tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335668252024-02-19T04:27:15.490-08:00Westchase Artists SocietyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-16836775213150509092013-11-12T05:51:00.003-08:002013-11-12T05:55:09.881-08:00NOVEMBER ARTIST OF THE MONTH<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so excited about our Artist of the Month feature, Elizabeth Fontaine-Barr. Elizabeth is a wonderfully talented artist and was just recently featured in the Westchase Fifth Third Bank branches. She also has a solo show running at Hillsborough Community College in the Culinary Arts Gourmet Room! It really is a treat to see Elizabeth's paintings in person. So without further delay, here's Elizabeth's interview.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I grew up in New Orleans and lived there most of my
life until moving to Tampa in my late 30's. I feel so fortunate to have grown
up in such a unique and creative city. I'm married to a musician/financial adviser
and we have one daughter who just started college this fall getting her BFA in
dance. I'd say we've got all the arts covered.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkTqdgXMPLnWQhBtq6HO4KAP2M6Henvrf9SQlTXYa5fLyNb_dLeLkP2VvBRUjrF_opBVbAVk8L0xdAp0Iai7a4aOEgR2v-hlSCF8ZrGu5ByW2zhT1G_vzOtzVAWC9T2CSast5/s1600/efbarr2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkTqdgXMPLnWQhBtq6HO4KAP2M6Henvrf9SQlTXYa5fLyNb_dLeLkP2VvBRUjrF_opBVbAVk8L0xdAp0Iai7a4aOEgR2v-hlSCF8ZrGu5ByW2zhT1G_vzOtzVAWC9T2CSast5/s320/efbarr2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Question: What first made you want to become an artist?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has always been a part of my life. As a little girl I loved to draw and doodle. It was something I always thought I would do. After graduating from college with a major in painting, the "making a living" reality set in, so I stopped that pursuit. It has been wonderful to finally get back to my passion an d sharing it with others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Question: Describe your creative process.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I love to paint landscapes and I love intense color.
I'm always working on 2-3 canvases at a time and often its a "not
knowing" process. Sometimes I use my travel photos as a trigger to create
a place but it doesn't really look like that. I want it recognizable but not
quite real. The mystery and beauty of nature is what I'm aiming to capture. I
scumble paint onto a canvas and then feel what is right for the scene with
color and shapes on top of that layer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Question: What are your favorite books, movies, groups, web sites?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My reading is usually non-fiction educational stuff-
art books, magazines, health. I love all kinds of movies except super creepy
and gory ones. So all the vampire/walking dead stuff isn't me at all. I'm not
much of a computer person.- I'd rather do things with my family or friends- go
see a movie, ballet, or paint. I'm not a solitary painter. I love to paint with
other artists.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Question: What groups are you affiliated with?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Westchase Artists Society, member of Tampa Museum and
Morean Art Center.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Question: In ten years I'd like to be...</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Well known as an accomplished artist, healthy and
active, still traveling a lot with my husband and living close to our daughter
wherever she is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg800du5A-8ySTnNy6Imr0_DMrkQtTZJZDLcZoGku6BwgDPc5_Of_RtRONsMI-CfIkzvvgwJmy07r9l2JzQaF9f0VQFRypjRifGHOpCO8bqtjh4J-An4s4IhCgJJV9uKJOpQR9i/s1600/efbarr6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg800du5A-8ySTnNy6Imr0_DMrkQtTZJZDLcZoGku6BwgDPc5_Of_RtRONsMI-CfIkzvvgwJmy07r9l2JzQaF9f0VQFRypjRifGHOpCO8bqtjh4J-An4s4IhCgJJV9uKJOpQR9i/s320/efbarr6.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #9c002d; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvlFHTemTc2Eq3wxHzxOuNwbWGN0MfmPx1GWwi36gDdIiy8sxjPDFmLt50SiEFsBw8m4RwZiyuEZrurscts12iFyqLSkKdtLxVtAGMZJXCWB3CFKkAKYIb1ep90BEQ-AWJZsD/s1600/efbarr5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvlFHTemTc2Eq3wxHzxOuNwbWGN0MfmPx1GWwi36gDdIiy8sxjPDFmLt50SiEFsBw8m4RwZiyuEZrurscts12iFyqLSkKdtLxVtAGMZJXCWB3CFKkAKYIb1ep90BEQ-AWJZsD/s320/efbarr5.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Right now I am honored to be the Artist
in Residence at the HCC Dale Mabry Campus. You can see my solo show by making
reservations with the Gourmet Room for lunch or dinner on Wednesdays and
Thursdays at </span><a href="mailto:diningroomreservations@hccfl.edu"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">diningroomreservations@hccfl.edu</span></a><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"> or call 813-253-7000. The show is up
thru the second week of December.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Elizabeth thank you so much for the interview and the fabulous images!!! Check back next month for another Artist of the Month feature.</span>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-12259227002895261862013-10-07T04:47:00.003-07:002013-10-07T04:47:56.030-07:00OCTOBER ARTIST OF THE MONTH
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the month of October, our Artist of the Month is Marilyn Chalk. Marilyn came to our group as a new member this year. One of the things that makes for a great group - members with different experiences. Marilyn adds to our eclecticticity (I know it's not a word). To find out more about Marilyn, read on!</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tell
us a little about yourself:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgJwIfl2Xu5dVexCqtXc8p7pj-8tEI9W3gdVf-f7G7YYr47aAmxmx3OV16Ug62oulZXBdYqdaPxQB0vEwirbsuigJU-P7VGhKrKLUBeE-r7TZKELrDo94B9DIB2jS2M5Bv7v1/s1600/chalk+head+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgJwIfl2Xu5dVexCqtXc8p7pj-8tEI9W3gdVf-f7G7YYr47aAmxmx3OV16Ug62oulZXBdYqdaPxQB0vEwirbsuigJU-P7VGhKrKLUBeE-r7TZKELrDo94B9DIB2jS2M5Bv7v1/s320/chalk+head+shot.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My husband and I are New England natives and having left
the cold winters of the great northeast, are now enjoying living in Palm
Harbor, Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What
made you want to become an artist?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While married, raising 2 sons and pursuing a career with
United Airlines, somewhere along the way, I realized I had an insatiable
appetite for art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began taking art
classes as a social outlet, which later led me to a Bachelor of Art Degree from
Simmons College in Boston, and years later to an association with the Museum of
Fine Arts also in Boston.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Favorite
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Girl with the Pearl Earring</i>”, both the
movie and the book, give insight to what life may have been like for an artist
living centuries ago, as well as a wonderful introduction to the beautiful
works of Vermeer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I like
books and movies that excite the imagination, challenge the brain and take you
to another place and time, which pretty much encompasses quite a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeZUvVLKXjFJFFp_f7GJWYEfiRuh8eEUiesSaifsibAWKXnZA0djqu_YqAvKrwmB5r4KAaYKUGTEFGu0nurAdR5hGO1VSV8jzNM4THvjcJZUz3zWQN_6dLO7tHu9uGSRV7P5X/s1600/chalk+harbor+master.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeZUvVLKXjFJFFp_f7GJWYEfiRuh8eEUiesSaifsibAWKXnZA0djqu_YqAvKrwmB5r4KAaYKUGTEFGu0nurAdR5hGO1VSV8jzNM4THvjcJZUz3zWQN_6dLO7tHu9uGSRV7P5X/s320/chalk+harbor+master.jpg" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What
groups do you belong to?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Westchase Artist Society<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dunedin Fine arts Center<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tarpon Springs Art Association<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">IN
10 YEARS I’D LIKE TO BE….<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMchUW6jV9fR0cDxpyYQNaXnAwwvcoR12d0GMvBd0vf8K79ZdvP23eH5kCBinybkC9ge3EEvF3236xS_ChwPB4KkwwOjMDr4o0N-7vOeQxHHEB1gyDH9FOl25C9D3bV0ZcDXTl/s1600/chalk+sept+11+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMchUW6jV9fR0cDxpyYQNaXnAwwvcoR12d0GMvBd0vf8K79ZdvP23eH5kCBinybkC9ge3EEvF3236xS_ChwPB4KkwwOjMDr4o0N-7vOeQxHHEB1gyDH9FOl25C9D3bV0ZcDXTl/s320/chalk+sept+11+2011.jpg" width="207" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy, healthy and still painting!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Marilyn, thanks for the interview! Another fantastic artist from the Westchase Artists Society. For our next Artist of the Month, be sure to check back next month.</span><br />
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Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-89534934306244488482013-09-05T10:36:00.001-07:002013-09-05T10:43:51.861-07:00September Artist of the MonthFor the month of September our Artist of the Month is the wonderful Sonia Lee. Sonia has quickly become a very active member of our group. So it's only fitting that Sonia is honored with the title this month. So without further ado, the following is Sonia's interview. Enjoy!<br />
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Sonia, tell us a little about yourself.<br />
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SL: I'm a Florida native born right here in Tampa. My husband of 42 years and I have one daughter and two beautiful granddaughters.<br />
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What made you want to become an artist:<br />
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SL: I've always had a love of painting and drawing but I was always told that I had to get a "real job." It was in my adult life (16 years ago) that I decided to attend Hillsborough Community College and take art lessons Encouragement from my art teacher was the motivating factor to continue learning and painting. I am now pursuing a career as a professional artist.<br />
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What are your favorite books, movies, groups, and websites?<br />
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SL: Anything in the sci-fi genre. I love a good scare or an air of mystery. I also like gaming websites.<br />
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What groups are you associated with?<br />
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SL: Westchase Artists Society.<br />
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In ten years, I'd like to be...<br />
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SL: Enjoying painting as much as I do today.<br />
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Thank you so much Sonia! What a cool surprise that you're a fellow sci-fi fan. You learn something every day. Please be sure to check back for our October Westchase Artist of the Month.</div>
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Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-89339909129823724692013-07-29T08:11:00.000-07:002013-07-29T08:11:41.111-07:00August Artist of the MonthIt's been a few months since we've had a featured Artist of the Month, so there's no time like the present to get things rolling again. Our artist getting us back on track is Pat Kruse. A relatively new member to the Westchase Artists Society, it's great to get to know Pat a little bit better. Please enjoy reading about Pat as well as her art work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WcS3RAvYVcQRwSsomERpirJzeFhccYQmV0WGlUoMkMuZpwlD6oUXzysS3RBKv6B_SeEfCRz4xhBxvloeyenzcW6P5t-04Mzsvh9aMnzxeU2ZS1B_untw4PEqIYwNR-jJoolu/s1600/pat+kruse+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WcS3RAvYVcQRwSsomERpirJzeFhccYQmV0WGlUoMkMuZpwlD6oUXzysS3RBKv6B_SeEfCRz4xhBxvloeyenzcW6P5t-04Mzsvh9aMnzxeU2ZS1B_untw4PEqIYwNR-jJoolu/s320/pat+kruse+4.jpg" width="259" /></a><br />
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.<br />
I recently moved to Westchase after having lived my entire life in Ohio. In Ohio, I had my own business as an interior designer. I have three married children and four beautiful grandsons. And I love spending time with my family.<br />
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2. What made you want to become an artist?<br />
I had an Aunt that was very artistic, so I had lessons from a very early age. We started by drawing, then went on to oils, then acrylics, pencil, and my current love - watercolors. Nature and landscapes are my primary focus, but I will try just about any subject.<br />
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3. Describe your creative process.<br />
I work primarily from photographs, starting with a precise drawing. Watercolors are more difficult to correct so accuracy from the start can be critical. I love texture in paintings and strive to try different ways to create it in my pieces.<br />
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4. What are your favorite movies, books, or groups?<br />
Besides painting I love to read mysteries. Likewise I enjoy movies that keep me on the edge of my seat and light comedies.<br />
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5. What groups are you affiliated with?<br />
Since moving to Westchase I have joined the YMCA and The Westchase Artists Society.<br />
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6. In ten years where do you see yourself?<br />
In ten years I hope to still be painting, but at an even higher level! After all there is always something new to learn.<br />
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Thanks Pat for taking the time to answer our questions and share your fantastic watercolors! Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-45629891034967966952013-05-04T17:59:00.000-07:002013-05-04T18:02:49.880-07:00Carter's Gallery Presents The Westchase Artists Society!May 4th was the Artist's Reception held at Carter's Gallery. Reporting in and what a great reception and what a great show! It's so much fun when our group gets together and we do put on a great party, if we say so ourselves. Lots of appetizers accompanied by a wonderful lemon and cucumber infused water provided by Carter's Gallery. Our hosts have been so gracious and we're so appreciative to Michelle and her crew for the hard work that they put into seting up the show. <br />
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Lots of hard work went into the planning of the reception, and Susan Whitaker, stepped up and did a fantastic job. Toni Crosby helped to coordinate the food and not a soul went hungry on Toni's watch. Teresa Trubilla, our fearless leader and President, did a spectacular job in getting the word out to the press and online venues. I think everyone can agree that we had a wonderful flow of people coming through and loving our work. <br />
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Carter's Gallery is a wonderful new gallery that has a spectacular selection of unique, high quality art, home decor and gift items. I got the feeling that I was walking through an art festival, but without the heat and humidity. They've spent a lot of time searching for just the right pieces to make their gallery special. It's great not to have to drive over to St. Pete to find that special something. And, with the addition of the Westchase Artists Society's selections, what better place to shop for Mother's Day, Father's Day and any other holiday coming up. <br />
