The winner of this week’s Simon Sez challenge is Vikki King. Alma Lee had requested a trip back to the 1960’s with her theme. She explained her reasons for choosing Vikki’s entry thus… “Oh let’s face it, the entries are all so (groovimus)! I have so enjoyed this nostalgic trip. In the pursuit of art with a reason, the lyrics from Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction “What are we fighting for?” so quickly came to my mind. “Soldier of Peace” by Vikki King so poignantly answers the question and illustrates the magical and monumental struggles of the ’60’s decade. No matter which side of the debate you were/are on, all any of us ever wanted was… Peace, Man, PEACE.”

Soldier Of Peace - Vikki King

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 Vikki! We look forward to your turn as Simon.

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This month’s featured gallery is Fibre Art. The fibre arts involve creating art with fibre. It sounds neat and simple, but the fibre arts are so varied that it is like saying that there are fish in the sea; it’s hardly an adequate description. Fibre art includes spinning and weaving. Also quilting and collage. It encompases sculpture and apparel and felting and more. Fibre art is any piece of art made with fibre and it’s application is almost endless.

Garden At Dusk - Merry Havens

Merry Havens

I’m a person who has always felt that art is not only a work of beauty, but a statement about one’s culture and personal life.  It can be SO expressive.

Fiber art in particular is attractive because it draws you (me) in with its texture, its 3D allure, its “please touch me” appeal.  It can tell a story or it can just be visually interesting.

As a science and math teacher, I try to see if I can communicate something about our world sometimes; as in my endangered species pieces, or putting the art in a “golden mean” size, or maybe say something about the universe as in my “string theory” piece.

It has become an addictive part of my life, and I must say, a nice addiction. – Merry Havens

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Own it today!

Meadow Princess Notecard Print by Pam Tanzey

Fused Fairy Pendant by Dianne McGhee

Orchid Faerie by Lindsay E Cheesewright

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Have an Etsy Store? Are you a member of EBSQ? Want to see your art in the blog featured with Team EBSQ-Etsy? If you answered yes then join us!

Voting has opened for the next 12 months of theme for the monthly showcases so be sure to get your voice heard. Anyone can vote (artists and patrons) all you need is an EBSQ forum account!

118 stores and growing strong! Get listed with us today!

Kris Jean,

Mod – Team EBSQ-Etsy

This week’s Simon is Alma Lee and her theme for Simon Sez is The 1960’s. Alma presented her theme like this – “1960’s were a time of change. Where radicals had a reason and love was of the highest order. Hippies danced in daisy speckled fields long after the establishment cried “experiment failed”. I am craving a cause, a reason, a statement, a time when art and music did more than decorate your house or tinkle in your ear while in the elevator. So Simon says the 60’s, whether it be art, photography, fashion, cars, signs or idealism. Get radical and let me have it! Sad as it is this is the only thing I have to show you. That is why I want to see what you’ve got!”

Alma Lee

All Simon Sez challenges are open to everyone. To enter Simon Sez… The 60’s 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!

The winner of this week’s Simon Sez challenge is Alma Lee.  Lisa Miller had presented a patriotic themed challenge for her turn as Simon. When she chose Alma’s, she was to the point and said “Congrats Alma, absolutely gorgeous!”

American Eagle - Alma Lee

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 Alma! 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 week’s Featured Friday store is run by Barbara Haviland.

Barbara’s oil paintings are quite lovely.  She switches between subjects like florals, landscapes, beaches and animals. She is a self taught artist and has been at it for 33 years. My personal favorite is the first of the three samples shown above (White Abstract Morning Glories) – She’s also a fellow Texas Artist (Howdy!)

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Have an Etsy Store? Are you a member of EBSQ? Want to see your art in the blog featured with Team EBSQ-Etsy? If you answered yes then join us!

Voting has opened for the next 12 months of theme for the monthly showcases so be sure to get your voice heard. Anyone can vote (artists and patrons) all you need is an EBSQ forum account!

118 stores and growing strong! Get listed with us today!

Kris Jean,

Mod – Team EBSQ-Etsy

hosted by EBSQ Self-Representing Artists and Kari Tirrell
Monday, July 13th at 9pm Eastern (6pm Pacific)
EBSQ Chat Room

Buzz and Baby - Kari Tirrell

Soft pastels are the purest form of painting material available. They are made from pure pigment, with just enough binder to form the pigment into a usable stick. I love their brilliance and intensity of color, but it is the immediacy of soft pastels that has made them my favorite medium. During my LIVE presentation, I will demonstrate my process of painting, step-by-step from start to finish.

About the presenter:
Kari Tirrell is a self-taught artist living in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Please Make a Note of the Time by your Zone:

• Pacific 6 pm
• Mountain 7 pm
• Central 8 pm
• Eastern 9 pm
• Or look your time-zone up.

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!

1) Experiment, experiment, experiment Natasha got started with experimentation. In 2005, she began video blogging and saw that people responded to her content. Afterward, she got interested in MySpace and Facebook. With almost 5,000 followers, she has now become an avid Twitter user.

Experimentation helps you keep up with changing industry landscapes. As Ben Rowe commented on Natasha’s Mashable post, “Twitter mightn’t be the silver bullet for all artists. A blog, Flickr or Etsy page might not be either. But the artists who are out there trying these new tools are already miles ahead of the artists who aren’t.”

2) Set time for social media Make sure you are not overusing the social networking sites. “I try to set a time everyday to check all my different networks,” said Natasha. Twice a day, after waking up and before going to bed, she checks her Twitter replies. That helps her avoid habitually overusing the tool.

Read more at Hubspot blog . . .

Vote now for your favourite art in June’s four outstanding EBSQ Art Exhibits:
 

Macro Bug Photography

Vote from now until 12:01am on 7/8/2009

They are the most diverse group of life forms on the planet. They make up over half of the living things on Earth. They are everywhere yet … more

Tattoos: Designs for and Depictions of

Vote from now until 12:01am on 7/8/2009

Tattoos used to be associated with sailors and bad boys. They were scandalous and the people who had them were looked at as somewhat beyond … more

One Word Concept: Malice

Vote from now until 12:01am on 7/8/2009

This month’s word: MALICE Unlike our traditional EBSQ exhibits which are very structured, the point of EBSQ “one word concepts” is to … more

Flower of the Month: Foxglove

Vote from now until 12:01am on 7/8/2009

This month’s flower theme: Digitalis purpurea better known as Common Foxglove. Any and all media are eligible. We strongly recommend all … more

And please consider supporting all of these fantastic participating artists by chipping in toward each show award; 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Member’s Choice winner to be selected by YOU!