Emerald City Swag

November Artist of the Month: Lisa Walker

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 01:53:00 +0000

Lisa Walker's art is passionate, eccentric, and just different (unique and original). During her interview below, she mentions enjoying artist like Khara Oxier and Louis Vuittonet describing them as "Outsider artists". I understand why she relates to these artist and why her pieces stand out to me. As a writer, I usually have to ponder what I'm going to write about and do edit after edit until I get it right. Lisa lets her creativity take over when she puts pen to paper, paint to canvas. Lisa, also known as CraftyHippiechick to her fans, is a local artist from Detroit, MI. She is admired for her Icad pieces and her mixed media journaling. It is with sheer joy that I present her as Emerald City Swag's November Artist of the Month.

Smile: What is your name/artist name and where are you from?

Lisa: My name is Lisa Walker but on also on Instagram as CraftyHippiechick. I also have a Facebook art page by that name.

Smile: How do you describe your art and where does your inspiration come from?

Lisa: I would describe my art as intuitive or raw and my inspiration comes from whatever shows up for me when I lay down paint and paper.

Smile: What is the first piece that you remember creating and at what age?

Lisa: the first piece I remember creating I was about 5 or 6 and kindergarten I made a tree and it had tissue paper leaves and I can still see that tree. I can still see the orange yellow and green leaves and the teacher hung it up in the classroom. The next piece that I remember creating I was about 7 or 8 being in the third grade and I created a landscape with hills and a setting sun.

Smile: I know that you have 3 grown children and art kind of runs in your family, was it second nature nurturing their artist abilities as they were growing up?

Lisa: Yes, when my kids were growing up we would do arts and crafts projects. We made dolls out of clothes pins and I always had coloring books and crayons for them.

Smile: If you could pick one place where your work could be shown, where would it be?

Lisa: I can only pick one place lol. I guess it would be in an art gallery or museum like the MoMA.

Smile: Being from Detroit, what do you think about the street art scene that's erupting in the city?

Lisa: I love it! The art scene is bringing so much talent and vitality to the city and bringing positivity to the city I think it's great.

Smile: Tell me more about yourself and what you like to do beside being an awesome artist.

Lisa: Well , for my day job I'm a special education paraprofessional. I love movies, books , dancing and spending time with family and friends.

Smile: Now on to the most important question, lol, well to me at least. Besides loving art, I'm a major foodie & bookworm. What type of food is your favorite? What's the most recent book that you have read?

Lisa: My favorite food is Italian or lumpia (hint hint). The book that I am reading now is The life-changing magic of tidying up :the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing by Marie Kondo. Hopefully once I complete reading this book I'll be able to be neat and tidy. keep my fingers crossed.

Smile: What form of art would you like to be better at? What type of art would you like to do more besides painting?

Lisa: would like to get better at realistic drawing. Making my people look more like quote unquote real people and the art that I would like to try is assemblage or sculpture.

Smile: Do you have a favorite piece that you have created? If so, what is it and why?

Lisa: Favorite? Hmmm, let me think. A piece called "Little Girl Lost" I really like. Also a piece titled "Outsiders' Hamlet". The styles are different. Little girl is full of emotion..her eyes tell a story. Outsiders' because a couple of different techniques were involved.

Smile: Do you have any artist (past or present) that you admire and why?

Lisa: The list of artists that I admire is very loooong. I like Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh. They are the classics what you will call the Masters. I also enjoy Khara Oxier and Louis Vuittonet. They are Outsider artists.

Smile: What do you think is the hardest obstacles that artist face in the industry today?

Lisa: Maybe the hardest obstacle is getting noticed. I know this may seem like an oxymoron with all the social media that's available( Instagram, Facebook , Twitter and the like ) that does make your art more visible. Now that art is more readily available how do you get yours to stand out? to be noticed? Does that make sense?

Smile: Yes, it does. I think overall, art is a hard industry to break into. But with social media, it's not that your art doesn't stand out, I think it's more being able to promote your pieces in all avenues and having time to do so. Next question, What is your biggest accomplishment as an artist so far? And what's the biggest goal you have for yourself as an artist?

Lisa: My biggest accomplishment so far I guess was having a couple of my pieces sell it and being interviewed for this article. The biggest goal I have is to make a living as a full-time artist.

Smile: What artist would you really like to collaborate with and why?

Lisa: I would love to collaborate with Mystele Kirkeeng (YouTube) because I think we work very similarly.

Smile: Last questions, where can we find your art work to purchase? And is there anything else you would like the audience to know?

Lisa: I'm looking at avenues to have my art for sale, hopefully I'll have a website soon. Please stop by my art page at https://www.facebook.com/craftyhippichick.

Smile: Lisa, you have been wonderful. Thanks for giving us an interview and I am glad that we are able to feature your work this month. I look forward to seeing more of your art and best to you and your future!