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Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-37812960041607193992013-03-24T07:18:00.000-07:002013-03-24T07:18:56.471-07:00March 2013 Artist of the Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This month's Westchase Artists Society Artist of the Month is the wonderfully talented Nancy Cross. Nancy is a relatively new member to the group and a fabulous addition to the club. Without delay, here's Nancy's interview:<br />
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1. Tell us a little about yourself.<br />
I like to paint ocean scenes and am now interested in painting birds. I paint in acrylics. I also like to garden. I am active in my church, Lutheran Church of Our Savior.<br />
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2. What made you want to become an artist?<br />
Vacations on the California coast inspired me. And, I love color, especially the cool colors.<br />
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3. Describe your creative process.<br />
I am inspired by photos I have taken at the beach or pictures of lighthouses. I usually paint on a 16x20 canvas. That seems about the right size for me.<br />
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4. What are your favorite movies, books or groups?<br />
The movies I like to see are romantic comedies. Books would be mysteries. Past groups have been art leagues in California and Louisiana. in Tampa, it would be the garden club, the Gadabouts and church groups.<br />
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5. What groups are you affiliated with?<br />
Right now, I am affiliated with the Westchase Artists Society.<br />
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6. In 10 years, where do you see yourself?<br />
In 10 years, I hope to still be painting and improving my work.Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-62630833349167903952012-11-19T21:13:00.002-08:002012-11-19T21:13:34.181-08:00November 2012 Artist of the Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For the month of November's Westchase Artist of the Month it's our pleasure to present to you Linita Calvacca. Linita is a relatively new member to the Westchase Artists Society, so it's great to get to know her a little bit better through this feature. Enjoy!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Question:<span></span>Tell us a little bit about yourself.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have lived in the Tampa Bay area all of my life. I am married to a wonderful man Michael Calvacca we have a wonderful son Richie he married a beautiful woman Amy ....and now the reward is two grandsons Zachary and Dylan. All of my spare time is spent enjoying life as a Nana and as a daughter to my 83 year old mother. In a few years I plan on retiring from my now 27 year career as an accountant, at that time I want to devote time to my love of art. I have a beautiful little dog "Chloe Bella" that I enjoy.</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question:<span> </span>What first made you want to become an artist?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At an early age I was exposed to art. My father, although he never became able monetarily to live off of or support his family from his art work, always enjoyed drawing, painting and wood carving. After retiring my father was able to enjoy his continued love of painting and did sell many of his works. Also my brother was an artist that did show and sell many of his paintings in Manhattan where he lived most of his life. I have always admired and felt envious of anyone that could put on paper or canvas something beautiful...I wanted that ability.</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question:<span> </span>Describe your creative process.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1353386848305_97" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1353386848305_96"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I began studying under Vanessa Montenegro about a year ago after looking online to find someone to teach me to draw from photos. She did just that! In the past six months I have been commissioned to do several drawings of pets, children and family portraits from photos and at this point have sold many of my paintings. I am now working with acrylics and painting original landscapes. One of my landscapes "Lettuce Lake Boardwalk" was one of 39 paintings selected to be exhibited at The<strong> </strong>Tampa Bay Lightning Forum for the Lightning season. I currently have a website<span class="yiv636710121Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://artbylinita.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Http://Artbylinita.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Question: Favorite books, movies, groups, websites?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love reading my favorite author is John Steinbeck "Grapes of Wrath" "The Red Pony" "Of Mice and Men" another favorite book is "Geisha"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Movies my favorite is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or anything with Tom Hanks "Big" "Forrest Gump" "Cast Away""Sleepless in Seattle" any an all. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any groups affiliated with Moffitt Hospital and All Childrens Hospital ....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Websites..Animal Planet... National geographics.....Blink....Cafe Press......Etsy</span></span></div>
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<span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span><span class="yiv636710121Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Question: In ten years I'd like to be...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1353386848305_115" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow can't really say ....I know I still want to be a wife, mother, daughter, Nana and maybe in 15 or 20 years what would you call me a Great Nana ....wait I already am....lol</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also hopefully I will have many other proud moments in the art world.</span></div>
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Thank you so much Linita. Great interview. Stay tuned for upcoming Artists of the Month.</div>
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Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-88368410460301732052012-10-05T14:28:00.003-07:002012-10-05T14:28:47.750-07:00October 2012 Artist of the Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX7Xnio0n6fEKeO2tjO58oo9qojJ2fbKNlkBgoTM9SS0O1803dnca2-4oOSYB9W4UxXBjC9Hs8rk6D3L3iKfdGSe0XCEbjLMU0-5dhX2XB_u2WtzdnFX5wb_LqFjNYHEyxEVK/s1600/Roberta+headshot+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX7Xnio0n6fEKeO2tjO58oo9qojJ2fbKNlkBgoTM9SS0O1803dnca2-4oOSYB9W4UxXBjC9Hs8rk6D3L3iKfdGSe0XCEbjLMU0-5dhX2XB_u2WtzdnFX5wb_LqFjNYHEyxEVK/s320/Roberta+headshot+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the month of October we have another wonderfully talented artist to present. This artist is a relatively new member to our group and we're looking forward to getting to know her better. Presenting to you Roberta Fallon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roberta: I was born in the Bronx in NY and we moved Upstate to Dutchess County after we married to raise our children. I have a son, Randy , who lives up in NY, is married and has a little girl named Caitlin. I also have a daughter, Danielle, who lives in Waterchase with her husband and two children, Alexis 11 and Jack, almost 8. I have been a resident of Florida for 6 years now, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question: What first made you want to paint? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roberta: In 2002 I was spending alot of time in Ocean City, NJ. I had recently found out that an Aunt of mine was a painter. Also, my Father used to talk about painting but never gave it a shot. I decided to take lessons. I went to an Art Society in the area and got a list of artists who gave lessons. One of my favorite artists on the Island was on the list. I called her and that was the start. I worked with a small group of local artists some new to painting and others who were pros. I took lessons whenever I was in NJ and had to stop when we moved here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question: What's your creative process?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roberta: I will usually see a photo that attracts me and gets my creative juices flowing. I LOVE to paint my Grandchildren. Of course, most of the paintings take place on the beach. I have one of my Grandson that I call "Funky Jack". It's just so HIM. I use oils and I also love pastels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question: What are your favorite books, movies etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roberta: Being that I am a romantic at heart I love movies like West Side Story, Grease or anything with a happy ending. My favorite authors are Stephen King, Robin Cook and Dean Koontz. Anything that makes me think " Hmm, could that really happen?".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roberta: Hopefully still painting. I am starting School at Dunedin Fine Arts Center in the Fall so looking forward to improving my work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thanks Roberta for taking the time out for our interview. It's always fun to find out more about our artists. Stay tuned for November's Artist of the Month.</span> </div>
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Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-1476734562742355622012-09-04T10:13:00.002-07:002012-09-04T10:14:08.251-07:00September 2012 Artist of the MonthWe are so lucky at the Westchase Artists Society. Our membership has been growing and we're gaining some very diverse artist members. One of our relatively new members is Stacy Kinslow. Stacy brings to us the art of lampwork beadmaking. And after watching Stacy at work with her torch, I have a new respect for the medium. So, without further delay, here's Stacy's interview.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZBnNrllOeMSw8ZPPrOjjQo9fbmR5d98MW6PQKyluGEAnz8fE4wXDG7hDtUtazu0rKnT8wrzgq8cDI7kr2kTzW8LmTyRqpURquGcdMZA8aZxEV7R4G-UQTTTfyWsPWXyGG37p/s1600/Stacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZBnNrllOeMSw8ZPPrOjjQo9fbmR5d98MW6PQKyluGEAnz8fE4wXDG7hDtUtazu0rKnT8wrzgq8cDI7kr2kTzW8LmTyRqpURquGcdMZA8aZxEV7R4G-UQTTTfyWsPWXyGG37p/s320/Stacy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself.<br />
Stacy: I've lived in Tampa all my life. I have been married for 17 years and am a stay at home mom of a 5 year old. My mother was always very crafty. She sewed clothes and costumes, decorated cakes, made candles, even reupholstered furniture. I have cross-stitched, worked with a scroll saw, and love nature photography. I started making jewelry, then the glass beads.<br />
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Question: What first made you want to become an artist:<br />
Stacy: I always had an interest in stained glass and was fascinated by glass blowers, but once I saw a lampworker manipulate melted glass and create a miniature work of art, I was hooked.<br />
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Question: Describe your creative process.<br />
Stacy: I usually sit down and wonder how this color would look with that color. There's chemical reactions in the glass, sometimes they work in your favor, sometimes, not. You can build layers of transparent glass and build something different. Every bead is unique. There are so many techniques to learn and practice. The options are limitless.<br />
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Question: Favorite books, movies, website, groups....<br />
Stacy: I really enjoyed The Hunger Games, and enjoyed making beads inspired by the book. I am also enjoying the Enchanted Inc series.<br />
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Question: In ten years, I'd like to be...<br />
Stacy: Surviving my daughter's teenage years.<br />
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Stacy, thank you so much for taking the time to answer our interview questions. Great interview and fabulous beads! Please stay tuned and check back with us at the beginning of October for our next Artist of the Month spotlight.Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-35274652996979919462012-08-03T05:13:00.001-07:002012-08-12T14:56:25.793-07:00August 2012 Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPbM09OQc2_xyowo9_EpFvl2TA4TiLu-2_gQUosxy5-h6PEi-fA9UZimil14tFh8Ufjv7NnwXx8AZalHIuPzWCsN5LUCGk_jN0lxeI6TOtdS_zzCYOJX1nOKneMbQ3nKJsBI8/s1600/Victoria+headshot+bs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPbM09OQc2_xyowo9_EpFvl2TA4TiLu-2_gQUosxy5-h6PEi-fA9UZimil14tFh8Ufjv7NnwXx8AZalHIuPzWCsN5LUCGk_jN0lxeI6TOtdS_zzCYOJX1nOKneMbQ3nKJsBI8/s320/Victoria+headshot+bs.jpg" width="236" /></a><span style="color: black;">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the month of August our Artist of the Month is Victoria Tully. Victoria is a wonderful artist that creates her magic through paper making wonderful handcrafted cards. Each one is a special piece that takes the art of working with paper to a new level. It's always great to be able to get to know our artists a little bit better, so without further delay, here's Victoria's interview.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Question: Tell us a little bit about
yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I was born in
Toledo, OH but spent most of my life in Phoenix, AZ. I have lived in the Tampa
area for 20 years, almost 17 of those in Westchase. I love being active and
involved in the community.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m the owner
and operator of Victoria Tully Designs. I have always loved art, making things
and being creative. Many years ago I began making scrapbooks for myself and
family members. One year for Christmas, I tore apart my daughter and son’s baby
books, added photos from their childhood through young adulthood and made a big
scrapbook for each of them. To this day they say it was the best gift I ever
gave them. The following Christmas, I decided to do one for my stepdaughter and
stepson and included not only their childhood photos but pictures of their
father in his childhood and young adulthood. They loved them! My husband always
encouraged me with my scrapbooking hobby and often said he thought I had a
natural talent and I should go into business. I would laugh at him!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Then in the
spring of 2011, I found myself not knowing what to do. I had recently lost my
best friend, husband and my number one encourager of nearly 25 years. I needed
something to fill my time and emptiness and give me some degree of happiness. It
was my son (who had since become my number one encourager) who sent me an email
with a link to a scrapbooking and card making business and said, “Mom, you can
do this!” After kicking around the idea for a time, I thought what better
business to start than to do something I really love. I had been working on a
scrapbook for my neighbor’s 80th birthday celebration and realized the
fulfillment and joy I was receiving from creating this keepsake for her. That
was the beginning of Victoria Tully Designs…handmade invitations, scrapbooks
and greeting cards. On April 27, 2011, Victoria Tully Designs, LLC was filed
with the State of Florida.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Question: What first made you want to
become an artist?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">This question
tickles me. I am still getting accustomed to being referred to as an “artist.”
