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I was given a 9 × 12 pad of 90 lb. watercolor paper that I really wasn't that excited about because I prefer 140 lb and 300 lb. paper to work with. But, now I am very grateful to have the paper because I have learned that I can add strength to it with gesso and use any medium on it that I would like to work with."Butterfly Dream'in" is an example of ink and acrylic fluid paints on 90 lb. gessoed watercolor paper.

I wonder if I really need an art degree or should I keep going on in what I am doing. I'm wavering on this issue, I do that alot when I am unsure about something. I'm very impatient with classes nowadays though there are oppertunities online only doing art online is tricky. There is graphic art and illustration. I really like working with oil though and never did like working with trying to 'draw' on the computer. I know people do draw then scan and work using photoshop, I'm just not sure its me. I don't want to start in a college program online and then quit. I have done college, community college, but I can't get past the College Algebra requirement. I don't want to sit in a class for it or take a class just below it when the first half of the math I already know how to do. I've considered working it out on my own then seeing if I can just challenge the course. I do have college algebra books around and a very good book called college algebra demystified which is really good but there are so many steps to remember that I figured out that that's my problem, I can't remember all those steps, though at the CC I was going to notes were used even on the final. But I also H A T E math/algebra. I wind up doodling celtic knotwork in my notebook. I don't know, would a degree help me? would focusing on course make me lose touch with my painting or will the study of graphic designing make my pieces better. I still get great comments on my paintings.

Amado Mora Exhibition at Consulate of Ecuador in NJ

Yesterday August 19, 2010 I had the great pleasure of attending the exhibition of paintings, Ink drawings and sculpture by my good friend Amado Mora at the Consulate of Ecuador at 400 Market Street in Newark New Jersey. On display were 32 works of art including paintings, ink drawings and sculptures. His ink drawings are so tight, meticulous and precious with lots of hidden images and symbols. These drawings bring you in and keep you searching and exploring for meanings and symbols throughout all. The Sculptures are powerful, deep and full of meaning. I found them irresistible and I hope that someday soon I will be able to own one of these wonderful sculptures. The exhibition was very well attended and the gallery was full at all times. There was Musical entertainment and wonderful treats to enjoy. Congratulations to Amado Mora for an excellent exhibition of Art. Special thanks to Curator of exhibition Juan Ramiro Torres.

Amado Mora was born in Ecuador and attended the Art School in Guayaquil. Amado, who is known as the "Pachuca" of surrealism, has also studied other forms of art like ceramics, Metal Restoration, Sculpture, philosophy, Psychology, Yoga, Meditation and Dramatic Art. Amado is currently the Art Curator for Union City New Jersey. Amado also works on metal restoration and is an expert in this field.

Cuban American Artist, Jose Acosta

Glass mosaic art has been practiced for thousands of years, going back to Ancient Egypt, where it was initially used in palaces and tombs. The Egyptians were the first to discover the versatility of glass, later learning to use it not only to decorate their jewelry, but also to adorn their ships. In time, glass mosaic art became a flourishing industry; it spanned the centuries and is still widely practiced today.

Creating glass mosaic art is easier than it appears to be. A few supplies are needed: glass of various colors, a design or pattern, glass cutter, hammer, pliers, safety goggles, tile snips, clear silicone glue, and tile grout or cement. These items are easy to find, and the whole assortment will probably cost you less than $50.

Designs: You can free-hand your own patterns, purchase them from hobby stores, or download them for free on many websites. Concepts for patterns are limitless, from geometric and floral designs to abstract art.

Glass: While many specialty stores and websites sell glass for mosaics, it is not necessary to buy new glass or specific glass. All forms of glass are useful, including the old glass dishes in your cupboard or those found in thrift stores or yard sales.

Tools: Although different types of glass cutters are available in specialty stores, this tool, as well as the other supplies, can be purchased from a hardware store.

Simple Project: A kitchen backsplash!

There are many simple, glass mosaic project ideas for beginners. A popular one is the kitchen backsplash, an easy and inexpensive project that will personalize your kitchen and give it a modern look. It will also showcase your talent!

