Artist Marketing Resources highly recommends Andy J. Pizza’s Find Your Style: Five Exercises to Unlock Your Creative Identity on Skillshare — a little course for big results.
The dynamic and vivacious Andy J. Pizza has other brilliant ideas worthy of your serious attention–such as the 1,000 True Fans concept that he shares in this YouTube video:
Photographer : Adam Isaac Hiscock
We’re happy to share images and an invitation to the new Sego Lily Dam land art project of artist Patricia Johanson in Sugar House Park, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Patricia says, “The project is five blocks long, so impossible to photograph (in its entirety). It continues under the highway, and through a “canyon” that is the spillway for the dam. In the opposite direction, the stem is a trail, but also the path of flash floods, and at the end of that is the “Lily” root-bulb overlooking a creek (Parley’s Creek).”
SLC Lily Roads
Artist Devin Fleenor will début S.E.E.D., an artificially intelligent installation, in Mexico City in Fall 2017. The piece will be on view at Museo Franz Mayer at part of MUTEK.MX and Abierto Mexicano de Diseño in Mexico City from October 11 to 23, 2017.
S.E.E.D. offers its participants an algorithmic exploration of time and the physical senses. Through self-reflection, layers of consciousness are revealed and unlocked through mysterious mechanisms. Full-spectrum lasers and mirrors create three-dimensional geometric light structures reverberated by analog video feedback. The many reflections of the participants and synthesized, processed, and glitches, forming a perplexing, yet minimal psychedelic visual experience.
Housed in an eight-foot magnesium, acrylic, and glass cube, the piece is activated and modulated by human interaction. Participants do not control S.E.E.D.; rather they converse with an autonomous “machine entity” using motion sensors, infrared cameras equipped with facial recognition, and a hexagonal haptic pressure sensitive interface on the face of the cube.
The visual experience is integrated with an algorithmic, immersive quadrophonic sound field. Both sonic effects and emotive musical landscapes are generated by the lasers themselves, which are in turn reacting to the environment. S.E.E.D. has moods of its own, with matching behaviors, stories, reactions, and soundscapes. S.E.E.D. also understands the mood of the participant. Positive emotion is monitored and remembered, allowing the installation to adapt its algorithms to give the user more of what they like.
S.E.E.D. is conceived of as an art form with research and therapeutic value: drawing from neuroscience research demonstrating that music, light, art, movement, and creativity can generate new neural pathways and enhance neuroplasticity.
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Fleenor is partnering with Dr. Sri Krishnan, Professor and Dean of Biomedical Signal Analysis in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ryerson University in Toronto. Starting this fall semester, pending ethics review, Dr. Krishnan and his team of graduate students will be analyzing the biofeedback data generated by S.E.E.D. with the intention of demonstrating significant physiological changes and wellness improvements from interactive art therapy sessions. S.E.E.D. has potential as a tool for healing in those who suffer from brain trauma, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, PTSD, autism, and other neurological conditions. Lead by Devin Fleenor and a team of designers, coders, artists, musicians, and academics, S.E.E.D. technology synthesizes advanced algorithms, artificial intelligence, high coherence laser projectors, LED video, proprietary robotic laser mirrors, motion sensor cameras, multi-site interconnectivity, live HD video processing, and generative sound. The brain of S.E.E.D. is programmed in and powered by openFrameworks, Max for Live, VDMX, Ableton and BEYOND.
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Watermelon and Christmas lights, oil painting on canvas, 51 x 64, PJ Mills
The oil paintings of Miami, Florida based artist PJ Mills present everyday objects such as a toy, spiritual items, food, and personal possessions of the artist, all realistically rendered in still life scenes. The artwork objects may be contextually placed in a still life setting or within more ambiguous spaces. At first glance this subject matter may seem to have little importance— yet these paintings make viewers take another look at these ordinary items perhaps previously taken for granted. As the artist PJ Mills says,” These paintings focus on those personal possessions that I find curiously engaging.” And we agree–there is a substantial presence in each of these images. Some of the canvases are as large as 51 x 64 inches and as small as 12 x 12 inches, with each study holding its own as an artwork.
