IndieSmiles.com

UK Road Trip Part 2: Devon.

August 01, 2010 :: Posted by - amyorangejuice :: Category - Amy Orange Juice, Headline

By Contributing Columnist AmyMark aka AmyOrangeJuice

Right everyone, out of the van, we have arrived in Devon. Just to the North of Cornwall. Devon is a large county, lapped by the English Chanel on its south coast and battered by the Atlantic on its northern coast. In the centre is England’s largest wilderness, Dartmoor, with High Tors, waterfalls, babbling brooks and wild Dartmoor Ponies! So lets start in the moors, they abound with legend and myth from the Celtic times and are rich in mineral deposits which brought people here to mine the copper and tin below the soil for centuries. Mystic Earth Healing Jewelery gets her inspiration from these tales

All across the top of the high moor are a series of Celtic crosses, used to mark the way for funeral processions from the isolated hamlets to the churchyards of the larger villages and weathered by hundreds of years of high winds and lashing rain. These beautiful, simple crosses remind me of the work of Deborah Jones Jewelery, who lives on the edge of the moor herself
If we drive way up to the north coast of Devon the landscape is much more like that of Cornwall, windswept beaches and high cliffs with large expanses of sand and rock outcrops. One famous surfing beach in this area is Croyde and (I hope you dont mind) as I am a Devon artist who is greatly inspired by the landscape around me I have included one of my panels of Croyde Bay
The whole of Devon is dominated by the sea, many small fishing villages dot the coastline; with a great deal of its borders being made up of coast, this wonderful pendant, by another talented Devonian really sums up the love of the sea most of us who live here have
As you move further south through the county the landscape becomes gentler, the hills roll towards the sea and the clear waters of the Jurassic Coastline await you. This whole stretch of the Devon coastline is a World Heritage Site and as well as calm seas there are beautiful gardens and stately homes. Which this lovely brooch reminds me of!
Devon is a pretty relaxing place and there are lots of sport and leisure activities to take part in!
Much of Devon’s employment comes from the tourist industry, the clean beaches and gorgeous rolling countryside make it a wonderful place for a traditional British seaside holiday, brilliantly summed up by this great bag!
Right, quick cup of tea at my house and feed the cat, then we are off to Somerset, shame we have just missed the Glastonbury festival!
Where is Devon? Look it up on a map here: http://maps.google.com/
This is a two part series, take a look at Part I.

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Hook, line and sinker!

July 20, 2010 :: Posted by - MissBaclartDesigns :: Category - Folksy Favs, Headline

Photo courtesy of NinkyNooDesigns
>By Contributing Columnist Amy of MissBaclartdesigns

In an attempt to gather inspiration, which for one reason or another was significantly absent from my life, I Googled ‘What is Art’ and got an incredible 284,000,000 results. Art a big deal. It is part of all our lives whether we are aware of it or not. Wherever you look, there’s art; on the streets, in architecture, in interior design, in our clothes, shoes, accessories. It is pretty much in every element of our lives, but it takes something special to trigger that fiery passion that fuels the art lovers’ thirst for its perusal.

So what is it that makes art ‘The One’? A ‘One True Love’ that can last a lifetime?

For me it was when I was 18. I was on a romantic weekend break with an old flame in Paris. We’d climbed the Eiffel Tower, had breakfast in a little French café and had a romantic moonlit boat ride around the Seine River; in fact, it was all rather cliché as weekend breaks go.
On one particularly sunny day, filled with love and happiness, we decided to go to the Musee d’Orsay; a beautiful museum situated on the left bank of the river Seine, housed in the old railway station, the Gare d’Orsay. There were literally hundreds of beautiful pieces encased in the galleries magical core, but it was one very specific piece that changed my love of art forever. As we turned a corner through the galleries maze of historical stories, there it was in all its glory. Claude Monet’s Londres, le Parlement. Trouée de soleil dans le brouillard, painted in 1904:

It may sound cliché that such a renowned artist influenced me in this way; I mean who doesn’t know Monet? The Musee d’Orsay itself is famous for its vast collection of his masterpieces. Moreover, I can’t tell you exactly what it was that triggered this life changing reaction; the colours, the scale, the textures, seeing a masterpiece in the flesh? To this day, I cannot pinpoint the specifics, so perhaps it was all of those things rolled into one, but it certainly was a moment that molded my future path in art.