I can’t pinpoint an exact thing that made me want to become an artist. I
believe art has always been part of me. More importantly, it has always been
God’s plan for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">I am inspired by an
individual, a happy couple and/or an event. I play around with paper textures,
colors, layers and embellishments. God has given me a talent to listen to an
individual's vision, along with their likes and dislikes, and then be able to make it come alive in a card, invitation or scrapbook page.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> Question:</strong></span> <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">movies, website, groups…</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite books
are anything involving spiritual growth, encouragement and understanding.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I
read from the Bible daily. I also love books about art, cooking (my second
love) and decorating. My favorite website is YouTube. You can find out how to
do almost anything on it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">My taste in music is
very eclectic. I like pop 40 to jazz and classical. One of my favorite things
is the “Shuffle Songs” option on my iPod. I listen to music all day long. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Question: In ten years, I’d like to be…</b><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Receiving as much joy from my art and clients as I do today! The Lord
willing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-44108277275860262212012-07-06T05:27:00.002-07:002012-07-06T05:27:40.551-07:00July 2012 Artist of the Month<div class="yiv1198424205MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1341575845383104">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcsPa60NScZhVS6ZQBJyHieCYt4r5zKZ2iYL17G9ORBXVZzP2GdmQD86dmT11HWcgj0UPRSS2oN0EMacbji1OjOhZkO_JQVcWVAh696_ESGSVa8VqjfdzQ98sz41kY6pQs35Q/s1600/Sonya+headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcsPa60NScZhVS6ZQBJyHieCYt4r5zKZ2iYL17G9ORBXVZzP2GdmQD86dmT11HWcgj0UPRSS2oN0EMacbji1OjOhZkO_JQVcWVAh696_ESGSVa8VqjfdzQ98sz41kY6pQs35Q/s320/Sonya+headshot.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Our Artist of the Month for July is one of the few that have been with our group from the early days. It's always fun to have Sonya around because she brings a wonderful artistic style to all of our group projects. So here's a peak into what makes Sonya tick. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sonya:</span> </strong>Art is fun and limitless. Creating art has always brought me a tremendous amount of happiness. It’s always been there for me when I need a different perspective in the whirlwind.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Q. Describe your creative process.</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">My work begins with an idea usually inspired by something simple and normally overlooked. It’s quirky with a sense of humor -though often with an underlying message. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like to keep it stress free and just have fun…trying not to over-think it, but simply enjoy the journey. I prefer bright colors and imperfection. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1341575845383118" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1341575845383117" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I’m primarily a painter, but have made all sorts of art from all sorts of things. It’s important to me to explore and grow because that’s all part of the process and delight. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I take many deep breaths and I look up often, reminding myself that every day is a gift from God and beauty is all around us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">So, taking Sonya's lead, I'm taking a deep breath and hoping that you all enjoyed this installment of the Westchase Artists Society's Artist of the Month. Stay tuned for next month's installment and have an art-filled day!</span></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-85617855811659865402012-06-01T08:12:00.001-07:002012-06-01T08:15:31.316-07:00June 2012 Artist of the Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-XSdkZ0u7-Kr5FcUKd-kaZtO4g8XJcSwh1H9T_QBSmCXHkJcijEgipABni9Li81HO4xdT9ZdSeM3Mp7IgOroqxdSWi0FT5QmSosDivm9D68iwkBpDQz-V8hZOhe-QjWT3pp2/s1600/Rena+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-XSdkZ0u7-Kr5FcUKd-kaZtO4g8XJcSwh1H9T_QBSmCXHkJcijEgipABni9Li81HO4xdT9ZdSeM3Mp7IgOroqxdSWi0FT5QmSosDivm9D68iwkBpDQz-V8hZOhe-QjWT3pp2/s320/Rena+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the steamy month of June, the Westchase Artists Society's Artist of the Month is a wonderful artist named Rena Charles. Rena has added a spark of enthusiasm to our group and she's so much fun to be around. We're lucky to have her in our ranks. So, without further delay, here's Rena's interview.<br />
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<strong>Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself.</strong><br />
<strong>Rena:</strong> I received my B.A. in Art History and minored in Environmental Studies and Visual Arts from Emory University. Since then I've worked 9 years in the art industry here in Tampa. I am fortunate to be the Directory of Gallery Relations for a nationally known pop artist based right here. I love to travel, snowboard, watch football and golf, and dance and laugh with my friends. For every city that I've traveled, there's an accompanying museum or gallery district that I've also visited. Isn't it fascinating how people create so differently? That's why I fell in love with Art History, it never felt like studying.<br />
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<strong>Question: What first made you want to become an artist?</strong><br />
<strong>Rena:</strong> I simply enjoy painting. I see a vision in my head, or I am inspired by nature. Transposing that vision onto canvas or mat board or wood is refreshing, almost therapeutic. It's even more thrilling when someone wants to own what I've created.<br />
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<strong>Question: Describe your creative process.</strong><br />
<strong>Rena:</strong> My doggy, Bernie, curled next to me. A glass of wine doesn't hurt. I've usually sketched out what I want to paint and the color scheme is in my head. A lot of happy accidents happen along the way. I stop when the canvas makes me smile. I've sort of nestled myself into a tree theme. Trees have their own personalities and moods, all affected by the time of day, the time of year and the individual tree's characteristics. I like to refer to my paintings as expressionistic tree portraits.<br />
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<strong>Question: Favorite books, movies, website, groups...</strong><br />
<strong>Rena:</strong> I love to read sci-fi novels and watch sci-fi/action films. I regularly watch Anime and probably spend a bit too much time on Reddit.<br />
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<strong>Question: In ten years, I'd like to be...</strong><br />
<strong>Rena:</strong> In ten years, I'd like to have shared my work with a wider audience, snowboard down a double black diamond, get that 2nd tattoo I've been putting off, and still be chasing the next adventure!<br />
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Wonderful interview!! Thanks Rena for taking the time to answer our questions. Stay tuned for next month's Artist of the Month.Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-40127450707762622912012-05-01T06:40:00.000-07:002012-05-03T04:22:49.168-07:00May 2012 Artist of the Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the month of May our Featured Artist is the very talented Donna Hamlin. Donna is a relatively new member to the Westchase Artists Society and we're thrilled to have her as part of our group. As a glass artist Donna brings a new element to our group. So without any further delay, here's Donna's interview!<br />
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Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.<br />
D: Being a native of Tampa, Florida, I was born, raised and grew up in this city. As a child, I lived in an area called Wellswood, where I spent most of my life going to local schools, church and recreating with the other children in the neighborhood. Many of my childhood experiences took place in natural settings where the wonders of nature inspired me and shaped my character. Since my parents were both hard workers with strong moral character, they instilled in my two sisters and me the values of hard work and honesty. Growing up, we had three aunts all of whom were educators, so it was a foregone conclusion that we would be as well. Teaching became a lifelong dedication for both of us. We spent over three decades of our lives teaching young children, but now, looking back, it seems like it was only yesterday that we began.<br />
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Upon graduation from University of South Florida, I received certification in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. While working in Hillsborough County Schools as a Primary teacher, I was passionate about my work. I would spend hours creating fun instructional games that fostered in children the love for learning. Being a teacher of writing, and with the God given talent of creativity, I wrote volumes of poetry which I used to teach children the reading process, as well as the love of language. Currently, I am working on a compilation of original poetry, along with lesson plans, to teach young children the process of reading. It is titled, "Poems to Teach Literacy to Emergent Readers." Since I used them in the classroom, I saw the excitement that they generated in children as they learned to gain command of the language.<br />
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Art was another subject I loved to teach. Artistic expression is an important component of cognitive development. I, also, strongly believe that creativity is an innate characteristic of all people and if not stifled, it will manifest itesef in all areas of life from problem solving to creation of beautiful works of art.<br />
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Q: What first made you want to be an artist?<br />
D: In retrospect, I don't really know what inspired me to be an artist. I really think it was a God given blessing which I was born with, and as I grew this innate ability was nurtured and blossomed because of the love and dedication of my parents and many extraordinary teachers. I remember in junior high school, I had a remarkable art teacher who wore her hair up twisted in a bun on her head and rode a bicycle everyday. She was beautiful inside and out, and she always made every child feel special and talented. I, on the other hand, was always very critical of my own work, as they say, "I was my worst critic." but this attitude allowed me to finally realize that true art is not in perfection, but the essence of beauty comes from the attention to detail.<br />
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From the time I was a young girl, I loved stained glass works of art. When I attended art shows, like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to stained glass creations. I found glass a mesmerizing medium, because of its ever-changing visual imagery that is created at different hours of the day by the passage of light through the medium. What we see when we look at a stained glass creation is many times an ever-changing illusion. Ten years ago, I said to myself, "I can do that," and so I embarked upon a program of professional glass design by some of the most talented artists in the trade who became my mentors and friends. By natural progression, I later navigated into glass fusion and began to incorporate that medium into my stained glass creations. After that, I got involved with designing jewelery with fused glass, crystals, and gold wire wrapping. I did the art circuit locally, displaying and selling at local art venues such as art shows and craft fairs. Since I am prolific in my work, I am currently desiging a web page for marketing. I create panels, vases, mirrors, ash trays, dishes and wall decor. Glass is so exciting! The possibilities with it are limited only by one's skills and imagination. I guess that's true of most mediums.<br />
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Q: Describe your creative process.<br />
D: My creative process occurs randomly and unexpectedly at various times of the day or night. For that reason, I always keep readily available a camera or notepad. I remember once seeral years ago, while teaching a thematic unit on fairy tales and fantasy, I spontaneously wrote the beginning of a poem about a unicorn on the board, but suddenly stopped after one verse, not knowing where to go with it. Later, after typing it, I placed it in a drawer for several months where it remained, until months later, during a thunderstorm, I pulled it out, and verse after verse lilterally flowed out of my head like a dam filled with water that had burst. It turned out to be a narrative poem about a sad unicorn who told an ecological tale about "saving the earth." (Coincidentally, the day it "sprang forth" was Earth Day!) The children loved it. It is now earmarked for publication, not only as a poem, but as a picture book as well, titled "Tale of the Unicorn." Many times, also, my dreams are a source of inspiration for stories or poems. Always, regardless of the time or place, there's a pad and pen within reach.<br />
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Q: Favorite books, movies, websites, groups.<br />