The first step is to take the exact measurements of the backsplash area to cover. Then, buy backer board and cut it according to the measurements, taking note of the electrical outlets. Check to ensure that your backer board fits precisely into the area before gluing the glass to it, as it will be adhered to the wall when it is finished.

To accurately cut the glass into the desired shapes, an oil glass cutter and metal ruler are the favored tools to ensure precision. You may want to practice by cutting old plates before starting on your glass mosaic art piece.

When all your glass pieces are ready, lay the pre-cut backer board on the floor and arrange them on the board, according to your pattern. Do not forget to leave space between each piece for the grout. Once all the pieces are in place, begin gluing each one to the board. Apply enough glue to cover the entire back of the piece, but not so much that it comes out the sides when you press down on the glass. When the task is done, leave your glass mosaic art to dry for 24 hours.

Now you can spread the grout over it, allowing it to set for about 10 minutes before removing the excess off with a cloth. Allow the grout to dry thoroughly before applying the finished piece directly to the wall. Sit back and admire your glass mosaic art!

Next Project: A table top!

Another easy glass mosaic art project is a table top; whether it is displayed indoors or outdoors, it will surely become the main topic of conversation. The method is similar to that of the kitchen back splash, except that the top of the table is used as the backer board. Choose any table you wish to embellish, clean its surface well, and glue the glass pieces directly to the top. Thereafter, follow the instructions given for the backsplash.

Glass mosaic art can be created on various distinct surfaces: wood, cement, tile, plaster, linoleum, pottery, and even glass. Common projects include tabletops, ornate sidewalks, vases, and a variety of wall décor. A glass mosaic project is an artistic creation and, like all other forms, should be the product of the artist’s imagination.

As simple as the process may be, wear safety goggles at all times when working with glass, cutting tools and chemicals. Furthermore, have a first aid kit handy in case of accidents. Remember the basics of safety and enjoy your hobby!

Donovan Gauvreau is an art historian and art therapy speaker. You can read more of his articles at www.AaronArtPrints.org.

Well hello there. Now that I am finished with school, more frequent art updates will come. My right brain is grateful :)

Oh no! I think you've figured me out!
Colored pencil on paper
8'' x 10''

The idea of doing another self portrait came about when The ArtHouse announced having a Self Portrait exhibition. The rules were pretty minimal: no larger than 8×10 with the frame and had to show some resemblance of a face. No biggie. I had recently bought a solved rubix cube for a painting idea and was brain storming of how I wanted this portrait to be. I wanted to do something different from the standard but something with meaning. At first I was thinking to use objects in my life that would shape the features of my face (for example a paint brush bending into the shape of my nose), but I scraped that idea-it just didn't feel right so I needed to think of something else. At my laptop looking for images for the painting, I was turning the cube from one side to the other, looking at it face on and at its angles, looking at the placement of my hands on the cube. Then when the side of the cube that was all white came up, the idea stuck me for the portrait.

I feel that I am in a part of my life where I am coming together. Disjointed pieces of me are being identified (by myself and others) and I'm working on putting them in a more productive and cohesive position. Having a better idea of what I want, planning for it and working to make it happen and working on being more real with people. Always easier said than done but I'm working on taking those steps to get to my goals. I've already achieved a few of the goals I set for myself this year while others are proving more difficult. Those obstacles are helping me discover new capabilities, a process that will be complete when I die.

So this portrait of myself, at this point of my life, is a perfect way of saying YO! I'm being figured out! Things are coming together! My friends have a better sense of me as I continue to open up. I'm being more accepting of myself. It's refreshing. I wonder what my next self portrait will be like :) We shall see. Enjoy.

My personal website: http://hunterart.com
My blog: http://hunterart.blogspot.com
Hunterart Line: 646-504-5034
Twitter: Artcoholic
GTalk: mkh9781 or uniqueh
Aim: uniqueh9781

It is always an adventure when you embark to paint a series of related works. In this case, I am experimenting with the Aquabord watereolor painting surface. I really like the vibrancy you can achieve once you figure out how to layre - er, actually, once you realize you have to have patience to let the layres dry completely before you apply the next one.