To my friends, I often describe Folksy as an eBay for the craft world, except it’s less about auctioning old tat and more about showcasing amazing talents. It is a small community of people who make and sell arts and crafts, and is full of ideas and originality. It also has a forum, which is a great tool for anything from networking, to seeking advice from other artists, to general chitchat! It was in forum that I came across the work of Jane Eccles, of ‘Kind Dog’. Like myself, Jane also has a passion for art and below she tells us more about her work, her inspirations and why she fell in love with art:

Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Jane Eccles and I’m an illustrator and have been ever since leaving art school (more years ago now than I care to remember!) I did my foundation course at St Martin’s and a degree in graphic design at Chelsea School of Art.

I have always drawn for as long as I can remember – endlessly creating little worlds of my own in drawing books – horses, ballerinas, pictures of shoes were my early passions – girls in school uniforms, hospital scenes, school scenes.

When did you realise you had fallen in love with art?
Both my parents were artists – my dad is an architectural illustrator and my mum studied design at St Martin’s in the 50s – she drew wonderfully. There’s no real defining moment that I can pinpoint when I realised I loved art – it was just what I did and what made me happy.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by things I observe – people, situations, animals, colours – things that can be expressed without words. I have done picture books and educational books and my favourite thing to illustrate is poetry – I have illustrated many collections of poems for children for Macmillan.

You have a shop on Folksy, which can be found at http://www.folksy.com/shops/kinddog, what do you sell there?
On folksy I have a selection of original ink and watercolour pictures in handmade frames – the frames are fiddly to do and are cut out for me by my father as I am not very good with straight lines, knives, measuring!! Painting them takes a while as they need two coats and need to be dried carefully. I have most recently been doing commissioned work through folksy and through my Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/kind-dog/206129046531?ref=ts), these have been for birthday cards and for larger pictures and I love doing these as they’re usually a bit of a challenge which I like – sometimes they’re hard to do, other times it just flows.

What are your plans for the future?
For the future, I really hope to get more publishing work and to carry on doing commissions.

Where can we find your work?
My folksy shop link : http://www.folksy.com/shops/kinddog
My ‘kind dog’ Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/pages/kind-dog/206129046531?ref=ts
My agent’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frances-McKay-Illustration/262852937948?ref=tsMy agent’s blog (we all blog on here) http://fmillustration.typepad.com/blog/
My agent’s website: http://www.francesmckay.com/

Art is an amazing thing; it can be expressive, therapeutic, tormenting even and it is most certainly encapsulating. Every artist has a story to tell and whether you had a ‘moment’ that caught you or just have a passion for art that cannot be explained, it is a wonderful journey to embark upon. Art really is like any relationship we encounter in our lives and once you fall for it you’re caught… hook, line and sinker.

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Let Your Imagination Soar!

July 17, 2010 :: Posted by - Linda :: Category - Etsy Spotlight, Favs, Headline, LindaGJ

Written by columnist Linda aka LindaGJ

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea-whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.”
Jack F. Kennedy

Enter my daydream, so surreal, an escape from reality so vivid that you feel as though you are actually there.
As I leave the real world, my daydream begins to swish me away to a place so serene. You feel as though you are actually there!

My soul is completely fulfilled with a sense of familiarity.
I have been transported to the Pacific Ocean in a Tropical setting

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Fairy Tales Are Made Of This (Part 1)

June 13, 2010 :: Posted by - Linda :: Category - Artist Spotlight, Headline, LindaGJ

Article by columnist Linda aka LindaGJ

“My favorite subjects are drawn from nature, my imagination, childhood fairy tales, dreams, and occassionally a combination of all the above.”

Deborah Hill grew up in the Appalachian foothills of northern Alabama and she has been living and working in Houston, Texas since 1992.

“Art has always been a part of my world. My grandmother was a bird watcher and I enjoyed sharing that knowledge as a child. We would sit on her front porch and draw birds together, talking about the color of their feathers and the different calls each bird made, what color eggs they laid, and which one migrated. I found it all fascinating and still do.”

“My grandfather was a storyteller and could spin a yarn so well that my head would fill with images of talking animals, trolls and pixies.”

“My Dad is also quite the talented artist even though he never pursued it as a career. He would often sketch us at the table when we were doing our homework.
He’s especially good with the human figure. He knew so much about the natural world as well and would point out specific characteristics about trees, plants, animals, and their habits. He’d also talk about the changes that occurred with the seasons. I really appreciate having learned how to observe nature from my family; it has a huge influence in the art I produce today.”

Deb grew up in the country at a time when there were no computers or gaming gadgets. The television was black and white and there were only two channels, so naturally she spent a lot of time reading in the summer. She read in color!

“It was great fun to “redo” the illustrations in storybooks to me, Grimm’s Fairy Tales is and incredible source for the imagination. Authur Rackham remains one of my favorite artists/illustrators. I was enthralled with Frank Frazetta too. He did all those wonderful covers for the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan series and I read them all! Then I would try and copy the art from the book jackets or paint pictures of other passages from the book.”