D: Books - "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach, "Five People You Meet in in Heaven" by Mitch Albom and "Trinity" by Leon Uris. Also books of poetry by some poets such as Kahlil Gibran and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.<br />
Movies - "Gone With the Wind," "Avatar," "The Ten Commandments," and "Splendor in the Grass."<br />
Groups - Rolling Stones, Yanni, Stevie Nicks, Simon and Garfunkel, and Taylor Swift.<br />
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Q: In ten years I'd like to be...<br />
D: This is a question that I do not contemplate. I try to live everyday to the fullest, treat others the way I would want to be treated, engage in activities that promote spiritual, mental, and physical growth and enrichment. Most of all, I thank the Lord for all the blessings and talents that He gave me. I live by the thought that Life is a gift and that is why it is called "The Present."<br />
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Donna, thanks so much for taking the time out for your interview. It was great to get to know you a little bit better. Stay tuned for the Westchase Artists Society's next Featured Artist of the Month.Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-39415508768686080762012-03-12T05:24:00.007-07:002012-03-31T15:59:48.209-07:00April 2012 Artist of the Month<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmDpprINFQ1qmlMHgBGe8naB-3Zi0X7UgjgXAkA6gwjzmOCyylDCtK9qzAD0g61haao9ItGHINI6F4RAgLuNsy1_F7DadADOfFMGGALpsYx2bDnjtsqyL0jAPMDRX3dyc4D6G/s1600/harve.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 250px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718992301899694546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmDpprINFQ1qmlMHgBGe8naB-3Zi0X7UgjgXAkA6gwjzmOCyylDCtK9qzAD0g61haao9ItGHINI6F4RAgLuNsy1_F7DadADOfFMGGALpsYx2bDnjtsqyL0jAPMDRX3dyc4D6G/s320/harve.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYYjuzSPR0sYHhb1vu6qM8PiGQI6hSG00bxTYxn5qSNpPn1zBbu0p5XO5vNv26iEUZmCWRHxydbkwblRX15nLB0WLhtNPU3XzGer0vzCqr1DuGMh8FEnRFfX4XxetSpqLIrTV/s1600/Harve+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 227px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718992296359929666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYYjuzSPR0sYHhb1vu6qM8PiGQI6hSG00bxTYxn5qSNpPn1zBbu0p5XO5vNv26iEUZmCWRHxydbkwblRX15nLB0WLhtNPU3XzGer0vzCqr1DuGMh8FEnRFfX4XxetSpqLIrTV/s320/Harve+1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4q1hTTWSY2-fQ8kthGnNuChTA3BBGAGLGVhhtv9nqFV3hHcVxn6f1f4rgPl-88Km5PNdJFR5NQDEzfXzIpCs53nTe6l5k7BmxHukeoua29sjGJknXvmcOJXHOFOIbbDJSTBy/s1600/harve+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 229px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718992292498666786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4q1hTTWSY2-fQ8kthGnNuChTA3BBGAGLGVhhtv9nqFV3hHcVxn6f1f4rgPl-88Km5PNdJFR5NQDEzfXzIpCs53nTe6l5k7BmxHukeoua29sjGJknXvmcOJXHOFOIbbDJSTBy/s320/harve+2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9zEd3ESJWgncFBDHf-jDxsO6ebXZ9xm2IXVCef55CUVD9BtfdNZx5sZjRS0oq3sA6dZPv3SipuMAmNY-BCR02I4vl4Si2rtZCDRg1xR7rhMJ735zwGiT_7rk8S5bJo4aPMZ5/s1600/harve+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 221px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718992285068261138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9zEd3ESJWgncFBDHf-jDxsO6ebXZ9xm2IXVCef55CUVD9BtfdNZx5sZjRS0oq3sA6dZPv3SipuMAmNY-BCR02I4vl4Si2rtZCDRg1xR7rhMJ735zwGiT_7rk8S5bJo4aPMZ5/s320/harve+3.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div> </div><div>Our first Artist of the Month for 2012 is a VERY talented artist and active member of the Westchase Artists Society. As Vice President of our group, Harv goes above and beyond in helping with the organization of our group. Harv Berman not only makes art but shares his talent by teaching. We're so lucky to have Harv as a member of the Westchase Artists Society. So without further delay, here's Harv's interview.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself.</div><div>Harve: I graduated from the School of Visual Arts - New York City. I worked as an Assistant Art Director for two Advertising Agencies in NYC, served in the Viet Nam War from 1966-1968. I earned a Masters Degree in Education from the George Washington University, Washington, DC. Worked as a government employee supporting the Special Operations Command where I retired. Finally teaching for USF OLLI Program, teaching Watercolor in the Learning in Retirement Program.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Question: What first made you want to become an artist?</div><div>Harve: While at the School of Visual Arts my areas of concentration were in Graphic Arts and Illustration. My constant trips to art museums sparked my interest in the Impressionist Movement which I seem to favor and can be seen in some of my work.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Question: Describe your creative process.</div><div>Harve: Working in watercolor - I enjoy the process of laying one color over another to obtain depth within the subject that I am trying to capture. I like to believe that painting is not just what you see but what you make others see.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Question: Favorite books, movies, website, groups: </div><div>Harve: I like reading the Dan Brown books because several of the subjects and places that he has written about I have visited, making them more visual. As far as movies - I like action movies that deal with ancient medieval periods.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Question: In ten years I'd like to be...</div><div>Still teaching - - I enjoy when people create images that put a smile on their faces - - a sense of accomplishment.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Thanks Harv for the interview! Stay tuned for our next Artist of the Month.</div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-1308482819931380702012-01-29T06:04:00.000-08:002012-01-29T06:38:44.677-08:00January 2012 Meeting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseszeHAdqmr92t1vrZdSeWQTYZy7Vcdkv-y7BS8LUnmoOHCkxU_YKADFk1gK2WVkMmRZ-K734Yp6O7RfScORoI_LZdCZcVh0Vg5sB8v1EC8W58KEfFlFUurZeECIkdC71NBTb/s1600/Liz+with+calendar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 317px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703062031461001042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseszeHAdqmr92t1vrZdSeWQTYZy7Vcdkv-y7BS8LUnmoOHCkxU_YKADFk1gK2WVkMmRZ-K734Yp6O7RfScORoI_LZdCZcVh0Vg5sB8v1EC8W58KEfFlFUurZeECIkdC71NBTb/s320/Liz+with+calendar.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3Mdi7oEbqB7Xk6Fh61z2UzaIJ50_DLO_RRjc_GiM93ZVp3_TjmAguOjkJR3mydVqGYzvtgUC60VOAenUUBuVStuXvQG1N6-TX-T6ft-xh_Ot11_4Z31BRhi0IzUHZaDTxGw2/s1600/Susan+with+calendar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 284px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703062024642014002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3Mdi7oEbqB7Xk6Fh61z2UzaIJ50_DLO_RRjc_GiM93ZVp3_TjmAguOjkJR3mydVqGYzvtgUC60VOAenUUBuVStuXvQG1N6-TX-T6ft-xh_Ot11_4Z31BRhi0IzUHZaDTxGw2/s320/Susan+with+calendar.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwq7_yl4sxSKn66D6MHKfGFcXS1u1fCXZje2Stq-NIgVBAAmJ2wLxdf5HJFdKlCkCd88viiKgmP0upXo16-wPZc_iplq9afWItaPXOr8dVunAgWZtVTqfmRB00eErAc05iUm2/s1600/Judy+with+calendar+cats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 262px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703062005370592722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwq7_yl4sxSKn66D6MHKfGFcXS1u1fCXZje2Stq-NIgVBAAmJ2wLxdf5HJFdKlCkCd88viiKgmP0upXo16-wPZc_iplq9afWItaPXOr8dVunAgWZtVTqfmRB00eErAc05iUm2/s320/Judy+with+calendar+cats.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8yAp8KWi2AcNq2H0I-hLNxYBuPVOqt3mG3cCnUrhqGaBr0W83yHYooHgAhGcfhozSOJLsdolFpyDr20Zo4ZiuLJJXHouPhWLiuq_8Fmxc94MxklK24CuEYCu8zezfdTJv6lA/s1600/Donna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 296px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703062001693922370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8yAp8KWi2AcNq2H0I-hLNxYBuPVOqt3mG3cCnUrhqGaBr0W83yHYooHgAhGcfhozSOJLsdolFpyDr20Zo4ZiuLJJXHouPhWLiuq_8Fmxc94MxklK24CuEYCu8zezfdTJv6lA/s320/Donna.jpg" /></a><br /><div>A new year and our first meeting of 2012. Just a few photos from our January meeting. Top photo is Liz Rylan proudly holding her own 2012 calendar of photos from her trips to Italy. Second from top is Susan Whitaker holding her page from the 2012 Westchase Artists Society calendar that shows one of her beautiful oil paintings. Third from top is Judy Freeman holding her February page from the 2012 Westchase Artists Society calendar, and lastly, prospective new member, glass artist extraordinaire, Donna Hamelin.</div><div> </div><div>For more information on our next meeting, check our GoogleGroups page at:</div><div><a href="http://groups.google.com/group/westchase-artists">http://groups.google.com/group/westchase-artists</a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-28910509706785187782011-10-18T04:13:00.001-07:002011-10-18T04:48:15.409-07:00October, 2011 Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQYwrAGPOcfvFEw4GhlSd-rdcKB3dsQldtfFesAnVSNf6r7KcAegf5T3PYaXF25Iz8UxgBFfg6iFJQa63m8rshh14-7GqzSVuQsuaapPmkKTokS98eE9UPAxnP5rXf0qv89Ju/s1600/Olga+headshot.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664796987442139698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQYwrAGPOcfvFEw4GhlSd-rdcKB3dsQldtfFesAnVSNf6r7KcAegf5T3PYaXF25Iz8UxgBFfg6iFJQa63m8rshh14-7GqzSVuQsuaapPmkKTokS98eE9UPAxnP5rXf0qv89Ju/s320/Olga+headshot.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PkwUqU7QnC3TFLqUuybg5vtlXCIIYCxdI5HHDPWpWqExIlbon8DxTjZ-VlZOOx87Zbj1p29knA7uH4dK4e1cSY9Zddm5BCdu2WD9isDUsx6m7UQX6zzfTwVlQadlbq5q6Q6m/s1600/Journy+of+Dreams.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664796978756617682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PkwUqU7QnC3TFLqUuybg5vtlXCIIYCxdI5HHDPWpWqExIlbon8DxTjZ-VlZOOx87Zbj1p29knA7uH4dK4e1cSY9Zddm5BCdu2WD9isDUsx6m7UQX6zzfTwVlQadlbq5q6Q6m/s320/Journy+of+Dreams.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXyJuULdvPIJHC9QWbhghScmUhgStsWPnJeuMJnODayI8jJFh6_3aLGibrHffHGSaux07v8QiOijXqeiBEEFDjg6Sk4hkETmU30mGbimKxNRu-NKL-J9a_9snoEB-2FlT9V0-/s1600/Zebra.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664796971442953538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXyJuULdvPIJHC9QWbhghScmUhgStsWPnJeuMJnODayI8jJFh6_3aLGibrHffHGSaux07v8QiOijXqeiBEEFDjg6Sk4hkETmU30mGbimKxNRu-NKL-J9a_9snoEB-2FlT9V0-/s320/Zebra.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>For October we have one of the first members of the Westchase Artists Society. Olga Fridella a wonderfully talented artist whose work is perfect for people like me, who love color. Olga's work is always a crowd favorite at any of our group shows. It's been a real pleasure getting to know Olga over the past few years and now with her interview, it gives us the opportunity to get to know a little bit more about Olga. So without further delay, here's Olga's interview.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>Question: </strong>Tell us a little bit about yourself.</div><br /><div><strong>Olga: </strong>I was born in Columbia S.A. and came to this Country as a young girl. My cousin was doing an internship in a Georgia Hospital in Atlanta. His wife just had a baby and needed a sitter. Seeing the opportunity to come to the USA, I volunteered for the job, but...things did not go well with his American wife because of communication problems. A few months after I left the babysitting job I didn't want to go back to my Country yet, since I wanted to explore new things and learn the English language. I endured challenges on my way, but I had a goal to achieve.</div><br /><br /><div>Meantime during these months, I had met an older couple in the suburban neighborhood where I would run to after my cousin and his wife came home. They helped with my English and became my friends and confidants and suggested that I should move to a home for young girls. They knew of a place called Churches Home for Business Girls in downtown, they gave me the address. On a day off, I took a chance and hitchhiked to my destination. When I got there I talked to the lady in charge who accepted me immediately and gave me a tour. I was very excited to see this beautiful, huge, southern mansion with a wide staircase in the middle of the living room and I was going to live there with 130 young girls and 5 sweet ladies they called house mothers. They were in charge of everything.</div><br /><br /><div>Soon enough I moved. There were some rules to keep but it was great! I made friends instantly. While living there I took a Nurses Aide course at the hostpital and Human Relations, earned my certificates and started working at the Georgia Baptist Hospital to pay for my room and board. After 6 months I was fluent in English. I lived there for 1 year until I went back to my family for a visit. As I was going back and forth to Colombia and USA for a couple of years, I met my husband of 40 years in New York City. We lived in New Jersey until his early retirement. We then moved to Tampa in Westchase and have been living here for 14 years.</div><br /><br /><div>While living in New Jersey I took art classes from famous artists. I was a member of several art groups where I exhibited, won awards and sold many paintings.</div><br /><br /><div>I have always been restless...searching to learn new things so I took several semesters of non-credit courses, French and music at the University of South Florida. I practice martial arts, play piano, am active at the gym, yoga and swimming. I also manage to take care of my legally blind husband.</div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> What first made you want to become an artist?</div><br /><div><strong>Olga: </strong>I think I've always been an artist. As a little girl I was already dabbling on the walls of my house and I got in trouble. Art was always in my mind.</div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> Describe your creative process.