Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Lisa Fabiano

Hi guys, it's TAW!!! Lol sorry to have to do Tell All Tuesday on Wednesday, it doesn't happen often (only once I believe, as I wrote it at midnight) but that doesn't make the interview any less interesting or inspiring. Today is a lovely abstract artist by the name of Lisa Fabiano, enjoy =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
My name is Lisa Fabiano and I am 54+ years old. Although I work full-time as a paralegal during the week (I work for a divorce attorney- very stressful), I either paint, think about art, read about art, write about art, or study art online - every single day/evening. Prior to my current desk job, I was a chef in a local restaurant for about 6 years. Like many women and girls on this planet, I dealt with physical and emotional abuse growing up, and, after therapy and other healing methods, I have found great joy in expressing myself through art. I started oil painting about 17 years ago, with formal lessons through the Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At first I studied traditional realistic ways of painting and drawing, but after several years turned my attention and focus to abstract work because it suits my nature much much better (although I still really enjoy figure drawing).

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
My biggest challenge is painting even when I am tired and/or stressed from my day job, and to hold on to the belief that, as time goes by, I will be able to spend more time on art and less and less time at a stressful job. HOWEVER, there are two GREAT blessings that come from my having a secure "day job". First, for the past 2 1/2 years I have been able to afford a small studio outside of my home, so I have more space for more and larger paintings. Second, I remain free to paint whatever pleases me, rather than painting things to generate art sales for income to pay my living expenses/bills. I must remind myself daily, on the bus ride to work, how my day job supports my artistic life and this also helps me get through the workday. 

 
What other issues do you overcome to accomplish your art?
Another big challenge is overcoming the fear that I will never have enough time use all of my ideas and have enough time to make all of the artwork I envision, due to my age and the necessity of working a day job. But, I realize I must use the time I have available as best I can, because that is my responsibility and I cannot control the passing of time. Also, I do not drive at all and the public transportation in our small city is pathetic. Travelling around slows down my life and uses much precious time, when I could be painting. So, I must constantly remind myself that I am helping the environment by not driving, improving my health by walking or riding my bike, and doing my part to avoid supporting the oil wars in the middle east. And, my slower pace of life, even if it is outside the mainstream, is conducive to a greater awareness and slower tempo for painting. These are all real challenges for me personally, but I do understand I could be much worse off and I do not take my life's freedoms for granted. In the big picture, I am very blessed and must not waste time fretting over situations I cannot control or change. A little saying I recently came across that helps me (because I am a worrier by nature) is: "Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.". 

What is your heart’s greatest desire for your life as an artist?
To be able to devote most of my working life to painting and creating artwork. Also, that my paintings will be seen and appreciated by many people and that any paintings I have sold or may sell will be well cared for and good company to their owners. That may sound selfish, but my paintings are part of my soul and are like my children.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?
Some of my recent work can be seen here and here. I do not have the time yet to maintain my own website, facebook, or blog. Painting and daily life fill all of my time. 

Thank you so much for sharing Lisa, I love the quote 'Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere' & will definitely be nicking that lol I am a natural worrier too, but am learning to not give that much power, so this quote is a perfect reminder when in need. It also reminds me of the quote about forgiveness - that holding onto grudges is like stabbing yourself and expecting the other person to bleed. Your quote and that one has somehow merged in my head to reiterate to me how much we really do too often focus on the wrong things, rather than those that will best serve us and enrich our lives. Thank you for the interview Lisa, I really appreciate hearing your story and you sharing your life with us.

Do you want to be featured in an interview here?

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

Back in the Rhythm

So the past few days I have not been able to keep my hands clean...like, seriously!

I have been starting at least one new projects every day (...yes, without finishing the old ones lol). In short my creativity has been ON IT!! 

After my last proper vlog, where I basically said I was taking a break from art, that little niggling feeling that comes up when mojo leaves for a while began to creep in. That feeling that you are just too creatively tired & then the worry when you cannot see a foreseeable future when you will have the energy again. Of course I did have it again, and it has come back with avengeance.

