzzles that must be solved correctly. I hope the viewer will create their own stories and emotions in response to my work and in that way be part of the creative process. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Danny" 2011 painting by Anne Angelshaug" border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eN6kM5feRPs/UA9ZhkjC2mI/AAAAAAAABD0/dAzIKPRNXTA/s400/Danny-2011-90x90cm-Acrylic.jpg" title=""Danny" 2011 painting by Anne Angelshaug" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Danny" 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What other interests do you have outside of your artwork?</span></span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well I have mentioned books a lot, but again BOOKS!!! I get through 3-5 books a week easily. I also find great joy in being in nature and working in the garden. So many human problems I think can be traced back to us becoming alienated from nature. There is such joy in simply sticking my hands into the soil and to create life and food from dirt and seed.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do not get seduced by money if/when you start making it. Following the money and trying to create work that people will pay for stops your natural development as an artist and is not the right focus. Fairly obvious I know- but it can be hard to be strong and true to yourself when you see that some of your work sells and other work doesn´t. But seriously, don´t let money corrupt the way you work.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Glasstide" 2012 painting by Anne Angelshaug" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIgdqUZHNAA/UA9fCGyiDfI/AAAAAAAABEE/BBvfeCKzfhE/s400/Glasstide-2012-80x100cm-Acrylic.jpg" title=""Glasstide" 2012 painting by Anne Angelshaug" width="325" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Glasstide" 2012</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information about Angelshaug and her artwork, visit her </span><a href="http://www.angelshaug.com/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">website</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-of-Anne-Angelshaug/134934121045" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Facebook page</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> for more details.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All images provided by Anne Angelshaug.</span></span></i>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055032338554095448.post-71421442239241853462012-07-22T23:42:00.000-07:002012-07-22T23:42:04.247-07:002012-07-22T23:42:04.247-07:00A Conversation With Betsy Jones<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Refractions" 18x24 inches, Colored Pencil on Paper by Betsy Jones" border="0" height="309" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rk2KitGv0uE/UAzSV0A0unI/AAAAAAAABCM/n6FG_36mSZY/s400/Refraction+Final.jpg" title=""Refractions" 18x24 inches, Colored Pencil on Paper by Betsy Jones" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Refractions" 18x24 inches, Colored Pencil on Paper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">For me, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BetsyJonesArt">Betsy Jones</a>' artwork is definitely all about the color. Jones, an artist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, creates abstract beauties filled with a multitude of shapes and colors that seem to dance. Jones spoke with ArtSeen about her artwork and her artistic inspirations. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Can you tell us a little about your artwork, artistic background and artistic processes?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I was classically trained throughout school. I also figured a lot out on my own and through the support of my family. I always received art supplies for holidays and birthdays. My dad and I would watch <a href="http://www.bobross.com/">Bob Ross</a> together and he’d explain the technique further. My mom would be quick to hand me pencils or markers and paper when I was bored. I’ve just always been involved in something creative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As for my artistic process, I tend to work in the abstract though lately realism is sneaking in. Right now I am focusing on my old friend; the colored pencil and have temporarily put my paints away. My paintings are fairly loose and organic while my colored pencil works tend to be more technical and controlled and are usually focused on geometry and color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">For me, no matter what medium I use, color is the most important factor in my artwork. I love everything about color and the relationship between hues, and most especially the effect and power color has on a person.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a48fhqY0zZ0/UAzj6xKFt5I/AAAAAAAABCk/PZMbLrzAJ-o/s1600/OldSkool300dpiSmall_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Old Skool" 18x24 inches, Mixed Media on Canvas by Betsy Jones" border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a48fhqY0zZ0/UAzj6xKFt5I/AAAAAAAABCk/PZMbLrzAJ-o/s400/OldSkool300dpiSmall_1.jpg" title=""Old Skool" 18x24 inches, Mixed Media on Canvas by Betsy Jones" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Old Skool" 18x24 inches, Mixed Media on Canvas</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What inspires you as an artist? Why do you create art?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My inspiration is drawn from dreams and meditation, nature, color, and seeing the world in a different way – broken down into shape, form, and color. Other artists and their work always inspire me as well, in one way or another. I tend to be drawn to vibrant color, exaggerated lighting, and odd perspectives – no matter the genre or style of artwork. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I create art because I have learned that I am miserable and pretty intolerable without creating. Art is my therapy, my love, my fun and entertainment. I like to think that all artists, and I’m no different, share bits of themselves through their artwork and you never have to speak the same language to understand where they are coming from. