acrylic

Sheree Rasmussen : Abstract Expressionist

by Deborah E on March 14, 2012

I absolutely love color (are you tired of reading that, yet? lol). And, Ms. Rasmussen's art delivers well on that! She has also enlightened me in the area of textile art and I am recalling even art works recovered in antiquities...

Ms. Rasmussen shares a bit of her philosophy, as well, and I love her reference to the undiscovered artistry of women who have the blessed role of housewife. Read with me, in Ms. Rasmussen's own words..

When did you first decide that you wanted to be an artist?

I grew up in an artistic family. My decision to become a visual artist happened gradually. First I wanted to be a dancer and studied with Boris Volkoff, a great Russian ballet teacher who had arrived in Toronto straight from the Bolshoi Ballet. Then I got into "handicrafts" like weaving, sewing, knitting. It wasn't until much later that I realized that these "women's crafts" were actual serious art forms and that there were many great women artists out there disguised as housewives. (I'm talking in the 50s, when I was born). My mother dressed me in fabulous outfits, and I remember being completely dazzled by a purple dress she made with a bright orange insert. I think that kick-started my love of intense color.

I've travelled extensively, and seeing how colour is used in various cultures definitely expanded my visual language.

What was your first art creation?

My first art creations were complex school projects. They were reat works of design and attention to detail.

What was your first memorable art piece?

My first memorable art piece was a hippie/folk embroidery that I started working on while travelling with a Buddhist spiritual group in Europe in the 70s. I was going to give it to the "Guru" when it was done (it took months to complete), but then met my future husband and gave it to him instead!

Please describe "A Day in the Life of Sheree Rasmussen, Artist Extraordinaire."

I tend to do my work in the winter. (In the summer I run a garden design business, and grow my own organic veggies.) I spend weeks on end pretty well locked in my studio for 12-14 hour days. I work best that way, in spurts of intense concentration. And, yes, I start my day with a cup of coffee looking out our windows onto a beautiful view.

I sometimes respond to online "calls for entry," if they sound really interesting.

What do you do with your art?

I do sell my art through my website, and have had solo and group shows in various galleries. We also have a gallery at our place in rural Ontario, which is open in the summer, and also during the weekend of October 13 and 14th, when we host an arts festival, devoted to integrating art into the landscape.

What are your plans in the future?

My plans for the future are to keep developing as an artist. I'm being featured in a book about my work, by a New York curator, Sandra Sider. It is called, "The Studio Quilt, No. 7" and will be available on Amazon by mid March. I'm also doing a show at Propeller Gallery in Toronto, in June 2012.

I feel fortunate to be part of a new wave. Textiles are finally re-entering the fine art mainstream, after having gone through various stages, even in my life time. First considered just women's work, then rising into fashion with the hippies in the 60s, and experimental fibre artists of the 70s to 90s, and now, with the discovery of works of abstract artistic genius such as the "Women of Gees Bend," textiles are showing up in art galleries around the globe.

In Ms. Rasmussen's own words, from her main, "I grew up in Toronto. She has traveled extensively, living in rural Denmark for 10 years, and presently lives in Toronto and Northumberland County, Ontario. "
Connecting with Sheree Rasmussen.
Artist Website :	www.shereerasmussen.com
Gallery :	www.insideandoutgardens.ca
FB Page :	facebook.com/pages/Sheree-Rasmussen-Textile-Artist/337094142996214
Twitter :	twitter.com/ShereeRasmussen

Are you an artist who would like to be featured? Contact me!

Until next time.
hugs,
Deborah
P.S. Have you hugged 5 times today?

Deborah E

Deborah E is a smooth and sultry summer night on Bourbon Street… Classy with a dash of sass… Proof that the jazz greats have not been sacrificed to processed pop. ladyD.info. For more information, including other blogs, visit her main site at deborah.info.

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Barbara Schreiber : Inspirational Greetings

by Deborah E on February 22, 2012

Ms. Schreiber is a delightful person (love her sense of humor and wonderment!), as well as a delightful artist. As with many artists, it was hard to choose which pieces to show in this interview! She excels in so many areas, that you cannot label her with just one. But then, as creative creatures, that is one of the aspects that makes us what we are.

When did you first decide that you wanted to be an artist?

I guess I started when I was 1 1/2 years old. My mother had this gorgeous red nail varnish filled in a nice bottle that came with such a cute little brush. My parents' antique wardrobe was used as canvas.

What was your first art creation?