Detroit Artist, Lisa Walker

All images in the above post belong to the artist, please respect copy right laws. Click on the images to visit Lisa's site. Thank you.

September Artist of the Month: Katherine Hofacker

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 17:34:00 +0000

In the past, I have had the privilege in featuring mixed media artist that are truly brilliant. But, I have a very strong opinion that every artist is unique and you honestly see it in their work. For the month of September, I was delighted to stumble upon Ann Arbor Art Fair's 2015 featured artist Katie Hofacker on The Guild. I was surfing the web to find local art festivals during the summer to expand my search for talented artist beyond social media. Unfortunately, at the time I did the search, I just missed the festivities and Katie's exhibit. What a bummer! However, that didn't stop me. I was so enchanted by her pieces, that I searched for her contact info and e-mailed her about being featured on ECS. She accepted, I smiled like a Cheshire cat and pumped my fist up with joy. Reader, you'll understand my excitement once you've scrolled down to observe her art yourself. Her mixed media involves a process called photo transfer which I find super cool and I believe makes her art look like you are looking at vintage illustrations of a fantasy novel. Then she adds her acrylic paint colors in there and the intricate details, (the details! Katie is really good at) the images really come together. From Katie's website she explains,

"Photo transfers, acrylic paint, and resin allow me to create work that seems like a throwback to a time before photoshop, when photos were manipulated by hand. This technique is accomplished by collecting images from a wide array of sources and recombining them into my own surreal landscapes. I sometimes use up to 50 different transfers to create a single piece of art. In this manner, I am an appropriation artist"

So reader, I impore you, take the time to jump into Katie's art work and get to know Katie in her ECS interview. I have no doubt that you'll appreciate them like I have.

Smile: What is your name/artist name and where are you from?

Katie: My name is Katie Hofacker, and I grew up in a rural area just outside Port Clinton, Ohio. I currently live a bit North of Columbus, Ohio.

Smile: How do you describe your art and where does your inspiration come from?

Katie: It recently occurred to me that my art is very surreal, which came as a surprising realization because I've never really identified myself as a surrealist artist. Most of my paintings have a story behind them. Rat Race was created in the last year of my teaching career. I respect teachers and what they do immensely, but I slowly came to realize during the course of my ten years of teaching that making a switch to becoming a full time artist was necessary. In Rat Race, I am the tiny man staring off into the vastness (my teaching job) and the balloons represent my happiness (being a full time artist), floating just out of reach.

Smile: Can you educate me more on the process of photo transfers and what else you do to create your art? It is so fascinating to me, it's like a whole different type of fantasy world. Kind of like jumping into a book.

Katie: I am always looking for new techniques to incorporate into my mixed media paintings. I use many techniques, such as thinning and "breaking" the paint with rubbing alcohol, using crackle mediums, and photo transfers. Photo transfers are wonderful because there is no limit to what you can create. The process involves using a gel medium to transfer just the ink of a laser jet print. The printed image is applied to the gel gloss, and the paper is rubbed away using water, leaving only the ink of the print behind.

Smile: What is the first piece that you remember creating and at what age?

Katie: Oh wow. That's a tough question because I can't remember NOT creating art. My mother is an artist so I was encouraged artistically at a very young age. I guess the first recognized piece of art I made was in first grade. The school I went to had a contest among the students, and the winner had their artwork used on the cover of the school play program. Mine won, and my mom has the original drawing framed and hanging up, still to this day.

Smile: You mentioned that you are doing your art full time now, which is amazing! Do you miss teaching? What area did you teach?

Katie: I am still teaching a bit. I teach about 3 classes a month, at some local shops and at a wonderful maker space in Columbus, called the Columbus Idea Foundry. I teach classes on the various processes I use in my own art. My previous teaching was in a public school, in the area of special ed. I think I will always love teaching art, but I don't regret my choice to leave my full time teaching career to pursue art. It was a necessary change to keep my soul healthy and happy. I am an artist at heart.

Smile: If you could pick one place where your work could be shown, where would it be?

Katie: Somewhere public and free. I've had this idea to make tiny paintings and hang them in a tree at a local park. People could come by and just take one, if they like. Now I just need the time to make all those tiny paintings!

Smile: If you can travel anyplace in the world for inspiration, where would that be and why?

Katie: I love traveling and used to travel a bit, before I had my son. I'm drawn to places that aren't overly occupied by tourists. I also love places where the weather is overcast most of the time. Outside the U.S., I've really been wanting to check out Russia. In the US, it'd have to be Alaska.

Smile: Tell me more about yourself and what you like to do beside being an awesome artist.

Katie: I'm married to a chef, which is great because I'm a terrible cook. We have one son, who will be 5 in December. We also have three cats who are our fur babies. I enjoy taking care of my plants, reading, refinishing furniture, and going on adventures with my son. I also love a great bottle of wine!