Paper Crane, oil painting on canvas, 48 x 48, PJ Mills
Steak, oil painting on canvas, 18 x 18, PJ Mills
PJ Mills is art historically connected to the practice of painters of the past in that his painterly examination may represent or symbolize the artist’s ideas or the items may have metaphorical implications. Still life painting of such common everyday objects is often referred to art historically as “rhopography.” According to The English Oxford Dictionary the art historical definition of rhopography, is a depiction of subject matter considered insignificant or trivial, as still life, the domestic interior, animals, insects and the like.
Rabbit’s Foot and Communion Hosts, oil painting on canvas, 48 x 48, PJ Mills
Pinned Beetle, oil painting on canvas, 12 x 12 inches, PJ Mills
PJ Mills subjects of interest for his paintings may include the contemporary, such as Polaroid photos, as well as objects present through time such as things that maintain religious or supernatural characteristics– divining rods, masks, or spiritual fetish articles. The artist is also very aware of how a simple juxtaposition of two or more objects will express far more complex meanings. The juxtaposition of objects arranged by visual artists is similar to how many poets lay down verse. It is not the words per se that contain the power, but the unknown image that arises from what was created by the juxtaposition. Defined as the “imago ignota,” it is the combination of words which elevate them beyond the language of the obvious. “I contend that this holds true for images, as well,” says the artist.
Polaroids, oil painting on canvas, 48 x 48, PJ Mills
“In the last few years,” says PJ Mills, ” I have started to isolate and focus on personal effects that relate specifically to personal consumption and identity. A woman’s compact may be an aid for the adjustment of lipstick but also holds the secrets of her self-absorption snapped shut in the tidy compartment of her purse. Risque and subjective photographs (Polaroids) may be titillating, they are also quite personal and speak of privacy as well. Jewel like insects, the tiny treasures of boyhood fascination or even the food we eat raise questions of adult obsession with consumerism. Issues of identity and consumerism all stem directly and indirectly from strange as well as obvious places in our lives. These visual investigations of isolated objects and/or juxtapositions of personal effects, represent the seemingly obvious. But also the often enigmatic, and yet always metaphorically pregnant meanings.”
Clown & Thorns, oil painting on canvas, 51 x 64, PJ Mills
“My approach to painting is highly personal and intuitive. During the creative process I try to think as little as possible about this work and let the subjects surface from my subconscious. The result is quite suggestive by its contents and symbolically loaded with historical references. This material develops from entirely personal experiences and through obsessions I have with objects and my musing regarding the human condition as it relates to identity issues. The personal subjectivity of this work is not a grand philosophical statement. It is instead more closely related to a genre sensibility characteristic of the mundane used as metaphors for larger ideas.”
Monster, oil painting on canvas, 48 x 48, PJ Mills
Captive Bolt Pistol & Toy, oil painting, 48 x 48, PJ Mills
PJ Mills received his MFA degree in painting from Cornell University and has exhibited in numerous US art galleries. You can view more paintings on the artist’s website here.
Follow the artist PJ Mills on Instagram here.
Visit PJ Mills’ Facebook page here.
Wishbone, oil painting on canvas, 12 x 12, PJ Mills
Photo of Francque Lynn
American artist Francque Lynn exhibits her paintings primarily in local Louisiana art galleries, including Pineapple Gallery and Pizzella Fine Art, as well as the home decor shops Rustic House LA, and Gild Home Decor. You will find her work currently on display at the St. Tammany Art exhibition through the 20th of August. Find the full exhibition details here.
Francque Lynn recently exhibited at RAW Underground Exhibition
Above is an event photo at the RAW Underground exhibition where Francque Lynn recently exhibited her paintings.
Nautical, Franque Lynn painting with metallic hues, 40 x 16 inches.
One of Francque Lynn’s latest textural painting, available for purchase, Nautical (above) is a work that the artist created in a vertical format incorporating impasto depth and a mix of swirling paint in contrasting dark and light tones in her own controlled painting process. Another lovely, light and airy example of the artist’s use of a variation on this technique is the painting titled Elation, and Divinity with muted color tones.
Elation, Francque Lynn, acrylic painting 40 x 36 inches
Divinity, Francque Lynn
Francque Lynn’s series of paintings with built-up impasto surfaces include the titles Vertigo and Roots.
Close up detail view of a thick textural impasto area of Franque Lynn’s painting Vertigo
Above, is a close up detail photo that gives an idea of the three-dimensionality of the thick blue paint impasto area in Vertigo, and below, a photograph of Roots another of her highly textural paintings.