I have been doing all kindsa random stuff, completely immersed in glue, paint, plans and joy. I'm trying to show images without actually showing images...because obviously you know these projects will end up being shared as videos or tutorials =)

okay, here's one lil thing (but he is part of a much bigger creation so it's ok)

I think it has all happened since I brought the Jade Buddha back into my indoor studio. The past few years (before I even took to posting online) he has lived on my desk, until I put him in my outdoor studio this autumn - about the time my creative energy started ebbing. A strange thought occurred to me...or perhaps it is not that strange, as the creative flow has suddenly become abundant again now he's back!

look how happy he is; he's home, watching over the processes

So that's it, all I can really share without giving away upcoming stuff (you know I like to keep things a surprise!). I just wanted to do a post as a reminder (to myself as much as anybody else) that though it sometimes beats so quietly we worry that it's stopped, our rhythms of creativity are always still beating... And deep down we know it. We know that it just runs like anything else our life, sometimes so loudly it's hard to handle (without paint flying like a shower anyhow!) and other times it beats softly in order to allow for another rhythm to have the focus it requires. 

Hopefully I should have a video ready in a few days =D 

happy creating

xoxo

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Rebecca Taylor

Hello beautifuls, today's post is the first TAT of 2014! I am so looking forward to picking this up again and meeting some new artists to be featured in this coming year. Do not forget I am looking for new participants and do not be afraid to put yourself forward; even if you are newly setting out on your art journey's path, you and your work still have something to inspire and share. This is why I do and enjoy doing this series after what is now over 18 months (wow!) we all have individual qualities, and can so easily encourage those in others simply through expressing ourselves!! 

Having said so, please grab an art break & enjoy this weeks interview =D

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
I am a two dimensional colorist that resides in the suburbs of Richmond, VA. I am a homeschooling mom, teach part time with the Department of Parks and Recreation, and I teach my own private art classes in my home, other people's homes, and sometimes at a local homeschooling center. 

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
The biggest challenge i face is having time to put towards the creative process. With so many demands on homeschooling and working, family/domestic life it's difficult. Before family life I used to put the coffee pot and the tunes on at 7pm and paint until 4am. Family life nowadays is not conducive to those long, late-night stretches. I find that I have to wait till everyone goes to bed for the night, then I may be lucky to get a couple of hours. Also, my attention span is much smaller these days, so eight broken up hours may be the best I can give to my pieces.

What do you find easiest / hardest in your art?
I find most everything easy about my art because I have learned to let go and have fun. What's difficult, though, is staying in practice when I want to produce something realistically; for example using techniques such as perspective and figure drawing. But recently I have refused a lot of those art techniques. For instance I have been drawing architecture freehand- wiggly lines and all. I love the effect on the buildings because they take on a magical storybook quality.

What advice would you offer to any perspective new artist?
Becoming a good artist is a developmental process. Adults especially need to understand that if they haven't drawn something since seventh grade then they have to go back to that stopping point and pick it back up. People who know how to draw realistically have been trained to do it, usually for years, and practiced, practiced, practiced. 

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?
You can see my art on my blog and Pinterest. I also just gave birth to a new Facebook fan page.

Thank you so much for taking some of your hard to come-by time to share with us Rebecca. I was ready to say 'AMEN' when I read you have recently 'refused a lot of those art techniques', of course I do not believe any technique should be tossed out but nor do I see why there is so much emphasis on some techniques being more important in creating 'good' art than others, so I was very glad to see your wiggly freehand lines =) 

If you would like to share your story email me 

or click the link to find all the details here =)

Much love & Happy Arting

Warm Up Art Journal Flip Through

Happy New Year!!!

Although it is a week into the new year this is my first post of 2014 so apologies for the delayed well wishes =D

As today is tuesday this should be a TAT post, however I do not have many interviewees lined up so thought I would start next week and take this opportunity to call for new recruits! If you want to be featured in my tuesday interview feature you don't have to do much, just email me at jennibellie[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk and I shall send you the details. 

Go on be daring, it's a new year ;)

So what I have instead is a journal flip, of my outdoor warm-up journal, the video will explain the rest, sit back & enjoy:

Much love

Jennibellie

xoxo

A Merry Thank You Christmas Message...And A Sharpie Discovery

Hi guys, I have been reflecting a lot this month and just resolved on quickly doing a blogpost to say a 

HUGE thank you

to everyone who has sent me love, of any kind, this year. 