Smile: Now on to the most important question, lol, well to me at least. Besides loving art, I'm a major foodie & bookworm. What type of food is your favorite? What's the most recent book that you have read?

Katie: I love Agedashi Tofu. There is an awesome local Japanese restaurant that serves a killer version. I also love any kind of cheese, even Limburger! As far as books, Charles Bukowski is my hero. I'm just finishing up one of his books, Notes of a Dirty Old Man. I try to read him sparingly, though, and savor it, since he is no longer with us.

Smile: What form of art would you like to be better at? What type of art would you like to do more?

Katie: I remember being in art school, and doing so well at still life painting. Then we had to paint a portrait and I suddenly had no idea what to do! It's like I had no ground under my feet. I'm still terrible at that. I have a friend who does amazing portraiture and I can't begin to comprehend how he does it. And he makes it look so easy! If I could do a type of art more, it would have to be more experimentation with art. I sometimes feel like I've got this re pie for creating art, and it uses 5 certain steps that always remain the same. And I'm always busy working on a commission, or getting art ready for an art fest, that I don't have time to explore more new concepts. I've recently been pushing myself more to try some new techniques though.

Smile: Do you have a favorite piece that you have created? If so, what is it and why?

Katie: It seems like I'm always drawn to my latest piece, I think because that's the most recent part of my life that I've worked through. My art is really personal to me, and frequently my life shows up in my art. It's therapeutic.

Smile: Do you have any artist (past or present) that you admire and why?

Katie: I love Julien Pacuad. He is a French artist who creates his pieces digitally. His work has been described as Polaroids taken from the future. He works by taking vintage advertisements and recombining them digitally. I promised myself I would buy one of his pieces after I did my first big art festival. It hangs on my wall and I am honored to get to see it up close and personal every day. I think I love his work so much because I can see echoes of my own work in his. I hope one day to be working at the same level of artistry as him.

Smile: What do you think is the hardest obstacles that artist face in the industry today?

Katie: For me it's trying to balance personal life with creating art. As an artist there are no set schedules so knowing when to quit for the day or to take time out of your day, away from making art, can be hard. The level of work required to make it as an artist can be staggering and I'm not sure people are always prepared for that. It can become consuming so finding a balance between creating and having a life outside of that can be challenging.

Smile: What is your biggest accomplishment as an artist so far? And what's the biggest goal you have for yourself as an artist?

Katie: Being asked to be the featured artist at the 2015 Ann Arbor summer art fair was one of the most memorable moments of my artistic career so far. It gave me the courage to leave my job as a teacher and pursue art full-time. My goal is to continue improving artistically and to see my dream of being a person who can support herself and contribute to the family while living as a full time artist. It's also important to me to continue teaching art techniques to others and encourage them to continue making art.

Smile: Any big events coming up that we should know about?

Katie: I will be at the Peoria art fest at the end of September. You can find me there in booth number 134. I will also be at the St. James art fest in the beginning of October. I will be in the Fourth Street section in booth number 604.

Smile: What artist would you really like to collaborate with, who and why?

Katie: Well, I guessI would have to say Kafka, Lou Reed or Charles Bukowski. I've painted pictures of beetles connected to hot air balloons that were inspired by the Metamorphosis, and when I found out that Lou Reed had passed away I painted Perfect Day as a sort of tribute to him. Bukowski seems to always speak sort of truth to me, like he really knew what was going on and was sharing some of that infinite wisdom in his writing. I think it would be so cool to hang out with these guys and be privileged enough to illustrate some of their wonderful writing.

Smile: Last questions, where can we find your art work to purchase? And is there anything else you would like the audience to know?

Katie: You can find my artwork on Etsy, and at my artist website which iswww.katiehofackerart.com. If I had to leave the audience with any inspiring message it would be to get out there and do what it is you've always been dreaming of doing. You've just got this one life and you don't want to leave it with any regrets.

Smile: Katie, you have been wonderful. Thanks for giving us an interview and I am glad that we are able to feature your work this month. I look forward to seeing more of your art and best to you and your future!

Ohio Artist, Katie Hofacker

All images in the above post belong to the artist, please respect copy right laws. Click on the images to visit Katie's site. Thank you.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 13:24:00 +0000

August Artist of the Month: Amber Favre

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

ECS proudly presents another fellow Washingtonian, Amber Favre, as our August Artist of the Month. What attracted me to Amber's art was her bold and vibrant colors (do you see a trend in my taste in art?) as I scrolled through Instagram. Her paintings take your imagination to another place and lean toward more of an abstract style. I have to be quite frank with you, some of the abstract art out there just doesn't really speak to me, but Amber's did. Like I have said in the past, art brings out certain emotions and feelings inside of you. Everyone is different. I find myself looking at Amber's art for long periods of time waiting for it to come alive or for me to develop the ability to jump into the canvas. And yes, I do see the Northwest influences in her pieces; who wouldn't? She's another artist that makes me miss Seattle and it's beautiful surroundings. The rain, the bright autumn leaves, the cyclists, people walking in the parks with umbrellas, and just the colors that she uses make me feel like I'm at home.

