Showing posts with label featured artist friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label featured artist friday. Show all posts

Friday, June 10

Featured Artist Friday with David Young



David Young, one of our iLoveToCreate Featured Artists possesses a unique talent to create paintings that are both vivid and illustrative. Early works such as “Retraloe” and “Fish Fish” brought David onto the art world scene, yet his most recent works “Glorious Garden” and “Seven Sisters” have really made their mark with enthusiasts.

Nature’s beauty has played a tremendous role in the direction of David's art thus far. He pays homage to nature, and presents his findings in a manner that invites the viewer to engage in the subject matter.

Although David has significant experience using a variety of media, his artwork takes the use canvas and acrylic to a whole new level. His techniques build a two-dimensional painting into a living world you can touch and feel. The use of Tulip dimensional fabric paint has exclusively facilitated the development of his unique painting style.


Here's just a sampling of David's vibrant, abstract style in some of his colorful canvases...



We asked David a few questions about his art and inspiration. This is what he had to say...

Describe your style. Most of my work is illustrative, but I would say for the most part my style bounces all over the place. I find it refreshing to go through many different movements. This helps combat the design rut so many designers/artists face.

What inspires you and your creative process?
I really find inspiration in everything. Nothing is too insignificant or the opposite, too trendy. I actually write about my daily design inspirations and they can be found on my blog.

What is one art material you absolutely cannot do without? I really cannot do without a camera. The likely answer for this would be dimensional paint and that answer would be a very, very close second. The reason I chose the camera is that no matter how much I paint, I cannot show my creativity to the world unless I photograph it and send it on its way. It is after all the digital age and the world is pretty small due to the internet, so if I just stick with traditional door to door ventures than I start off severely limiting myself. Its tough enough just to get the exposure you think you deserve.

How do you organize your work space? I have a love for all thing in containers. I'm not sure where I heard the phrase, "A place for everything and everything in it's place", but for some reason I've never forgotten it. All my supplies depending the medium is grouped together per container. Don't just think you need to go purchase an empty container either. I like to reuse containers that once housed certain foods. It's kind of neat how once you obtain a new container there is already an art supply ready to jump in it.

What would you change about your work space? Space, space, and more space! I love to keep everything organized and have working space dedicated to whatever project I'm working on. Unfortunately, I do not have the adequate space at the moment to accommodate all my activities, so I am looking forward to the day when that dream is filled. I think constantly moving supplies around stifles creativity. Look out when I get that space!!! :P

Do you listen to music while you work? What do you listen to? I love music. I really try to listen to it every time I paint. Sometimes I'll start painting early in the morning and forget to turn on iTunes and about an hour or so into it I'll think to myself something doesn't seem right. It never fails that the "something" is the lack of music. My current playlist consists of The Packway Handle Band, G Love, Eagles of Death Metal, Jack Johnson, Eddie Vedder, Led Zeppelin, Magnolia Electric Company, and the Beastie Boys. I really haven't met a lot of music I'm not friendly to.

What would you tell an artist just starting out? I would say make sure you go at your work 100% and don't listen to anyone who says give it more. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS 100+%!!! When you think you have reached 100%, go another 10%-15%. What you will find is that you were actually only at 85%–90%. When you go that extra 10%–15% past what you initially thought was 100% you'll find great satisfaction in the outcome. You just need to be in control and not let your work dictate what is finished. It has really helped me in the past to let my artwork go and turn my attention to the next project. Get it? Great! Don't be scared! After all it is YOUR artwork!!!

Here's a few more amazing works by David! Thanks David for inspiring us this Friday!





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Friday, June 3

Featured Artist Friday with Susan Wechsler


Artist Susan Wechsler is one talented lady and she has taken mosaic art to a whole new level! From gallery shows to installations to classes, Susan shares her passion for mosaics in many different ways. Susan honors the integrity and memory of each piece of china she works with by carefully cutting and then placing the patterns back together. She loves to inspire others through the unique telling of spiritual stories in her mosaics.

Susan's artwork ranges from shrines and houses to dresses and large-scale blossoms. She also does very large custom installations. Here's just a few examples of her amazing works!


We asked Susan a few questions about her style and artistic passion. Here's what she had to say

Describe your style.
I am in a lot of international mosaic groups and my mosaic technique is very unique. I layer shaped flat pieces of wood, edge them w/ tile and cover them with antique china. My work has a spiritual base, I call my style mix media mosaics.

What inspires you and your creative process?

I search at Antique Malls for that special ICON that gives my work its central focus and my inspiration. Sometimes it is the exterior shape like a discarded wooden shelf that gets my creativity flowing.

What is one art material you absolutely cannot do without? My ALEENE TACKY glue, of course! I love my tacky glue!

How do you organize your work space? I have a rather large studio space lined with shelves. On the shelves are stacks of china organized by color- this is my palette. Literally hanging from the rafters are all my finished pieces and large found treasures I incorporate into my work. And then I have shelves of tile, beads and boxes of stained glass. But, my favorite part of my studio are my shelves that are full of Buddhas, Angels, Quan Yins, antique frames, beads…..

What would you change about your work space?
It is an unfinished space and I wish I had central air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.