In the beginning, as far back as I can remember, I have always drawn. First with pencils, then charcoal. Then came oil paints, acrylic paints, painting on silk, pastels, watercolor paints. Now it's mixed-media. I did pottery in between.

What was your first memorable art piece?

I never entered art shows, and I did not always like art in school. That's not because I don't like art -I just love it and am addicted to it - but because my teachers all seemed to like precise perspective drawing. That's just not my case, that kind of tight drawing makes me nervous. I do admire the work of other artists who can do precise drawing, though.

I sold my first drawing when I was 15 years old. I had developed a quite nice technique. I would draw with a pencil first (in this case it was a drawing of a pigeon with outspread wings), drip candle wax over the lines, burn a special kind of newspaper, and rub the ashes over the wax. Then I would scrape away some of the wax. Just like a scratch board, but different.

It looked pretty neat and interesting!

Please describe "A Day in the Life of Barbara Schreiber, Artist Extraordinaire."

I don't like getting up early, but I do. I'm a single mother and automatically get up when the kids get ready for school. At the moment I am recovering from chemo treatments so I take things very slowly. Since I have not yet gotten all of my energies back, I only teach one day a week. I also used to teach watercolor painting and mixed-media. I will start those classes again next year. I certainly do need that cup of coffee in the morning. Then it's off to the computer or I paint/draw.

I'm always in the mood to create. If I'm not in the mood to create, I surf the web and check designs, colors, styles, to get my inspiration going.

I do not respond to on-line contests.

My main problem is that I would love to do everything. I want to do serious fine art, and whimsical art, and just plain illustrations, and graphic designs, and I love making greeting cards, and selling them on-line. I like using traditional mediums and/or digital means. I had to give up pottery, because I did not have enough time to do the other things.

My household chores and all the other stuff all sort of fit in around art and creating. I'm not house proud but from time to time the kids and I get into the "let's tidy up and clean the apartment" mode.

What do you do with your art?

I used to sell my original paintings, but don't anymore.

I now paint, draw, illustrate and mainly make greeting cards, which I sell online at Greeting Card Universe. I'm also on Zazzle, but hardly have anything in my store there. My zazzle store really needs a revamp and a more modern/fresh look - something I plan on doing next year.

I would like to open up a shop on Etsy, but sort of balk at the idea of printing and shipping items myself.

I'm crazy about life, art - in every form and style - god and my two kids - not necessarily in that order!

What are your plans in the future?

I plan on writing/illustrating a second book, a third book... or more. Just love it! For 2012 I have planned several mixed-media classes. And of course, I want to make lots and lots of nice cards. I do intend to do more illustrations and more whimsical things.

My problem is, that I'm not a very organized person. I want to do too many things and don't have the time to do everything. I want to improve my technical skills, painting with traditional mediums, but I also want to learn more about Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and make my own brushes.

In Ms. Schreiber's own words, from her greetingcarduniverse, "I am addicted to everything that has to do with art - especially watercolor and mixed media. I'm crazy about life, art - in every form and style - god and my two kids - not necessarily in that order!"
Connecting with Barbara Schreiber.
Artist Website :	www.greetingcarduniverse.com/barbaraswatercolorscardstore
Blog :	etoilesandfernweh.blogspot.com/
Blog :	www.barbara-schreiber.com
Gallery :	shop.kawohl.de/products/00/130068

Are you an artist who would like to be featured? Contact me!

Until next time.
hugs,
Deborah
P.S. Have you hugged 5 times today?

Deborah E

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Christopher Clark : Painter of Memories

by Deborah E on January 18, 2012

"Painter of Memories" is an apt description for the art of Christopher Clark. His art brings emotion and feeling to life. One can feel the breeze when viewing his image, here. One can taste the sand, and feel the warmth of the sun. This is talent, my friends, to be able to interpret the event, memory, in a way that allows the viewer to experience it... even when it is not their memory that inspired the original painting. Come, learn about Mr. Clark, and his talent and thoughts on his own art and the art world, as it relates to the community.

When did you first decide that you wanted to be an artist?
I've been an artist as long as I can remember, from when I was very little. I remember watching Bob Ross on public access TV (the painter with the big affro who painted "happy little trees") and mimicking him with crayons and paper. I've had an affinity with art literally my entire life (33 years at this point), and for much of that I've had the aspirations to do it as my main career. Even at my current "day job," I'm a successful digital graphic artist and interactive media developer, though I made the ultimate decision to become a full-time fine artist December of 2010 and ever since have been ravenously striving to make that a reality.