</div><br /><div><strong>Olga: </strong>My painting process is very simple. I just follow my instincts, but based on training, each painting is a puzzle and the task of the artist is to find solutions for his own puzzles. Not every painting I do is a success, but I love to express myself on canvas with colors and ideas. When I finish a painting, I hang it on the wall to study it and do my own critique.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> Favorite books, movies, website, groups...</div><br /><div><strong>Olga: </strong>I don't have much time to read books, but I just read the Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewsky. The movies I like: August Rush, Sister Act, Entrapment, and the new Dolphin's Tail.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>Question: In ten years I'd like to be...</strong></div><br /><div><strong>Olga: </strong>Well... we make plans and God decides, but I would like to be happy and peaceful and of course still painting!</div><br /><br /><div>It's so much fun to read the monthly interviews, getting to know our members just a little bit better. And of course now that we know that Olga studies martial arts, puts a whole new level of respect out there. Perhaps a new action hero is in the future for Olga. Thanks so much Olga for taking the time to answer our questions. Stay tuned for next month's installment.</div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-69720949059835827692011-09-10T15:40:00.000-07:002011-09-10T16:07:17.534-07:00September, 2011 Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEdG_o7iuovsQ551hKIlUYGhodnYeClm4YgZQwvD97of85QrJ7F9B4n-FaGN9o_N2kP1AEjtfOFnHAIE-6Ybhdj6DWayz7qv4-Ml6eWOsbOLgg1EorelouU67KjnpMiuxjOhL/s1600/Amy+photo.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650870191760069906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEdG_o7iuovsQ551hKIlUYGhodnYeClm4YgZQwvD97of85QrJ7F9B4n-FaGN9o_N2kP1AEjtfOFnHAIE-6Ybhdj6DWayz7qv4-Ml6eWOsbOLgg1EorelouU67KjnpMiuxjOhL/s320/Amy+photo.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1tGhdPBYKE70gUUr4eDVnnu2gukql9A5hjtjmmIC_gNrAVM4zx3dgbAPfS0o8S7j0neeN8eqx0M-QjRII1s1YCD7ic_RgBYIpBR_B2SZfhN3Yd-pglCVIWGgwQebL_Ud8Jii/s1600/Meditation+Garden.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650870186810724386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1tGhdPBYKE70gUUr4eDVnnu2gukql9A5hjtjmmIC_gNrAVM4zx3dgbAPfS0o8S7j0neeN8eqx0M-QjRII1s1YCD7ic_RgBYIpBR_B2SZfhN3Yd-pglCVIWGgwQebL_Ud8Jii/s320/Meditation+Garden.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6jHCqqodiGIbxs-yflOWos9oYmvkzWQhvSKbHx8450wwOsuNZ1yfA3HAuDZFRLSLa8ZMYlLqAwz-FSgyQW7-njvmwbuzYV7iw2gX802OXG08UXPbOFIcT9Tz0NlPMvZUKnFb/s1600/Castle+Wall+Tealight+Holder.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650870184569457426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6jHCqqodiGIbxs-yflOWos9oYmvkzWQhvSKbHx8450wwOsuNZ1yfA3HAuDZFRLSLa8ZMYlLqAwz-FSgyQW7-njvmwbuzYV7iw2gX802OXG08UXPbOFIcT9Tz0NlPMvZUKnFb/s320/Castle+Wall+Tealight+Holder.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxGWB3PQ1qj2itiF3DhXeohqKLEWsvkC3qEG_Q4wPURdhg1rlmjLmRDdZ8x9Pyl_Ma17tCSqdmr1PkQBoakvinMXs1eQyZaiaz1Yxh2lCsX2YvaBSST2kdXhoug_t4MO_dhfD/s1600/Layered+Sunset+Vase.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650870182718633154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxGWB3PQ1qj2itiF3DhXeohqKLEWsvkC3qEG_Q4wPURdhg1rlmjLmRDdZ8x9Pyl_Ma17tCSqdmr1PkQBoakvinMXs1eQyZaiaz1Yxh2lCsX2YvaBSST2kdXhoug_t4MO_dhfD/s320/Layered+Sunset+Vase.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>For the month of September the Westchase Artists Society's featured artist is Amy Lennard Gmelin. Amy's a relatively new member to the club and has managed to hit the ground running. Amy participated in our Summer Showcase at Great Art and Frame and even sold one of her fantastic pieces. So without further delay here's Amy's interview:<br /><br />Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself.<br />Amy: I grew up in New York and New Jersey and now happily reside in New Port Richey, FL with my husband and son. For a long time I was a professional student but did eventually get a BFA in Photography from the University of Florida (GO GATORS). I quickly learned that a career in art does not pay the bills so I entered the healthcare field and that is my present occupation. When I'm not working I can usually be found in my spacious 6' x 6' corner of the garage. This is the first year that I have attempted to sell any of my artwork and so far so good. Some of my concrete sculptures can be found at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/mysterystone">http://www.etsy.com/shop/mysterystone</a> and also at three different venues in the Tampa Bay area. My other loves besides family and art are in no particular order: eating massive amounts of chocolate, watching Dallas Cowboys football if they're winning, buying plants before the money runs out... etc. etc. etc.<br /><br />Question: What first made you want to become an artist?<br />Amy: I can't think of what made me want to become an artist -- I think I've just always been one. I've always been amazed by the textures and patterns I see in everyday objects or nature, for exampe; cracks in the sidewalk, peeling paint on old buildings, or moss growing on rocks gets me every time. I'm one of those crazy people that picks up rusty pieces of metal in the middle of the road and I feel like I've found buried treasure -- it's all art to me.<br /><br />Question: Describe your creative process.<br />Amy: I have tried many different art forms and media over the years from paint to clay to photography, but I have finally found my artistic soul mate in concrete. I create functional sculptures using ordinary grey Portland cement and sand purchased straight from the home improvement store. One of my goals in life is to show that concrete is not just for sidewalks and countertops -- it can take the form of so many unique and beautiful shapes, textures and colors. The pieces that I create are produced in many different ways because I love to experiment. At least once a day I think to myself "what would happen if I..." And so some of these sculptures are produced by pushing concrete into various molds (glass, plastic, cardboard, etc.) or by carving or chiseling a semi-hardened concrete block. I will then incorporate acid stains, colored sand, found objects -- anything that strikes my fancy at the time. I usually start out with a drawing or idea in mind and then end up with something completely different from my original plan.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Question: Top 5: books, movies, songs, websites, groups</div><br /><div>Amy: I am not a big movie fan -- short attention span for anything on a screen -- so I'll go back in time and list "When Harry Met Sally" as a favorite movie. Love all different types of music: The Beatles, Third Day, Alison Krauss, India.Arie, the list could go on forever. A few of my favorite authors are Nicholas Evans (The Horse Whisperer), Alice Hoffman (Turtle Moon), and Sarah Addison Allen (Garden Spells).</div><br /><br /><div>Question: In ten years I'd like to be...</div><br /><div>Amy: Healthy and Happy<br /><br />Wow! What a great interview. It was a blast getting to know a little bit more about Amy's process and inspiration. I for one now have a whole new perspective on concrete thanks to Amy. Stay tuned for our next Artist of the Month!</div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-27949467948591794722011-08-01T20:44:00.000-07:002011-08-18T05:03:52.098-07:00August Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdjBaeM1x72Qd6e634605Z7T9WZ4EGFxR1vLKQfIWQ3DxpY-H97rkg1gawdPbOIxezZTyGTHpMjZofIYRUwo5lBLa5lhyphenhyphenFWfhhULCdJmPlEc_IS2J4sItI5zIFTiiIHHVNEj-/s1600/SWhitaker.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642165130715728082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdjBaeM1x72Qd6e634605Z7T9WZ4EGFxR1vLKQfIWQ3DxpY-H97rkg1gawdPbOIxezZTyGTHpMjZofIYRUwo5lBLa5lhyphenhyphenFWfhhULCdJmPlEc_IS2J4sItI5zIFTiiIHHVNEj-/s320/SWhitaker.jpg" /></a>
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<br />For the month of August the Westchase Artist of the Month is Susan Whitaker. A new member to the club in 2011, Susan passed the "initiation" participating in our Summer Showcase at Great Art and Frame. So without further delay, here's Susan's interview:</div>
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<br /><div><strong>Question</strong>: Tell us a little bit about yourself.</div>
<br /><div><strong>Susan</strong>: I've been married to my husband, Mike, for 27 years; and we have three grown children. Always creative and artistic, I majored in Business to develop my "practical" side. In 2007, after 26 years in the insurance field, I retired to take care of my mother. Also, my husband recruited me to work part-time in his business, where my job is to make up custom stains and tinted lacquers that we sell to cabinet makers and furniture refinishers. Florida has been my home for the last 34 years. It's the perfect place for an artist to settle! Although I enjoy many different hobbies, including sewing, gardening, reading, music and motorcycling, my favorite pursuit has always been art. I mostly enjoy working with pencils, watercolors and oils.</div>
<br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> What first made you want to become an artist?</div>
<br /><div><strong>Susan:</strong> Actually I've been an artist my entire life. As a child, I entered and occassionally won school or community art contests. I drew my own paper dolls and all of their clothing and sent them to my cousins. I wrote and illustrated my own magazines and family newspaper. Using pencils or pastels, I drew everything from a buxom Jayne Mansfield to scragly wind blasted-trees. Art took a back seat during my career and child-raising years, but I took some lessons in watercolors and oils, and started painting a little during that time. I've illustrated women's club, community, and company newsletters, and designed T-shirts for family reuinions. Now I'd like to ramp it up and develop my painting style. That's why I joined the Westchase Artists Society - not only to learn from others and fine tune my craft, but also to acquire the discipline to apply myself to it.</div>
<br /><div><strong>Question</strong>: Describe your creative process.</div>
<br /><div><strong>Susan:</strong> I take lots of photographs, and in my head there is a storehouse of ideas for subjects and treatments. I learn from books and other artists' techniques and tips. I set aside an entire morning or afternoon create. Before starting a painting, I feel joy, excitement, and anticipation.</div>
<br /><div>Before the painting is finished and in between painting sessions, I "visit" my painting until I see areas that need correcting or enhancing. I also look at the painting in a mirror, which immediately highlights erros in balacne and perspective. I stop when I'm as satisfied as I'll ever be with the painting. I also know when to just throw it out and start over. Even disappointments are exciting, because of what I learn in the process.</div>
<br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> Favorite books, movies, website, groups...</div>
<br /><div><strong>Susan: </strong>All of Jane Austen's masterpieces; I admire her wit and use of irony. Legal and courtroom thrillers by John Grisham, Steve Martini, and Scott Turow. Detective novels by Agathy Christie and Sue Grafton. Books about Florida, like the works of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Carl Hiaasen, adn of course, <em>The Everglades, River of Grass</em>, by Marjorie Stoneman Douglas. Movies: Mostly drama: <em>Dr. Zhivago, Gone With the Wind</em>, (Oh yes, I loved that book, too!) Just starting to introduce myself to opera. I get DVD's of opera productions from Netflix or the library - so far my favorite is <em>Carmen</em> but I love <em>Madama Butterfly</em>. I don't like staring at a computer screen, but I do try to keep up with the Westchase Artists and Cigar City HOG websites.</div>
<br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> In ten years I'd like to be...</div>
<br /><div><strong>Susan:</strong> Spending many more hours painting, with a website. Puttering in a fully grown garden. Cooking out with family and friends on a large deck. Relxing with my husband near the white dunes and sea oats at Siesta Key, walking barefoot in the sand and surf, breathing in the salt air, picking up seashells, and watching the sun set. </div></div></div>