Roots, Francque Lynn
Francque Lynn is an autodidact painter, and although she has no art school education has gained extensive knowledge of the arts while working under apprenticeship to artist John Lambert. With Lambert, she primarily concentrated on mural painting and currently has three standing murals in various parts of the state of Michigan. But Her abstract painting skills and process-based painting techniques Francque says she “learned through trial and error.”
Horizons, Francque Lynn
Her love of art is like a deep tap-root directly to her painter Grandmother. Francque Lynn describes some of childhood memories of watching her Grandmother paint, and how she felt, “awestruck by her abilities.” Her Grandmother would hold Francque Lynn’s hand in hers guiding the brush and showing her how to produce various brushstrokes. “This was my defining moment, the moment I decided I wanted to paint,” says Francque Lynn– “Since that time I have grown into an artist.”
Wildfire, Francque Lynn
To this day Francque Lynn’s Grandmother Fran Burdo, keeps Francque Lynn’s very first painting on display in her home. Here is a sample painting by Fran Burdo that clearly shows the source for textural and other influences in Francque Lynn’s paintings.
Painting by Francque Lynn’s Grandmother Fran Burdo
Francque Lynn also says, “I’m proud of where I have been, and have every intention of continuing to move forward. I take much of the inspiration for my artwork from memories and my surroundings.”
Across the Water, Francque Lynn
A little bit of the surreal, by Amer Dababneh
Amer Dababneh lives in Amman, Jordan where he works as a conceptual photographer and digital artist specializing in creating composite imagery– such as the examples of his surreal work above and his highly original self-portraits below.
Self-portrait, Amer Dababneh
Self Portrait, Amer Dababneh
Me Myself & I, Amer Dababneh
You will find dozens of Amer’s images in his portfolio on the 500 Pixels site here and you can keep up with Amer’s amazing work on his facebook page here.
Orange Juice, Anyone? by Amer Dababneh
The Light of Freedom, Amer Dababneh
The digital camera and Photoshop mastery of the versatile Amer, cross over into portraiture, animals and birds, landscapes and seascapes, and urban explorations. The image titled Serenity Fisher (below) is one in a series of photographs the artist made in the coastal Jordanian city of Aqaba, located at the north-eastern tip of the Red Sea between the continents of Asia and Africa.
Serenity Fisher, by Amer Dababneh
Amer Dababneh would like you to feel free to contact him about his artworks and professional services as Creative Director, photographer and digital art expert, via both Facebook here and on 500px here.
Amer uses the Canon 5D Mark II digital camera and the Canon 7D with Canon 24-70 mm zoom lens, the Canon 70-300 mm zoom lens, and the Canon 85mm prime lens.
Artists, photographers, writers and creative people working in every genre have been self-publishing print books of their work for a very long time. For several years now, many artists have used the print-on-demand services of such sites as Blurb, Lulu, and others.
Lately, there is another option gaining attention. I recently learned from the fine art photography community that many who option to self-publish a collection of their work in printed book form are now opting to use Docu-copies as a new low-cost option.
They ship free in the USA.
Congratulations, Ula!ew
*The Eileen S. Kaminsky Family Foundation (ESKFF) is committed to bringing together artists, collectors, and curators through the development and presentation of innovative contemporary art programs and exhibitions based on private collections… the Studio Program will also facilitate meetings between artists and collectors, as well as dealers, critics, and the greater public.
Visit New York City artist Ula Einstein’s website http://ulaeinstein.com
I snapped a shot of Art Premium magazine when my complimentary copy arrived in the mail from France yesterday. Inside their Contemporary African Art Issue is an artist I featured last year!
Just goes to show you that getting featured in a blog article can be a stepping stone! If you are an artist and willing to make a donation I’ll feature your work in an article that will drive lots of visitors to your website.
This week, we congratulated Santa Barbara, California artist Metrov on the sale of one of his 3D printed sculptures here. We are very pleased to be able to also share this article, sent to us by Metrov, containing full details on how he created his limited edition sculpture series using the latest 3D printing technology.
The Reincarnation of PAX by Metrov (www.metrov.org)
The introduction of new casting technologies led me on quite an adventure this last year. Basically, it was supposed to go something like this: 1) Use a 3D modeling program to create a digital sculpture. 2) Email the digital file to a foundry. 3) Foundry makes a 3D print. 4) From the 3D print, they make a mold. 5) From the mold, they cast the sculpture in bronze. 6) Add patinas to bronze. 7) The bronze is mounted on a marble stand. 8) Foundry ships finished piece to my studio in U.S. The real adventure, however, happened between the lines.