“You know when you used to ask children what they wanted to be when they grew up? The girls would say ‘a nurse’ and the boys would say ‘a fireman’. I knew when I was 5 years old that I would be an artist. It is my personal opinion that we are all born creators of some sort and as we grow older we forget that important part of ourselves.”

After Deb went to college, she began painting large outdoor murals, billboards, and faux finishing for two decades! She was also taking private watercolor classes with Wayne Spradley, which is now one of her favorite mediums!

“I enjoy working with acrylic in thin layered washes in much the same manner as watercolor. Mixing various water media, such as watercolor, gouche, inks, and acrylic continue to fascinate me. I’m most comfortable working with acrylic, but prefer the challenges that watercolor presents. I’m also a wee bit compulsive about adding ink to my pieces.”

Trees, with an unique quality of Deb’s, are actually her very most favorite subjects to paint.

“My preferred time of year to observe trees is in the winter. This time of year, when the leaves fall, I miss that. Oh I love the shade summer trees provide and the beautiful colors of fall, but there is something starkley majestic about a tree with all it’s limbs exposed and spread against the sky. I think I must have something to do with the feeling the quietude and patient anticipation of the coming of spring. Trees are my favorite subjects to paint. I have a few old friends I watch through the seasons around the neighborhood.”

Deb has participated in several group shows in Houston, has artwork and murals in private homes and public institutions. She lives with her husband, Greg, and a menagerie of pets, paint, and adult children flowing in and out of their home.

To see more of Deb Hill’s work please go to:
www.DebHillArt.com

or DebHillArt

Check out Indiesmiles “Happy Made Tweets“

Articled edited by Barbra aka All About The Buttons

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Egyptian Roots

May 18, 2010 :: Posted by - Linda :: Category - Artist Spotlight, Headline, LindaGJ

Ancient Egyptian faience burial beads photo courtesy of Ronal63p
Columnist Linda aka LindaJG
“Artists should always use themselves, their own inner world, life experiences, and their lens (world view) as a resource for their expressions. I want to tell artists not to look to what others are doing or what the art market is relishing. Remember your first love, remember why you started in the first place.”

I had the pleasure of meeting this extremely talented artist because I was paired with her in the last 2 art festivals I’ve been in! What a fascinating person she is, and since her art work is just as awesome, I felt like Caroline and her gorgeous art should be introduced!

Caroline Marcos was born in Alexandra, Egypt as a Copt (Christian Egyptian) – this has some cultural significance as they are closely linked with the Ancient Egyptians in descent before the Arabs came and islamized Egypt, stripping Egyptians from both their religions and language – Coptic. Caroline migrated to the US with her family when she was 9 years old. She is also 1/4 Greek! She currently lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, where she worships in a Coptic Orthodox church at: www.saintmaryhouston.org

Caroline’s multi achievements partly include a B.A. in Studio Art and Psychology (double major) from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy/Art Therapy Psychology.

She’s had to endure the tragic loss of her father at 50,a very young age, when she was 18, the summer before she went off to college. Her family was camping and her father was caught in a riptide and suffered drowning and heart failure. With all this, she still thrives as a brilliant artist.

“I don’t remember my life without art, I grew up painting, even in my coloring books with water paints as my parents told me stories about my paternal grandfather’s oil paintings. His paintings (mostly landscapes and figures) adorned our home in Alexandra, Egypt, and I always enjoyed the scent of oil paints and admired his old paint set. Ironically, I never personally used oil paints like he did.”

In high school, Caroline was part of an advanced after school Watercolor Club where she refined her talent with watercolor.

“On my own, I really enjoyed oil pastels, their tactile quality and the great renderings that I achieved with them. In college, the emphasis in my degree was conceptual and philosophical, so I didn’t get specialized training in any particular medium.”

Caroline did have some very inspiring instructors (Frank Galiuszia, Tim Craighead, and Don Fritz), who worked in painting and mixed media using Mica, Acrylic get transfers, and Bees Wax.

“I think that what started in their classes, was what turned into what I do now with the encaustic painting, collage, and initiated my freedom into experimentation. Finally, when I studied art therapy, art became a vehicle for me to search my own depth, soul, psyche, and give meaning to my life experiences. This all started something for me that I still am working on today!”

Caroline traveled to London, England where she studied under the mentorship of Dr. Shepard Rene, who is a PHD student of Professor Isaac Fanous Yousef, the father of contemporary Neo-Coptic school of Iconography. She did that because she wanted to learn more about the art of her church and because she believed her spirituality is closely connected to her art. There, she learned the fundamentals of the “written” icon, including the geometry and the theology of the icon. She practiced and completed writing the face of Christ using egg tempera. (www.firstimageicons.com).