I really, truly, appreciate all of you who follow and support me whether I am churning out art like a mad woman, or equally when I'm sharing some deeper rooted feelings that go along with being artistically inclined. I feel so much support happens in our wonderful community and I just want to protect it, appreciate it, add to it and help it thrive in 2014. While I was in this gushy mood I thought I’d do a vlogpost, thinking it would be easier to convey via talking, but that didn’t really happen. I don’t think I actually said anything I was meaning to but hey, time constraints put on me never do me any favours, hence why I always hated examinations lol (and due to being rushed I can't add annotations that may be would fill in some of the gaps from my brain that my mouth left out lol sorry). I did however include some arty time just as a reward in case you choose to watch this rambly mess, including a new Sharpie technique discovery…of sorts lol

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, see you on the other side of Christmas

Happy Holidays To All

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Michelle Bukowski

Hello beautifuls, I hope your run up to the holidays is smooth, cool, calm and collected?? Yeah, me too :/ ...cest le vie, but we still have one week (she says trying to make that sound like a long rather than short time lol). I'm thinking this will be the last TAT before Christmas, given that the next will be Christmas Eve and we'll all be still running around like crazy people (except more so with that 'one day left' feeling). Then the week after it will be New Years Eve so I'm thinking I'll do as I did last year and pick it up in the new year, so till then enjoy the last TAT of 2013 eeeek!

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.

My name is Michelle Bukowski and I live in Nashville, TN. I’ve been here six and a half years and I’m on staff at a large private university. I am fortunate that my position allows me to be use my creativity on a daily basis (I am the social media coordinator for our school among other things). I have been an artist as far back as I can remember. My first love, photography, was a gift from my dad. I think the first camera he gave me was a 110 (I guess I’m dating myself). I used to love to go shooting (photos) with him. Painting was another favorite medium. As a young child, I recall watching my mom getting out her acrylic paints and creating works of art. I even remember being inspired by a book called “Painting With Elke Sommer” and copying her painting style. A little over 3 years ago, my dad passed away unexpectedly. For about a year, I was in a bit of a fog; I felt like my creativity was zapped. But as time wore on, I started feeling itchy. I needed to do something. I discovered mixed media and art journaling. It was, in part I believe, my salvation. And maybe the final gift I’ll receive from my dad. I primarily use acrylic paints but also dabble with watercolors (I avoid oil because I don’t have the patience for it to dry) and I utilize a lot of recycled materials. I create canvases out of snack boxes or cardboard boxes. I love creating tools out of recycled materials; for example, I hand cut stencils using discarded chip-board that my husband gets at work. I utilize bubble wrap, lids of every size, old batteries, corks and (my favorite) old gift cards as pallet knives. All my “tools” are used to create rich backgrounds. Finally, I use all types of recycled papers to create the focus of each piece.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I face is not allowing stress and anxiety to affect my creativity. My desire is always there, but getting passed the stress is something I find difficult. One way I’ve learned to overcome this is a tip from artist Dina Wakley. She suggests starting with a creative practice. For example, using shipping tags and adding color to get your juices flowing. I also find allowing myself some grace a helpful mental practice. Realizing that some days it’s better to stop than trying to force the project saves me a lot of frustration and time. 

What advice would you offer to any perspective new artist?
Don’t get upset when things don’t turn out the way you pictured them in your head. Sometimes they turn out better; sometimes you cover it all with gesso and start over. Don’t compare yourself to others. Your talents are unique to you. Always create for yourself. Art is subjective and not everyone will like what you’re creating. And that is ok. As long as you like it, keep doing it. 

What is your heart’s greatest desire for your life as an artist?
I want to create a welcoming space where I can help people realize their inner artist and creative capabilities. I’d love to help people develop creative practices they can use in their everyday lives. I hear people say they’re not artistic but I believe we all have a creative spark inside. Sometimes we just need help finding it. Creativity for some may be less obvious: the ability to be a good leader or a fantastic public speaker is just as creative as being able to put paint down on paper. I’d love to have a creative co-op with space for workshops and of course an area for my own work.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

You can find me on my blog. I post most Saturdays and I usually show my work in progress so you get an idea of how my pieces take shape from start to finish. I am also on Pinterest.