This is an iris from my garden and one of my favourites. We grow a number of bearded irises - all are lovely, but this one always stops me in my tracks. The blues are so intense and the white so crisp. I like the effect in this painting with the dark background making teh flower stand out. (Also really tricky on Aquabord).

This flower reminds me of an elegant ballgown, hence the name "Blue Taffeta"

Maybe in my next journey, I will design formal clothing. Hmmm, maybe not.

Today, I decided that I needed to take a break to rejuvenate, and just write another blog about something or someone in art who had influenced me; or given me the motivation to create art of my own! Every artist needs a muse or a mentor, and I am no different than most~

As I looked back into my archives of photographs,I found one of my favorites which I have posted here. I call it "Springtime" because of all the bright colors and the flowers that are in bloom! This creation is the work of world reknown artist Dale Chihuly and today I honor him with this blog! I took this picture after visiting the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas where his prominent floral glass blowing artwork is magnificently displayed.

Now, one would not believe how much strength the art of glass-blowing takes. I remember when I was younger,I wanted to try my hand at it, but to be a great glass-blower not only takes great skill,it takes great strength! You are often manipulating hot glass for hours on end, and this is no art for the fool hardy to undertake...

Dale Chihuly has been influential within the Studio Glass movement for decades, and he continues to revolutionize the art of handblown glass. He generally works with free form and in an unorthodox manner. His results elicit widespread admiration from a full spectrum of viewers, both young and old alike. One art historian even calls Chihuly's work " Liquid Art" It is amazing to see up close and personal; and since I have had the good fortune of having lived in a few places where Chihuly lived at the same time,I have seen it real up front and close!

Chihuly was born in 1941 in Tacoma Washington, where he went on to study Interior Design and Architecture at the University of Washington, in Seattle. He also went to graduate school on a scholarship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he studied glass under Harvey Littleton. He finished his graduate studies at the Rhode Island School of Design,in 1968. The same year, he received a Fullbright Scholarship to study in Venice, Italy, at the Venini glass factory. The following year he became faculty there!! He established a glass program, and in 1971 he returned to Seattle where he co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School near Stanwood, Washington. I was fortunate to visit his factory and school,being that I lived in Kent....

Through the 70's Chihuly divided his time between the Rhode Island School of Design and Pilchuck! He also developed a philosophy which was that he was less concerned with being narrative or figurative in his wroks, but rather,he be involved in the glass, and the light passing through it. He loved the Phenomenon of light being transmitted through colored glass,and he made me love it too...and him!!!

Over the years, Chihuly created a wide vocabulary of blown glass forms. He did baskets, Seaforms, Ikebana, Venetians and Chandeliers and of course his very famous magnificent flora. In his floral artwork, he used the least amount of tools that he could, so that his result was that his flowers looked like they were coming from nature. This is evident in his work today. If you have seen his Botanical Exhibition as it travels the U.S., you would be in awe! In his garden installations he juxtaposes his forms with those of nature, establishing a direct and immediate dialogue with the desert environment like he did here at the Phoenix , AZ. Botanical Gardens. It was hard to tell which was real and which was memorex!

My hat's off to you Mr. Dale Chihuly. I have seen your work in Seattle where I lived for 26 yrs, in Arizona, where I currently reside; at the gardens, of course in Vegas at the Bellagio, and how could I ever forget Waikoloa!? I look forward to being influenced again very soon!

Who influences you? It may be a loved one, a friend or someone who gives you that extra ooomph, when ya need it to get out there and continue doing art!! Give Kudos to someone special in your art world today. Let me hear from you here! I value all of your opinions and appreciate feedback~ Continue to enjoy creating art!

Something that I've been thinking about ever since I've taken up the brushes again. This is something that I will be doing from here on out. It may not mean a whole lot to some, but, for each piece of artwork that I sell, I will be mailing out a Certificate of Authenticity about one week after the initial purchase. To do this is basically making a statement in itself that the artwork they have purchased is my genuine work. It is not enough to just sign the bottom, but, to protect my authenticity I will issue a certificate with each work, signed by me. And will make a photocopy of each certificate for my own files. This is so that I can document for myself my body of work. Because in the upper corner of the copy I make I will record the initial buyer to which the work was sold. This is my private files and they are kept confidential. This is the method to my madness of being an artist at heart.