STEP ONE: CREATE 3D MODEL
Below: image of PAX: BEAR GODDESS (with foundry notes), rendered from Blender, an open source, 3D modeling and animation program. It took me a few years to master Blender… the basics, anyway. It’s a fully comprehensive program which includes all the myriad controls of the high-end paid versions.
STEP TWO: EMAIL DIGITAL FILE TO FOUNDRY
Sounds simple, but first I had to hire a professional 3D modeller to prepare my digital file for 3D printing. Besides modeling the figure, it has to be specially configured to enable 3D printing—technical stuff I’ve yet to learn (read: don’t want to learn… ugh). Also, the file had to go to a foundry in China as their prices are a fraction of what the cost would be in the U.S. Some places in China are not email friendly, and so emails have to be sent through special servers, otherwise they may be intercepted by secret police… or spies… or something. Anyway, the email finally arrived at the foundry.
STEP THREE: FOUNDRY MAKES 3D PRINT
This step was happily straightforward. My well-prepared file printed without issues. Below: image of the 3D print.
STEP FOUR: FOUNDRY MAKES MOLD
Again, this step was pretty straightforward. Or at least, I didn’t hear of any issues.
STEP FIVE: CAST SCULPTURE IN BRONZE
Casting went well… after all, this is what foundries, do, right?
STEP SIX: ADD PATINAS TO BRONZE
This is where the headaches began. This particular sculpture requires a two-tone patina as seen in the first rendering above. Most of the patina is the traditional bronze color that covers the body and ears, but the head and ear holes must be black. After numerous attempts (and photos back and forth showing wear corrections must be made, etc), the artisans at the foundry were simply unable to create the patina as indicated. When they tried to fix it, they only made things worse. Exasperated, I finally instructed them to remove the patina completely and send it without a finish. (see 3rd shot below).
STEP SEVEN: MOUNT BRONZE ON MARBLE STAND
The first marble base made by the foundry was nothing like the one I designed in my rendering. When I pointed this out to them (based on the photo they sent), they readily had another one made. Second time they got it right.
STEP EIGHT: SHIP FINISHED PIECE
The work in the image above is what arrived from China. I was pretty excited to receive my sculpture at last… it took almost eight months from the time I’d emailed the 3D digital file to get the final statue. It wouldn’t normally take this long, of course, but the patina phase became a nightmare that no one anticipated. It was my fault, actually, as I failed, in the beginning, to ask the foundry to show me a similar two-tone patina sculpture they’d done in the past.
So, I now had to have the patina applied. Since this part of the operation requires a welding torch, and because I’d never applied patina before, I went to a local foundry to have it done.
The local foundry is well established: Artisan Bronze in Oxnard, California. Because of the headaches working with China, I decided to have a mold made from the bronze so I could have Artisan Bronze make copies in the future. Because the 3D print is not required to make bronze copies, the cost is considerably reduced. Robert, the owner, agreed, but the marble base had to be removed to make the mold. Robert warned me it could break when trying to remove it…. which, in fact, it summarily did.
Robert added both colors of the patina, but the blacks did not turn out nearly black enough. I learned that it’s not possible to get a true black patina. The black would have to be painted on.
First, though, I had to replace the marble base. Robert recommended a place he works with in Los Angeles: Imported Onyx. He actually drove my base down to them, and left it for replication. When I called to pick the new base, there was no answer… for almost two weeks.
Meanwhile, I had posted the 3D rendering of the statue on Indiewalls, a website where artists can submit their work for various commercial and private needs, i.e. restaurants, hotels, homes, and so forth. A client actually purchased the statue based on the rendering, and needed it shipped to New York right away!
I found another base factory on the East Coast, and was about to place an order when, Victor, owner of Imported Onyx called and apologized as he’d been waylaid by surgery. At any rate, he turned out to be a great guy, and fabricated a new base in one day. I raced down from Santa Barbara to pick it up.