“I am inspired by nature, by color, by a text (whether it be a poem, a scriptural verse, or lyrics and of course, by archetypes (symbolic images that have layered meanings throughout culture/history and the pshyche.”

“Artists should always use themselves, their own inner world, life experiences, and their lens (world view) as a resource for their expressions. I want to tell artists not to look to what others are doing or what the art market is relishing. Remember your first love, remember why you started in the first place.)

You may view more of Caroline’s art at www.carolinez.com

Slide Photo courtesy of ArtcyLucy
Posted by Barbra aka All About The Buttons

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Gelert Design

May 10, 2010 :: Posted by - amyorangejuice :: Category - Amy Orange Juice, Folksy Favs, Headline, Shops to Watch!, showboat features

By Contributing Columnist AmyMark aka AmyOrangeJuice

I have written lots of articles lately about business stuff and I thought it was about time I chose an artist from the vibrant Folksy community. Folksy has lots of high quality sewn and jewellery items, but hiding in the listings are also an amazing array of fine art artists and this week I have been chatting to Gelert Design.
GD primarily produces 3D works cast in a variety of mediums from his original sculptures; on Folksy, Esty and also for merchandise for a British rock band called New Model Army. So lets get to know this friend of the celebrities better!

Please tell us a bit about yourself:

As a child I was always drawing. I went to art school but it was such a disappointment that I gave up on the Romantic idea of the painter living in poverty in his studio. So I travelled around a bit, exploring the world and trying different jobs. I kept painting and sculpting occasionally but never seriously. It was a rewarding way of giving loved ones gifts and nothing more.
I was diagnosed with ME/CFS around 15 years ago and struggled to stay in employment for long periods. Then last summer, when I had to give up work yet again because I was struggling to get out of the house and approaching 40 I had to have a serious think about what I was going to do.
The creative impulse is always at it’s strongest with me when going through a period of emotional turmoil. Girlfriend leaves? Write a song. New girlfriend appears? Paint her portrait. Feeling useless, I started to make stuff again. I had some savings and a very supportive partner, so I took a chance and invested it all in materials with a view to maybe making some of it back. I’m not sure I have yet, but I’m getting close!
I’ve realized that with a worldwide recession, being nearly 40 and unable to commit to being in the office by 9 tomorrow morning, I would struggle to find work. So Gelert Design was born.

How did you come up with such an original name?

I took the name from the Welsh legend of Gelert. It’s a tale of fidelity and tragedy (which I won’t go into here).

What is the inspiration behind your work?

The aim is to create something just a little bit different to what is already available in whatever medium I use, to make things that excite me and that I think are beautiful; things that I would want to buy. I am filling a niche between art and craft. I want most of my larger items to be the focal point of your room. Being frequently housebound and staring at the walls, I endeavour to make things that will repay being looked at for long periods – objects that you won’t get bored with.

How did you get into casting?

I was always aware that making prints of my paintings was the best way to make money from art, as not many people were willing to pay me for the time it took to create something. When making things in the round, it was the obvious step to find a way of making “prints” of my sculpture.

What is the process you use?
I carve an original from plaster (or model in clay). Then I make a silicone rubber mould from it. From there I can cast very accurate copies. Most of my castings are in resin, and I like the coldcast process whereby powdered metals are suspended in the resin giving the look and feel of foundry casting but at a fraction of the weight and cost. Although I have tried other casting materials, I find resin to be best for price, strength, capturing detail, and most importantly, weight.

What was the first thing you cast?

I have a vague memory of casting a Beatrix Potter character in plaster from a latex mould as a child. I don’t think it worked
I decided at the end of 2009 to do something seriously with my art and it was then I made a lifecast bust of my partner. This was a very steep learning curve. I used alginate for the mould with plaster bandage to support it. An original was cast in plaster. This was then carefully altered and finished to a porcelain smooth finish. I made a new silicone mould from that and cast with bronze resin.
It was perhaps a foolish undertaking having never before done any lifecasting, used alginate, plaster bandage, silicone, resin, or metal! Still, the finished piece was amazing and I’m so glad I did it. It has opened so many doors for me – I can finally do something with my life that enjoy.

What is the hardest thing you have done?

It would probably be the bust. Just because it uses so many materials and techniques I have never tried before. The horrific expense, risk of killing my partner or myself, the danger of destroying our home…! If something doesn’t work for me, I can get very disillusioned and depressed, so to complete the bust was a real challenge and ultimately very rewarding.

What is the weirdest thing?