What was your first art creation?
Probably some crap crayon drawing as a toddler, who knows :) Actually my mom would know, and she probably still has it, I should ask her.

What was your first memorable art piece?
I did a portrait of a dear friend of mine who was, at the time, my teacher of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which I studied for about four years. It's a graphite portrait of him holding his newborn daughter. This was featured in an art show at the Huntington Beach Art Center, in 2005. Click Here to see some of my earlier work. Feel free to have a look around.

Please describe "A Day in the Life of Christopher Clark, Artist Extraordinaire."
My current daily routine involves a 50 hour work week as a graphic designer and all the fabulous accoutrements and boredom of "Corporate America," as I'm not yet a full-time fine artist. Much of my art is created late at night or on weekends. I'm so obsessed with creating art that I built a small pochade box (a portable art studio that holds wet canvases) and I paint little 8x10" paintings on my lunch breaks at work. Due to this accessibility, I've introduced myself to the endearing new phenomenon of "Daily Painting."

What do you do with your art?
I sell my art exclusively, direct to my clients, whether it's at my website, www.ChristopherClark.com, my Etsy store, or through personal interaction and word of mouth. I somewhat disapprove of the high-end art gallery industry, as I think it turns art into a luxury commodity rather than a beauty that all people can enjoy. With gallery commissions of 50% and, absurdly, sometimes higher, this effectively doubles what an artist has to charge for his work to receive the same compensation. A chord is struck in me with the words of the rogue graffiti artist Banksy: "When you go to an art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires." I sell direct to my clients because I set the price, and I do my best to make my art accessible to regular folks.

I take a person's favorite idea or concept or memory or event and turn it into a real tangible thing that they can see with their own eyes. That's where I got the self-coined term "Painter of Memories." There are always paintings I do just to add to my general inventory of available work.

What are your plans in the future?
My plans are simple: Paint enough to pay all the bills with some extra (i.e. not a "starving artist" or a "part-time bartender"). I'm working on a few commission paintings for some clients/friends, and I'm often told later, by my clients, that my painting is like a living memory they can relive over and over again. Quite touching, actually. I take a person's favorite idea or concept or memory or event and turn it into a real tangible thing that they can see with their own eyes. That's where I got the self-coined term "Painter of Memories." There are always paintings I do just to add to my general inventory of available work.

I very often film myself painting and make them into timelapse videos, which are posted on my YouTube channel.

In Mr. Clark's own words, from his website, "I love capturing the drama of an everyday moment that could have happened down the street from my house, or on the shore of a vast foreign continent. I try to make each one of my works a living memory to share with others. Pouring these stories into a single painting is both exhilarating and heartbreaking. But I guess that’s what happens when you open yourself up to the world."
Connecting with Christopher Clark.
Artist Website :	www.ChristopherClark.com
Etsy :	etsy.com/shop/ChristopherClarkArt
FB Page :	facebook.com/ChristopherClarkArt
Twitter :	twitter.com/chrisclarkart
YouTube :	youtube.com/christopherclarkart
Flickr :	flickr.com/christopherclarkart

Are you an artist who would like to be featured? Contact me!

Until next time.
hugs,
Deborah
P.S. Have you hugged 5 times today?

Deborah E

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Dave DeVries : Monster Engine

by Deborah E on January 11, 2012

I have to admit... Ready for it? I wasn't originally drawn to cartoons of monsters and monster comics. I mean, I didn't even watch Monsters, Inc.! But, looking at Mr. DeVries' art is so fun. And, when you see the process and purpose behind it, it makes it all the more meaningful. Read with me, in Mr. Devries' own words, in the interview below.

When did you first decide that you wanted to be an artist?
I knew at two key points in my life:

The first happened at age six. My brother, an artist himself at the time, who has since gone on to be a writer, locked me in his room and wouldn't let me out until I drew a picture from a photo. Up until then, I drew like any other kid and didn't really consider myself an artist. I protested, a lot, but my brother, nine years my senior, wouldn't let me leave. I was forced to draw members of the '72 NY Knicks (one of which went on to be an US senator) and by the time I was done my world view had changed drastically. I walked out of that locked room and knew I was an artist.

Then, suddenly, around 5th grade I didn't want to be an artist. At the time, I saw in my dad a growing disappointment with my brothers. The two oldest were not going to college (they eventually did go, and graduated). As a result, I wanted to make my dad happy, so told him I wanted to be a doctor. It wasn't a hard sell for me. I had, in the past, demonstrated a morbid interest in my own gore--stitches, I believe, from a bike accident.