<br />Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-43042663081935381102011-07-17T10:49:00.001-07:002011-07-17T11:30:04.256-07:00June 2011 Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGJ8jRlWBia_caj6Mr9PQAWLMubjzAkXzCdcvAhsa_BNHFbdJi3rQAflHuET-NeLQ6unkdCr_eynKpEPJGCjjl90GDB42mfLNR5HCXNxJGuoVuWhO-oln7t9FPoAOssfN_UMP/s1600/SHawley.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630389738191113954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGJ8jRlWBia_caj6Mr9PQAWLMubjzAkXzCdcvAhsa_BNHFbdJi3rQAflHuET-NeLQ6unkdCr_eynKpEPJGCjjl90GDB42mfLNR5HCXNxJGuoVuWhO-oln7t9FPoAOssfN_UMP/s320/SHawley.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8Ei4vNaArRWEo_YZU6b3d7KZ6Ylfv69t6ceM56QsQZ7H-zAFbiVxVYxG6aqr_dcp4K8q_facsYOuGgABT6BXwZaJOrLU-MhUbXALr89vSdIi-vT33e020-JMG90KZKfB6NVU/s1600/IMG_20110630_184906.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630389730007187906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8Ei4vNaArRWEo_YZU6b3d7KZ6Ylfv69t6ceM56QsQZ7H-zAFbiVxVYxG6aqr_dcp4K8q_facsYOuGgABT6BXwZaJOrLU-MhUbXALr89vSdIi-vT33e020-JMG90KZKfB6NVU/s320/IMG_20110630_184906.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOhifCz2GcuGtnj2U346eZQcniT_p46dpxrGQk7ila5hNHIL61W8JXCzDDG2Q9IPM2Zp5t3bAFIhBtzjfXpwEAxJCeRJGrur3u3ejQcxBsabQX7LDCGopD_KCR8fkoutAwxLz/s1600/IMG_20110630_151009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630389723221088786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOhifCz2GcuGtnj2U346eZQcniT_p46dpxrGQk7ila5hNHIL61W8JXCzDDG2Q9IPM2Zp5t3bAFIhBtzjfXpwEAxJCeRJGrur3u3ejQcxBsabQX7LDCGopD_KCR8fkoutAwxLz/s320/IMG_20110630_151009.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2vVcPmuL-Q_o2zKggJciHeDHQmyEOYGn5beaee5DxoCPfeHjtYymxZOiEwcOvqVjrsb4yUsbGq2bNAqFe1c44dJf1nQagQNyJncfA0d1D3oGDAgF6hxihU08ECZ37pXgi-dv/s1600/IMG_20110630_150432.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630389718850278162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2vVcPmuL-Q_o2zKggJciHeDHQmyEOYGn5beaee5DxoCPfeHjtYymxZOiEwcOvqVjrsb4yUsbGq2bNAqFe1c44dJf1nQagQNyJncfA0d1D3oGDAgF6hxihU08ECZ37pXgi-dv/s320/IMG_20110630_150432.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>From the Westchase Artists Society's June monthly meeting our Artist of the Month is a new member, so this post will help all of us get to know Susan Hawley a little bit better. I hope you enjoy Susan's interview as much as we did! So without further delay...</div><br /><div>Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself.</div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>Susan: I grew up in Western New York as the daughter of a farmer and artist mom and one of 5 kids. Growing up on a farm and riding horses across the fields, I gained my love of the outdoors! I have been an extremely active person all my life - am a past professional white water river guide on the Sierra mountain rivers and have hiked and skiied throughout the Sierras and Lake Tahoe and Yosemite as well as the Teton mountains while living in Jackson, Wyoming (having skiied there over 80 days one year!). I have traveled to Europe and lived in Switzerland and then to Colomiba, South America and Mexico.</div><br /><div>I am an entrepreneur at heart, creating Hawley Physical Thereapy in San Jose, CA and Lake Tahoe, CA. I have retired from P.T. and have recently moved to Tampa to be closer to my daughter and my 8 month old grandson. I presently own Spencer Morris Investments, LLC, a real estate investment company. I am a proud mom and now grandmom of 8 month old Xavier!</div><br /><div>Question: What first made you want to become an artist:</div><br /><div>Susan: In spite of loving art of all taypes, I never thought of being an artist myself - not sure why - perhaps I figured I couldn't. I watched my mom paint in oils and watercolors but never thought of painting myself. Then, one Fall day nearly 4 years ago, as I was recovering from a near fatal car accident, I went for a drive to see the Fall colors - wandering and wondering what I was going to do with my life. I was feeling quite lost and happened on a small village art shop and gallery. As I lamented to the owner, she suggested I take a watercolor class that coincidentally was to start the next week! Well... I started... and haven't looked back since!</div><br /><div>Question: Describe your creative process.</div><br /><div>Susan: Wow! Well, my "process" is ever evolving as I paint more. I love taking classes, going to demonstrations, and just pushing myself to continue to try new things. I find that since I came out of my accident somewhat like a phoenix and since I picked up a brush, I see the world with a different eye - a new eye that enjoys shapes and colors and movement!</div><br /><div>I take photos galore, read art books but my favorite is painting outdoors - en plein aire! Sometimes I finish a painting in one sitting, sometimes it takes weeks.</div><br /><div>Hey - I just remembered - I, once long ago, enjoyed photography using an SLR! I supposed I pull on these experiences and knowledge base for composition/shapes and color?</div><br /><div>Question: Apart from creating art, what do you do?</div><br /><div>Susan: - I spend as much time with my grandson as possible.</div><br /><div>- I work in my company rehabbing homes and happily am in charge of the landscaping - which I love to design and create!</div><br /><div>- I volunteer with groups like Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Youth for Human Rights International and Citizens Commission for Human Rights</div><br /><div>Question: Favorite books, movies, websites, groups:</div><br /><div>Susan: Books: Harry Potter and Twilight Series, historical novels, some Sci Fi; Movies: Harry Potter, The Devil Wears Prada, Disney; Websites: see above groups; groups: see above groups plus Niagra Frontier Watercolor Society and now- Westchase Artists Society!</div><br /><div>Susan thank you so much for taking the time to go through our interview!!! We welcome you to our group of artists and are happy that you made the move to Tampa. </div><br /><div>Stay tuned for next month's Artist of the Month interview. Until then, if you're interested in attending a Westchase Artists Society meeting, we meed the 4th Tuesday of the month. Our next meeting will be at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center in the Community Room. Located just off Countryway Blvd. behind the fire station.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-85311467259376052992011-06-10T05:02:00.001-07:002011-06-10T09:46:17.014-07:00May Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcaYpGoqJgatzvrc70R5rfcVXnF9R1zsrHPwS_QT3TJM0Q7tpYNdyJqJ49rS9h0zg7ch3ZVggsCXdUSRf-JowXpu1DvilSPqj1L_DmCJE5cQp_QTHejtWJlP4dGgybBuMqc8A/s1600/vanessa+headshot.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616632248304568706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcaYpGoqJgatzvrc70R5rfcVXnF9R1zsrHPwS_QT3TJM0Q7tpYNdyJqJ49rS9h0zg7ch3ZVggsCXdUSRf-JowXpu1DvilSPqj1L_DmCJE5cQp_QTHejtWJlP4dGgybBuMqc8A/s320/vanessa+headshot.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQjkTojh3WEaYLclbNLM-Bx3X9QQJV0KveM8H4D9L7PzyI9suM4FwSWDbywSyjLRmWdhy-mFwwt241E6Nm_5NM1M24ieCjnKhEDs3kNNg1rp3M1v4dqknCxCmJFUyv6i5XKii/s1600/giraffe_vanessa_montenegro.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616577150395746338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQjkTojh3WEaYLclbNLM-Bx3X9QQJV0KveM8H4D9L7PzyI9suM4FwSWDbywSyjLRmWdhy-mFwwt241E6Nm_5NM1M24ieCjnKhEDs3kNNg1rp3M1v4dqknCxCmJFUyv6i5XKii/s320/giraffe_vanessa_montenegro.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6hyC1BCN-MK1JbO2bt_T6OamZWD2nGxxazkxA6Ndu4nO1TJfwOwMFR0j6yq9puGgcv0VpvV3Hgdb9UjrBsoUcwMjQCFy8xjS-g8PFuw-7wYymNh6FfTSMk7zLeN-3TUUaPUf/s1600/vmontenegro_rhino.jpeg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616577141904107666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6hyC1BCN-MK1JbO2bt_T6OamZWD2nGxxazkxA6Ndu4nO1TJfwOwMFR0j6yq9puGgcv0VpvV3Hgdb9UjrBsoUcwMjQCFy8xjS-g8PFuw-7wYymNh6FfTSMk7zLeN-3TUUaPUf/s320/vmontenegro_rhino.jpeg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VMUs8tqxvDQ/TfIXJg9ti-I/AAAAAAAAAow/rs7TcK236i0/s1600/vmontenegro_sunset_beach1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616577137519463394" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VMUs8tqxvDQ/TfIXJg9ti-I/AAAAAAAAAow/rs7TcK236i0/s320/vmontenegro_sunset_beach1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex0OuedOSPurT5I9kAXatTQ74XdtHIf_7lLUSkaRjXqHBPa5uw7eThDyo58Me0Nr3HIJsp3xXIkRdfKctgkbdYLU8tTySwUtS18vxHN2XtaamR_KrLVKjLLLbTFUKan4ZO8xg/s1600/potrait_drawing_girl.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 208px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616577133910894642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex0OuedOSPurT5I9kAXatTQ74XdtHIf_7lLUSkaRjXqHBPa5uw7eThDyo58Me0Nr3HIJsp3xXIkRdfKctgkbdYLU8tTySwUtS18vxHN2XtaamR_KrLVKjLLLbTFUKan4ZO8xg/s320/potrait_drawing_girl.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>For the month of May, 2011 the Westchase Artists Society's Artist of the Month is Vanessa Montenegro. Vanessa has a passion for art. She lives, breathes and eats art, and I mean that in a good way. Vanessa is a mover and shaker in the Tampa Bay art community and was a founding member of the Westchase Artists Society. So, without further delay, here's Vanessa's interview.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> Tell us a little bit about yourself.</div><br /><div><strong>Vanessa:</strong> During the day I am a graphic designer and illustrator. In the afternoon, I am an art instructor. Evenings, when it is quiet, I am an artist. I love art, as you can see. I always try to have pencil and paper or a camera with me. There is so much to capture every day. I have a soft spot for nature. It is one of the wonderful things about living in the Tampa area. On any day you can be in awe seeing a Great Blue Heron in flight or sunset after an afternoon storm, or you can explore a place like Rogers Park or kayak to Anclote Key. </div><br /><div>In school, I majored in art. My goal was to do art restoration, maybe somewhere in Europe. I quickly discovered that I loved drawing, painting and animation more than restoration. While I was in school, the burgeoning revolution of digital art and animation caught my imagination. Remember the first time you saw <em>Toy Story</em>?<em> </em>I began to pursue graphic art, video, animation and figure drawing classes. I wanted to learn how to draw people, and learn how they move. A whole new world opened up for me. This is when I quit art school.</div><br /><div>I come from a family of entrepreneurs and something must have rubbed off. My passion is art, but I love business. What is a girl to do? I quit art to study business. I loved it and earned a degree in Finance and International Business. Still, I couldn't help not wanting to do more art. So, I went back to art school and completed my art degree. Business and art were a perfect combination for me. Being my own boss is wonderful. I have been able to start my own graphic design company, teach art (see <a href="http://www.venessamontenegro.com/vm/art_classes.html">http://www.venessamontenegro.com/vm/art_classes.html</a>), do commissions, and sell my artwork online at places like Etsy (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/vanessamontenegro">http://www.etsy.com/shop/vanessamontenegro</a>) and galleries.</div><br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> What first made you want to become an artist? </div><br /><div><br /><strong>Vanessa:</strong> To some extent, I think I've always been an artst. I've been drawing since I was a little girl. One of my favorite aunts, a grand aunt to be exact, was a professional artist. She was an inspiration as an artist, but also a model that I could make a living as an artist. I went with her and my mom to museums, galleries and craft shows. If I was not drawing, I was tending to my little zoo of animals. I love animals. I had dogs, cats, birds, chickens, turtles, fishes, rabbits and any animal that needed rescuing. I thought of being a veterinarian for a while, but in the end I wanted to become an artist.</div><br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> Describe your creative process.</div><br /><div><strong>Vanessa:</strong> I am constantly doodling, taking pictures and writing down ideas. I have notebooks full of everything from sketches to stock market tips. Sometimes I just start playing around on a sketch pad or a canvas and see what emerges. When I have a commission, I tend to do a lot of research and sketches until an idea starts to solidify.</div><br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> Favorite books, movies, website, groups</div><br /><div><strong>Vanessa:</strong> Book: "Tell Me Where It Hurts" by Dr. Nick Trout (a day of humor healing and hope in the life of an animal surgeon); Movie: "Toy Story" (all Pixar movies); Websites: The Girl Effect - <a href="http://thegirleffect.org/">http://thegirleffect.org/</a> (love the cause, the message and the animation); Songs: By Moby and Coldplay; Groups: Westchase Artists and my running groups</div><br /><div><strong>Question:</strong> In ten years I'd like to be... </div><br /><div><strong>Vanessa:</strong> Wouldn't it be great to be animating <em>Toy Story 10? </em>I guess it would be Woody & Buzz Lightyear's adventures in a retirement home, but still, it would be lots of fun! I love being an artist and entrepreneur. I'd like to see myself grow in these two areas.</div><br /><div>Wow!!! Thanks Vanessa for sharing. It's always great to learn more about our favorite artists. Great interview. Be sure to check out Vanessa's websites. Stay tuned for next month's Westchase Artists Society's Artist of the Month.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-77135992449379731182011-06-02T06:38:00.000-07:002011-06-02T06:45:48.849-07:00Summer Showcase<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTU_FMkGn-WrZwhLa2GJNQeYIBLQI69V8z4T-t7vO-ysedks20BTJ0RgL2W6yFlDIro8xxBtlnGt4lQCTh4wgTR3Ur9hKYe77W659Q5ymPe67UOXLrtq1FBWTGNmL2HVUmSqY/s1600/artists01a-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613618053034005474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTU_FMkGn-WrZwhLa2GJNQeYIBLQI69V8z4T-t7vO-ysedks20BTJ0RgL2W6yFlDIro8xxBtlnGt4lQCTh4wgTR3Ur9hKYe77W659Q5ymPe67UOXLrtq1FBWTGNmL2HVUmSqY/s400/artists01a-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>The Westchase Artists Society is pleased to announce the opening of a Summer Showcase, the group's latest exhibit.</div><br /><br /><div>Exhibition Dates: June 3rd - July 5th, 2011</div><br /><div>Opening Reception: Friday, June 3rd, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm</div><br /><div>Location: Great Art & Frame Gallery, Westchase</div><br /><div>9906 W. Linebaugh Ave.</div><br /><div>Tampa, FL</div><br /><div>813-792-8960</div><br /><br /><div>Participating member-artists include: Wayne Barrett, Harvey Berman, Tony Crosby, Judy Freeman, Olga Fridella, Amy Gmelin, Joose Hadley, Jennifer Lukas Joyner, Bob Richardson, Vanessa Montenegro, Liz Rylan, Teresa Trubilla and Susan Whitaker.</div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-65210411748086091952011-04-22T04:32:00.000-07:002011-04-22T05:02:36.381-07:00April Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG1BGD759Ml6yrH6mF_l-IuZlDyq8SUSsKa7J6Q4qMJp81qCZ3L0vHBjM6VxwEDLKmmsjvul9ihgdobBL6uRVcV9mFS_3w1FAwWLMx0aomTao8A0oJjInDqlLKKXC7oBL95P9/s1600/joose.