Artist Shout Outs

Yay Books!

2009-09-09T23:02:00.004-06:00

Special September Offer
A Draw to WIN two Books!

Purchase a copy of
"Horse On The Loose" by Sara Dudenhoeffer

And be entered to win a copy of
"Saving London" and "Sarah's Promise"
written by Opel Johnson of PumpkinHead Publishing
and illustrated by Sara Dudenhoeffer

All of these books are self-published by the authors. You are not supporting some big faceless publishing company by purchasing these books, you are directly supporting the author and artist involved with the creating of these books.

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"Saving London" and "Sarah's Promise" are written for ages 9 - 14 (approximately), and are great reads for avid horse lovers. They are the first two books in a series about a young girl named Sarah and her special relationship with a beautiful horse named London's Girl.

"Horse on the Loose" is written for a slightly higher reading level but is enjoyable for all ages. It follows two young teens, Jesse and Danielle who live in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. It is the first book of a series of books called, The Pinto Mountain Series. This series of books deals with heritage, growing pains, horses, environmental issues, and more.

The great thing about all three of these books is that they have GLOSSARIES in the back where a lot of the farm lingo, horse terms, and "big words" are explained... which is great for those horse lovers out there who are itching to learn more about their favorite animal!

Why am I posting this ad in my blog?
Because I'm the Sara who wrote "Horse on the Loose" and who illustrated "Saving London" and "Sarah's Promise"... please support me and purchase a copy of my book! Thank you :)

* * * *

The draw for the two books will happen October 1st
So, if you're considering purchasing "Horse on the Loose",
now is a great time!!

Go to http://borroweddreams.net/ to order
and please tell your friends!!

One Million Giraffes

2009-09-08T23:02:00.011-06:00

http://www.olahelland.net/giraffes/

"My friend, Jørgen, doesn't believe I can collect one million giraffes by 2011. I'm gonna prove him wrong, but I need your help. You can create your giraffe(s) in any way you like, but not on a computer and no store bought objects. You must create your giraffe(s) yourself!

So far I've got 244 294 giraffes, so I need 755 706 more and I have 478 days left.
Let's show Jørgen how amazing the internet is."

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Hello world! Yes, I still exist! No, I haven't forgotten about this blog! (believe it or not)

So, anyhow, as you can tell from what is posted above, this post is about GIRAFFES. I was shown this website a week or so ago where this person was trying to collect one million giraffes before 2011 and being the giraffe fan that I am, I just had to participate! And now, having participated, I've gotten on a serious giraffe kick. So, for this edition of ARTIST SHOUT OUTS, I'm going to post some great GIRAFFE art that I've found kicking around etsy. Feel free to follow that link above and participate in the One Million Giraffes challenge, btw.

enrouge on Etsy
"Listen" by k.k Aron

paintallnightstudios on Etsy

Original Abstract Paintings
by Marie & Robert Bretz

HamjArt on Etsy
"Nigel" by HamJ

"I Can Reach That"
by Arlene Faye

MaiaArt on Etsy
"Giraffe Moment" by Maia

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The art posted on this blog entry (and every blog entry on this

blog, for that matter) is copyrighted to its respective artist.

Please do not save any images of art from this blog.
If you enjoy the art you see, please visit the artist's etsy shop.

Studios on Parade

2009-03-17T08:39:00.010-06:00

Hello! Welcome to another "Studios on Parade" entry.

As you probably already know, we are looking at the many different studios and work areas of different artists. So, below are a few more artists who have agreed to share their studios with us. To see the previous studio themed entries you can click on the 'studio' label / tag and that'll bring up all the "Studios on Parade" posts.

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Real Name: Helen Gotlib
Online Alias: (helengotlib)
Location: Ann Arbor, MI.
Website: http://www.helengotlib.com/
Online Shop: http://www.helengotlib.etsy.com/

Brief Bio:
Helen Gotlib was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In college, Gotlib divided her time between printmaking and scientific illustration. Her experience in scientific illustration helped her develop her ability to produce very detailed work. Her interest in printmaking evolved as she studied many different methods including lithography, intaglio, and wood block printmaking with water-based inks. Gotlib has traveled extensively. Her observations of people and customs in Japan, China and Israel have influenced her perception of the human body and how expressive it is. Her life drawings reflect what people can express with isolated parts of their bodies. Gotlib’s work has been exhibited in numerous juried shows across the country.

Are you a Fulltime/Part time Working Artist?
I work as an artist full time. I’m either making work or traveling around on the art fair circuit showing my work.

How long have you been an artist?
Since I was born with a crayon in my hand! ;)

What types of Media do you work with?
Pen, ink gouache and etchinh/intaglio

What scale do you work at?
Any where from tiny to 52”x30”

Tell us a little bit about your studio:
I work in my little studio in Ann Arbor, MI. My boyfriend and I have a 2 bedroom house and the whole first floor is devoted to our art studios for printmaking, drawing and painting. We always have a bazillion projects going on and not enough space!!! I bought my first etching press about 3 years ago now and I love it! (It’s the main sculptor in our house!) It’s no name brand; I did not have $10,000 to buy anything too fancy. An auto mechanic in Canada built this press.

Is your studio at your home or elsewhere?
at home on the first floor.

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Real Name: Shelli Heinemann

Online Alias: potbellyarts

Location: Chico, California, USA

Website: http://www.potbellyarts.com/

Online Store: http://www.potbellyarts.etsy.com/

Online Art Gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/potbellyarts/

Are you a Fulltime/Parttime Working Artist?
Fulltime. Supposedly. I get distracted easily.

How long have you been an artist?
I began thinking of myself as one around 2004/5. I've never had an art class but I've always been a "draw-er."What types of Media do you work with? I earn my wage as a teddy bear artist so I use a lot of mohair and stuffing and fabric and ribbon, for trim. For fun I make canvas-based art and lately favor Prisma markers.

What scale do you work at?
My teddy bears are 12-16" and my "flat" art is usually ATC sized or 4x4. I'm hoping to expand into journals and altered books which are a bit bigger and more complex, and someday, to paint a large canvas.

Tell us a little bit about your studio...

It's my guest room. I like it bright and cheery and colorful in there. It's absolutely stuffed to the gills with awesome art schtuff. My red shelving unit from IKEA makes me giddy. I can't live without my inspiration boards, which I glance at regularly for inspiration. All the yummy art I've received as gifts or in trade, that's extra special, framed, or NOT an ATC (those go in a special album), is hung on the walls of my studio, to inspire me and remind me of my awesome art friends "out there" somewhere in this wide world. My dad painted the huge canvas that hangs over the head of the bed (but there's not a good view of it shown here.) It features one of my bears and is kinda abstract, hence the skeleton hand! My dad ALSO made the awesome ribbon racks to the left of my red shelf. He's a keeper, that dad of mine.

How much time do you spend working in your studio?

Not enough, when it comes to bears. I'm trying to find a way to continue to challenge myself in that area so motivation stays high. I make all my ATCs and 2D art in my studio.Is your studio at your home or elsewhere? At home.

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Are you an artist with an online presence (website, shop, gallery) and have a studio space that you would like to share? Please fill out the following survery/interview and send it to: wolftlou(a)hotmail(dot)com along with 1-3 photos of your studio space well before the end of March. Thanks!