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KMfySb2dAI/UAzl820BySI/AAAAAAAABDE/5dK3bMp2Syo/s1600/TodayIsANewDay+BJones_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Today is a New Day" 14x16 inches, Colored Pencil on Paper by Betsy Jones" border="0" height="312" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KMfySb2dAI/UAzl820BySI/AAAAAAAABDE/5dK3bMp2Syo/s400/TodayIsANewDay+BJones_1.jpg" title=""Today is a New Day" 14x16 inches, Colored Pencil on Paper by Betsy Jones" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Today is a New Day" 14x16 inches, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1343022284_0">Colored Pencil</span> on Paper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What types of themes, ideas, or concepts do you explore within in your artwork?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of my favorite song lyrics says, “After the rain, there are rainbows”…. (DJ Okawari “Brighter Side”)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">With that in mind, I like to bring color to the world and try to bring feelings of hope and joy through my art. There's enough negativity out there, I want to enjoy and share beauty during people’s darker days. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Are there any artists that inspire you? If so who would they be and why?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Tons of artists inspire me! Too many to name them all! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Some of the most influential have been <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/monet/">Monet</a> for his use of color and love of water lilies; <a href="http://www.edgar-degas.org/">Degas</a> for the grace of his brushwork and subjects; <a href="http://beinart.org/artists/satoshi-sakamoto/gallery/paintings/">Satoshi Sakamoto</a> for his imaginative sci-fi worlds; <a href="http://www.petermax.com/">Peter Max</a> for his use of color and impact; <a href="http://stephencefalo.com/Official/Home.html">Stephen Cefalo</a> for his atmospheric and angelic paintings; and <a href="http://www.sherrysmithart.com/sherrysmithart/Home.html">Sherry Bruce Smith</a>, <a href="http://esterroi.com/">Ester Roi</a>, and <a href="http://www.arlenesteinberg.com/">Arlene Steinberg</a> for their ridiculous color magic, composition, and colored pencil skills.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEPwu_sn5Hc/UAzkp6sURFI/AAAAAAAABC0/DIGhR2uv69A/s1600/MusicDied.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""The Night the Music Died" 30x36 inches, Mixed Media by Betsy Jones" border="0" height="282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEPwu_sn5Hc/UAzkp6sURFI/AAAAAAAABC0/DIGhR2uv69A/s400/MusicDied.jpg" title=""The Night the Music Died" 30x36 inches, Mixed Media by Betsy Jones" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Night the Music Died" 30x36 inches, Mixed Media & Gold Leaf on Canvas</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think the role of the artist is?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I think as artists, we have the responsibility of sharing ourselves with the world: a message, a record of our history, an opinion, an art medium or technique, an emotion, etc. It all ends up being our take on the collective, our vision of the world at this moment, and the hopes and fears of the present or the future. We have the duty of touching someone’s heart and affecting their lives even in some small way. We are the people who continually promote humanity, culture, beauty, and compassion. Artists aid in the medical field, entertainment, fashion, education, and language. We have our pencils and brushes in most nooks of society and it’s our role to open the minds of society and teach people about others’ experience.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C4k704qt6ik/UAzlb9NA4hI/AAAAAAAABC8/ZvN14WUREeg/s1600/Nova_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Nova" 16x20 inches, Acrylic Paint on Board by Betsy Jones" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C4k704qt6ik/UAzlb9NA4hI/AAAAAAAABC8/ZvN14WUREeg/s320/Nova_1.jpg" title=""Nova" 16x20 inches, Acrylic Paint on Board by Betsy Jones" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Nova" 16x20 inches, Acrylic Paint on Board</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What other interests do you have outside of your artwork?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am the owner of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/CPALmembers/">Colored Pencil Artists and Lovers</a> on Facebook group, which takes up (gladly!) much of my non-art time. It’s the best art group I’ve ever been a part of, 1200+ members full of support and positivity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I also am finding that as I get older I am becoming a homebody. I love to cook and try to spend every Sunday in the kitchen trying new recipes and making old favorites. I’m also a bookworm and have lately been crocheting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I’ve got a great little family with my musician husband and our cat and dog. And we enjoy our quiet days of art, music, food, and movies or video games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And I’ve got to say, my favorite pastime is what I call the art of sitting. So often schedules are filled to the max, it’s nice to just pour a cup of tea or a couple shots of tequila and enjoy a quiet moment, or catch up with your friends and loved ones.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=""Shattered" 10x30 inches, Colored pencil on Paper by Betsy Jones" border="0" height="173" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1oE9SC-auU/UAzkVQVU45I/AAAAAAAABCs/hd9q5_JgjWw/s400/ShatteredBJones_1.jpg" title=""Shattered" 10x30 inches, Colored pencil on Paper by Betsy Jones" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Shattered" 10x30 inches, Colored pencil on Paper </td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">And finally, what advice would you give to other artists?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you love what you do keep at it and never give up. Create what makes you happy – the fans and the sales will follow. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. If people can’t see your work they can’t buy it or enjoy it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">To view more of Jones' artwork and learn more information about the artist you can visit her <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BetsyJonesArt">Facebook Page</a> for further details.</span></div>Shawn Daniellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17946154578619539686noreply@blogger.com1