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598376404287398818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG1BGD759Ml6yrH6mF_l-IuZlDyq8SUSsKa7J6Q4qMJp81qCZ3L0vHBjM6VxwEDLKmmsjvul9ihgdobBL6uRVcV9mFS_3w1FAwWLMx0aomTao8A0oJjInDqlLKKXC7oBL95P9/s320/joose.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RzzuXP6aVkEo4KGIZzK5GzYBWkZPzOzjpSYLehyueSU_xoD2ZWzlh9Fwf_4ZfnVLnxF347mV3gdKNK0e4VWl3YmEHWgndMX381C6DD6K1D6clEYqgEPm9UQ8rqwA2ijWzsMK/s1600/Orange+Blossoms+no+frame.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598376400520035746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RzzuXP6aVkEo4KGIZzK5GzYBWkZPzOzjpSYLehyueSU_xoD2ZWzlh9Fwf_4ZfnVLnxF347mV3gdKNK0e4VWl3YmEHWgndMX381C6DD6K1D6clEYqgEPm9UQ8rqwA2ijWzsMK/s320/Orange+Blossoms+no+frame.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3TkTKvj33n5Usuzy3XwWkr3O8YqCAqKnpi36L1kHPHPTPrRPrvLLujCWVwqPxUXg09NerwzUjGnQNQruvKquZ4ecaBftUi9RIJzPx5hp-ajVhVE8_yR9c4t1JYOr5YDdjQxb/s1600/Window+Box.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598376394356248706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3TkTKvj33n5Usuzy3XwWkr3O8YqCAqKnpi36L1kHPHPTPrRPrvLLujCWVwqPxUXg09NerwzUjGnQNQruvKquZ4ecaBftUi9RIJzPx5hp-ajVhVE8_yR9c4t1JYOr5YDdjQxb/s320/Window+Box.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6Ar1Bw3doTjHIWd2_HdvZ0ZVhKICSIWUmhuj3qsBiUTNOCatpnXfE6tBUJ-PEq6GvRb69JCQo19h21K2rtOYdRoomCeIosBl-fLdVUhJnzcWUHM1-2VXv1Nb8ku-6EC67vKx/s1600/2018.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598376395312483250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6Ar1Bw3doTjHIWd2_HdvZ0ZVhKICSIWUmhuj3qsBiUTNOCatpnXfE6tBUJ-PEq6GvRb69JCQo19h21K2rtOYdRoomCeIosBl-fLdVUhJnzcWUHM1-2VXv1Nb8ku-6EC67vKx/s320/2018.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxWmMtmesfb3iWwDODvu7fCHdxbel4bvLOQx2RoC6RzoPozr5_LHB_yGZsLVSbGlip8-tbxquXZUpOuM_MltdpoP83EyrQQ8v65yNP0nkZ2NXUdRLtYDhdZiZqpOwUxM3fBKw/s1600/still+life+final+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 219px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598376390317067154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxWmMtmesfb3iWwDODvu7fCHdxbel4bvLOQx2RoC6RzoPozr5_LHB_yGZsLVSbGlip8-tbxquXZUpOuM_MltdpoP83EyrQQ8v65yNP0nkZ2NXUdRLtYDhdZiZqpOwUxM3fBKw/s320/still+life+final+1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Yes, we skipped March. Lots going on got in the way of sharing the talent of our fabulous artists. Luckily, things are settling down a bit and we're able to share this month's artist, drumb roll please.... Joose Hadley. Here's Joose's interview:</div><br /><br /><div>Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself.</div><br /><div>Joose: The artist becomes the eyes of the world. We see what others may have forgotten. We portray what others may desire. We define a reality which becomes a golden path to life: A journey which gives relief to those on an endless march towards the end. We give life to an otherwise drab existence and joy to a world in chaos.</div><br /><br /><div>Being from Northern California, I'm a country girl. I spent my childhood exploring the outdoors by foot, by bicycle and finally by horse. Since I went to a small 2 room school, I had no art program, but in high school, I took art classes every year. In my Senior year I was awarded the Bank of American Award in Art. I attended Sacramento State College, but like many artists, I lacked the confidence to major in art. I knew I had to make a living, so I went into teaching. For 15 years while teaching high school English, I'd paint at night after grading my papers. Eventually I decided to pursue my dream to do my art. So I quit my job, sold my house and lived the life of a vagabond: Bicycled through Australia and New Zealand, Ran a marathon in Tasmania, Rode round-ups in Nevada, wrote and illustrated free-lance articles for magazines, and started my own art business, "Joose arts." In 1989 I ended up back in Sacramento to marry my pen-pal, soul-mate and best friend, James. Since moving to Florida in 1995, we have done a variety of things, but finally in 2003 we opened our art and custom framing business in Westchase, (Great Art & Frame). In 2009 we fulfilled another dream which was to have a small farm. We found a place in Lutz and started "The Ark", where we raise chickens, rabbits, and fish (tilapia) and defy the Florida summers by growing a garden year round.</div><br /><br /><div>Every day, I get to work at what I love. The custom framing makes art and mementos look wonderful. Giving art lessons is a joy by giving someone else the opportunity to create beauty! When painting I love losing myself in the project. And whether it's art or a custom frame job, I always love to see the customer's eyes light up when they see what I've done. When working on "The ark" on my days off, I love gardening and caring for the animals. I could spend all day in the myriad of chores that present themselves when I walk out of the house. We rarely have anything go to waste, there is always something that benefits from our discards. I love knowing that everything we raise is healthy and made from our own hands.</div><br /><br /><div>Question: What first made you want to become an artist?</div><br /><div>Joose: when I was 3 or 4 I loved the colored modeling clay that I had just gotten for a birthday gift. While I was supposed to be taking a nap, I unwrapped the clay sticks and pinched off bits and smeared them onto the wood cabinet of an old Victrola on the table next to my bed, turning it into a splendid rainbow of colors. Unfortunately, my mother didn't appreciate my efforts to make it pretty... but that's continued to be my purpose throughout my life.</div><br /><br /><div>Question: Describe your creative process.</div><br /><div>Joose: My creative process is to START... add changes... modify as needed... and stop. That's all there is to it! Of these steps, the first is often the most difficult. Life just seems to get in the way. Just like when I was a runner I found the hardest part was putting on my running shoes. Once that was done, the rest was easy!</div><br /><br /><div>Question: Top 5 books, movies, songs, groups, websites</div><br /><div>Joose: I just finished Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth" which was as good if not better than "Fall of Giants" ...... :)</div><br /><br /><div>Wow! Joose, thank you so much for sharing. Fantastic interview!!!</div><br /><div>Stay tuned for future Westchase Artists of the Month.</div></div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-72463073012127990442011-03-01T18:12:00.000-08:002011-03-01T18:40:02.806-08:00February Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTBpacWnZqaSW9dWQ21egsIYbW3KRg3KDLS9-GM08I0bWCQvN6j0jlRcqoNeBumAZKV1bazP0hJ54-yu05wiHqnxbIab8zqOK_2fMwZfeOBi9hThp21kTqZhiKG44mOToXDhx/s1600/teresa+headshot.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579305643668040594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTBpacWnZqaSW9dWQ21egsIYbW3KRg3KDLS9-GM08I0bWCQvN6j0jlRcqoNeBumAZKV1bazP0hJ54-yu05wiHqnxbIab8zqOK_2fMwZfeOBi9hThp21kTqZhiKG44mOToXDhx/s320/teresa+headshot.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKaShxG94ivm9epN5w7v7rz2oDrECSSzuI1A51b_89za3UzXsUG4UKhpRKMPkeDNZiXSUZVw2Pr1HNiQmqW3pe20W397Md0zPfTxzFHxkT8etxF5cIN4o03IfsmjReV0V1Jch/s1600/teresa+silence.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579305644129657634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKaShxG94ivm9epN5w7v7rz2oDrECSSzuI1A51b_89za3UzXsUG4UKhpRKMPkeDNZiXSUZVw2Pr1HNiQmqW3pe20W397Md0zPfTxzFHxkT8etxF5cIN4o03IfsmjReV0V1Jch/s320/teresa+silence.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuRBnd3T-txddQPT_QmaGkUdjxPUpSkXc_HKfSto2k6-YTAhMNT5N-vE9sn7TS9fSmc3LA6SxRB_6eKmKqJOpqlKtbr8_4Nhsbw36a2h47FPTj0aT2qNWCYSLwOKabGNH3ibX/s1600/teresa+patient.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579305636968839586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuRBnd3T-txddQPT_QmaGkUdjxPUpSkXc_HKfSto2k6-YTAhMNT5N-vE9sn7TS9fSmc3LA6SxRB_6eKmKqJOpqlKtbr8_4Nhsbw36a2h47FPTj0aT2qNWCYSLwOKabGNH3ibX/s320/teresa+patient.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS4OS5frplb6CR_7lmNsiES3_HxXvt1-7ndJmhKX0dtrSaOiejYYLKivXn3uQskFly71w_-yDATf1VFhgjqspPoEVXkxgY9oekuRqHYCbmG9mvAEI2hgqmMYw908K_8x_rPQT/s1600/teresa+path.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 251px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579305637964822018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS4OS5frplb6CR_7lmNsiES3_HxXvt1-7ndJmhKX0dtrSaOiejYYLKivXn3uQskFly71w_-yDATf1VFhgjqspPoEVXkxgY9oekuRqHYCbmG9mvAEI2hgqmMYw908K_8x_rPQT/s320/teresa+path.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXRklOFT9QyeBha9W1BSKLgYnK1i-8jQqyPG1vRs_mav6Ah7SlVfTVcjheEmzmvO_-g8_Apuyogz_GoTZWeA3rHZ0hIIUg9YtBzZhwmUZlyvof5CH_Y9nHYJzIQOKlZGdxl_w/s1600/teresa+guardian.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579305634485864994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXRklOFT9QyeBha9W1BSKLgYnK1i-8jQqyPG1vRs_mav6Ah7SlVfTVcjheEmzmvO_-g8_Apuyogz_GoTZWeA3rHZ0hIIUg9YtBzZhwmUZlyvof5CH_Y9nHYJzIQOKlZGdxl_w/s320/teresa+guardian.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>For the month of February our featured Artist of the Month is also our President and fearless leader for 2011, Teresa Trubilla. Teresa's nature photography is incredible. It's hard to imagine the patience needed to get some of the spectacular images. So without further ado, here's Teresa's interview.</div><br /><div>Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself, affiliations, personal stuff.</div><div>Teresa: I grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but moved to Florida over 25 years ago, shortly after marrying my wonderful husband, William Cawley. Bill has always been very supportive of my artistic efforts and together we have raised a kind and beautiful daughter, Kristina. The three of us share our Westchase home with an energetic Pomeranian named Buffy.</div><div> </div><div>Question: Apart from creating art, what do you do?</div><div>Teresa: In addition to taking photographs, I love to read, to write, and to spend time with family and friends. I enjoy being outdoors and practicing yoga, but I am afraid I have not been doing much of that lately. I also work as a graphic designer handling advertising and marketing.</div><br /><div>Question: What first made you want to become an artist?</div><div>Teresa: I fell in love with graphic design in college because it gave me an opportunity to work with words, space, and images on the printed page. While I dabbled in photography in high school and college, it was not until joining the Westchase Artists Society a few years ago that I found a creative voice for my love of nature. While growing up, my father taught me to appreciate the serenity that can be found in the woods and near water and that is something that I strive to share through my photography. I also find great joy in expressing myself through writing.</div><br /><div>Question: Describe your creative process.</div><div>Teresa: Through my nature and landscape photography, I try to capture the clarity and simplicity I find outdoors and express the connection I feel with my subject... whether it is a flower or a bird or the mist rising off a pond. Taking wildlife photos is almost like meditation for me - it requires a patience that calms my mind and a stillness that nurtures my spirit.</div><br /><div>Question: Top 5 books, movies, songs, groups, websites.</div><div>Teresa: <em>Books --</em> I do not think there is a book that I ever "met" that I have not enjoyed. I just finished reading "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "The Girl Who Played with Fire." I am looking forward to reading the final book in this series "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest." I especially love to read crime/suspense novels. <em>Movies</em> -- I guess my favorite movies would have to be "The Guardian" and "Steel Magnolias." <em>Songs</em> -- I love so many types of music that it would be impossible for me to pick just one song. Groups<em> --</em> The Westchase Artists Society, of course! <em>Website</em> -- <a href="http://www.photoshopuser.com/">http://www.photoshopuser.com/</a> the official website for NAPP; The National Association of Professional Photoshop Users. I love working in Photoshop and the site provides so much informative material and is a great resource when I have questions.</div><br /><div>Question: In 10 years I'd like to be...</div><div>Teresa: More of what I am doing now, just with better equipment :)</div><br /><div>Thanks Teresa for a great interview! Check back next month for the next Westchase Artists Society Member of the Month interview.</div></div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-28191802935475154322011-01-17T05:18:00.000-08:002011-01-27T14:25:17.838-08:00January Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkQ5nTGkmD9rvjgh2mssPNQgPeqbehf_AmuNUl6mMbEL5Xzao4LR-yFrdT0N6JAAN4s2YEHKkuODNmNWVqzUm2zEfgSe3FZTXVwJF_OhR-g81hAV7uTMAwcEabdFsMIObBeFE/s1600/maraDSC05273.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563155428028647794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkQ5nTGkmD9rvjgh2mssPNQgPeqbehf_AmuNUl6mMbEL5Xzao4LR-yFrdT0N6JAAN4s2YEHKkuODNmNWVqzUm2zEfgSe3FZTXVwJF_OhR-g81hAV7uTMAwcEabdFsMIObBeFE/s320/maraDSC05273.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5zBnUwRnd8YrqDbJwvIoqRMXdV0yTBbg8QuzEOdy0K7Le4sGqZfBpEZV3hpG970O7siRBjBNBuWSqLgEJSHrpNlNcl-UGbHiAHjrswsZYLLLrSb30ULtVgFW5LXHVTfSED3Y/s1600/marabirdsnest+close+up+and+torc.