Real Name:

Online Alias: if you have one

Location:

Website: if you have one

Artist Blog: if you have one

Online Store: if you have one

Online Art Gallery: if you have one

Are you a Fulltime/Parttime Working Artist? y/n

How long have you been an artist?

What types of Media do you work with?

What scale do you work at?

Tell us a little bit about your studio

How much time do you spend working in your studio?

Is your studio at your home or elsewhere?

-- don't forget to provide one to three photos of your studio --

MARCH :||: Artist Studios on Parade!!

2009-03-11T15:14:00.009-06:00

For the month of March we are taking a look at different artists' studios.

Checking through all the studios of different artists (working artists and creative hobbyists) who create different sizes of art with different types of media can be a great resource for those of you who are working on getting your own studio set up. Or, of course, it can just be for interest sake, to see what the different work spaces of different artists look like... who could resist checking out the places where the magic happens??

So, check out this post and others, through the month of March to see all the different studios! You can also click on the "studio" tag on the right to have all the posts about artist studios come up for you.

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Real Name: Dina Haskins
Online Alias: dina54
Location: Rhode Island, USA
Website: http://www.dina54.blogspot.com/
Online Art Gallery: www.picturetrail/dina54

Are you a Fulltime/Parttime Working Artist? partime - sort of

How long have you been an artist? forever

What types of Media do you work with?
colored pencil mostly for small scale stuff but I also do collage/mixed media and altered art (books mostly)

What scale do you work at?
ATCs to room sized murals and everything in between. My collages run from about 8 X10" to 2 X3 ft. Some of my altered artwork is rather large. Just finished a 3 foot long folk-art wooden fish.

Tell us a little bit about your studio...
It's a TINY (5 ft wide x 12ft long) sliver of space left over after a recent renovation that my husband finished for me. Very bright and cheery! Some day we hope to add another 3 ft to the back of the house which would make it a real room-size!

How much time do you spend working in your studio?

Way too much.

Is your studio at your home or elsewhere?

Home sweet home.

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Real Name: Sal Scheibe
Website: http://www.slscheibe.com/

Are you a Fulltime/Parttime Working Artist?
Full-time graphic design and illustration

How long have you been an artist?
As long as I've been drawing!

What types of Media do you work with?
For work, I'm all digital. You can see my Wacom in the photo. For art other than the job, I love acrylics as well as colored pencils and markers the most.

What scale do you work at?
For work, all sizes digitally. For personal art, I make a lot of ATCs and canvas paintings as time permits.

Tell us a little bit about your studio...
It's more like an office than a studio since I spend most of my time working digitally. I just need room for my Wacom. It fits on my desk... barely. I usually make ATCs sitting at my desk and anything larger than that, I work on in the kitchen where there is a ton of natural light. It makes a mess of my kitchen table.

How much time do you spend working in your studio?
I'm always in here!

Is your studio at your home or elsewhere?
In my home.

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Real Name:
Online Alias: if you have one
Location:

Website: if you have one
Artist Blog: if you have one
Online Store: if you have one
Online Art Gallery: if you have one
Are you a Fulltime/Parttime Working Artist? y/n
How long have you been an artist?
What types of Media do you work with?
What scale do you work at?
Tell us a little bit about your studio
How much time do you spend working in your studio?
Is your studio at your home or elsewhere?

-- don't forget to provide one to three photos of your studio --

Some Etsy Sellers to Check Out

2009-03-05T13:06:00.017-07:00

Since the weather outside is absolutely frightful, today...

thanks to ama.ab.ca for those depressing photos

I figure another post in my good ol' Artist Shout Outs blog should be the thing to hit the spot. Here are a few more Etsy artist picks to keep your pocket books on empty.

Joyart.Etsy.Com

Skillfully painted, joyful summertime oriented... visiting this shop is a great pick-me-up

Joshua Martens - Dripstick.Etsy.com

DripStick is an interesting etsy shop out of Brooklyn, NY that is actually a group of different artists. Joshua Martens' "TTV Fine Art Photography" really caught my eye on this gusting, snowy, windy day. His photographs have some serious nostalgia value and definitely look like framable art. Love the Retro colours and Miami beaches.

SophiasSweetSpot.Etsy.Com

Fantastically Graphic, when I first came across this etsy shop, I thought perhaps the art for sale was digital prints or maybe some form of print making. But it seems as though these paintings are all hand painted in acrylic. Fantastic! I love the Modern meets Retro style and the graphic edge... yes, I know, I'm just throwing words around, now. But I definitely love this style!

Waiting on Spring

2009-03-02T11:02:00.017-07:00

Spring is an exciting time of year! The snow melts, the grass greens, leaves start to regrow on the trees, and beautiful flowers and plants start to grow up from beneath the earth. Up here in Canada, we still have another month to go, but I'm itching for spring! So, here are some beautiful "Spring" themed art pieces found on etsy.com - if you like what you see, please visit the artist's etsy shop!

Daffodil
16x11 inches
EleanorD.etsy.com

Cherry Blossoms
4x6 inches
Featherblessing.etsy.com

Pink Showers
8x10 inches
ShadedMemories.etsy.com

Spring Blossom
8.5 x 11 inches
dahliahousestudios.etsy.com

An Exuberance of Tulips
14x20.5 inches
angelafehr.etsy.com

Fenced In
5x7 inches
TrilliumStudios.etsy.com

Green and Yellow Chickadee with Circles
8 x 8 inches
karingrow.etsy.com

Daffodils
8x10 inches
LGraceOriginals.etsy.com

Swing 3
24 x 30 inches
RozArt.etsy.com

The art posted on this blog entry (and every blog entry on this

blog, for that matter) is copyrighted to its respective artist.

Please do not save any images of art from this blog.
If you enjoy the art you see, please visit the artist's etsy shop.

March is Studio Month!

2009-03-02T10:29:00.024-07:00

For the month of March, we will be looking at various studios of various artists.

I will be polling many artists this month to learn about their studio spaces where all the magic happens. I will then be posting some photos of their studios as well as a little bit of background info on the artist and their workspace. If you would like to show off your studio this month, please contact me and I'll try to fit you in!

Here's just a little taste to get us started...

Real Name: Lisa Buchanan
Location: Louisiana, USA

Website: LisaBuchananStudio.com

Art Blog: Lisa's Altered Journey

Online Store: LisaBuchanan.Etsy.com

Are you a Fulltime/Part-time Working Artist? Yes

How long have you been an artist? 10 years professionally

What types of Media do you work with?

Oils, acrylics and mixed media

What scale do you work at?

I am working on a several large paintings at the moment, but love painting/drawing ATC's because they force me to use the mantra "less is best" and instead of taking months to finish, they can take anywhere from 1 hours to 3 days.

Tell us a little bit about your studio:

My husband realized I needed my own space after the guest bedroom I was painting in was being taken over by all my supplies and spilling into the hallway. We added on to our home so I now have my own studio with adjoinging bathroom, a door to the outside, large closet, great track lighting, northern exposure, practically everything an artist needs. Well, except for more square footage - once you start collecting altered art supplies you quickly run out of room!

How much time do you spend working in your studio?

I might as well put a bed and refrigerator in here because I am in here 24/7.

Is your studio at your home or elsewhere?

I used to rent a studio at an artist's colony, but found that was restrictive (for me). I like to paint at 2:30 in the morning in my pj's, so having to get jeans on and travel someone to paint wasn't working for me.

