Monday, August 27, 2007

RCN Paintings


Chris N Rohrbach is a stay at home dad with two little girls , ages one and three , Siena and Sage . He says he doesn't have much time to promote and I know from experience , having been a mother and a grandmother that has to be true . His shop is RCN PAINTINGS , which is also the monogram that he uses to sign his paintings . He says it is a play on the words '' are seeing paintings '' and is also the letters in his initials . Wonderfully unique and as are his paintings ! I ask him to talk about his work and the following is what he told me ," I have been drawing and painting for many years but recently I've been focusing on landscape and cityscape paintings and figure drawings as more of an exercise to keep my eye in shape and hand coordinated. I studied several years at a one man studio and also at The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art focusing on traditional drawing and painting information. I find inspiration in my surroundings, the relationships of proportions objects have with each other and the impact of different color combinations. My current artists statement is - Creating paintings that establish harmonious arrangements of tonal values, colors, shapes, textures, and repetitious directions based on my subject matter is my goal as an artist. I enthusiastically participate in a traditional practice of painting that emphasizes proportional relationships, informed decision- making, and a generative process that examines the relationships of parts of the composition to the whole. The ever-changing Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania landscape and cityscape, where I live and work, is the basis of my current paintings. It provides vast compositional possibilities and a range of focal points. I am excited about my work and I hope you enjoy it too." Visit Chris's shop by clicking on the link in the title of this article and visit his blog , http://rcnpaintings.blogspot.com/ .

Thursday, August 23, 2007

French Landscapes



Patrick Morand has wonderful photography in his Etsy shop , Frenchlandscapes . He said he has been doing photography for about thirty years . A pro photogragher for fifteen years . The following is from my interview with him :

In my day job I work on hire for corporate shooting but my favorite subject (and what inspires me) is nature and mostly landscapes . I'm also graduated in computer science and so transition from film to digital was not too difficult . Today all my work is digital shooting , post processing and printing . In france I sell my fine art prints mostly in artshows.
I'm very happy and lucky to live in a small village in the middle of a very very wide forest. I love walking, exploring natural areas to find the best point of view and the best light . Post processing is also a very pleasant part of the job and permits to feature the beauty of nature . Patricks blog is http://french-landscapes.blogspot.com/ and his french website is http:www.patmo.net . You may view his Etsy shop , by clicking on the link in the title of this article .


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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Margarets World


Margarets World is a new Etsy shop but she is not new to creating art . She has loads of talent and experience . I ask her to tell me about herself and her work . This is what I learned ," I construct sculpture from found pieces of wood (not like driftwood, but scraps from wood projects).
I've been a working artist for about 40 years. I draw inspiration from everywhere- something I see or hear.
I studied at the University of South Florida and Penland School of Crafts in Penland, N.C.
I was a raku ceramist for 30 years. One day, I thought I would try something new, so I began constructing things from wood. I'm really enjoying the challenges involved in that, and of late, have expanded to collage which I also find very rewarding artistically." Just click on the title of this article to see more of her fantastic creations .

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Coffee Break


Its 4:30 A.M. as I get out of bed and make a pot of coffee . I stir creamer into the hot brew and head for the back door to my early morning haven , the back porch . This is my alone time . As I sip my coffee , I enjoy the quiet and watch and listen as the world comes awake . Soon my husband will be up wanting breakfast and our great grandaughter , who is just two will need my attention , but this is now and it's mine . As I watch , I see the sky line over Pompey mountain beginning to glow and I wonder what the sunrise will be like this morning . I hear the birds beginning to chirp in the trees around me annd a quail calls in the field . In a few seconds , I hear the sound again from a nearby tree and smile as I realize its a mockingbirds' mimic , this time . I remember that my Dad told me that the quail calls '' Bob White, Bob White ? '' . Then the spectacular sunset starts to form and I am totally amazed at the blazing color God has painted in the sky for me this morning . It looks like flames as the reds and oranges and yellows move accross the sky and blend together ! Oh to be able to paint like that ! Slowly , the daylight makes the sunrise fade away . I thank God then for all my blessings and for giving me this beautiful morning and letting me have this new day . I finish my coffee enjoying the morning . My husband knocks on the window of the back door . He is holding our grandaughter up where she can see me . I go and kiss them both good morning , ready for whatever the day brings .