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563155424854938418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5zBnUwRnd8YrqDbJwvIoqRMXdV0yTBbg8QuzEOdy0K7Le4sGqZfBpEZV3hpG970O7siRBjBNBuWSqLgEJSHrpNlNcl-UGbHiAHjrswsZYLLLrSb30ULtVgFW5LXHVTfSED3Y/s320/marabirdsnest+close+up+and+torc.jpg" /></a> Photo Credit Patti Wooten Thompson<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EX_vKSVWlDJDDwp7NOS8ODpffj4Yb49-X07omr9X56XZs8Q7d_wjhRC4uncwyGHRwRtXJOwlhASdumSSJ3mpjrpFRtZHLdf1fSr0f_8P7pX6M_K0vkEvGTiV-Nr7gKEtryxw/s1600/Mara+at+chillounge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563155427180401474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EX_vKSVWlDJDDwp7NOS8ODpffj4Yb49-X07omr9X56XZs8Q7d_wjhRC4uncwyGHRwRtXJOwlhASdumSSJ3mpjrpFRtZHLdf1fSr0f_8P7pX6M_K0vkEvGTiV-Nr7gKEtryxw/s320/Mara+at+chillounge.jpg" /></a> Photo Credit Patti Wooten Thompson<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMugrLw91HkQAV4xX5eMkSk2YDzbAvfDatItbOt0NXg8eNCM6U2dsnxrZoCn-HIkCpj4rnIL0sVsMrxlQRnR79EqM5NvvUvwYTDcv3A91Z2E-oX1B6J1s2DNG3s-wNl6S4OV4/s1600/Mara409.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563155421155133762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMugrLw91HkQAV4xX5eMkSk2YDzbAvfDatItbOt0NXg8eNCM6U2dsnxrZoCn-HIkCpj4rnIL0sVsMrxlQRnR79EqM5NvvUvwYTDcv3A91Z2E-oX1B6J1s2DNG3s-wNl6S4OV4/s320/Mara409.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAB-aFwdgOqJE6mlqs3ze4Zvs0nT8JcLaCzjUaJQb5CthKbUIThypZJ7xDIqEZL6xuIR_6OirAh4p09aqaQrHe-27XdQ_FsAsf9zELB-1eMoYXP8l3OZrO93UyR0lWutnXz9Jm/s1600/maraDSC04442.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563155418968261682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAB-aFwdgOqJE6mlqs3ze4Zvs0nT8JcLaCzjUaJQb5CthKbUIThypZJ7xDIqEZL6xuIR_6OirAh4p09aqaQrHe-27XdQ_FsAsf9zELB-1eMoYXP8l3OZrO93UyR0lWutnXz9Jm/s320/maraDSC04442.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>As we continue our tradition of featuring Westchase Artists Society members, Mara Gessele is our first fabulous Artist of the Month for the New Year. So read on without further delay.</div><br /><div>Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself, affiliations, personal stuff</div><br /><div>Mara: I've been living in Tampa for the last four years. I grew up in the San Francisco bay area. After receiving my B.A. from the California College for the Arts I worked as a sculptors assistant and produced multiple jewelry art lines for various artists, for the most part of a decade before becoming a mother. After the birth of my daughter I started <a href="http://www.mom4moms.com/">http://www.mom4moms.com/</a>. I had a common issue amongst new moms. I wanted to stay at home to raise my child, but couldn't afford to do so. That's when I started my website. A portion of the proceeds purchased from my site go to charities to benefit mom/child related charities. I've also had featured "Mom" artists' pieces available for sale periodically. Recently I was fortunate enough to show some of my limited edition pieces as well as make some exotic head dresses to compliment Pamela Roehm's couture for the Chillounge Daybed Parade, as well as wicked Wonderland in St. Pete. The pieces were photographed by Patti Wooten Thompson in a fashion shoot and have now been printed in Vocess and Phassion magazines. the whole experience was very exciting. I even got to walk the catwalk at the Chillounge!</div><div></div><br /><div>Question: Apart from creating art what do you do?</div><br /><div>Mara: Obviously being a mom is the most important part of my life, but I always joke that I am a preschool teacher by day and an artist by night. I currently teach two-year olds at the Jewish Community Center. I love to explore nature and camp when possible. I've even dabbled into looking for fossils from time to time.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Question: What first made you want to become an artist?</div><br /><div>Mara: Funny enough, initially as a child I wanted to be an Archaeologist which has heavily influenced my art. That aside my mom was a graphic artist for the government, Rand McNally, etc. in the 60's. I grew up doing art alongside her and going to her art openings. At an early age she taught me perspective, and I went through every art class for children three times over in some cases. I took classes from still life drawing to ceramics from the age of 7 on up. I never thought I could draw as well as my mom as hard as I tried (and I probably never will) so when I went to high school and they had a 3D art class where you could make jewelry, I knew I had my own niche. As my family reconnected with a family friend, a famous and amazing jewelry metal artist, D.X. Ross (R.I.P) who became my mentor and beloved friend, my future was sealed.</div><div></div><div></div><div>Question: Describe your creative process</div><br /><div></div><div>Mara: I work in a lot of mediums and I love to mix them, especially when it comes to jewelry. I'll see a scrap of metal, wood, leather or a stone and it's like a shiny piece of candy to me. I'll think about what this item could have been in a different time or place. Usually I reference my research into various historic cultures and then fuse it with a modern twist. I'll put some sketches down into a book, start with that idea, and then go from there. I'm a big believer in happy accidents. I don't hold myself to stick to my sketches. I let the metal tell me what it wants to do and go from there. Most of my art is still heavily influenced by the San Francisco bay area and tends to be considered as gallery art jewelry.</div><div></div><div>Question: Top 5 books. movies, songs, groups, websites</div><br /><div>Mara: </div><div>Books - 1. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (just a classic); 2. Gods, Graves, and Scholars, by C.W. Ceram (This book fed my archeological interest as a child); 3. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling (I love that she makes magic exist for children and adults alike) 4. American Radical, by Steven Nelson (This author was a friend of my grandfather's. The book is about the war they fought in together) 5. Skin and Bones, by Diane Corso (Authoried by my friend who based a character off of myself which was an exciting experience)</div><br /><div>Movies - 1. Pride and Prejudice (With Colin Firth in it); 2. Harry Potter (Series); 3. The Mummy; 4. Bridget Jones Diary; 5. Nightmare Before Christmas</div><div></div><div>Songs - 1. Chain of Fools, Aretha Franklin; 2. Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, K.T. Tunstall; 3. In Your Eyes, Peter Gabriel; 4. Do You Love Me, Nick Cave; 5. Cuts You Up, Peter Murphy</div><br /><div></div><div>Question: In 10 years I'd like to be...</div><br /><div>Mara: Exploring, learning, and creating. Living life to the fullest with my family and friends all healthy and happy by my side.</div><div></div><div>Mara, thanks so much for a fantastic interview!!! Stay tuned for next month's Westchase Artists Society Artist of the Month installment.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33566825.post-44505347309743415032010-12-13T06:44:00.000-08:002010-12-13T07:13:53.816-08:00December Artist of the Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPonsrxkUvwDOuT-toyxOUFpXAANhOGKxXtmJbNwoCEt0ehnuRul1kIt9YNKsx8hsxPr8KKAT3KdQtU0LI0RKI_uv85twW2OUIqJFROId6ZgxpNw8P75Kgt2hSQ5tnVGxHWIFW/s1600/Liz.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550183414003013378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPonsrxkUvwDOuT-toyxOUFpXAANhOGKxXtmJbNwoCEt0ehnuRul1kIt9YNKsx8hsxPr8KKAT3KdQtU0LI0RKI_uv85twW2OUIqJFROId6ZgxpNw8P75Kgt2hSQ5tnVGxHWIFW/s320/Liz.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNxcP50tgEhTuF7CVTMp5zobcFD4X9BDHIPswiig0MA0Izvmwp9en5CRrHx4jI6HtE9bfJteboWgZBj-hb87ouX_5XxVdjwkrzoS8e3ZcCBYUpYpcxaHH9eKPoRTfj2kjejDj/s1600/Liz+Zebras.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550183331238870594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNxcP50tgEhTuF7CVTMp5zobcFD4X9BDHIPswiig0MA0Izvmwp9en5CRrHx4jI6HtE9bfJteboWgZBj-hb87ouX_5XxVdjwkrzoS8e3ZcCBYUpYpcxaHH9eKPoRTfj2kjejDj/s320/Liz+Zebras.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdseiAdy0HvAhUT5_ilw-QqkAjK0iHpzi7mrS_Z_Q6NUU15c8_B7GgaR5ekHEtP5_2e65IVH3kyWY7Jyv13sB6adY9HFFRU0llT0WRmoFkOS6YC6-CfjdFJDPnCIJHEAnmQMTV/s1600/Liz+Wave.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550183329199058338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdseiAdy0HvAhUT5_ilw-QqkAjK0iHpzi7mrS_Z_Q6NUU15c8_B7GgaR5ekHEtP5_2e65IVH3kyWY7Jyv13sB6adY9HFFRU0llT0WRmoFkOS6YC6-CfjdFJDPnCIJHEAnmQMTV/s320/Liz+Wave.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPCS2pB8qeWqsaROgBqPVWC54oEIiOKzkrpavAnz_Oo7JnG3A5LdQJ2gzsAr6AKQAiMCX-MFjc0zpou9wOQIkEBDnZkZ-i4Z6d7kG2Lr4Zj1eAlKNMglfOzcvymY2fyH2BnsS/s1600/Liz+Umbrellas.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550183322970499906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPCS2pB8qeWqsaROgBqPVWC54oEIiOKzkrpavAnz_Oo7JnG3A5LdQJ2gzsAr6AKQAiMCX-MFjc0zpou9wOQIkEBDnZkZ-i4Z6d7kG2Lr4Zj1eAlKNMglfOzcvymY2fyH2BnsS/s320/Liz+Umbrellas.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLo4Z5iEU2mcuN0oC__15qWbkpOLSOU6L3E4zNdmjkoka2mZF7S4MZjshhGwb5sg9GEVrrF-E1ZUxGvldpSSivzXgzQSB36nZ-_75Kp2sSuiDfAmG06u6JDHJiMrxUPYAeV8w/s1600/Liz+Seaside.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550183320810640562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLo4Z5iEU2mcuN0oC__15qWbkpOLSOU6L3E4zNdmjkoka2mZF7S4MZjshhGwb5sg9GEVrrF-E1ZUxGvldpSSivzXgzQSB36nZ-_75Kp2sSuiDfAmG06u6JDHJiMrxUPYAeV8w/s320/Liz+Seaside.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2toaufnxvv1tz1SHgbcopYoBybEA__nt1-ywPwvykqDcZMpNMM_lShr-YDRC9_cWGTXHvMtJNPkkRTWei3IEj98D9FHZBHVkw2L9U2W4Ck_K9URXy4x0ep62FcY9B2gw1PhH/s1600/Liz+Lion.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550183317520798370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2toaufnxvv1tz1SHgbcopYoBybEA__nt1-ywPwvykqDcZMpNMM_lShr-YDRC9_cWGTXHvMtJNPkkRTWei3IEj98D9FHZBHVkw2L9U2W4Ck_K9URXy4x0ep62FcY9B2gw1PhH/s320/Liz+Lion.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>As the year comes to a close, looking back over our past posts with fabulous artists features, I'm happy to report that we still have more to share. So please stay tuned for future artist spotlights from the Westchase Artists Society. </div><br /><div>Finishing up 2010 we give you Liz Rylan, the fantastically talented photographer. Now without further delay, here's Liz!</div><br /><div>Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself, affiliations, personal stuff</div><br /><div>Liz: My artistic education and practice is basically divided into three parts: Interior Design, Photography and Watercolor. For the Interior Design portion, I studied for a Master's degree at Florida State University and for my Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. I have worked in the United States, and lived/worked in Europe for 11 years. While working with the Foreign Buildings Office of the U.S. State Department, participated in the design of U.S. Embassies for several Third World countries. In studying photography, I have studied with National Geographic photographers on workshops to Italy, Mexico, and Washington, DC. Also lead photographic excursions to Italy, Greek Isles, and Africa for destination photography opportunities. For watercolor, I have been priviledged to learn from Patricia Weaver every chance I can get. Have taught Interior Design at the university level for 12 years.</div><br /><div>Question: Apart from creating art what do you do?</div><br /><div>Liz: Enjoy volunteering at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. This place is full of great people with huge hearts, and they do an amazing job of caring for marine animals daily. The upcoming movie called "A Dolphin Tale," has been filmed recently at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and will be in theatres in the Fall of 2011. This movie is based on the story of "Winter" a rescued dolphin that has lived here for almost five years. She lost her tail, learned to swim without a tail and also with a prosthetic tail. She's been an inspiration to many people. For all of us volunteers, watching the movie-making process has been a joy!</div><br /><div>Question: What first made you want to become an artist?</div><br /><div>Liz: Interior Design: The challenge and the delight of creating a workable / usable space that is also aesthetically pleasing. To be able to lift people's spirits as they see and use their space. To create a "stage setting" for daily life at home, work or play. It is truly problem-solving!</div><br /><div>Photography: The joy of seeing beauty or anything fascinating and capturing it through my lens for others to view it as I see it. Really "editing the world" from my viewpoint: isn't that what we all - as artists - do?</div><br /><div>Watercolor: Once I get past the fear of "messing up a perfectly good beautiful piece of white paper," I love experimenting with flow of colors.</div><br /><div>Interpreting a scene, or one of my photographs, onto a two-dimensional surface, watching the colors blend and mix -- ecstasy!</div><br /><div>Question: Describe your creative process.</div><br /><div>Liz: For interior design, all begins with carefully listenng to what my client wants: the scope of the project, and expectations.</div><br /><div>For photography, the art of seeing.</div><br /><div>For watercolor, getting past the fearsome white paper.</div><div> </div><div>Question: Top 5 books, movies, songs</div><br /><div>Books: Lawrence Anthony's two books: "The Elephant Whisperer" and "Babylon's Ark"</div><div>Barbara Kingsolver's "The Poisonwood Bible"</div><div>Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth"</div><div>Nelson DeMille's "The Gold Coast"</div><br /><div>Movies: "Shakespeare in Love" "Overboard" "Slumdog Millionaire"</div><br /><div>Play: Thorton Wilder's "Our Town"</div><br /><div>Music: Classical: "Eighteenth Variation on a Theme by Paganini" by Rachmaninoff --- too short, but exquisite!</div><br /><div>Thanks so much to Liz for your interview and sharing a few of your spectacular photos!!!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Butterfly Farm Potteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08578124769467261419noreply@blogger.com0