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Real Name: Anne El-Habre
Online Alias: Anonevyl

Location: Savannah, GA

Website: http://elhabreart.blogspot.com/

Online Store: http://annee.etsy.com/

Online Art Gallery: http://elhabreillustration.com/port.asp

Are you a Fulltime/Parttime Working Artist? Occasionally

How long have you been an artist?

Don't know if I am - but I have been making marks on things since I was very little

What types of Media do you work with?

Anything that fits in my studio.

What scale do you work at?

ATC size (3.5 x 2.5 inches) to anything that fits in my studio.

Tell us a little bit about your studio...

It's a 12'x16' shed in the back of the house. It's surrounded by trees and soon, flowers. My wonderful hubby insulated and paneled it and made most of the tables and installed the shelving. He's too good to me. That and he was sick of gesso on the kitchen floor.

How much time do you spend working in your studio?

As much as possible. If there was a bathroom in here and I didn't have familial responsibilities, I would never leave it.

Is your studio at your home or elsewhere?

It's in the backyard.

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Real Name: Amber Marie Oxford
Online Alias: Amber Marie or Farfalla Dea (in assorted ways)
Location: Portland, OR

Website: ambermariestudios.com
Online Store: ambermariestudios.etsy.com
Online Art Gallery: farfalla-dea.deviantart.com

Are you a Fulltime/Parttime Working Artist?

Well, I work rather part time at it. I do have a part time day job.

How long have you been an artist?

As long as I can remember. That is to say, I can't think of a time I wasn't painting, drawing or creating in some way.

What types of Media do you work with?

Colored pencil, pencil, oil pastels, charcoal, marker, yarn, wood, acrylic, oils, beads, thread. I often try new things.

What scale do you work at?

From ATC size to much bigger. I think the biggest piece is still my wall mural, which is about 6 foot by 8 foot. One of my favorite sizes though is 22 x 30 because that's the size my favorite paper comes in.

Tell us a little bit about your studio

Its my second actual dedicated studio space but the first to have so much room (my first one was basically a shed). Its also the first place I've ever been able to make my own and I feel free and creative in it. Each space has its own function, I even have meditation spot. I call it my happy spot because it has all positive things in it about me or my life.

How much time do you spend working in your studio?

Depends on what I have going on! I do spend about 6-8 hours a day and then often 2-4 hours at night when I have to work my part time day job.

Is your studio at your home or elsewhere?

Its in our home, in our basement. I never knew how loud my cats could walk till I started working down here.

Artist Feature :: Erika Schulz

2009-03-01T18:32:00.028-07:00

Real Name: Erika Schulz
Online Alias: Tempest Studios
Location: Red Deer, AB, Canada
Website: www.tempeststudios.net

Online Store: tempeststudios.etsy.com
Online Art Gallery: tempesterika.deviantart.com

To start off, please tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from.

I was born in Burnaby B.C., and moved to Red Deer when I was 4. Right now I co-own and manage a Fine Art Gallery in Red Deer called Gallery IS. I am a professional artist in that I work on my art every day and sell it to the public. I also like movies, fantasy books, history, anime, moonlit nights, scarves, the changing seasons, poutine, nachos, and playing card games.

What inspired you to be an artist? And are you schooled in any way?

My inspirations have always been the same. I am pretty consistent when it comes to the things I like. I was, is, always will be inspired by history and mythology. I read Fantasy exclusively and I was always really interested in ancient things. I also find the study of different cultures to be really inspirational, especially Japan and Egypt, although now my interest encompasses pretty much every culture. Being an artist is just who I am. Its just at the core of my being.

I always took art in school. In high school I even managed to take two art classes at the same time. Those semesters were pretty swell. After I graduated I took the fine art program at Red Deer College. I did this 2 year program part time, over 4 years, working and paying for it myself. It was the best thing for me to do because it afforded me the extra time I like to take when learning new things. Learning a new technique and actually having the time to experiment with it was important to me. During those years I majored in Printmaking and Drawing.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist? How long?

My family would say I have been an artist for my whole life, but as a kid it was always a hobby and something I enjoyed doing. I was pretty proud of being able to colour in the lines when all my friends could not. My aspirations were always more towards the sciences. Growing up is always an eye opener, and when I discovered the amount of work it would take to pursue a career in science I guess you could say I took the easy way out and focused more on my art. I say it was easy because for me it wasn't a stretch to imagine doing this for the rest of my life since I had already been doing it my whole life.

I have been a professional artist for the last 9 years. I have been creating a body of work every year and selling it to the public. I really became serious in 2004 when I quit my part time job and devoted all of my energy towards earning a living through my artwork. The Gallery became a part of my life in 2006. I can honestly say that I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if it wasn't for my family. They are extremely supportive.

What types of media do you most regularly work with to create your art?

I work in many two dimensional media, but most frequently acrylics, ink, and mixed media.

You have a unique and special style with your paintings that makes them stand out as being pieces done by you. When and How did you discover this artistic niche?

I stared doing the technique in 2004, after a major mental block forced me to throw caution to the wind and try new and experimental things. I developed my drawings with paint after studying the work of a favorite artist who did something similar at the turn of the 19th century with string and gesso. It became a niche totally by accident, which is how I think it happens 99 percent of the time. If you are doing something unique it happens naturally, and it just so happens that not only do you like doing it, but people also like looking at it.

Can you remember the first time you publicly displayed a piece of art? Tell us about the experience.

I cant remember exactly. I have been showing my art to the public for a long time. I was always in art classes in school and my teachers were great at getting their students exposed to this next part of being artistic. The Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery also has a great relationship with the school board and hosts a couple of shows specifically to showcase art by jr high and high school students. I'm pretty sure the first time I exhibited was in jr high at the museum. I was pretty proud at that moment seeing my work in a professional environment, framed. It really gave me incentive to try hard to get those kind of credits.

Where do you get the majority of your inspiration for your art?

My inspiration is pretty varied. I am inspired by nature, other artists, things I read, dreams, and history. I would have to say the biggest is History and Mythology. I love stories, especially fantastical ones. I am a big big fan of sci-fi and fantasy, and I have always been. Colour and textures are also a big influences. I could be sent off with just a look at a piece of Japanese patterned paper.

What type of studio space do you work in? Do you just paint wherever you are, or do you have an artist studio space somewhere that you work in?

I cant work out doors. I need a controlled environment with all my stuff readily at hand. If my space is chaotic so are my thoughts and when that happens I don't get much work done. My studio is at home, which works the best because I am also a night owl. I just work until my eyes close and then fall into bed.

Tell us about one of your pieces that you especially love and why?

That's a hard question to answer. I am about the process of making the art and not so much about the finished product. I rarely will finish a piece and stand back and go "im a genius!", but it does happen and those are the pieces I like the most. I also work a lot in series, and I find I am more proud of a series of work than an individual piece. I think the works I am still the most proud of have to be my Red Lantern drawings. I look back on those and cant believe I did them. Its hard to remember all the struggles now, and all the time I spent. Mainly that's what I remember about a piece of artwork, but with those drawings I don't dwell on the stuff I hate, or the stuff that was hard, I just appreciate the accomplishment.

Aside from creating art, what do you do?