As you grow an online presence for your art business through your blog, it can be easy to fall into a false sense of security. Don’t forget that strangers still read your blog and that cyber-criminals scan the web for information they can use to steal your identity, or cause harm to your family.

Below are 8 tips for making sure that you stay safe while blogging.

1. Avoid lawsuits

Whenever you post information about another person or company, it’s important to remember that what you say can hurt you. Libel and slander lawsuits exist as much on the web as they do in real life, so choose your words wisely.

If you must say something negative about a person and/or company, choose to speak in general terms without naming names or giving detailed specifics. Always stick to the facts; don’t allow your personal feelings to obscure the truth.

2. Don’t share confidential information

Whether it’s the personal life of a close friend, or the inner workings of company you’ve partnered with, make sure you get the okay to share information that would otherwise be deemed private and/or confidential.

3. Keep some things private

Once you get in the habit of sharing more than just your art, it can be easy to forget that some things should remain private. Before you post anything of a personal nature, ask a close friend or spouse to do a read through.

4. Don’t suggest your readers do something illegal

Copyright laws exist for a reason. Don’t suggest that your readers make copies of someone else’s work (photographs or art) to use in their own artwork without going through the proper channels. Instead, encourage your readers to take their own photographs or use royalty free images and/or clipart.

5. Follow FTC disclosure regulations

If you receive monetary compensation for something you wrote about, fess up. If you were given a sample of a product to test and it was used in your tutorial, let your readers know.

All it takes is a statement at the end of your post to avoid trouble with the Federal Trade Commission. To learn more about FTC disclosure statements, take a look at their website.

A sample disclaimer could be something as simple as: FTC Disclosure—The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD. Another example: The craft thread used in this tutorial was provided, free of charge, by Company Name.

6. Only post your business contact information

Avoid sharing your home address or phone number online. If you work out of your home, get a post office box. If you can’t afford a separate business line, consider using an affordable toll free number. (Kall8.com offers toll free numbers for as low as 6.9 cents per minute and $2 per month.)

7. Don’t announce when you’re home will be empty

Sure you want your readers to know when you’ll be teaching a workshop and where your next art exhibit will be, but don’t announce when your entire family will be vacationing away from home. Instead, share your vacation stories when you return from your vacation. That way, there’s no chance of an unlawful entry while you’re away.

8. Don’t share the layout of your home

As an artist it is only natural to want to share how your art expands beyond your sculptures and paintings into your personal space. It’s okay to share that artwork, but do so with your personal safety in mind.

If possible, section off part of the home with your artwork and avoid photographing priceless heirlooms as you showcase the art. There’s no reason to give potential robbers easy access to your home.

thats where we will be this weekend...actually the show starts on friday at noon on the grounds surrounding the domes. this first year show is sponsored by the milwaukee county parks and should be a lot of fun. we will be there all three days and our booth number is 31...we are located close to the main entrance.

there will also be a "plein air" painting competition going on over the weekend which means artists will be on site and painting scenery in the park. peggy will be taking part and it should be another interesting part of this unique new art festival.

we hope you can come out to mitchell park this weekend to check out the festivities...

here is a link to all the info... http://www.milwaukeedomesartfestival.com/

show hours are noon to 7pm on friday...10 to 7pm on saturday and 10-4pm on sunday.

thanks for reading...

Near the time when I received my first debit/credit card, I decided to go on an adventure. I saw the sights and the sounds of the Adult Film Industry. It was awesome. And it all happened from the comfort of my home thanks to the Internet and for what seems a never-ending supply of adult entertainment. Looking at my wall of what seems like $4000 worth of porn videos on DVD, I feel only but ever so slightly sick to my stomach. I could really use that $4000 right now to pay off that $4000 that I owe. It isn't that I wouldn't have spent the money... it just would have been on something else, something more lucrative. So this is me trying to be more out there. The idea was that I would paint in the likeness of those who I felt helped define the reason as to why I hate my body so much. Perhaps it is a technique I learned from Wyland... drawing and painting at the same time. I am sure someday this might actually look like something but as for right now, it is just a bunch of scribbles here and there. Of course, the wishful and wondering eye might already have decided what this particular painting will end up becoming. I do the preliminaries in acrylic so I don't have a sloppy mess when I decide to change my mind and it does happen often. This painting will eventually join four others that have yet to materialize but will revolve around the same subject matter. Yeah, it is getting hot in here but it isn't because of the lights.