Flash forward to 6th grade for my second epiphany. I had shown some drawings to a very gifted peer in my class who dismissively responded, "You call yourself an artist?" I was severely and quietly broken and stopped drawing altogether for about a year. However, in 7th grade, Aquaman came to my rescue. I had copied a Jim Aparo Aquaman cover. Suddenly, I was back on track. I knew the high pay and easy hours of a comic book artist were mine to grasp... ahem. The really sad thing was that I had to tell my dad I was picking a life that his engineering mind could not compute. I chose a restaurant to tell him... Let's just say he wasn't happy and that I chose wisely to air my intentions in a public place.

I started six months after college. I did, of all things, an Aquaman cover for DC in 1989 on spec. No contract just a shot at fame. ; )

What was your first art creation?
I have no idea. I just remember drawing The Flash a lot, inspired by the Filmation animated DC Comics shows from the 60's.

My first artwork was probably drawn with crayon or pencil. I didn't learn to paint till I was almost out of college. I was simply terrified of painting.

What was your first memorable art piece?
It was those Knicks drawings. I did a few presidential portraits that garnered a "My little artist" from my first grade teacher, Mrs Blake. That was memorable because it was the first recognition outside my family.

Please describe "A Day in the Life of Dave DeVries, Artist Extraordinaire."
Lately, about three days per week, I put my kid to be at night and then go directly to bed as well, around 10 pm or later. Then, I wake up about 3am and work on my illustration work till 8am. Then, I get my kid up and off to school. After that, I go to my steady day job working 3 days per week in an Arts Access program for the disabled, people with Cerebral Palsy, at Matheny Medical and Educational Center. I have two days off and on those days I wake up and get working till 5 pm when my kid comes home. I do work on weekends but try to do that at night. It doesn't always work out, as physically I can't always wake up. I found that every other day is best for the 3 am wake-ups.

I don't create art every day. Usually, and this has been from early on in my life, I create an image when motivated by an assignment, either one I create for myself or one from a client.

What do you do with your art?
I entered one contest. It was one similar to my Monster Engine project at Worth 1000. I had to enter that one! The painting was done already. Usually I cannot enter a contest because I do not have time.

My commercial work is all digital, Photoshop paintings, so I don't sell those, obviously. The one exception is a comic book character as I get to keep the painting and there is an aftermarket for that type of image. The Monster Engine work is all traditional and I do gallery shows with them. I just did a charity as well, which you can see here.

I have to admit... Ready for it? I wasn't originally drawn to art and cartoons of monsters. I mean, I didn't even watch Monsters, Inc.! But, looking at Mr. DeVries' art is so fun. And, when you see the process and purpose behind it, it makes it all the more meaningful. Read with me, in mr. Devries' own words, in his interview.

What are your plans in the future?
I am working on a graphic novel about The Monster Engine with no visible release date.

We are currently working on an application for all devices that will enable anyone to "Monster Engine-ize" their children's artwork, plus a possible Monster Engine app just for the fans. We hope to have this out some time in the Spring of 2012. We are also in the preliminary stages of deciding on a possible documentary or TV series/movie based on The Monster Engine. I am doing concept art work for Activision with a June release date, which is all that I'm allowed to say due to NDAs. Additionally, I am creating art for ad agencies and, of course, teaching at The Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.

To contact Dave DeVries, please contact his publicist denise@writebrainmedia.com | Twitter: @WriteBrainMedia | FB Fan Page: Facebook.com/WriteBrainMedia

In Mr. DeVries's own words, from his website, "I’ve loved art from the time I was a little kid-- especially comic books. When I got older, I actually got a chance to draw my childhood heroes--and get paid to boot. It was a dream come true...I also painted monsters for Universal Studios, but those monsters weren’t as cool as the ones I saw lurking in my niece’s sketches. It was then, at age 33, that I decided to take all the lessons about color, action and detail and apply them to little kid’s drawings. It made me remember my childhood and also realize that no matter how old I became I could always see things like a child."
Connecting with Dave DeVries.
Artist Website :	www.themonsterengine.com
FB Page :	facebook.com/TheMonsterEngine.DaveDeVries
Twitter :	twitter.com/DaMonsterEngine

Are you an artist who would like to be featured? Contact me!

Until next time.
hugs,
Deborah
P.S. Have you hugged 5 times today?