If you mean hobbies, I am a dvd addict. I love movies. I also make jewellery and knit, although I don't get to do that as often as I would like, since if I have the time to knit that usually means I have the time to paint or draw, and those things come first. I also own an Art Gallery, called Gallery IS. Its my base of operations.

What influences have helped you get to this point in your artistic career?

My mom is a small business owner and she has had a huge influence on the way I look at my art as a career. Its not all fun with finger paints you know, there is a lot of hard work to make it a day job. I am a big study of fellow artists, past and present, too. I try to glean what I can from the lives of artists I admire to see what I can learn from them and apply to my own life.

What are your goals as an artist, long term and short term?

Really, my only goals are to keep moving forward and to keep getting better and more successful. There is always room for improvement, but at the same time I would be very happy just selling enough art to pay all my bills. I always have lots of plans and projects so the future for me is just getting those things done.

Do you have any advice for artists who are trying to turn their desire to create into something that 'brings home the bacon' ?

-Learn as much as you can from as many people as you can.
-Don't get too attached to your art. Once the creating is done you have to let it go out into the world. Related to that is not taking things to personally. Many artists feel like they are attached at the hip to their art. If you cant take some criticism and compliments you wont last very long.
-Remember that art is also a business. If you want to achieve financial success, you need to learn about all that stuff too. Agents are a thing of the past. Now a days artists have to do all the work themselves.
-Don't be afraid to think out of the box. Most of the time you have to come at success sideways.
-Trial and error are your new favorite words.

Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

Don't stop. Momentum is really important. Always create, and you have to keep at it. If its a passion for you, don't let people tell you its not important, or that it doesn't matter compared to farming, or plumbing, or doctoring, or politics. Art is just as important as those things. Its what defines humans as humans, our ability to imagine and create. Opposable thumbs aside, its the reason we are at the top of the food chain.

www.tempeststudios.net

Artist Feature :: Syrcaid

2009-02-18T11:12:00.014-07:00

Real Name: Erika
Online Alias: Syrcaid (it used to be Starluck but then a casino stole my name)

Location: Illinois

Website: http://www.cosmicjive.org

Online Gallery: http://starluck.deviantart.com

To start off, please tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from.

I'm 29 years old, female, and I'm from Illinois. I enjoy cartoons, good company, and a good sense of humor.

When did you first start drawing/painting? And what is your favorite medium/media to work in and why?

I used to draw entirely with pencils and ink, but since I got a good tablet PC I've been drawing almost entirely digitally.

Do you work professionally as an artist? If not, what is your actual day job?

Before the economy went bad, I was painting new and restoration glass for churches. I also did a lot of seasonal pieces, painting on glass using low temp enamels. I can't work hot glass or do lampwork, but I can build a stained glass window from scratch. I haven't done it in about a year and a half though, the arts seemed to be hit hardest by the economy where I live.

What does art and the creating of it mean to you? What sort of applications do you use your artistic talents for?

It's like breathing, no matter what anyone or anything does to me I can always draw. It's an outlet and an old friend. As for online, I'm all about creating new creatures to share with everyone else and that's typically in the form of cyberpets.

Are there any other artists/movements/styles you draw inspiration from? Where do you get the majority of your inspiration for your works from?

Oh, there's tons of places. Tim Burton, Don Bluth, Hayao Miyazaki, Dr. Osamu Tezuka, and Edward Gorey are some I can name off the top of my head right away. But I also draw inspiration in things like movies and music.

Can you remember the first image you displayed publicly online or in real life? What was the general reaction?

I can't recall my absolute very first, because I think even those things they have you make in grade school like cards with bits of glue and glitter count as art. But the first one everyone else probably remembers is "Starluck's Sweetwater Valley" where I made a bunch of animated GIF's and bitmap style images and Photoshopped backgrounds. As far as I know, people still show up and leave comments in my DeviantArt gallery telling me of having fond memories of the site. It's still up and a majority of it is free for public use now.

What is your main motive for creating art?

Because I can't help it. It just happens and sometimes it's fun to share it with others.

What are your goals as an artist, short term and long term? Where do you want to be with your art 5 or even 10 years from now?

My goals are just to create and to continue to create no matter what happens. There's been a lot of ups and downs and bouts of where I thought the world would come crashing down, but there's always a pen or a pencil or even a napkin at a restaurant. I used to know where I wanted to be but if I run out of time it's now my ultimate goal to be content with what I've been given and to improve at my own pace.

What is your favorite part of the process of creating?

Dreaming it up and waiting to see if anyone else enjoys it, too.If someone were to look through your online gallery, they would probably notice some repetitive faces.

Can you tell us about your light blue centaur and any other familiar faces from your art gallery of importance?

The light blue centaur is me in a manner of speaking. A lot of people have online personas, I'm neither "furry" nor human and it amuses me that I can't be labeled as "anthro" but I don't fit in anywhere else other than general Fantasy. The others you're likely to see are Evil the pink haired catboy, S-D with a really strange story, and Zizi the little mouseboy with a plant always growing on his head. The other characters I draw, if I didn't create them myself, are other people. They are of great importance to me, a majority of other people's characters are those of people who've never left their place in my heart. I think what most people want most is to be loved and remembered.

Do you have any advice for beginner artists who are interested in your area of expertise?

I don't think I have expertise, I feel often like a little decorator crab who picks up pieces of what they like best and sticks it on their back. I don't like being labeled and I recommend that people never settle on a certain style (unless they absolutely love it) because of pressure. No one has the right to tell you what your style is and what it isn't. You're not required to have a style and you're not required to please anyone but yourself.

Well, Hello There!

2009-02-09T13:40:00.003-07:00

Hello to any readers I may still have after my long absence! Very sorry for my departure from this side of the internet over the last few months. However, I am back and have some artists lined up for February and on! So, please don't delete me from your bookmarks just yet :) :)

While we wait on our lovely, busy artists, I would like to bring to your attention "The Whimsy Art Workshop" that'll be happening in April and May. This is an online workshop, so, you can attend even if you live on the opposite side of the globe! Wewt! One of the artists featured in this workshop was actually featured here a few months ago! Fantastic!

For more info, please check out this link: http://www.arttradermag.com/workshops/index.html

Artist Feature :: Hillary Luetkemeyer

2008-12-01T13:31:00.010-07:00

How long have you been working as an artist? Have you been schooled in art at all?

Little children are always making artwork, before they are taught to be ashamed of their creativity. I was fortunate in that my mother and a good adult friend of mine encouraged me, and so I just continued to make artwork where other people leave off. I took art classes in high school, and got my BFA in, of all things, metalsmithing.

I can see from your gallery that you work with a number of different media/mediums with your art, what is your favorite to work with and why?

My favorite to work in? Currently it's watercolor. I'd like to tell you that I vibe with the medium and that it speaks to me and so on, but that would be a lie. The real reason I use it is because I'm cheap, and you can use every little speck of watercolor because when it dries, all you need to do is apply more water to it. Acrylic and oil, once it dries, that's it; it's useless. And good paint is really expensive!

Can you remember the first image you displayed publicly online or in real life? What was the general reaction?

I really don't recall. I believe it was a painting I did for a contest back in high school. We had to paint this bridge house. It was hosted by a local guy who owned the subdivision or something. I really don't recall what kind of attention it received. I was just thrilled to win the scholarship money.

Your piece titled "Corrosion" really drew me in to your gallery, can you give us a little insight into the reasons you created it and what it means to you?