After a serious car accident injury that kept her at home, Amber started really focusing on her art. She couldn't stop painting and eventually she had so many pieces that many were donated. The last 5 years she has been donating her amazing collection to silent auctions that have raised over $20K. She is very passionate about giving back to the community; besides donating her art, she is also on the board of directors of the American Red Cross. She is truly an inspiring artist and individual. She currently works for Sotheby's International Realty, a subsidiary of Sotheby's art auction house. If you don't already know, Sotheby's art auction house is one of the largest art auction houses in the world. Amber also mentions in her interview that they own the rights to Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. How awesome is that?!! Well, I think it's pretty cool.

So without further delay, I give you this month's featured artist of the month, Amber Favre!

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

Smile: What is your name/artist name and where are you from?

Amber: Amber Favre. From Seattle. Currently live in Woodinville WA.

Smile: How do you describe your art and where does your inspiration come from?

Amber: I would describe my art as whimsical and dream-like. I like to create images that are vague enough to create your own story as the viewer but that capture a feeling or a moment.

Smile: I completely have that connection with your art. I can picture myself hanging one of your pieces on the ceiling and dazing at it until it takes me somewhere wonderful. Did you go to Art School, if so, where? Do you think going to school for art helped you sharpen your skills?

Amber: I grew up taking art classes all through school however didn't take art seriously until I was in a car accident and was forced to stay home to recover and realized how important color and images were in your surroundings. I wasn't able to leave my home so craved vibrant colors and something that I could stare at that I could interpret based on how I was feeling. I ended up with so much art work that I started donating it to charities and they started selling for more than I would have thought. I continued to paint constantly and studied art, the Masters and felt that practicing as often as possible was the key to improving.

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

Smile: What is the first piece that you remember creating and at what age?

Amber: I've been drawing my whole life. I do remember entering an art contest at "Denny's" (lol) and winning first place and getting an art set as a prize. I went crazy after that.

Smile: It is refreshing to hear that you've kept your love for art alive, I think that important part of our abilities are put on the back burner by all the other daily things we have to do. I, myself, feel like I can't find the time to brush up on my art skills. If you could pick one place where your work could be shown, where would it be?

Amber: I would love a big show in New York. The energy there is just amazing.

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

Smile: Well, I believe that that will be in your future, your paintings are spectacular and deserve the recognition. Tell me more about your background and what you like to do beside being an awesome artist and a social media enthusiast.

Amber: I am on the Board of Directors at the American Red Cross and am passionate about giving back and being apart of the community. I have always worked in business and work in Real Estate which is something that I love. I work for Sotheby's International Realty which is owned by the Sotheby's art auction house (the largest art auction house in the world) and it is great to work for a company that supports my art (I currently have my art on the walls) and it's an added bonus that Sotheby's also owns the rights to Monet and Vincent Van Gogh! A few other things I love: Dogs, Family, Reading, Travel and spending time with my family.

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

Smile: You are inspiring! I am also a big supporter for nonprofit organizations and community based programs. One of my long term goals is to do missionary work out in the community and around the world. Thanks for your time and dedication to serving with the American Red Cross. So on to more personal things, what type of food and books are your favorite?

Amber: I love Mexican and Italian. I am an avid reader and like positive motivational books.

Smile: What form of art would you like to be better at? What type of art would you like to do more besides painting?

Amber: I love painting and that will be my life long focus. Other art that I appreciate is Art Glass, which I think is beautiful. Maybe someday I will try painting on glass.

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

Smile: Do you have a favorite piece that you have created? If so, what is it and why?

Amber: I have several paintings that are my favorite. They have since sold but "Changing Directions" and "A Shift in the Air" because they both represent a moment of change when all things are possible.

Smile: Do you have any artist (past or present) that you admire and why?

Amber: I love Van Gogh because he continued to paint and never wavered even when he wasn't selling. I also admire Cezanne, Monet and Pisarro.

Smile: Do you think it is harder to get exposure as an Artist in today's social media obsessed world because of the congestion or has it helped you promote your work easily?

Amber: It has helped to promote my work to a broader audience and to connect with other artists in all parts of the world. I feel it has been a great asset to my work.

Smile: What is your biggest accomplishment as an artist so far?

Amber: My biggest accomplishment is that donating my art to silent auctions over the last 5 years and that the art has raised over $20K for some great organizations.

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

Smile: Any big events coming up that we should know about?