Thank you tons for sharing Michelle. I love that you connect your art with your Dad in such a precious way and that he is part of this journey with you.

I agree with all your advice to new artists, but also with the creative practice to get the juices flowing and I want to pick up on that because thinking of what you're doing as 'just warm up' can really help release the pressure sometimes. I really believe in it, to the point where I keep a couple of journals just specifically for that (which I may eventually get around to sharing one of these days...though right now I can think nothing but 'Holidays' lol).

Do you want to be featured in an interview here?

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Brie Minar

Hello beauties, very inspiring TAT post for you today - you're going to want to read all of this, I promise...so I'll lead straight into it, enjoy =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
Hi there! My name is Brie. I’m 32 year old Texas girl, and I graduated from Texas A&M University. No, I don’t have a horse, and I detest American football. (Just to get that out there) What kind of artist am I? That’s a tougher one. For several years, I would correct anyone who called me an artist. I’d introduce myself as a crafter, since much of what I was doing fit more into the craft genre, and so I didn’t consider it to be actual artist. Then someone corrected me – if I’d bought a kit and put things together, that would be a craft. I was pulling things together with no instruction besides my own inspiration to create something – therefore, it was definitively Art. Given that definition, I do a lot of Art. From doodles to painting to cutting snowflakes, no paper is safe around me. I make polymer clay figurines, beads, and trinkets to use on my mixed-media canvases. I do nail art. I make jewelry – earrings, wire-wrapped rings, beaded barefoot sandals, bracelets. I love buttons & use them in pretty much anything. I guess ‘mixed media’ would be the best generalization? And I do love mixed media, but it’s only one of the things I make. My hobby, I think, is collecting new hobbies.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
I’m a college-educated Type A personality – and a housewife. Believe me when I say I never saw myself here. If I’d decided to stay home to raise my children, I’d be totally ok with the situation… but I don’t have kids. Instead, I have MS. I was out of college, married, and moving up the chain of management in a big company when I started having weird symptoms that landed me in the hospital. First I had bouts of Optic Neuritis which left me temporarily blind, then with permanent degraded color vision. I also had an almost total loss of manual dexterity, balance, and muscle control. Within the space of a year I went from a “normal” life to wearing diapers and using a wheelchair. 2007 was not a good year. Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, my symptoms have been severely lessened. I can walk again, though I use a cane when I’m outside the house. A lot of time retraining my brain to make my hands do what I want them to means I can do fiddly-little fine motor tasks again, like beading – just not for long. Changing tasks seems to help a lot, and I’ve been assured that doing art is just about the best thing I can possibly do for a brain that’s destroying itself. By practicing hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity tasks, coupled with creating new things, its reinforcing existing damaged neural pathways and making new ones. As far as I’m concerned, this is the best Physical Therapy ever! I can’t work anymore, and I’m receiving Disability assistance. Believe me, there’s so much pride swallowing involved in that for me it just hurt. I assuage myself in that the Disability payments through the government I earned by the money I put into it for years. Also, the fact that the amount of money I get each year almost covers the cost of my insurance & prescriptions – and that’s it. My husband is supporting me, and my government is helping me treat the handicap. And when I can make art, I can feel like I’m contributing again. 