Ah, that's one of my favorites as well. To start with, I ought to talk a little bit about the media I used. As a metalsmithing major, I was encouraged, in my drawing 400 class, to incorporate my chosen major in my drawings. I began to use the patinas and corrosion's produced by metal as a drawing tool. In the piece, Corrosion, I was drawing directly from that experience, and used real rust as a drawing tool.

Thematically, it's meant as a comment or discussion on our use of animals as tools. The horse, once no longer useful, has been left in the field to rot, like an old tractor. It's seen not as a feeling being, but as a piece of equipment.

What does art and the creating of it mean to you? Is it a hobby, a calling, a way to pay bills or something even deeper?

I'd call it all of those things. I have chosen it as my profession, yes. And so it is a way to pay bills. It's also a hobby. It's also my life. I rarely go a day without working, both because I need to work to eat, but also because I feel a compulsion to create.

How would you describe your art? How have you developed your style over time? What influences helped get you to this point?

At present, I'd define my artwork as animal illustration art. I've always liked children's books and illustration, and that seems to be the way I'm leaning right now. However, I have so many interests, I can't say that's my chosen theme, particularly. It just happens to be what I'm into now. I just continue to work, and see where it takes me.

My influences are far too numerous to list. I could say life, or nature, but those are obvious answers. Everyone is influenced by life and nature.

Do you have a website or etsy account where we can find you online? Are you open for commissions?

My main website is my DeviantArt page: http://hibbary.deviantart.com
My commissions lists are usually pretty full, but I circulate fast.

What are your goals as an artist, short term and long term? Where do you want to be with your art 5 or even 10 years from now?

I wish I could tell you. I'd be very interested in knowing, myself. I'd like to get back into metalsmithing, eventually, but this illustration thing seems to be working well for me right now.

The cheap answer is that I'd like to get better. I want to more accurately convey my ideas with more flawless images. Most importantly, I want to be able to say more with it, and be able to talk about something that I believe to be meaningful.

Christmas is on the Way

2008-11-21T13:39:00.009-07:00

Thanks be to Etsy and other online markets! Never again will you have to buy a boring gift.

I have always been a firm believer that buying from self-representing artisans is best. Etsy has given us a great gift by providing an online market for all self-representing artists and artisans to sell their goods. It is a wonderful thing!! I like giving gifts that I bought from a self-representing artist or artisan.. it feels like I'm doing two good things instead of just one. My humble little bit of money is going straight to the person who I want it to, instead of getting lost in a huge corporate chain. I'm not just buying a gift for my friend/family, I'm supporting an artist / artisan.

I think that's just awesome!

Anyway, with Christmas not far off, you don't have too many more days to delay purchasing online. In only weeks, if not already, the post offices are going to be filling with packages of fruitcake and tins of lemon cookies - or whatever it is that people send in the mail. So, if you want to purchase your gifts online, now is the time.

Here are some things that I've seen on Etsy that I think are neat

Edith and Lulu
jewelery made from buttons!?
http://www.edithandlulu.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12775177

Original Art by Arlene Faye

Notecards, Originals, Prints, ACEOs....

http://www.arlenefaye.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12080855

Naiad Soap Arts
Gorgeous and Green Soaps!
http://naiad.etsy.com

htt p://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17626766

Morgan Nichole Gifts
Adorable Baby Accessories
http://www.morgannichole.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.p hp?listing_id=16515484

Fine Art Prints from
Amy Giacomelli and Natalia Skye
http://www.PaintingPrints.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16608253

Studio Melange

Art etc. by Victoria Rees
http://studiomelange.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14443019

Constant Dreamer
Whimsical Art by Shaylind Standing
http://constantdreamer.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14092747

Bombus
"saving the planet through decoupage"
http://bombus.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7477783

HomeStudio Pendants

Cool Affordable Gifts - Scrabble Pendants!?!

http://homestudio.etsy.com

(I bought a bunch of gifts on etsy all in the same sitting one day. These guys were the first to ship. I received my pendant today and it is faaaabulous.)

Coquelicot Salon
crocheted fashion
http://coquelicotsalon.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17120487

Artist Feature :: fIDOArt

2008-11-17T08:46:00.007-07:00

Real Name: Danny
Online Alias: fIDOArt
Location: Georgia, USA
Website(s): http://3fido.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fidoart/
Email: thebates03@comcast.net

Where are you from? How does that influence who you are and what kind of art you create, or do you think it does?

I was born and raised in a small town just south of Atlanta, Georgia and am glad that I grew up when and where I did. And I'm still here. It's all I know. I don't know if it really influences my art or not. My first response would be that I don't think it does. I've never really thought about that much before.

When did you first start drawing/painting?

I've been drawing for as long as I can remember. I can remember drawing lots and lots of aliens and spaceships and things like that when I was in the primary grades and then lots of Batman, Superman, and other comic book heroes as I got older. I remember taking some private art lessons when I was about 13 or so and I really enjoyed that as well. It's just something I've always done and enjoyed.

How would you describe your current style?

Good question. I wish I knew. It seems to be all over the place. I always look at the style and work of other artists and think to myself, "Why can't I be like that?" I hope to one day be able to answer this question. So...can I get back to you on this one? LOL

Where do you get the majority of your inspiration for your pieces?

I really enjoy creating things that deal with a thought or an emotion of some kind. I am constantly looking and listening for a word or a phrase that makes an impact on me. Even though I consider myself very poor at expressing myself through words, I enjoy playing around with words and ideas connected to them.

Many of your pieces of art have text and phrases incorporated into them, can you give us some insight into where these thoughts come from and why you decide to include text in your work?

I think the answer above kind of answers this question as well. I just really like the look of text incorporated into art. There's just something "magical" about it to me, especially when it connects to an image. For me, it seems to put the finishing touch on a work of art and brings it all together.

What is your favorite medium/media to work in and why?

I guess the media I'm most comfortable with would be colored pencil. For some reason I just feel more "in control" when I'm working with them. While I own a very nice set of Prismacolor pencils, I really use my trusty 'ol Crayolas most of the time. I use watercolors a lot as well, but they seem to have a mind of their own and control me more than I'm able to control them. LOL Lately I've been experimenting with putting several mediums together like watercolors, colored pencils, and water soluble crayons.

I discovered your art through IllustratedATCs and was an instant fan. But because of only seeing your art on an Art Card forum, I am wondering if you do larger scale art or just work in miniature?

Basically, all of my creations are never bigger than the standard 4" x 6" postcard size. I began majoring in art in college and did create quite a few larger works back then which I have since given all away. I ended up getting my degree in elementary education instead of art because I was concerned about making a living from my art. During all my years of teaching, my art was used mainly for things that I needed in my classroom...posters, bulletin boards, etc. I never really took it very seriously until I discovered the world of atc's about 4 years ago and I've been hooked ever since.

When I found out that I could create these tiny little works of art and trade them with people all over the world I knew that I had finally found my creative outlet. The small size is a big plus for me because it doesn't take days or weeks to complete a piece. It's been the longest that I've ever stuck with anything creative. Over the last 30 years or so I've dabbled in lots of things...drawing, painting, woodcarving, photography...and never really stayed with any of them very long. Since I've been creating and trading art on the internet I've met a whole lot of talented and wonderful artists and have developed friendships with many of them. They have been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration to me and I feel that I have truly grown as an artist myself because of them.