I tend to play it safe. As the ultimate goal is for my craft to support me, I always consider the marketplace. Having said that, I know there is a massive market out there for adult orientated goods. Since I’m only selling on handmade sites, I can’t really get away with creating some of the more bizarre ideas I’ve got floating around in my head. However, I did make a cute fridge magnet from a lifecasting of a nipple. It’s available from my Etsy store, but I’m sure there’s a proper market for it somewhere – I just need to find it!

What are you proudest of?

Sorry for sounding like a stuck record, but again it’s the bust; for all the reasons above plus It’s what I personally would be drawn to in a gallery. Then there’s my first wholesale customer. I’ve been a fan of the cult rock band New Model Army for over twenty years and when I started making fridge magnets it occurred to me that it was a merchandising opportunity. I made some prototypes, sent them to the band, and they immediately placed an order. It’s a great feeling when you can have some sort of involvement with your teenage heroes.

What’s next?

Next is more of the same: more plaques, more brooches, more items similar to the fairy door. I’ve got too many items that aren’t really Gelert Design somehow, so there’s going to be a rationalization of the range before too long. I’ve got a few outlets I need to contact about stocking some of the items that will be delisted. Then I’ll set about stocking my shop with items similar to my best sellers.

Also, I’m going to try a whole new craft. Being able to produce copies of my work is a dream come true in many ways, but there’s something I’ve always wanted to try and that is stained glass. People tell me my paintings have something of stained glass in them, and I see the inspiration in the cold enamelling I do on my brooches. So I’ll be trying that very soon. I have some grand ideas. But even if I really get into stained glass, I think casting will remain my main interest. There’s a little spark of excitement that comes with de-moulding a cast that doesn’t seem to diminish. Most other craft forms have the piece developing before your eyes, but when your original is plaster and you finally reveal a copy in bronze… wow.

Where else other than folksy can we find you?

Nowhere really. I like Folksy. I have a shop on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/gelertdesign

Any tips for success for people who want to try and have a go themselves?

Research, research, research! The range of materials and techniques is vast. There isn’t a one-stop-shop I have found that can answer every question. There are various ways of doing everything, but with resin there seems to be just one that is ideal for just what you are making. It’s expensive so you can’t afford to experiment. It’s dangerous, so you can’t afford too many mistakes. Alginate and some resins have a working time of just a couple of minutes. You need to know what you are doing.

Be prepared and be organized or you’ll run out of time. Without an expensive vacuum degasser silicone can be full of air bubbles. It’s incredibly expensive stuff and you don’t want to ruin your mould. There are tricks you can use to get by. There are different hardnesses on the Shore scale for rubber. Choose the right one.

Plaster, if used incorrectly, can result in 3rd degree burns and amputation. Polyester resin gives off very toxic styrene fumes the catalyst is corrosive. Get your mixing ratios wrong and you’ve got a poisonous fire going on! Metal powders are dangerous in their own right. Aluminium in particular is very explosive.
So yes, do your research and be prepared. YouTube is a great resource for mould-making and casting.

Thank you very much Gelert Design for offering us a window on your highly skilled area of art. You have given us a brilliant snap shot of the complexities of what you do!

http://www.folksy.com/shops/gelertdesign

Please go check out Gelert’s shops on Folksy, Etsy or Facebook and get a piece of art at an affordable price before he gets all famous and extremely expensive!

Edited by Bette Miles-Holleman aka BadMsM

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Let Fly

May 06, 2010 :: Posted by - Linda :: Category - Artists helping others, Headline, LindaGJ

Written by columnist Linda aka LindaGJ

“Do not worry about what anyone tells you about what you create…your heart will know when you get it right. This alone will draw folks to you..art from the heart! That is what will touch others and that will bring sales. So be brave and put it out there. Be patient and keep doing that and the success will come to you. If you create what you love, it will fill you too!
So Let Fly!”

Sarah Sullivan is the creative force behind “Cottage Garden Studios” as well as the founder of http://magicalholidayartists.blogspot.com/. This is a new team on Etsy that I happen to be a member of! She wears many hats as an Artist, Photographer, Teacher, Wife to a Rock man, as in minerals, and Mom to 5 wonderful children, Julia-22, Kate-22, Hanna-18, Fox-11, and Mhanon-6. The 3 oldest have flown the coop & Fox and Mhanon are still home, along with her extended family, Lucy Lu – their Border Collie, Tink – their Maine Coon, and Foo Foo- their bunny!

Her family lives in the Pacific Northwest, North Idaho, and has lived in Coeure d Alone for about 12 years now. Sarah loves it there! She’s lived all over the country and would like to think that this is now home! Her family just purchased their very own little garden cottage.