Amber: There may be an art show coming up in the Fall but nothing set in stone yet. Every year I have several shows, so stay posted.

Smile: What artist would you really like to collaborate with, who and why?

Amber: Any of the Masters since they all worked as apprentices which I think is a dying art.

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

Smile: Last questions, where can we find your art work to purchase? And is there anything else you would like the audience to know?

Amber: The art is all available online at https://www.amberfavreart.com/ or direct through an art show.

Smile: Amber, it is so nice meeting you and I am glad that we are able to feature your work this month. I look forward to seeing more of your art and best to you and your future.

https://www.amberfavreart.com/

All images in the above post belong to the artist, please respect copy right laws. Click on the images to visit Amber's shop. Thank you.

July Artist of the Month: ONESEVENNINE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 14:05:00 +0000

According to Merriam-webster.com, art is defined as "something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings : works created by artists : paintings, sculptures, etc., that are created to be beautiful or to express important ideas or feelings."

Growing up in Seattle in the 90s, I remember sitting in the backseat of my family's van as we drove past splashes of art on the freeway. I would always wonder how in the names did that get there and who did it? I am not talking about tagging or grafitti which have their own unique artistic value, but eye catching vibrant murals on the side of a bridge or walls of buildings. I cherished these memories, I soaked them in. So why is it when our children decide to draw on the walls with their crayons, most parents respond in frustration instead of embracing this form of self-expression? We really should just hand them some paint brushes and let them use the walls as their canvas. Let them have a blast and take some photographs to honor the memories!

Our artist of the month, Onesevennine also known as Angelina V., shares with us that this is exactly how her journey began. I found Angelina's art through her sister, Claudia's instagram feed. The first piece that made me go "Wow, that's so awesome!" was actually a pair of painted converse that sparked my interest in her work which then led me to start following Onesevennine's Instagram account. As a fellow Seattlite, Onesevenine's creations make me miss and love the Pacific Northwest even more. Driving around Seattle, you will see her signature murals that will stop you in your tracks. Onesevennine is well known in Seattle's art community. She recently received some recognization from Seattle PI and was interviewed by Xavier Lopez. Xavier states,

"I must admit that I have been a big fan of your work for many years, watching you grow and evolve ...".

I suggest if you are ever in Seattle to keep an eye out for Onesevennine's street art, you won't regret it. As with any of my featured artist on Emerald City Swag, I reached out to Angelina, because her art captured something within me that left me in awe. Art should express important ideas and feelings; it is what 's beautiful to you. It was a pleasure interviewing Onesevennine and being able to steal some time away from her busy schedule to share her passion with us. Thanks Angelina!

Smile: What is your name/artist name, tell the readers where you are from, and where did you grow up?

ONESEVENNINE: My name is Angelina V. but I go by the artist name 179. The way I explain this in my presentations is wanting a name that has no preconceptions. I want my art to speak for itself. When people see my name Angelina Villalobos you can already make assumptions about me based on my gender and my ethnic and cultural background. And then I ask the question ‘how many times have you had someone judge you based on assumptions only skin deep?’ It rarely ever feels good. I would like people to view my art with no preconceptions of the artist themselves, only the art should speak for itself.

Smile: How do you describe your art and where does your inspiration come from?

ONESEVENNINE: I am inspired by so many things! When I first started drawing it was comics and cartoons. It then became anime and gang graffiti. When I discovered Hip Hop it took graffiti to the next level, that I didn’t need to be a gangster to prove my Mexicanness or ability to to be strong. Hip Hop allowed me to travel the city to breakdance battles and meet like minds. From there it then became a journey of self awareness. While I don’t want people to judge my art based on who I am, the work will be a reflection. There are elements of Mexican folk art, Tibetan and Japanese religion, Northwest Native American linework and fairy tales. It’s what I call indicatively Seattle. I am a visual reference to the collection of people living here.

Smile: What is the first piece that you remember creating?

ONESEVENNINE: My first piece I created was inspired by my little sister Claudia who’s inspired me in so many ways it’s incalculable. She decided to draw with crayon on our bedroom walls when we were very small. When we got in trouble she moved on to sports and it became a fascination with me to continue crayon in hand to create art.

Smile: If you could pick one place where your work could be shown, where would it be?

ONESEVENNINE: Anywhere public. Because I grew up in an activist environment it’s been instilled in me a duty and responsibility to my community. If I’m going to pursue public art I am therefore a public servant. I want art to always be accessible to the public. As I grow older I just want to paint bigger.

Smile: Tell me more about your background and what you like to do beside being an awesome artist and a social media enthusiast...

ONESEVENNINE: I manage projects such as art shows and live paintings which center around contemporary street art. I help connect artists to organizations and vice versa. I’m kind of like a safety pin of sorts.