Deborah E

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Sheryl Brown : Healing Art

by Deborah E on January 4, 2012

I think you all know that I love color. I mean I really, really love color. I love all kinds of color, whether it is bright colors, earth tone colors, or pastel colors. I am particularly drawn to the way that Sheryl Brown uses the pastel colors in her abstract fine art masterpieces. There is a real healing effect that Ms. Brown's art has on the soul. Oh, she is not alone in this talent, but her gift with the use of color has touched my soul and I'm sure that it will touch yours, as well. Come, let's take a peek into the world of Sheryl Brown, in her own words...

When did you first decide that you wanted to be an artist?
When I was in grade 2, age 7, I remember having drawn some flames with a simple pencil sketch (and did I color them? I'm not sure..!), and thinking it came out so lifelike that "I must be an artist..!" I've always been in love with color.

What was your first art creation?
One of my earliest memories of decorating with paint was taking the pot of leftover paint in the garage and using a stick to apply it to my tricycle. I had to have been age 5 or younger then. I was already a color collector - I would pick the colored glass out of the stucco on the house. I also scratched my name into the TV. LOL!

When I was about 6, I took it upon myself to add some color to a story book I had, using some new water color paints I had just received.

My first oil painting (done in high school) is very simplistic and resides somewhere in the garage. My first oil painting of note was painted right after high school. It's called, "Two Lonesome Trees," and was painted from a calendar picture of a snowy sunrise. It's available on my website. Click Here to view the painting.

My first piece of art to be professionally, digitally scanned, and reproduced as a giclee reproduction, was in 2008 and is named "Cloud Dance," a 16x20" acrylic on canvas. I now have 77 images available, ranging in size from 4x4 to 24x36, on paper or canvas.

What was your first memorable art piece?
In grade 1, I seem to recall there was a particular kitchen drawer reserved for my art and writing papers that came home from school.

In my early high school years, three different teachers in three different years, used my art. In one case it was for a school newsletter and in the other two cases, a poster.

Please describe "A Day in the Life of Sheryl Brown, Artist Extraordinaire."
My process is greatly facilitated by a block of time with no appointments, better a whole day, with lots of natural light, usually when I'm at home. I wouldn't mind if this worked out daily, but it can be some days in a row, or days separated by weeks. I randomly sit down with paints and start playing around. Sometimes, I squeeze paint directly from the tube to the canvas. Sometimes, I paint with fine lines, dabbing the paint straight from the tube onto my paintbrush.

Sometimes a few specific colors draw my attention. For example, a previous painting presents itself with a new twist, or I just have an idea. Very often, the idea I start with is just a catalyst, and what I end up with is far down another path than I started. A few times, my intention materialized close to how I imagined it. (Eg, "Cloud Dance," "Chakra Dance," "Chakra Mountain," "Ring of Light") I am truly very random abstract, but ironically, I am at my most concrete when I have a paintbrush and tubes of paint in my hands. I often finish an 8x10" or several in a sitting. Some of the larger ones will spread out over months.

The last couple of years I have participated in several of our local art walks, where businesses offer to host an artist for the evening.

I did respond to one online contest a year or so ago. The prize was a trip to NYC with use of art studios and some media connections.

What do you do with your art?
My own art is plastered all over my walls. Every now and then, I take a new batch of paintings to my professional giclee print maker to have them professionally digitally scanned, ready to be reproduced as Fine Art Giclees, either on Fine Art paper, or on canvas. I have added notecard sized format to the collection, which makes it very affordable. My Fine Art Giclee reproductions are easy to order from my website online, or folks can email or call me if they need some direction.

What are your plans in the future?
I am getting very serious about getting my art into more formats, like silk scarves, T-shirts, gift bags and tissue paper.. the sky's the limit..!

My current project is to finalize the touch-ups and naming of about 50 new paintings in order to get them ready for scanning.. I'm being a bit slowed down by the winter sun's short course ;D

One of these days I will be able to build a customized art studio and gallery..!

In Ms. Brown's own words, from her Facebook, "[I have] been painting since age 6 when [I] received [my] first set of paints for being brave at the eye doctor's - I well remember this!! The black and white illustrations in one of my story books needed a little... well, color! And I've been at it ever since, but especially in the last 10 years or so."
Connecting with Sheryl Brown.
Artist Website :	www.SherylBrownArt.com
Blog :	www.sherylbrownart.com/blog/
FB Page :	facebook.com/SherylBrownArt
FB Page :	facebook.com/ChangeArtistCoaching
FB Profile :	facebook.com/SherylBrown
Twitter :	twitter.com/SunraySheryl
LinkedIn :	linkedin.com/profile/view?id=23002925