Do you listen to music while you work? What do you listen to? ALWAYS, there is a GREAT local station that I love and all my students always ask- “What station is this?” The station has special programming they do at noon, three and five that helps me keep track of my day, other wise I would have no sense of the time flying away.

What would you tell an artist just starting out? Love what you do and do what you love! When you follow your inner guides and let go, the Universe will help you find your true calling.

Susan also loves to share her art with others. She offers mosaic classes where others get a chance to share her passion! Here's a student busy at work!



Thanks Susan for sharing your creativity with us! Visit Susan's website to learn more about her original creations! Also visit her Etsy page where she sells her unique wares!

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Friday, May 20

Featured Artist Friday with Margot Potter



Welcome to Featured Artist Friday! For the next several weeks, we'll be spotlighting some of the iLoveToCreate family of Featured Artists. Today's featured artist is Margot Potter, the Impatient Crafter. Margot is a designer, blogger, TV host, best-selling author, trendspotter, and a natural gifted all-around entertainer! She currently is the Education and Creative Coordinator for JTV's Jewel School and is spotlighted weekly on their live telecasts! Margot is a successful jewelry designer, having worked with both Beadalon, Swarovski, and many beading magazines. She has authored over 7 jewelrymaking books including her latest, Bead Chic: 36 Stylish Jewelry Projects and Inspired Variations!



Here's a fun mini-interview we did with Margot!

Describe your style.
Retro eclectifunk

What inspires you and your creative process?
Everything. I am inspired at every waking moment and my brain has an ever growing queue of ideas waiting to be explored. My creative process is idea pops into my head and I become obsessed with making it happen. Most of my best designs are a direct result of my willingness to make what I call glorious mistakes. A good designer is like a mad scientist, we have to explore and experiment.

What is one art material you absolutely cannot do without?
Adhesive.
How do you organize your work space?
My husband builds me endless new storage units. I try not to let it get too out of control, which is tough if I'm working on a book. I have cabinets, shelves, bins and a vintage shelf that holds many of my inks, stamps, paints and ribbons.

Do you listen to music while you work? What do you listen to?
No, I don't. I'm a vocalist, so music distracts me too much. I like to focus with relentless specificity on the tasks at hand. I love to relax to music, but I work in silence. If Avalon, my daughter, is in the studio we'll crank up Queen's greatest hits.

What would you tell an artist just starting out?
Create without filters, make glorious mistakes, color outside of the lines and don't worry so much about the result, art is about the act of creativity. The result is just the residue of that act. Also turn off your inner critic, even the crappiest creations are creative fertilizer.


Here's just a few of Margot's wonderful jewelry creations (all images copyright Margot Potter)!

Thanks Margot for your always savvy wisdom and inspiring others to find their inner creative voice! Learn more about Margot at her blog, Margot Potter, the Impatient Crafter and on her Featured Artist Page on ilovetocreate.com!.

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Friday, May 13

Featured Artist Friday with Candace Marquette


Welcome to Featured Artist Friday! For the next several weeks, we'll be spotlighting some of the iLoveToCreate family of Featured Artists! Today we are catching up with Candace Marquette, owner of Candy Purse! Candace's works of art have been displayed and sold in over 30 boutiques and galleries in North Dallas, Chelsea NY, and San Antonio.Here are some shows, magazines and newspapers her designs have featured on. Positively Texas, KTVT-TV, UPN's national television show The Daily Buzz, HGTV's "Crafters Coast to Coast" and "That's Clever". Her most recent work has been featured in "Adorn Magazine", "Altered Couture", and "Belle Armoire Jewelry". Candace has a cool crafty couture book out called "Craft Candy: Easy Projects to Stitch, Glue and Paint", which is sold via Amazon!



Describe your style.
Sophistafunk! Sophisticated yet with an artsy lux twist

What inspires you and your creative process?
I love the fact that I can see something and know how to make it.
It trips me out when I am able to bring it all into fruition.

What is one art material you absolutely cannot do without?

My hands duh! No really it's paint baby!

How do you organize your work space?
My work space is rarely organized. It is kinda nice when you can actually find the things you are looking for. On those rare occations when I DO organize, I make sure that I put all alike things together along with the tools that I use the most. Really, it all makes sense in my head. Please don't try my way at home, just do what makes you feel creative

What would you change about your work space?

I would change the fact that it happens to be in my garage.
My house is pretty large. But we have 3 small children, they have their own rooms.We also have a media room, library/game room.two living rooms and my dream kitchen(which is my space/studio work area. The spaces that I mention before are my husbands spaces. I know I know, that doesn't sound fair at all. My husband is so wonderful to me. He treats me like a queen. My needs and wants list are very time I really don't mind not having my own work room. But that will change when the kids go off to college.

Do you listen to music while you work? What do you listen to?
Yes, John Mayer, Boney James(Jazz) or Praise and Worship music, just to name
a few.

What would you tell an artist just starting out?
Never ever ever give up on your dreams or your talents. You must persevere no matter what. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. I wrote my book "Craft Candy" while I was on bed rest with my 3rd child. It was tough but I got through it,

Thanks Candace for sharing with us your life and creativity! Here's a small sampling of Candace's fabulous work! Here's a direct link to complete instructions for the Tree of Life Purse and “Sole” Full Shoes project.


Learn more about Candace on her iLoveToCreate® Featured Artist page!

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