Smile: I love your street art! Are these a lot more fun than doing regular paintings or print.

ONESEVENNINE: I was formally educated as graphic designer. The issue that arose after I graduated is the stagnation at the computer. Meaning I wanted to move around, to not be in front of a screen hours on end. When I paint at home it’s a mediation. I definitely enjoy the painting process a lot more.

Smile: Do you have a favorite piece that you have created? If so, what is it and why?

ONESEVENNINE: I always favor my most recent as it’s a testament to my progression. The latest 7th & Cherry building has been one of the largest I’ve done solo (so far). I feel I’ve also been fortunate to have such great organizations such as Punk Rock Flea Market offer me fun opportunities to paint and organize.

Smile: That's great to hear! I'm excited to see more and more of your work. Do you have any artist (past or present) that you admire and why?

ONESEVENNINE: My momma just asked me this. Her guess was Frida Kahlo (who coincidently also shares the recent July 6th birthday with me). I do admire her passion and testament to always be true to herself. I’m big on self reflection and always taking the time to connect with my identity. I feel although she had a turbulent life she was able to maintain strength was because of her self awareness.

Smile: Yes! Frida is inspiring. Although some might find some of her art somewhat "disturbing", I see beauty in it, because in life you experience both good and bad. Frida was able to express both in her paintings. What is your biggest accomplishment as an artist so far?

ONESEVENNINE: The fact that I have a fan base. This is so amazing to me. There are people who recognize my work from a mile away and will message me and be proud. It makes ME proud! I have families who all collect pieces of mine each in their homes. That is powerful to me. I appreciate the love and support they show, their understanding and their individual interpretation of the art I do is a level I will never be able to comprehend (even as the creator) because it’s their personal connection. Again, it’s amazing.

Smile: That is amazing, but not surprising. I love when artist are able to get this positive exposure and recognition. This is why I feature artist on Emerald City Swag and share their success through all my social media outlets. I am never paid or bought in anyway. It's a personal connection I have with the work you do and my need to share it with as many people as possible. Anyways, any big events coming up that we should know about?

ONESEVENNINE: I had a very busy summer so far. Right now I don’t have plans and focusing on organizing myself for the next wave of events.

Smile: Tell us some of the artist that you have worked with? Do any stick out that you might think Emerald City Swag might consider interviewing?

ONESEVENNINE: I very much adore working with TheyDrift a duo Ksra and Carlos Aguilar. I feel we’re a great balance of fun and technical talent. We all collaborate well. I own several of their collective and individual pieces personally. I would definitely check them out IG: @TheyDrift

Smile: Thanks! I'll be happy to check them out. Last questions, where can we find your art work to purchase? And is there anything else you would like the audience to know?

ONESEVENNINE: I try to keep my Big Cartel shop up to date with illustrations, paintings and prints. You may visit it here; http://onesevennine.bigcartel.com/

Thank you for the interview!

Smile: Onesevennine, it is so nice meeting you and I am glad that we are able to feature your work this month. I look forward to seeing more of your art and best to you and your future.

Seattle Artist, Onesevennine

All images in the above post belong to the artist, please respect copy right laws. Click on the images to visit Angelina's shop. Thank you.

April Artist of The Month: Mosessa

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 May 2015 13:51:00 +0000

Viola-Diyosa by Mosessa

I am so excited to introduce our April Artist of the Month, Mosessa Preisenberger from Brisbane, Australia. Mosessa's paintings are vibrant, colorful, and mostly portrait of ladies. The first painting that I took interest in was her piece titled Lakambini which was still in the W.I.P (Work In Progress) phase when I came across it on Instagram and did not have a name. The painting was so unique and beautiful; it reminded me very much of Filipino natives. Being of Filipino ancestry is something Mosessa and I share which I discovered in my interview with her below. All her ladies have a strong and "don't mess with me" attitude about them which totally rocks! So with no further delay, please enjoy her interview and the paintings that she has shared with us:

Exclusive Interview with Mosessa Preisenberger, April Artist of the Month.

Lakambini by Mosessa

Smile: What is your name/artist name, tell the readers where you are from?

Mosessa: My name is Mosessa Preisenberger and I'm a painter from Brisbane, Australia.

Smile: How do you describe your art and where does your inspiration come from?

Mosessa: I paint a lot of girls! Recently I have been strongly influenced by goddesses and tribal women. I also draw a lot of inspiration from nature. I really like to explore the small, intricate details of plants and animals, especially fish; I find their patterns and colors the most fascinating. I'm drawn to really bright and bold color themes and try to incorporate this into my work.

Smile: What is the first piece that you remember creating and at what age?

Mosessa: I used to create these quirky fashion illustrations back in 2007. I was a animation student so I used my Wacom tablet and photoshop a lot back then. It's only been in the past year I've gone back to traditional media.