Before I get into Sarah’s more than happy ending, I must mention that she has not always lived in a world of roses without thorn’s. She left an abusive relationship about 12 years ago. In short, it took her 9 of those years to just fight herself back from it all and find her real self. Child custody fights and loss were so very painful. Sarah went from upper middle class to being deeply poor in a very short time.

“But the lessons that all this offered me were priceless! I guess my goal these days is not only to create, which is my bliss, but to encourage other women through the lessons that have been offered up to me…there is hope, there is a path to be happy. Hopefully to help others to learn to learn how to let it fly with all the wonderfulness inside of themThat is what I want to offer up. I will be launching an online class to address just these things…to offer up a little about what I know in hopes of helping others to find ways to Let Fly and step out there with their own gifts.”

Sarah just opened this new blog. She calls it Let Fly at: http://lettingflyclasses.blogspot.com/

This eight week course will help guide you through each of the above aspects of your life one week at a time. You will discover your natural rhythms and learn a system to manage and organize your time more effectively.
“Why Let Fly? My goal with this new home it to offer up ways to help and encourage you to Let Fly with all the wonderfulness that is you! To help you be brave, step out there, find your True North path, your bliss…to find beautiful, amazing you!! Are you ready? Lets Fly!!!”

Sarah was very lucky to have parents who fed her passions. She started taking private lessons at age 11, took art in high school, and then later college. So you could say that she’s been formally trained. Yet, the medium that she does most of her work in, is pen, ink, and colored pencil. She had to learn this from the bottom up.

“I adore whimsy and illustrating for children…anything that will make you smile when you look at it. I guess that is always my goal to make the viewer smile and feel that wonderful magic that a good illustration can create…at least, that is what I’m aiming for. I can do realistic when I choose to I guess. I just prefer illustrating. I have created for years, sold in galleries, crafty stores, etc.
But it wasn’t until 2 years ago when a friend encouraged me to sell on line. That is when my art world exploded into so many different directions. I adore it! I really do.”

When Sarah is not drawing, she is photo snapping…another artistic love of hers…that is all self taught as well! She has a passion for Macros – those tiny little worlds fascinate her! She also loves snapping candid shots of her children!

“I have worked in so many mediums over the years, clay, fimo, paper clay, acrylics, fiber arts, tie dye, quilting, and colored pencil and ink. I think though I still come back to my favorites more often than not and that is pen and ink, colored pencil and acrylics. More often than not, it’s nature that inspires me. I love sifting through images on google…to see some wonderful new subject that I can create a new character through. I love walking and hiking…brings me a lot of balance and ideas. I also love soundtracks…big sweepijg orchestrations…lots of wonderful ideas come to me as I listen”

Sarah also is very fond of patterns in nature. Pen and ink allows her to recreate these in deep detail and she loves that. Whether it be the bark on the tree or scales on the dragon..the repetition of pattern is so rlaxing to her.

“I love movement in my art, also…jumping, flying, etc. Of course color is wonderful..I love to use the colored pencils to enhance the layers of depth of an element.”

I asked Sarah what would be the one thing she would say to inspire other artists:
” I guess if I had to say one thing about inspiring other artists it would be this…There is a huge market out there. Do not worry about what anyone tells you about what you create…your heart will know when you get it right. This alone will draw folks to you~art from the heart! That is what will touch others and that will bring sales. So be brave and put it out there. Be patient and keep doing that and the success will come to you. If you create what you love, it will fill you too!
So Let Fly!”

To reach Sarah, you can find her at:

Main Blog: http://rowenleaf.blogspot.com
Photography Blog: http://cottagegardenstudiophotos.blogspot.com
Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CottageGarden
Etsy Photography Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CottageGardenPhotos
Let Fly at: http://lettingflyclasses.blogspot.com/

Edited by Barbra~All About The Buttons

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Wire Art: Jewelry & Sculpture

May 04, 2010 :: Posted by - flaurena™ :: Category - Artists helping others, Headline, Indie Newbies!, New Columnists

flaurena™ - Metamorphosis / Wire Lace necklace

By contributing columnist Lauren Cross aka flaurena™

Hello! I’m Lauren, the person behind flaurena™, and this is my first post in Indie Smiles. By way of introducing myself to the Indie Smiles community at large, I thought I would talk a little bit about wire art.

I discovered the joys of twisting wire in a wire-wrapped rings class I took a couple of years ago. The only ring I wear is my wedding ring, so I applied some of the techniques I learned in that class to create a necklace, my usual jewelry choice. Fast forward a couple of months and flaurena™ was born.

I made my first Wire Lace necklace from brass artists’ wire (although these days I almost exclusively use either gold fill or sterling silver) which I adorned with colorful beads and crystals:

To be able to use my hands to transform something as seemingly masculine and industrial as wire into a feminine and organic piece of wearable sculpture is a process that I am always thrilled by! It is this very characteristic of wire that gives it its strength and delicate beauty.