Aside from trading ATCs, painting and creating, what do you do?

I am a teacher of gifted children in grades K-5. This is my 32nd year of teaching and no matter how much I promise myself that I won't allow it to overtake my life each year, it always does. Although it can be very difficult at times and very demanding, I really love what I do. My wife is also a teacher. We have one son, Adam, who is almost 17. We enjoy spending time together and all of us are very active in our church. In my spare time I enjoy reading, getting together with friends and eating, and as much as I hate to admit it, watching TV. LOL

What does art and the creating of it mean to you? Is it a hobby or pastime, or is it something bigger and more meaningful?

Mainly, it is a hobby but it is also a way for me to express myself. People are constantly telling me that I should sell it and make money from it but I've found that when I HAVE to create art I lose all the joy in creating it. Maybe when I retire from teaching I might pursue some ways to make a little extra income from it but for now, I'm content with the way it is.

What is one of the pieces that you've created that you especially love and why?

This is another question that I find difficult to answer. When I trade them away I more or less forget about them. What matters to me is that someone else was able to find something to like about a particular piece of mine enough to want to trade for it. I really like one of my most recent postcards entitled "Un Coeur Simple" (A Simple Heart) because it was one of those rare times when it all just seemed to come together from somewhere deep within without much effort. It has been traded to a very good friend of mine whose artwork I really treasure and get great pleasure from. I'm glad it is now hers.

What are your goals as an artist, short term and long term?

To just keep on creating and enjoying it like I do at this moment

Artist Feature || Medhi

2008-11-12T07:41:00.012-07:00

Welcome to our third Artist Feature. Today we have the honor of hearing from a beautiful artist from the Czech Republic who creates imaginative dream scenes with his tablet. Enjoy.

Name: Jiří Zralý
Online Alias: Medhi
Website: http://citron.blueboard.cz
DevianArt: http://medhi.deviantart.com
Email: jirka@blueboard.cz






To start off, please tell us a little bit about yourself and
where you are from.

So, I am 25 years old and I am from Prague, Czech Republic. Last
year, I finished University and now I attend to my work, which is
programming and webhosting work. Painting is only my hobby
.


When did you first start drawing/painting?

In school, during boring lessons, I was drawing all the time. But these
pics I started to paint, when I was bought a tablet. It was about two
years ago.



How would you describe your current style?

Uf. I am not a professional painter, and I can't paint anatomy and other
stuff so good. So, I paint what I can and putting my fantasy into the
canvas. My style is a little bit fairy-tale-ish and I like to play with
light and mood.



What is your favorite medium/media to work in and why?

Best for me is tablet and Photoshop, because it is very simple. I tried oil
too, it is very interesting, but much harder to manage. Here is one of my
oil-on-canvas pictures: http://citron.blueboard.cz/galerie/jahody.jpg



Aside from painting and creating, what do you do?

As I told above, I am programming and carrying my own business
with my colleague. We do webhosting in Czech and driving a
widget-system called Blueboard.cz



Can you remember the first image you displayed
publicly online or in real life?

Before I had a tablet, I was painting by mouse, only. My first published
image was this Christmass compliment of the season:
http://citron.blueboard.cz/obrazky/vesele-vanoce.png



What does art and the creating of it mean to you?

It is like putting fantasy into real. Worlds in my mind goes to canvas
and I can see them clearly. Painting tasks my other hemisphere of brain,
so it is a good opposite of my other hobbies.



What influences helped get you to this point in your art?

I am trying to study other images from masters of digital panting and
the community on CG webs has helped me a lot, by advice, too.



What are your goals as an artist, short term and long term?

Mmm, I think I have no goals in painting, maybe wishes :) It is only
a hobby, it makes me happy, but it is not race. I would like to
improve in anatomy drawing and my little dream is to publish my images
in some kind of children / fairytale book. It would be nice.

Art For Sale!

2008-11-11T13:32:00.002-07:00

Art For Sale

Self-Representing Artists who've been
capitalizing off of the splendid internet...
and who seem to be doing well

Some purists don't like the idea of making art to sell...
But when you find something you love doing, isn't the smartest and most natural next step to figure out how to support yourself doing it? You can paint for yourself on the side and paint to bring income as well. Finding a niche where you enjoy what you do and can make money doing it - isn't that THE Dream!?

In any case, I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to a few artists that I know of that are doing just that. Hopefully they inspire you, or at least give you some Christmas shopping ideas *wink wink*

Dog Art Studio - Selling on Etsy

I've spent many an hour looking through Etsy and Ebay to see what kind of art is most popular with buyers. I know, it kind of sounds a bit capitalistic and scummy, but if you are an artist working toward being able to support yourself through art sales, you need to know what sells. And from what I've seen, if painting pets is your niche, you've pretty much got it made!

I really like Ron Krajewski's style when it comes to pet portraits. His portraits are realistic but don't have the look of "all skill and no creativity" like some portrait artists have. I love the loose feel of his watercolours. It is hard to imagine that he was able to get that good with no schooling in art. You can check him out on Etsy; his username is "DogArtStudio" - there's a link to his shop above, as well.

Osnat Fine Art - Selling on Ebay and personal Website

I discovered Osnat Tzadock on Ebay a few years ago and have been a fan ever since! She does amazing large scale art and is another self-taught artist. Her art is Contemporary Abstract for the most part and while looking like something made to hang in your living room, it also has an art gallery feel. Vibrant colours, high contrast, lots of movement - go see it for yourself!! Check out her Website and her Ebay store!

2 Rivers Western Gallery - Selling on Ebay

There could never be too many Horse Artists... enough said! ;)

Mistique Studio - Selling on Ebay

When you have a style that is uniquely yours but that seems to be derived from some absolutely cute and unforgettable critters from the 80s-90s, you've got to open a shop! Misti Hope Wudtke seems to do quite well with her shop on Ebay. I can't help but squeal at her cutesy Unicorns, Dragons and Kitties. But ontop of that, she is quite skilled in more realistic styles and at jewelery making. I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do. I believe you can also find her on DeviantArt and on her own website.

The Peach Pit - Selling on Etsy

Frightfully, delightfully Retro! This artist draws out her funky graphic pictures by hand, scans them, and then colours them in digitally. Her prints are nothing short of fantastic, if you ask me. Check her out on Etsy, if you like retro and graphic art, you will not be disappointed.

Hide n Seek - Selling on Etsy

Best Colour Palette Ever! Wonderful, whimsical, beautiful art by 'Hidden Eloise' of England. She sells prints, magnets, buttons, stickers and more with her beautiful art printed on them. I just think her art is so much fun.

Well, now that I've gotten you started thinking about all the fun artists who sell their art on the web. I hope I've inspired you to start a shop if you haven't already, as well as go out and spend all your earnings on other artists! I know that tends to be my fault with selling stuff online - I spend the money I earn right away on other artists who sell online, lol! But Christmas is on the way, and the best kind of gift is a win-win gift! Support and artist as well as give a wonderful gift, buy from self-representing artists aaaand artisans!

Artist Feature :: EraserQueen

2008-11-07T07:21:00.014-07:00

Feature Artist Profile

Name: Andrea Melione
Online Alias: EraserQueen
Website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/littleboots/
Email: Andrea2000(at)gmail(dot)com

Where are you from? How does that influence who you are and what kind of art you create, or do you think it does?