Clarice-Diyosa by Mosessa

Smile: If you could pick one place where your work could be shown, where would it be?

Mosessa: I'd love to have a exhibition in Berlin!

Smile: Tell more about your background and what you like to do beside being an awesome artist and a social media enthusiast...

Mosessa: I am currently working full-time as a digital artist for a games company in Brisbane. All my personal work gets done at night; which (fortunately) is when i'm usually at my most creative. In my spare time I always try to squeeze in some thrift shopping, it's a ritual for me!

Ghea by Mosessa

Smile: I am curious, are you Filipino? I ask, because I am and I could see a little bit of heritage in your pieces.

Mosessa: Yes! I am half Filipino, half German.

Smile: Do you have a favorite piece that you have created? If so, what is it and why?

Mosessa: I have two favorite pieces, a drawing and a painting. My favorite drawing is probably Mirage, a metamorphosism style drawing I did last year. My favorite painting is Tuula which is my biggest piece to date. I love both pieces because whilst I was working on them I learned a lot about my own art process and about how hard I could really push myself. Both pieces mark a significant turning point for me.

Cleopatra-Diyosa by Mosessa

Lakshimi by Mosessa

Smile: Do you have any artist (past or present) that you admire and why?

Mosessa: Back when I was studying animation I saw some work by Moebius for the first time and instantly fell in love with it. The worlds he created are so surreal. Very inspirational!

Smile: What is your biggest accomplishment as an artist so far?

Mosessa: Doing my first group show! It was fantastic to get myself out there and start sharing my work. I think it gave me the confidence I needed to keep pursuing my dream of becoming a full time artist.

Smile: Last questions, where can we find your art work to purchase? And is there anything else you would like the audience to know?

Mosessa: Readers can check out my pieces on Mosessa.com.au, Instragram.com/Mosessa, Facebook.com/Mosessa.

Smile: Mosessa, It is so nice meeting you and I am glad that we are able to feature your work this month. I look forward to seeing more of your art and best to you and your future.

Aphrodite-Diyosa by Mosessa

February Artist of The Month: Bedelgeuse

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 19:03:00 +0000

"Just Breathe" by Bedelgeuse

It was only about 3 months ago that I stumbled upon this art collage titled "Just Breathe" by Travis Bedel (best known by his artist name, Bedelgeuse) pinned on Pinterest. It was nothing that I have ever seen before. I was absolutely moved by the piece and actually cried. I am not mad, I had a reason. This art piece brought out emotions that I had about my Dad. Both the sadness of suddenly losing him to interstitial lung disease and the happiness, beauty, and life he graced us with while he was alive. Just like the flowers that we are able to admire for a short while; this art work reminded me to live in the moment, to embrace the now that we have with each other which can easily be drowned with foolishness.

I felt the need to share this awesome collage with the world, so I pinned it to my Pinterest board and shared it on my Facebook feed. For some odd reason, I felt like that was not enough. I felt kind of stalker-ish, I Googled the artist to try and find more about his art work. I mean, that is socially acceptable now-a-days and not totally crazy, right? Fans do it all the time, so yes, I was becoming a fanatic of his work, obviously...

It wasn't until a month ago that I found Travis' Instagram account and started following him. Persistence pays off. I was able to reach out to Bedelgeuse to ask for an interview and was honored when he agreed. I was completely beyond words and could not stop thanking him. So, I am very pleased to announce Emerald City Swag's February Artist of the Month, non other than, Bedelgeuse.

"Mainvisual_1" by Bedelgeuse

Exclusive Interview with Travis Bedel aka Bedelgeuse

Smile: What inspires your art and why are you drawn to anatomical pieces?

Travis: My art is inspired by love and all the emotions that come with it and I gravitate toward human anatomy because I find the body incredible and complex.

Smile: What is the first piece that you remember creating and at what age?

Travis: Late 2009 was when I started this particular style of collage. My earlier work was all black and white, and I recall making a series of small cut paper anatomical collages.

"Emergence" by Bedelgeuse

"Growth" by Bedelgeuse

"Outreached" by Bedelgeuse

Smile: If you could pick one place where your work could be shown, where would it be?

Travis: I have already been privileged to have had my work shown in NYC, Tokyo, London, Greece, and a few other places, but if I could show anywhere it would be in San Francisco, my favorite city and my newest place of residence!

Smile: Tell me more about your background and the everyday Travis and life outside of the studio and social media…

Travis: I am a fitness freak! If I am not creating something then I am either training in the gym or in the kitchen cooking healthy meals!

Smile: Do you have a favorite piece that you have created? If so, what is it and why?

Travis: I did a window installation last summer for Brooklyn Fox, a really cool boutique in Williamsburg. The whole experience and the end result turned out better than I initially envisioned!

