This month’s featured gallery is Fantasy Art and it is one of our most-populous and popular galleries at EBSQ.  The artists that are drawn to this genre take the fanciful images and stories that live within them and share them with everyone. Throughout October, we are going to take a few moments to catch up with some of EBSQ’s fantasy artists.

Carmen Keys

Strangely Familiar - Carmen Keys

I love to create whimsical and fantastical art that speaks to the childlike part of us all that looks on small and simple things with wonder.  I am a Christian and my inspiration is always from the beauty, innocence, love, glory, and endless creativity of God.  His creation is a constant source of imagery for my paintings, as I love to draw things from the natural world like plants, animals, and people in a fantastical/imaginative way.  Imagination is a wonderful gift, and it has a way of connecting with others’ hopes and dreams like nothing else does. – Carmen Keys

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This month’s featured gallery is Fantasy Art and it is one of our most-populous and popular galleries at EBSQ.  The artists that are drawn to this genre take the fanciful images and stories that live within them and share them with everyone. Throughout October, we are going to take a few moments to catch up with some of EBSQ’s fantasy artists.

Jasmine Ann Becket-Griffith

Pet Trilobite - Jasmine Ann Becket-Griffith

“I’ve always been drawn to fantasy, whimsy, escapism, nature, dreams, etc.  Maybe it’s my overactive imagination, or perhaps it’s just my general dissatisfaction with a lot of the mundane world, but in my artwork I generally incorporate some sort of fantasy element into each piece.  Sometimes it’s addicting – I just can’t paint a girl – I have to add wings.  I can’t just paint a still life – I have to put a tiny mermaid in there.  I can’t paint a landscape without sneaking in a dragon.  Basically (even though I include a lot of realism in my work) I paint the world how I’d like it to look, rather than how it actually does look.” – Jasmine Ann Becket-Griffith

Like what you see here?  We hope you’ll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!

Own it today!

Crystal Christmas Tree Earrings

by Beaded Heron

Christmas Vintage Jewelry Mosaic Mirror

Winter Berry Fused Glass Set

Amanda Makepeace is the winner of Simon Sez… Reflections! Patricia Lee Christensen – Simon for last week’s Simon Sez, chose Amanda’s photograph because of it’s “great composition and feeling”. She said “I love the subtle misty reflections in the back of the pool and the sky reflection in the foreground.”

Roman Baths, Bath, England - Amanda Makepeace

If you want keep up with Simon Sez, be sure to go to the EBSQ Forum and check Challenge Central. Challenge Central is the place to check on current and past Simon Sez challenges – complete with all the entries, as well as all other EBSQ Challenges.

Congratulations Amanda! We look forward to your turn as Simon.

Like what you see here?  We hope you’ll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!

This weeks Featured Friday store is run by Dianne McGhee.

Dianne creates cute little pendants that are hand painted fused glass. She also helps out her husband, by creating pendants featuring prints of his drawings. Her pendants showcase her whimsical characters and flowers. She is currently running a promotion offering a free print a week (see her website for details)

Please welcome our newest member Catherine Darling Hostetter who runs cathydarling.

Let the posting begin! This month is warm color as our theme. If you have some artwork that fits that theme or would like to create something new please be sure to post it!! If you are not yet a member of Team EBSQ-Etsy you can join us here.

Kris Jean – Mod Team EBSQ-Etsy

Own it today!

Polymer Clay Brooch #18

Fall Angel ACEO

Remains of the Dragon Print

Would you like your art featured? Join Team EBSQ-Etsy today!

This week’s Simon is EBSQ artist Amanda Makepeace. The theme she chose for her turn as Simon is shadows. Amanda put her request this way: “The new challenge is SHADOWS! Open to paintings, drawings, photography…you name it. Since I was a bit slow realizing I won the last challenge (slaps head now) I will keep this one open till midnight on Monday 9th November.”

Thanks to @EBSQ for the idea! Here’s my contribution to get us all started.

Amanda Makepeace

All Simon Sez challenges are open to everyone. To enter Simon Sez… Shadows! and to see  the all the entries,  simply go to the EBSQ Forum, find Member Groups, Challenges & General Art Discussions and then go to Challenge Central. All the challenges past and present – including Simon Sez, can be found there.

Like what you see here?  We hope you’ll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!

This month’s featured gallery is Artistic Nudes. The nude is a classic subject for artists and is of endless fascination and challenge. There are many types of nudes, in all degrees of undress and all manner of poses. Some are intended to make a statement, some are part of a story and some are just a celebration of the human form.

Aja

Just Wanna Be - Aja

My work has predominantly encompassed the subject matter of the nude ever since 2003 when I was pregnant with my son. Pregnancy felt to me like an invasion and a loss of identity. This mass growing inside of me, pushing my stomach outward, the object of strangers pawing and prying…a loss of self. I’m aware of how that sounds, and don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade being a mother for the world, but the pregnancy part really put me in a strange place. Like, I hadn’t fully gotten to know myself and now, I must get to know this little being even before I have laid eyes on him…Even surmising “how he’s doing” to satiate strangers and their relentless questions at grocery checkout lines seemed so peculiar to me, since I knew he was fine, while I on the other hand carried quite a burden. I didn’t have much of an outlet for this. Wasn’t even sure *how* to go about addressing it, since, even the mere mention that a pregnant mother might not be enjoying every single moment of such a “joyous” time instantly paints horns on ones head and places a pitchfork in one’s hand and the demon that is the uncomfortable, not quite so “glowing” matron gets holes burned through her maternity garb by the same strangers asking to “touch” her bulging belly….

So, I painted. My first real attempt was aptly titled “In Utero”, a woman suspended in painterly viscosity mimicking the bottom of an unclean pool…it grew from there. With each painting I get to know myself a little bit more. It’s me. Bare. Exposed. Much like I felt standing in line at countless check outs. Sitting in class barely able to fit between the seat and the desk. Standing in front of the world silently screaming that I had a voice too.

In short, each nude is a therapist. And I’m cool with that. – Aja

Like what you see here?  We hope you’ll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!

This weeks Featured Friday store is run by Renie Britenbucher.

Renie’s art is surreal, colorful, and full of whimsy! Her bright vivid colors and fluid shapes just make you want to smile.  This artwork definately will bring new life to a drab dark wall! Her Etsy store is full of original works and prints of masterpieces past.

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Please show some love to our newest member: Jaime Zatloukal Best who runs bestartstudios2.

The winner of Simon Sez… Shadows! is Muriel Areno. Amanda Makepeace – Simon for last week’s Simon Sez, said this of Muriel’s photograph: “I really can’t explain it, but the combination of the shadows of the bowls and the sunlight hitting the wall captivated me! Yay!”

Back Porch, Early Morning - Muriel Areno

If you want keep up with Simon Sez, be sure to go to the EBSQ Forum and check Challenge Central. Challenge Central is the place to check on current and past Simon Sez challenges – complete with all the entries, as well as all other EBSQ Challenges.

Congratulations Muriel! We look forward to your turn as Simon.

Like what you see here?  We hope you’ll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!