 
What is your greatest personal achievement either in your art, or because of it?
Getting back up and trying to see what I COULD still do made all the difference in the world. I started playing with all the craft supplies I’d amassed over the years and moved into mixed media. I’ve picked up enough new ‘mini-hobbies’ over the years (and I have packrat tendencies, so I still have all the supplies for them) to make an impressive craft hoard, and jumped into mixed media with horns a-blaring - and in so doing reclaimed my interest in getting out of bed. Slowly, and with persistence & practice, I’m regaining a decent amount of fine motor dexterity in my fingers. It’s nearly back to normal now, most days. I’ve regained the ability to distinguish colors, though everything is somewhat muted, as with seeing color through smoked glass. From always being drawn to neutrals and subtle shade differences, a switch was flipped to being drawn to bright, eye-catching neons and glitters. Where my favorite colors used to be muted moss greens and rich mahogany browns, it’s now the in-your-face glowing snot greens and anything with glitter. And I’m making something – Anything – every day. Sometimes it’s a flop. Sometimes, it goes on the walls in my house. And lately, at the urging of friends & family, it’s listed on Etsy. To date, I’ve made one sale. And I don’t care, because it’s fun. And I can pretend, to myself at least, that I’m participating in this whole ‘part of the economy’ thing. And it’s so much more fulfilling than watching a movie for the hundredth time, or sleeping. There are days I can’t get out of bed. And while I know they’re going to be more frequent and more severe as time goes by, for now, I’ve got something to do on days I can’t get up. I plan. I put ideas together from the things I’ve made or seen or heard about, and jot them all down, and the next good day I have a whole list of ideas to choose from

Do you ever lose your mojo, and if so, how do you get it back?
I periodically go through phases where I’m frustrated with myself. Unsurprisingly, they usually correspond with times I’m physically not doing well. It can be hard to get excited about getting up to do anything when you hurt. It can turn into a vicious cycle if I let it get going strongly: Hurt, so stay in bed; staying in bed means nothing gets done; getting nothing done makes me feel useless. This in turn feeds the pain, and ‘round and ‘round we go. I’m still learning where the balancing point is for myself, how much pain I can deal with before resorting to taking medication that will knock out pain, but also put me to sleep. And don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a good sleep! But after a while, it gets old. So I’m finding a middle ground to knock pain back to discomfort, which in turn lets me find something to focus on to take my mind off physical feedback. I can then get involved enough in the creative process that it’s all I’m focused on. And when I need reminding, I just flip through my art journal and see that there are still blank pages, and I still have things to say.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?
I have a nail art blog that I update sporadically, and have posted a few tutorial videos on YouTube also with the handle nailsbybrie. The jewelry & baubles I’m making I’m posting on Etsy, at the repeated urging of friends & family. The name (MindlessLuminary) comes from the whole idea of my having a shop. Mindless, because I’m kind of literally losing my mind, and Luminary to show that even in a dark place, you can find –or be-- a light to guide the way. Thanks for listening to me ramble. Now go do art!

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us Brie  - if this interview doesn't touch everyone that reads it, and make them admire you for your perseverance in doing what you love, I'd be very shocked indeed. As it is you represent a valuable lesson to us all I think, and I for one and now inspired to go off to do art - well kinda, I am on a lil full-blown art break so it'll be in my own finding-a-solution-to-a-problem-by-hitting-the-recycling-bin-way, but it's all creativity ;) wish me luck, if I shall succeed in my plans I shall do a post about it xoxo

Want your art here... ???

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

Take a Break...From Art! ~ Coffee Chat Vlog

Hi guys, so there's been ch-ch-ch-changes happening lately to me and my artful practice. There are multiple reasons for this, though perhaps it's somewhat more exhausting looking at the root of all the causes, rather than just going along with what's happening and making it right for you. If you have been a follower of mine for any length of time you may know I 100% believe in following your gut. I do it in my art, and I do it in my life. And I am doing so right now. 

While I know I have many people wanting me to be 'on it, on it, on it' in terms of art, so they get some inspiration for their art (and that they may be the people worried by this vlog that that's gonna seize up) fear not, I'm not going anywhere...and I don't want you taking from this vlog that I am! I am simply being who I am, and from that can only ever come good things!

It may mean I physically put less paint to paper right now but who know what progress it will make me do in the future? - but one thing is for certain, it WILL make me progress. Being truthful to yourself and following your gut down your own path may not be a path of least resistance in terms of society, or what other people may expect of you, but it is a path of least resistance towards yourself...and from that can only come peace, and growth. So I see anything I am doing at the moment as growth in my art too, aren't I and it one and the same after all? Changes in ourselves reflect changes in our art whether we like it to, or intended it to, or not. 

This is quite a ranty vlog I feel, still isn't that what a vlog is? It is the most personal I have done & explains my headspace right now...though I already feeling it changing back into art ~ as you might imagine it would lol ;)