"Adore" by Bedelgeuse

Smile: Do you have any artist (past or present) that you admire and why?

Travis: Salvador Dali, as he was someone who lived as a creative person and not someone whose identity was defined by one artistic medium.

Smile: What is your biggest accomplishment as an artist so far?

Travis: Being featured by Instagram’s main account, Juxtapoz magazine twice in a year, and the opportunity to show work globally!

"Unravel" by Bedelgeuse

Smile: Any big events coming up that we should know about?

Travis: I am relocating to San Francisco, where I will be collaborating with other artists and doing more street art!

Smile: Last questions, where can fans find your art work to purchase? And is there anything else you would like the audience to know?

Travis: Prints - society6.com/bedelgeuse Limited - bedelgeuse.bigcartel.com Originals - etsy.com/bedelgeuse

Smile: Thank you once again for the opportunity of this interview and I wish you the best in your future endeavors. I look forward to more work from Bedelgeuse.

"Uncertainty" by Bedelgeuse

All images above belong to the artist, Bedelgeuse. Please respect copy right laws. Click on the images to visit his shop. Thanks!

Falling Back in Love with Art featuring Artist Ashley Baldwin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 03:29:00 +0000

When we are children, we express everything without censorship, we write out our own and others' imperfections and stories without a care in the world. We splat them across a page in a diary or draw and paint them on a canvas. Somewhere along the way, some of us lose that passion when we transition into adulthood. This occurred to me recently when I found myself picking up a pencil and drawing pad and sketching things out of the blue. This even surprised my husband as he turned to me and asked, "Since when do you draw?" I just looked at him with goofy smile and shrug. As a child, I never cared who liked my work, I just did it because it felt good, it was therapeutic. In this recent case, I believe it was after I went to my sister-in-law's Painting with a Twist birthday event that lit the spark I needed to find my inner artist once again. It was fun, it was helping me heal, and I didn't care who liked it. All I cared about was bringing out that passion of uncensored self expression and sharing it with the world regardless of the outcome.

I will not hide the pain I have been in the last couple of years, only God knows what I have had to endure and all the tears that I have shed. All the while still trying to live day by day, because when our loved ones pass away, we still are here with the memories. This last November, Jason lost his mom, Linda, after her battle with pancreatic cancer. We were blessed to have had the opportunity to move back to Michigan to spend some time with her before her passing and that our children were able to give her some joy in her last days of struggle. She never showed any sign of weakness even though it was apparent that she was in a lot of pain. Not once did she intentionally cry in front of us, which if she did, we would have completely understood. She was by far one of the best examples of an independent, strong, loving woman and mother. I truly miss her . I do not know what is more painful, knowing when death is knocking at the door or having it happen suddenly; I have experienced loss in both ways and it pierces the heart equally. It has almost been 2 years since I suddenly lost my Dad, Bing, to interstitial lung disease. I remember it like yesterday, he went into the ER during Father's Day weekend for what we thought was just a really bad case of pneumonia, but was so much worse. He was in the ICU for almost 2 weeks, getting weaker and weaker before he left us. My world felt like it was falling apart, I could hardly sleep, I did not want to get up out of bed, I just wanted to stay laying in the fetal position as the tightness of my chest kept growing and growing. I am still grieving today, and I know that it is OK. It takes time to heal and falling back in love with my art really helps with the process. Never to forget him, but to put it on paper to capture the moments that will never be lost, the feelings whether sad or happy that is a part of me.

An artists' feelings will always show through their work. It will show through their photos, paintings, drawings, crafts, or words. With that said, I have had the pleasure of viewing some wonderful pieces through social network. Works from artists like Travis Bedel, Lisa Walker, and Ashley Baldwin blow my mind. I always look forward to when they post their latest work on Instagram.

This is where I connected with fellow artist, Ashley Baldwin. Ashley commented on how much she liked my midnight moon painting (first painting at the top of the post) that I created at Painting with a Twist (which I am really proud of, being a novice artist, and all). This lead me to check out her page, which I completely adored instantly. I have 3 kiddos and I was already thinking of decorating their rooms with Ashley's work. Ashley's pieces are vibrant, colorful, and fun! She is truly a talented soul and I am so honored that she agreed to be featured on Emerald City Swag. I look forward to Ashley's future creations and a friendship fueled by a love of the arts.

Below are some of my favorites from Ashley's collection. Hand-embellished prints are available of these works at her Etsy shop at ArtbyAshleyBaldwin. E-mail her at ashley@ashleybaldwin.com for art and commission inquires.

“Ornithophobia" (Fear of Birds) by Ashley Baldwin, Watercolor and Ink on paper, 2012

"Something's Fishy," by Ashley Baldwin, Oil Pastel on canvas, 2013

“Giraffes with Hidden Mickey,” by Ashley Baldwin, Watercolor on paper, 2014