Carolyn Weltman's "Sophi" translated to stone with her kind permission... Finally finished this collaboration and I must admit... I'm going to miss this girl... Just a small crush... I'll get over it when the next crush comes along... I can't thank Carolyn enough... The history of this work is so unique, from the art itself, to the harvesting of the stone... I packed her from the Southern Oregon Coast about 2 miles,and more than once wondered if it wasn't a waste of calories... it wasn't... Only this particular stone was worthy. Thanks again,"Sophi"

Right now this is the only acrylic painting that I have done in the Primitive Woman collection. I have not decided yet whether to do any more or not. If I do it will be posted in this gallery along side the rest of the collection.

I really enjoyed doing this piece as a complement to the rest of the pastels that I did in the collection.

The reason I do a lot of subject by the water is because lakes and the ocean are a fascination to me. Both above and below the surface.

Myles Murphy was born and raised in Ireland, and now lives in Indiana. He spent twenty years in the field of engineering before refocusing his life towards painting, drawing and raku pottery in the 1980’s.

Recently, Myles has expanded his repertoire to include oil and watercolor painting, oftentimes en plein air. Besides his lovely paintings, what I enjoy most about Myles is his willingness to share his learning processes.

He uses his blog as a platform for sharing his struggles, experiments, and successes. After so many years of painting he confesses: “I am striving to establish an identity as an artist, but I still struggle to find that elusive unique identity that all artists strive for.”

Just from reading through his blog, I know that Myles isn’t afraid to go back to the basics to make sure his paintings are the best they can be. He often does value studies beforehand, and analyzes his works in progress to make sure he’s correctly translating what he sees to the canvas.

In this next painting, Myles experimented with the background and finally chose the one you see, with floating clouds, rippling waves, and movement of hair. Though the focus is on the children and dog, he wanted the background to also have character and “atmosphere” rather than a simple pebble beach.

This last painting posed a color challenge to Myles. As he was planning it out, he discovered that the closeness in color between the sand and girl’s skin would be a problem. After some changes, the colors ended up perfect, and the final image is quite endearing. It illustrates how important it is to think about composition, color choices, texture and focal point if you want a great finished product.

I encourage you to visit Myles’ website and blog to learn more about his painting process. While you’re there, take in all the captivating images tweaked over and over again by his discerning eye.

I cried recently. I was listening to Adam Lambert's No Boundaries while I was placing the finishing touches on a recent painting. I was proud of myself. And this song said it all. There are no boundaries. I had thought about selling it because I am at that point where I need the money now more than ever if I want to continue to create art. But I put sweat and tears into that painting and now I just want it for myself. I hope that doesn't sound too selfish. Come on, Wyland has his original "Guiding Light" painting hanging in his bedroom hallway. And I am sure he looks at it every time he passes it. I don't know if he cries like I do-I'm a bit emotional, always have been, all of my life. I have problems that continue to claw at my heart, my mind, and my soul. What do you want from me? There was a point while doing this project that I became that person resting on the sofa even though I have always been that person in one way or another but this painting drew me closer. As I caressed the canvas, I could feel my skin. I wish I could say that I was as soft as the fuzz on a peach. I wish I could say that she felt it-blinking slightly and adjusting herself to find comfort. So what is next? Do I cut my wrists so I can give this painting life-so she can take my place where she belongs? There is a thin line here and I am struggling to keep my balance.

Well it happened. We went away for a few days and mother nature dealt us 8 inches of rain overnight. My studio is in the basement- you get the picture. The four inches of water did a lot of damage to carpets and art work alike. I have a much greater appreciation for what people in other parts of the country who are dealing with water damage measured in feet.I have (had) a habit of storing work against the wall face in. That way when I take a look a few days later I have a fresh impression of the piece. It also saves the work from unintended paint splatters.