Saturday, August 11, 2007

THISTLE CRAFT DESIGNS


Thistle Craft Designs is an Etsy shop full of bright beautiful light catching color . This is a portion of her interview : What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it? The earliest vivid crafting memory I have is my Mom teaching us how to crochet – I was no older than 6 at the time. All I could manage at the time was a chain stitch, but I was really good at it! My Mom taught us a lot of crafts, for which I am eternally grateful!
Why do you create? Why not? It is simply a part of who I am. To not create is to deny a part of myself.
What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from? Everything & Everywhere! I love looking through magazines and catalogues (just ask my poor mailman!). Nature provides a lot of inspiration also. Oh, and flea markets, estate sales, thrift shops, and the like – I love going to them with my Mom and seeing what things could be, rather than what they used to be! Any tips on selling handmade stuff? Be patient and persistent, have faith in yourself and your products, and don’t undersell yourself just to make a sale. And stay in touch with your market – no matter how much you like making something, if your market doesn’t want it, it isn’t going to sell! But, this does not mean to go against your values/morals – you must remain true to yourself because if you don’t like what you’re making, no one else will either! [You may visit her shop by clicking on the title to this article .]

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

DSL Designs


If you love one of a kind original pieces of jewelry , then DSL Designs is the place to go . The following is her own words . How long have you been creating? ''My passion for beading began at 12 and I haven't been able to stop since. In 2002, beading lead me down other creative paths like scrapbooking and sewing. Since then, I have extensively explored the world of crafts and am now savvy in Wire Wrapping, Fused Glass, PMC clay, Polymer Clay, Peyote Stitch, Right Angle Weave, and Square Stitch. I never miss an opportunity to learn a new craft. I have always felt that you learn to appreciate others work by learning what it really takes to create it. ''
What inspires you?''What inspires me most is the ocean. Whenever I go to the ocean I am always inspired to go home and create. Unfortunately, I live far from the ocean, so I oftentimes I lack inspiration. During times like that I start reorganizing my supplies and find inspiration in them. .'' Just click on the title of this article to visit her shop .

Sunday, August 5, 2007

E.T.C. First Monday


Etsy Texas Crafters is a group of online shop owners from http://www.etsy.com/ . If you are a Texan , you know about First Monday Trades Days , well members of Etsy Texas Crafters have their own First Monday . The first Monday of every month the fun begins at 12:01 A.M. with all participating members having sales and specials in their shops . Sales and specials run for twentyfour hours ! For a list of participating shops , click on the title of this article . I will have a special First Mondays section in my shop of specially marked down items and a free gift for every sale over $10 . Watch for the E.T.C. First Monday special avaters .

Friday, August 3, 2007

Crank Heart Pony


This Etsy shop has a little bit of everything . She says she is a stay at home mom who works part time as a teaching artist at an Art Center in Chicagoland . This is what she says about her work : I get inspired by lots of things, but for the most part, inspiration is internal and I usually have 'spur of the moment' creative jolts. Since I've been trained in several art forms, its hard to stay focused one one thing. Her since of humer is reflected in the name of her shop . A pony who needs a crank for a heart . With those hooves how is he going to crank it ? Visit her shop , http://www.CrankHeartPony.etsy.com

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Just Bead It !


This is another fantastic artist on Etsy ! She told me that she has been making jewelry for about two years . Her talent far exceeds what you would expect for only two years ! I asked her where she got her inspiration . This is her words , '' I am inspired by beauty and balance and femininity. I love creating a variety of styles. I love how designs can create 'feelings' and emotions. Color combinations can be subtle or dramatic depending on what kind of statement you are trying to make and what kind of mood you are in. '' Check out her shop , http://www.justbeadit.etsy.com/