But the thing I love most about wire is its versatility: it can be bent, twisted, cut, crocheted, adorned with beads, and otherwise coaxed into any shape you can imagine. I also like that it’s hard to exactly replicate every little twist and turn because that makes each piece absolutely unique.

Here are some of my picks for wire artists around the world who take wire-wrapping techniques to a new level:

Kathleen Cavalaro / U.S.A.

The first wire jewelry I remember seeing was by Kathleen Cavalaro, who, at that time, owned a bead shop in Brooklyn, NY. I found her free-form jewelry inspiring and it is partly because of her that I do what I do today. Kathleen crochets with wire, threading beads as she goes, and even hammers it to form ear wires, as shown in her beautiful In Theory French Hoop Earrings:

Kathleen Cavalaro - In Theory French Hoop Earrings

• Kathleen Cavalaro – Official Site
• Kathleen Cavalaro on Etsy

Coralia Tasman / Australia

Simone Russell of Coralia Tasman is an all round creative type, but I especially love her wire jewelry and household objects – or what she calls Sculpting with Line. I think her Rock Anemone Table Sculpture is a spectacular example of how wire can be transformed into a beautiful object:

Coralia Tasman - Rock Anemone Table Sculpture

• Coralia Tasman – Official Site
• Coralia Tasman on Etsy

Grin Grimace & Squeak / U.K.

Run by goth duo, Karen and Rich, Grin, Grimace and Squeak offers a fabulous variety of Venetian masks. Karen and Rich live in Cornwall, which is located in the ‘toe’ of England. I’m originally from the U.K. and was in beautiful Cornwall a couple of months ago – so when I was on Zibbet recently I was happy to see wire art forms being made on the other side of the Atlantic! I love how the green wire used in their May Queen Mask has been curled to look like tendrils – it really makes the piece come alive!

Grin Grimace and Squeak - May Queen Mask

• Grin Grimace & Squeak on Zibbet

inaBAG / U.S.A.

And now for the absurd! I think the wire figure sculptures from inaBAG are fantastic. They remind me of Tim Burton in some way. Each creation is created with a sense of humor and an eye for detail – where on earth do you find such tiny roller-skates anyway?

inaBAG - Blade Runner figure

• inaBAG on Etsy

I’m feeling inspired, so I’m off to do a little wire-bending of my own now…

~ Lauren

Edited by Bette Miles-Holleman aka BadMsM

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The Eye of the Tiger

April 27, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Etsy Spotlight, Headline

Tiger photo courtesy of Tim Kant Photography
Columnist: Linda aka LindaGJ

I found this fabulous artist on Etsy while looking for pictures of cats. And what a treasure I found in this delightful artist’s work!

Her name is Jennifer Lambien, 35, and she lives in NYC now. She is not only an artist but a designer, licensor, and owner of Studio Petite. You can find her at www.studiopetite.com and studiopetite.etsy

Jennifer grew up in Naples, Florida and her family moved to Ohio to be closer to her mom’s family towards the end of High School. She moved to Manhatten a little over a year ago and she’d LOVE to travel to Europe, and will some day! Jennifer loves NYC, as the eclectic and creative vibe is what brought her there. She still is very close to her family along with her brother, that she misses dearly. She also grew up with 3 kitties and only one kitty named Boris is still living. She loves dogs and cats equally. She does have a lot of cat paintings and plans on adding more dogs to her collection eventually.

She attended Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio and majored in English and minored in art. She really considers herself self taught especially because she never painted until a couple of years ago. One would think, by looking at her paintings, that she was born with a paintbrush in her hand though!

I asked her what got her started in the arts, what mediums she has worked with and what inspires her.
“Hmmm…I can’t even say when I got started. I feel like I’ve always been an artist. I started out using a combination of pen and ink, marker, and colored pencil. However lately my passion is watercolor. I’d love to find the room and time to get into oils someday. I would also love to get into ceramics. Anything and everything can truly inspire me. A song, a person, a moment, a movie a book, a flower, another artist…anything. I liked seeing the results other artists I admire were getting in their career. Both success wise and technique wise. I wasn’t sure if I’d take to painting. I honestly used to be intimidated by it! However, luckily, I sat down with a paint brush in hand, dipped it in some paint, touched the brush to paper, and the rest is history! Of course you never stop evolving and improving.”

Her great Uncle, Grandfather, and mother are all artists. Her mother, Deborah was a cross-stitch pattern designer for “Leisure Arts” for several years. Jennifer had 2 books published under “Leisure Arts’ some years ago & she thoroughly enjoys what she is doing now. Her father is so creative as he plays a myriad of instruments and has always loved writing.