I have found a lot of early work during cleanup. Some of these pieces will be posted in a final tribute before I decide what to do with them.

I would ask you to think about your own situation. What are you doing to safeguard your work? Water heaters can break and spill 50 gallons of water as well. There are not any fool proof situations out there. So spend a few minutes thinking about your studio situation. Act on what is needed and then get back to work! I will get back at as soon as I can. Meanwhile my job is to clean the mess,develop a leaner, neater studio and do something different for storage.

Carolyn Weltman's "Gods and Men" translated to stone with her kind permission. This is the second piece of hers that I've reproduced... The history of this work started long before I became involved, from a performance piece,to a film, to a sketch, to a canvass, to a stone harvest, to a sculpture. I'm not sure where it's going next, but you got to wonder... At least I was lucky enough to put my spin on it and to come in contact with Carolyn's Kooki Crew, the Artid Girls, and a bunch of their fans and collectors... Can't thank you all enough for the privilege...

I have heard so many artists say that a website is a waste of time and money, because art does not sell on the Internet. I even know of some artists that have canceled their sites "because they had not sold anything". My experience is the proof that, that way of thinking, is wrong. A website is not only a sales tool, it is above all an online portfolio. It is a place where your customers can follow your new work, and keep in touch with you. I am glad Artid makes our sites so attractive, and that they work hard on SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which makes our sites easy to find.

A gallery owner from Boston, who is also an art consultant was recently looking for new material to hang in a health care facility. She found me on the Internet, and ordered many of my prints on paper as well as on canvas. It was a good sale, and the beginning of what I hope will be a satisfying partnership for both of us.

I know that my followers view my site on a regular basis. Sometimes before or after a show they know I have participated in. If they hesitated on the purchase of a certain piece, they go home and view it on my site to remember better how it looked, and sometimes to check its colors on the wall they were planning to hang it on! It helps them to make their decision. So, even if you think you "don't sell anything" through your website, the potential is there. Keep uploading new work, blog, and upload videos!

It's been over 115 degrees in Phoenix, AZ. and while there are many beautiful sites to be shot here,me and my camera are both missing,Hawaii,California,and as a matter of fact, even Washington State! I used to go to Hawaii almost every year. I would pack light and run away to paradise to escape the heat of the Summer months. When I couldn't go to Hawaii, I would travel back and forth all Summer long between California and Arizona;often wandering into far away little places, looking for something unusual that I could sink my lens into and get lost~

Now with the winds picking up, monsoons in and out, thunder and even lightning at times, I have come to appreciate how lucky I've been to have known the seasons, having lived in many different places. I even miss Washington state and the snow from time to time! There is beauty in nature in so many different ways that we often forget to inhale!Time out!

It's time to blog! All of us can get so wrapped up in our own little worlds; our artwork, our schedules, our deadlines, and our desire to stand out from the rest, that sometimes we forget to just sit down for a few minutes and communicate....

I was thinking about my best friend Joan,in Washington state today when out of no where I felt her presence. At one time,Joan and I had both lived in sunny Southern, California, and then in rainy Seattle,Washington so we have been through a lot together...I had just posted a few photos to my Washington State gallery and decided to go through my archives to see if I could find a few more. For some reason, I decided to jump over to my "guest book" and see who might have left a kind word or a constructive criticism, since I have learned to take both with a grain of salt. A few days ago,I found a comment that one of my photos uploaded was badly out of focus!(so I decided to focus on improving my input,and stay in tune with the tools that ArtId has provided us with here!)

To make a long story short,who do you think ended up in my guest book? Yep, you got it!...my best friend Joan! It caught me totally by surprise~ Then another friend of 18 yrs. ago got wind somehow that I had created a website for my older brother who passed in 2008, and the next thing I knew, she was all over the internet tracking me down, and found me here as well! I'm not about to go to the mid-west right now to visit,and I'm not even going to Hawaii this year; but I can take the time to come here and re-live my time there with you, each and every time that I share and upload another photo..... So here's to Mauna Loa...may you all enjoy this paradise with me,through the picture that's still in my mind....and I will say that I would have never guessed it,but blogging has become easier fo me as time goes by.What would you like to blog about now?