Having the mounted statue back in my studio, I had to apply the final black paint for the head and ear holes. I painstakingly masked off the bronze areas and applied the paint on Friday. Saturday was spent photographing and making video of the final work. Sunday, I prepared the packing crate. Monday, I ordered a plaque with title of piece and my name. Monday night, packed the work. Tues morning, drove the crate to FEDEX and had it shipped to NYC!
Since this version of PAX is a limited edition of 25, I only have to go through this 24 more times! Just kidding. Now that I’ve been through the process… and learned the potholes to avoid… it should be a snap making the other editions. At any rate, keep your fingers crossed for me.
In this epic, narrative installation series, Pax, the ancient Roman goddess of peace, Spring, and re-birth, returns to us as the spirit of a Mother Bear. The Pax project signals the arrival of a new global consciousness; a harmonious shift between the balance of patriarchal and matriarchal forces governing our planet.
LEARN MORE ABOUT “PAX: BEAR GODDESS LIMITED EDITION SCULPTURE
Congratulations to Santa Barbara, California artist Metrov. He shared his news with us–
“I’m happy to share my latest sale with you. PAX: BEAR GODDESS is a bronze (limited edition of 25) sculpture from my series MYTH OF PAX: BEAR GODDESS. The first of this series is going to her new home—the lobby at 298 Mulberry Street, New York, New York. Beautify the World with Art!”
Metrov
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The ancient Italian family, the Medici, were patrons of the arts and of the master sculptor Michelangelo. So a fitting to use the family name for the new site Be My Medici where art patrons and artists connect.
Artist Marketing Resources has long collected links to crowd-funding and artist patronage sites in a category within our 1,100+ Places to Sell Your Art e-list for artists available here.
Be My Medici has a Spring Open Call to Artists here.
Click image
Get the ebook Guide to Making Submissions here.
The above LOVE painting is an example of text-based art by artist Tammie LaMountain.
American artist Tammie LaMountain creates mixed media artworks, paintings, photographs and drawings employing poetic and often metaphorical language. In her own artist statement, she tells us how she creates intense personal moments by means of rules and omissions, acceptance and refusal, luring the viewer around in circles. Her mixed media artworks appear as dreamlike images where fiction and reality meet, well-known tropes merge, meanings shift, past and present fuse.
Simply Simple, Tammie LaMountain
Time and memory always play a key role in her work. By applying abstraction, Tammie LaMountain finds that movement reveals an inherent awkwardness, a humor that echoes human vulnerabilities. The artist also considers movement as a metaphor for the ever-seeking human who experiences a continuous loss. Her works isolate the movements of humans and objects. By doing so, new sequences are created which reveal an inseparable relationship between motion and sound.
Liquid Dream, Tammie LaMountain
By experimenting with aleatoric processes, the artist formalizes the coincidental and emphasizes the conscious process of composition that is behind the seemingly random works.
Resurrection, Tammie La Mountain
The thought processes, which are supposedly private, highly subjective and unfiltered in their references to dream worlds, are frequently revealed as assemblages.
Behind Me, Tammie La Mountain
Her works are based on formal associations which open a unique poetic vein. Multilayered images arise in which the fragility and instability of seemingly certain reality is questioned.
By choosing mainly formal solutions, Tammie LaMountain wants to amplify the astonishment of the spectator by creating compositions or settings that generate tranquil poetic images that leave traces and balances on the edge of recognition and alienation.
Her works feature coincidental, accidental and unexpected connections, combining unrelated aspects that lead to surprising analogies. By questioning the concept of movement, she tries to develop forms that do not follow logical criteria, but are based only on subjective associations and formal parallels, which incite the viewer to make new personal associations. Her works doesn’t reference recognizable form. The results are deconstructed to the extent that meaning is shifted and possible interpretation becomes multifaceted.
Tammie LaMountain currently lives and works in the US city of Los Angeles, California.
For the growing number of mobile creatives out there world-wide, we published an article on international workspaces for Digital Nomads and Creatives here. We’ve also recently learned of the ContainerArtRes, and want to share news of this arts organization that invites artists to travel on board container ships and set up their artist work studio space inside shipping containers.
This new artist-in-residence program on board commercial cargo ships for artists has open calls to apply. To receive news of their next open call, sign up for the newsletter here.
Image courtesy of ddpavumba at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
EarthWE Gallery Betsy Clark exhibition installation view
We love that EarthWe thought to send us their latest press release and we are happy to share the details with you. Plus they included the wonderful photo, above, of their Betsy Clark exhibit in their gallery space. EarthWE has an interesting website for you to check out here.