I’ve lived and traveled up and down the east coast most of my life (including bits of Canada) and to people who’ve been all over the world, that may not seem like much, but there are a lot of subtle differences in the local culture, weather and landscapes. I do not work in the landscape genre very much, but I am highly influenced by the natural world and the artists who interpret it.

I think the fact that I lived in Williamsburg VA gave me my obsession with historical clothing and the decorative arts because we would spend so much time at the museums there. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center and their Tasha Tudor exhibit during the 1990s (A New England Illustrator, noted for her adherence to an early 19th century lifestyle) also made a huge impact during my formative years.

When did you first start drawing? And what is your favorite medium/media to work in and why?

I stared drawing as soon as I could make marks on the wall with anything. I think I even used dirt at some point (my poor mom!) Nowadays, I’m just as experimental (within reason of course!) I use a lot of different media, it just depends on the look I’m after and how impatient I happen to be at the time. I stay away from oils mainly because I’m really into instant gratification, but I’ll try anything once. Right now I’m a big fan of soft body acrylics, because I can just use the bottle top to dip my brush into, and there’s really no clean up involved.

Can you remember the first image you displayed publicly online or in real life? What was the general reaction?

Aw gee, it was probably just really bad Harry Potter Fanart! I can’t knock fanart though because it was just that which broke me out of my teen obsession of drawing paperdolls and clothing 24/7. Because of fanart, I started drawing men (who are harder to draw than women!) and backgrounds and weird creatures and playing around with perspective. Since then I have shown work in a few academic exhibits, but I’m not sure that really counts as bragging material.

What does art and the creating of it mean to you? Is it a hobby or pastime, or is it something bigger and more meaningful?

I suppose it’s a hobby or pastime, simply because at this point I’m not making it a source of income, but it feels meaningful to me because I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t creating; it’s a meditation in a way, and half the time I don’t know how a piece of art is going to turn out, as I don’t do very many planning sketches or thumbnails unless I’m working on an assignment. Oddly, I sketch out on paper what I design graphically on the computer, but never plan out a traditional media piece that I am making to please myself or trading out.

What do YOU personally think of your own art? We are our own worst critic, and it's interesting to see how you rate yourself..

Hah, I enjoy it! Sometimes I go though periods where I like nothing I’ve made, or where I feel like I can’t come up with anything I like. I think that’s natural for an artist to feel. Also, it’s why I like trading ATC’s so much, because I like being inspired by the swap themes, or creating a card commission at a buddy’s request. ATC’s have kept my creative juices flowing when I’m going through those personal creative dry spells.

I discovered your art through IllustratedATCs and loved it right away. It is bright, bold and often quirky. I've mainly seen your ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), so, I am wondering if you do larger scale art or just work in miniature?

Aw, thanks! I do some larger work, but not by much! I will sometimes go up to 4x6 or 5x7, and rarely a 9x12. Anything larger was mainly academic work, but I like adding lots of detail, and I can’t get that in larger pieces unless I spend a lot of time on it, and by then I’m bored and usually want to go on to a new theme. I have started doing a few larger pieces, but they incorporate collage papers with ink drawings, so maybe I’m trying to inch out of my comfort zone!

I find your figures especially interesting, their elongated necks and armless torsos often make them look rather alien or even zombie like, but still absolutely beautiful. How did you discover their stylized form and what about them speaks to you that you continue to create them?

Thank you again! I think I started elongating the necks because it allowed me to do more with the background of the ATC, which are rectangular in shape, so the figures fit into the space better that way; same with the lack of arms; less room, so I stopped drawing them! I know that doesn’t sound like a very aesthetically profound answer, but it’s true! Plus, I’ve always been fond of the zany and unusual, and love it when artists distort the figure in an interesting way.

How have you developed this style over time? What influences helped get you to this point? And, How would you describe your current style?

I suppose I’m still developing, style-wise. Like I said before; I get bored visually, and like to try new things all the time, and this includes how I render the world around me. My current style is probably best described as funky-whimsy. I am fascinated by counter culture (more as an observer rather than participant), and lean more towards the far-out, rather than the sweet and naive.

Are there any other artists you draw inspiration from, living or dead?

Good lord yes. *takes deep breath* Kinuko Y. Craft, Jody Lee, Hirschfield, Waterhouse, Turner, Gainsborough, Sarah Bishop, Hilary Knight, Trina Shart Hyman and Diane Goode just to name a few. I also like a lot of artists that aren’t really well known, especially a number on DeviantArt and folks who are part of the illustrator/webcomic scene, like Dylan Meconis and Vera Brogsol.

What is one of the pieces that you've created that you especially love and why?

Hmmm…Well, probably the “PEZ Art Queen” is a top favorite of mine, I made it for a buddy, Sarah Zamora, in a Pick-a-Theme swap because she collects both of those themes, and I felt like everything worked out in that one, color, composition, I even feel like I chose the right media for it (acrylics for the most part, which can give a great flat gouache/designer feel). Regardless, they all feel like my babies, but normally I like best whatever I recently finished.

Do you have a website or etsy account where we can find you online? Are you open for commissions?

I will have an ETSY account up soon, but for now I can be reached at Andrea2000 at gmail dot com. I am open for commissions (and have worked on them in the past). In addition I am a graphic designer and article contributor at ArtTraderMagazine.com, feel free to come check us out! We’re always looking for reader submitted artwork.

Artist Feature :: Teagan White

2008-11-06T11:49:00.019-07:00

Welcome to our first Artist Feature!

I'm hoping to weekly (or even more often) post interviews with special up and coming as well as seasoned artists. Our first artist is Teagan White of Chicago / Minneapolis who is currently an art student at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. You can just tell by the quality and professionalism of her work that she is destined for great things with her art. Below is an interview I was fortunate enough to have with her via DeviantArt notes.

Our Interview...

How long have you been working as an artist? Have you been schooled in art at all?

I have enjoyed drawing for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until high school that I started to consider art -- specifically graphic design -- as a career option. I took graphic design classes in high school and started at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design this fall.

I can see from your gallery that you work with a number of different media/mediums with your art, what is your favorite to work with and why?

I love experimenting with different media and having as many options as possible in creating my art. I think at this point I'm most familiar and comfortable with digital media, especially PhotoShop. As someone working primarily with print and web-based material, an understanding of Adobe programs is very important for me. However, I definitely don't neglect traditional media. I really enjoy acrylics and oils, though I don't have many finished paintings due to the time and money required to make a piece. I also used charcoal for the first time just last week, and fell in love with it; I definitely plan to do more charcoal work in the future.

Can you remember the first image you displayed publicly online or in real life? What was the general reaction?

I was only fourteen when I first started posting my art online, and the work was pretty terrible. The amount of attention it got was accordingly slim, but just having a few people pay attention definitely encouraged me to work harder. The main appeal for me with public art websites like deviantART is having much more advanced artists to look up to, and I truly believe my artistic growth was directly correlated with that influence.

What does art and the creation of it mean to you? Do you work fully as an artist, or do you do something else to pay the bills?

I think that art offers people the opportunity to more fully appreciate beauty in life. This works in two slightly different ways, depending on whether you're referring to fine art or design... I think that fine art calls attention to the beautiful things in the world, whereas design enhances it by bringing beauty into the sterile, man-made objects we fill our lives with. Keep in mind this is only the most shallow analysis of art; there are also emotional and conceptual issues involved.