Re-published from Blog: http://paulshampine.wordpress.com

Every time I travel, I'm reminded of how vast this world is. When I take a wrong turn (which is often) and find myself far from where I'm destined to be, I see a part of someone else's small world, just as unique as mine. I like getting lost.

It's a very intimate question "What inspires your work?" You'll read some intimate answers from a diverse group of visual artists. Here are a few of many intimate worlds.

"I capture shifting perceptions" - Kathryn Arnold Kathryn Arnold, San Francisco, CA: "It, my inspiration for creating, began at a young age. Sitting on the front porch of my childhood home in freezing cold, I noticed the deepness and richness of the color of the winter sky and felt alive. I practiced 'mental photography' as a way to keep the image fresh in my mind so as not to forget. This grew into wishing to capture and remember an entire moment, the people, the colors, the vivid sensations of the world around me. This still inspires me. In my work, I capture shifting perceptions as they change and interact moment by moment mixing with my imagination. Within this, ideas and/or images intermingle."

Artist: Kathryn Arnold, San Francisco, CA Title: Fish and Dragon
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas, 7′ x 7′
Website: http://www.kathrynarnold.com/

Aliey Ball, artist and founder of a fresh water initiative in Melbourne, Australia: "My work explores the human/nature relationship. I'm a firm believer that humans are "natural", including our technologies and built environments -- though it seems we have forgotten this. I am passionate about freshwater systems, geology, palaeontology, deep ecology and living systems. Notions of "place" and the phenomenology of space are of great interest to me.

Finalist in this year's Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition, Yarra Glen, Australia My latest work "Cabal" is a meditation on symbiotic alliances, tran-species affiliations and co-evolution. Composed of four elements, each with orifice and phallus, facilitating interconnectedness toward an emergent structure -- a Cabal."

Artist: Aliey Ball, Melbourne, Australia Title: Cabal
Medium: Modified gypsum, glass fibres and paint, 900 × 800 × 580 mm
Website: http://alieyball-fineart.blogspot.com/

Artist and writer, Christine Walker, Sonoma County, CA:

"The garden outside my studio walls inspires mypaintings. From it I pluck a reference palette_petals, leaves, pods, grasses. In the studio, I follow forms and colors until the painting or something_music, memory, currents of feelings and thoughts_suggests the next move. I make marks with brush and hands, sticks and garden tools, investigating nature's vocabulary, while seeking resonance with an inner landscape."

Artist: Christine Walker, Sonoma, CA Title: Come to Me
Medium: Oil on canvas, 52″x44″
Website: http://www.christinewalker.net

Diana Chelaru, Torino, Italy

"unfold expressively those feelings within myself" - Chelaru "What inspires my work... is my life and everything that surrounds me. I know sounds like a cliche but thats what it is. For me, art is a means of communications. It is how I express my thoughts, hopes, regrets and joys. Paintings are for me another way of expressing my feelings. Although I often gain great pleasure from the process of painting, it is most important to unfold expressively those feelings within myself. My work uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of visual references to the world. In my work I always emphasize on the color as a significant and unifying element. The color helps me create a world that's at once eerie and alluring, a world that exists only in ones imagination. My art doesn't speak to the intellect but to the soul and to the feelings."

Artist: Diana Chelaru Title: Getting Together, 28"×23″
Website: http://www.dianachelaru.com/

Miya Ando, Brooklyn, NY

"i think a lot about intention with regard to the works- i am inspired by introspection, quietude, solitude, finding harmony and balance as we find in nature"

Artist: Miya Ando, Brooklyn, NY Title: luminous transcendent [meditation 33.1]
Medium: steel, patina, phosphoresence, automotive lacquer, 36"×36″
Website: http://www.miyaando.com

~ by Paul Shampine on July 26, 2010.

Posted in "Inspiration" Tags: Aliey Ball, art, art review, artist profiles, artistic differences, Christine Walker, Diana Chelaru, inspiration, Kathryn Arnold, Miya Ando