“I’m very fortunate to have parents who have always supported my artistic dreams. I’ve heard several stories from others involving their dream of becoming an artist, only to have their parents sadly tell them to get a “real job”. Don’t get me wrong. I do understand their concerns. This is a very competitive industry. It’s in no way for the impatient or overly sensitive…ironic that I can be both!!! But you have to keep pushing yourself to break past the crowd and stand out! With your art utensils in one hand and a brightly colored flag in the other, raise your hands in the air madly hoping someone will notice. If your hands are high enough and your flag is bright enough…SOMEONE WILL!!! Though it’s challenging and worthy of some tears from time to time, over all it’s an extremely special and rewarding career. I can assure you.”

To explain further of what Jennifer exactly does, is that she licenses her designs out to be placed on products. This can be anything from a placemat to a mailbox cover. The possibilities are endless! She’s had agents in the past, but she is on her own now. She’ll be doing the Surtex Licensing show in NYC at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in May. She admits that she’s a little overwhelmed but SO excited! She still sells greeting cards that she prints herself on Etsy

“As I said earlier, this career is a slow uphill climb. Especially today. Due to the internet, the competition is stronger than ever. Having said that, the internet allows you to be seen in ways you never thought possible. Also, with the economy being the way it is, many companies have done away with their in house art department. It used to be that they were responsible for doing everything beyond creating the actual art. Now you are much more responsible for doing your own mock-ups, collections, etc. to present to the company. For example, I’ve had to learn Photoshop even though I paint by hand. I’ve also had to learn to be a business woman aside from being an artist. Anyone thinking of getting into any kind of art as a career, REALLY needs to pay close attention to this. You HAVE to see yourself as both an artist AND a business person. If you don’t, it will never go beyond just being a hobby. Worried about selling out? Ok, well then I guess you’re not worried when you don’t sell enough to quit your day job. I’m not saying you shouldn’t stay true or stay you. I’m simply stating that you have to do it in the realm of what sells. Would Marc Jacobs include ponchos in his fall line if no one else was wearing ponchos? Maybe, but that’s ONLY because he’s built a brand and has a strong following. It’s important for you to do the same. First know what sells and do it. Next build your brand and following. Lastly, paint ponchos if you choose to…I can assure you others will begin to do the same. Ha!”

Jennifer truly loves working on things for the Fall/Halloween and Winter/Christmas seasons. They are such magical months and she loves the colors and subject matters. She loves doing cheery things for Spring as well! Oh, and coffee. She is a HUGE fan of coffee, and it definitely shows in her work. She loves painting kitties too!
She has teamed up with a friend on Etsy to support Susan G. Komen’s fight against breast cancer. You can see her greeting card here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/38121113/greeting-card-breast-cancersusan-g-komen
It’s also available in a set of 5. She also can print more as well.
I asked Jennifer if she had any suggestions on keeping artists inspired:
“I would say turn on “Eye Of The Tiger” from Rocky really loud and jump around the room lol! Seriously though…My advice is to definitely only surround yourself with people and things that inspire you. I’ve had to do a lot of soul searching this past year. I’ve gotten to the place in my life where after asking God for a lot of guidance, I realized the critical importance of kicking all toxicity of one’s life. It can be difficult to embrace change or eliminate a person you’ve had in your life for so long. However, at times it’s the only way we will truly find success and happiness. Embrace change and free yourself from any negatives in your past and present. Having said that, also learn from your past. First and foremost, take responsibility for yourself and your choices authentically. There’s a line from the movie “The Money Pit” that I swear by…”No, this wasn’t an easy one, but the foundation was good, I’ll say that. And if that’s okay, then everything else can be fixed.” Make sure your foundation is solid. If it isn’t everything else will crack, so fix it! Music and movies also inspire me greatly. I have one of the most eclectic iTunes libraries ever. I make mixes that will lift my spirits or put me in a great place artistically. Sometimes I just karaoke! Also, get involved with other artists. Swap stories, learn from them, support them as they will support you. Look, we all have our down days. I have been known to work at very odd hours or not at all. Artists are not by nature conventional creatures. We can be known to be beautifully and delightfully off balance. You will never find me getting up at the crack of dawn or putting my paintbrush down at 5pm. Somedays I paint for 8 hours straight, and other days I don’t paint at all. Seriously! You can coax creativity, but you can’t force it.”

“Thanks sincerely you lovely souls for taking the time to read my Mad Hatter rantings…May you all STAY INSPIRED! “

Editor:Barbra aka AllAboutTheButtons

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