Here is their latest art exhibition news—
EarthWE Gallery of Bergamot Station, Santa Monica is pleased to announce the opening of the first solo exhibit for Celebrity Artist Betsy Clark
“The Exiles” opens January 30 with an artist reception from 6-10 pm, and will run for 6 weeks. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11-6 pm.
Born in Seattle, Washington, current Venice resident, Betsy Clark is an actress, painter and mother with a flair for color and a love of elegance. As a child she was enamored of the acting world and the high fashion, style and elegant lifestyles of the Hollywood movie stars. She knew at an early age she wanted to live a glamorous life, and held multiple jobs while in high school, earning her own money to spend on clothing and social activities. While working in the mailroom of a bank, a teller suggested she try modeling, a moment that changed her life forever. Soon she was traveling around the world on high fashion modeling assignments that gave her a taste of that special life she had always envisioned. Once she began acting classes her natural talent was discovered, and national commercials soon followed. While in Paris working she met her soon-to-be husband, Philippe Caland, a film producer, who began casting her in his films, including the cult classic Boxing Helena. Her dreams becoming a reality, she began experimenting with other creative outlets, and painting became her next obsession.
Working in mixed media for the past 15 years, Clark has shown in various group exhibits in Santa Monica, but this will be her first solo show. This series, called “The Exiles” is comprised of 30 portraits from her imagination – predominantly well-dressed women, who look as if they are from another country and era. Says Clark, “I imagine these women have had really hard times, yet they are all so proud and dignified, and have put their best outfit on for some special occasion or party, where they may not really fit in…”
In a style reminiscent of Modigliani, the works are vividly painted in simple poses, stylized with elongated necks, proud features, and dressed in bits of fabric that Clark has collected from her travels. There are no smiles on any of them, yet the work has a decidedly optimistic feeling. Clark reflects, ”I am most proud of putting a smile on peoples faces. My mom and dad use to say to me “”Bets, you are a shining light in the room.” If I can show that through my paintings and have my light shine till the day I die, then I am a happy, grateful woman!” Come see this exhibit – and smile – for yourself!
EarthWE is located at 2525 Michigan Avenue, Building D5, Santa Monica, California USA 90404
portrait drawing by Jeffery Appiatu
Select your reference photos or create a new selfie, then chat with African artist Jeffery Appiatu of Ghana to discuss portrait ideas (Email Jeffery Appiatu at: appiatusk@yahoo.com Telephone: +233 502 718 767 Office hours, UTC +01:00 ). Find artist Jeffery Appiatu on Facebook here and visit his Terror Art blog here.
Do you want him to create your portrait on canvas or paper? Decide on the materials and size for the finished portrait art during your consultation with the artist.
Provide your reference photo or photos to the artist so he can get to work and he will send you a work-in-progress photo along the way!
Portraits Africa–based in Amsterdam, Netherlands–holds your international currency payment until the portrait is complete and delivered to you. Only then is the money is paid to artist. Contact Portraits Africa via email: editor@negativeentropy.net -or- by telephone: +31 20 672 78 06
While a portrait drawing on paper may require less time to complete, an artwork on canvas will take more time. If you have an anniversary, birthday, or other date you’d like to receive the completed work, just let the artist know.
Final photos are sent to you for approval. The artist Jeffery Appiatu packages and ships the finished portrait to you.
Light Orchestra, Janette “JKay” Borland (click image for details)
Flootie online gallery artist Janette “JKay” Borland describes her painting Light Orchestra as a “stylized beetle conducting the summer’s night light show of fireflies,” a painting and a title that reveal her humor, wit, and interest in the metaphorical and the surreal as subject matter for her art. As JKay says, “I am a particular fan of Surrealism.”
Dinner Train, Janette “JKay” Borland
JKay also admits to “dabbling in poetry,” and this is apparent in her written descriptions on each of her artworks found on Flootie–her words equally enjoyable as the stories she tells with her brush. In the artist’s words for another richly colorful work in her Beetle Series, titled Dinner Train, JKay writes that she is depicting “beetle, riding on beetle, with dinner available and about to be served.”