I'm still in school, so that's my priority right now. But the majority of my income right now is from design and illustration based commission work. After college I hope to work in a design firm and not have to worry about piecing together a living from freelance work.

Your album art is especially eye catching. How did you get into illustrating and designing CD/Album art?

None of the album art on my deviantART page is published work, it was all just for my own enjoyment. However, it has resulted in multiple commissioned CD designs, some of which I'll be posting online fairly soon. For the most part I've been lucky enough to have very open-minded clients, who usually give me some direction as to what they want but leave the details largely up to me.

How would you describe your art? How have you developed your style over time? What influences helped get you to this point?

Since I like to try as many different mediums and styles as possible, I don't feel that I have a set stylistic identity at this point. However, I continually draw upon nature imagery such as trees and animals, and all of my work tends to have a soft and feminine color palette. My style has changed drastically over the past two years, as I spent the majority of my high school years focusing on an anime style of drawing. Though I no longer draw anime, I feel that the time I spent developing that style taught me a great deal about proportion, line quality, color, and many other elements which remain important in my work.

Are there any other artists you draw inspiration from, living or dead?

My favorite artist is realist painter Andrew Wyeth. However, I think that my inspiration comes more from artistic and cultural trends than the work of individuals. Art nouveau is a good example, and other than that I tend to be most inspired by contemporary art and design. The sort of stuff you find in magazines like Juxtapoz or CYMK.

Tell us about one of your favorite accomplishments as an artist and why it is so important to you.

I'm most proud of the typography I've done recently; I have two freeware fonts, Peach Sundress and Clementine Sketch, which are available on most major font sites. I never expected them to become as popular as they have, but they somehow have tens of thousands of downloads apiece, and I get tons of emails from people asking to use them for everything from school assignments to corporate logos. It's a good feeling to know I've made something that so many people enjoy and can actually use.

Do you have a website or etsy account where we can find you online? Are you open for commissions?

My official website is http://geocities.com/teagan.white/ but I update my deviantART account most often. I am currently open for commissions; the best way to contact me for commission work is by emailing teagan_white@hotmail.com.

What are your goals as an artist, short term and long term?

Where do you want to be with your art 5 or even 10 years from now?

I want to continue to explore as many types of art as possible, and also polish my design and illustration style. My long-term plans are to use my graphic design work in a design firm, and hopefully still have time to do traditional and personal artwork on the side. No matter where my future leads, I'm sure that art will be a very large part of it.

Contact Information...

Artist: Teagan White
DevArt: lostsoulx44

Website: http://geocities.com/teagan.white/
Email: teagan_white@hotmail.com

Attending: Minneapolis College of Art & Design

Artists on Parade

2008-11-06T07:36:00.007-07:00

Hello to those of you who have found this blog in the short, short time it has been up.

I was able to get in contact with a number of different artists yesterday. I've sent out my interview questions to them via email and am waiting to hear back. I'm excited at how well received I have been with all the artists I have contacted - but why not, right? As artists, you can never have enough 'shout-outs'. While we excitedly wait for my first featured artist, let's check out some other artists that I recently found on DeviantArt.

Artists You Should Check Out...

"AdonisWer ther" of Germany
You can find him on DeviantArt and Myspace

On his DeviantArt gallery he says his favorite type of art is "Digital surreal photorealism" which also sounds like a good description of his own. Please check him out, his fantastic and somewhat controversial art will not disappoint!

"RavenofSorrows" aka Jeff Powers, of Canada
Find him on DeviantArt and his own Website

I actually had the privilege of meeting this imaginative and talented person when I was attending college for Fine Arts. I was a piddly little first year and he was one of the big, scary third years. When I had met him, he was working a lot with oil paint and was fantastic at it. Now, it seems, he is mostly into the digital. Either way, this guy is quite talented and you can tell his art reflects his creativity and science fiction interests.

"Eddie the Yeti" aka Eddie Mize, of the USA
Find him on DeviantArt or his Website

This talented and skilled artist seems to be equally skilled in pencil, ink, digital, acrylic and more. His art is exciting, strange and sometimes horrifying. His styles include realism, surrealism, comic, cubism... all the way to the outer limits of what would be art. He's not scared of bright colours but at the same time, his black and white pieces never lose interest with their lack of colour. It is impossible to choose just one piece from his gallery to represent him here, so please make sure you check him out - I know you'll be an instant fan of his!

"Aeryael" of Brazil
Find her on DeviantArt

On to a slightly softer side of art, you will find Aeryael's gallery filled with beautiful digital pieces as well as soft pencil sketches. Her figures are wonderful and you'll find them in an array of styles from semi realism to stylized cartoons. I love her colour palettes. She makes everything look so easy, with her effortless pencil lines and brush strokes. And I enjoy that her women aren't completely anorexic, because I've personally never thought skin and bones were a sign of beauty.

Well, I think I've given you enough galleries to spend hours rooting through for now. Hopefully one or more of these artists will especially tickle your fancy. If there are any artists that have a presence online that you really enjoy and you think should be on parade here or even featured, please drop me a line!

Have a great day and keep enjoying art.

-Tlou

First Post Fright!

2008-11-05T10:33:00.003-07:00

Hello World,

I've been wanting to start a blog like this for some time, finally I decided that despite my other responsibilities, I should just go ahead with it. I am hoping to fill this blog with some wonderful artists from all over. My plan is to weekly feature a special artist whose work I enjoy. Please bookmark this blog, I really hope great artists will come to it and good things will come from it. This is not a place of critiquing so much as celebrating - our world is full of inspiration and inspirational people. I love seeing art as it is an expression of the human condition and the beauty around out. Lets discover some great art together.

Thanks,

Tlou

Artist Shout Outs

Yay Books!

One Million Giraffes

Studios on Parade

MARCH :||: Artist Studios on Parade!!

Some Etsy Sellers to Check Out

Waiting on Spring

March is Studio Month!

Artist Feature :: Erika Schulz

Artist Feature :: Syrcaid

Well, Hello There!

Artist Feature :: Hillary Luetkemeyer

Christmas is on the Way

Original Art by Arlene Faye

Notecards, Originals, Prints, ACEOs....

Studio Melange

Art etc. by Victoria Reeshttp://studiomelange.etsy.com

Constant DreamerWhimsical Art by Shaylind Standinghttp://constantdreamer.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14092747

Cool Affordable Gifts - Scrabble Pendants!?!http://homestudio.etsy.com

(I bought a bunch of gifts on etsy all in the same sitting one day. These guys were the first to ship. I received my pendant today and it is faaaabulous.)

Coquelicot Saloncrocheted fashionhttp://coquelicotsalon.etsy.com

Artist Feature :: fIDOArt

Artist Feature || Medhi

Art For Sale!

Artist Feature :: EraserQueen

Artist Feature :: Teagan White

Artists on Parade

First Post Fright!

Art etc. by Victoria Rees
http://studiomelange.etsy.com

Constant Dreamer
Whimsical Art by Shaylind Standing
http://constantdreamer.etsy.com

Cool Affordable Gifts - Scrabble Pendants!?!

http://homestudio.etsy.com

Coquelicot Salon
crocheted fashion
http://coquelicotsalon.etsy.com