Guardians, Janette “JKay” Borland
“Location does change ones inspirations a great deal,” says JKay. “Pine trees won’t be in many of my paintings anymore.” JKay relocated in May of 2014, moving from the Pacific Northwest to the deserts of Arizona in the South East. “Spokane was a wonderful place to live with wonderful people and the arts were truly alive. But I’ve always had the dream of living in the desert. It is lush with vegetation and gorgeous mountains and skies that speak. The wildlife and the cactus entertain me daily. I feel the desert in my very soul,” she said, describing how the textures of the desert allow her to “take a wonderful journey and let my mind flow.”
With her move to Tuscon, JKay now works on her art outdoors on her huge patio with Ramada, especially in the earlier, cooler part of the day until 11:00 a.m. From her patio she observes the birds, and cactus blooms. In a chat I had with the artist, she described the wildlife she sees in her yard, such as Gopher snakes and King snakes as “very lovely creatures. She watches the scorpions, coyotes, deer, owls, hawks and roaming Javelina, a type of wild pig. “Every day is full of wonder. And, there are some VERY interesting bugs here! I found that Sharpie pens attract bees,” she said. “I do grab my Nikon and head out to the edges of the wild. I’ve never been surrounded with so much subject matter…so beautiful everywhere I look. But, then again, beauty is in the eye of the holder. I have an eye for texture. This is why cactus totally appeals to me…and there are so many varieties. Rocks! Love rocks. Rusty things! Love rusty things.”
Helmet Head, Janette “JKay” Borland
Now in Tuscon, in addition to painting on canvas, she paints murals indoors and has also “re-entered the world of clay,” saying that “it is a joy to have the clay center here.”
Same Old Sh*t, Different Day, Janette “JKay” Borland
In Walks a Stinker, Janette “JKay” Borland
“Every tavern has one … a loud-mouth Stinker. Ha, ha! But, he’s just part of the scene.”
Over Achievers, JKay Borland
An ant carriers the earth on his back, in Over Achievers, for which JKay says, “I just had to say it … visually.”
Things may slow down a bit online every summer, but this has been no time for us to slack off!
We do a lot of article marketing on Artist Marketing Resources–that is, we write and publish article about artists and their art. Then we promote our articles in Tweets, on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIN, Tumblr, Pinterest and other specialized art news sites.
Without mentioning any of our client’s names, we’d like to share some recent results.
One art site that we’ve published promotional articles for has reported a 500% increase in traffic as a direct result of our feature articles feature.
After publishing our article for an art dealer, we received this note– “Marie, Thank you very much for your wonderful work! In the past couple days, we’ve had a large amount of traffic to our website that has resulted in sales. What else can you do to repeat these fantastic results!? I would like to discuss more…”
If you’d like one or more feature articles on your art, send Marie Kazalia an email to: MarieKazalia@gmail.com
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Swirling colors no 4, Linda Coppens,
28 x 19 x 0.1 cm
Painting made with inks and oil pastels on Rives BFK paper
Artist Linda Coppens, divides her time between Belgium and Spain. Educated as a psychologist, she says that those interests led to the development of her artistic theme: “the complexity of the human being and the influence of our past experiences on our current experiences.”
Swirling Colors No 6, Linda Coppens, 31 x 25 x 0.1 cm Painting in inks, oil pastels, on Rives BFK paper
Linda says that by drawing upon her training as a psychologist–” I incorporate into my work a variety of ideas, infusing it with another range of textures beyond the pictorial. This gives it a more open-ended character that invites the viewer to appreciate it in her/his own way.”
Linda refers to herself as a versatile painter and enjoys working in acrylics but also in oil and cold wax. “I discovered that the oil and cold wax with its soft, transparent consistency is an ideal material for expressing the layered nature of memory, our past experiences. Every experience is coloured by the foregoing. The transparent or opaque layers in my work refer to these experiences. Each layer shows signs of previous layers and includes pieces of life that are trapped inside. Sometimes these traces and pieces of life come to the surface and determine how the surface looks like, sometimes they stay hidden underneath but there always remain traces.”
When working with a brush, Linda Coppen’s lines become broader strokes, as in her painting series Relations, of which the artist says, “forms, shapes, color and lines in several layers represent the exchange within human relationships.”
relation No. 5, Linda Coppens
Linda Coppens paintings are sold through her site in her online shop.
Relationship No 2, Linda Coppens
Linda Coppens blog www.lindacoppens.com
Relationship No 4, Linda Coppens
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