Thursday's Other Creative Soul: Chris Panatier

This week feature highlights a Dallas-based artist who doubles as an Attorney "by day". Chris's show opens tomorrow at RISING Gallery.

Name/Location
Chris Panatier, Dallas, TX

Education
B.A. Texas, J.D. Texas

Current City/Hometown
Dallas, TX (Born Bartlesville, OK)

Tell me about your work in one sentence.
I'm trying to learn to capture the glow of life that a photograph can't.

Describe your normal day.
I pursue so many activities that I don't really feel I have a day that I'd describe as normal. So I guess normal for me is defined by constant change. An ideal day for me contains all of the following: coffee, exercising my dogs, exercising myself (some sort of potentially dangerous activity is best: rugby or mountain biking), yard work, listening to music, drum practice, sniffing my Texas Mountain Laurels, spending time with my wife and oh, painting. I'm pretty compulsive about doing a whole lot of things without being so severely obsessive that I'm featured in the DSM IV (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Yet.

What are your passions?
See above. Add to that breakfast tacos.

What are your goals?
I want to raise a happy family and also to become the best painter I can.

Who are your creative influences?
I'm influenced by all sorts of artists, both visual and non visual. I feel a lot of passion in certain music that I listen to and redirect that into my paintings. I'm currently blasting my brains out with anything and everything by Mastodon, the single most important metal band currently in existence. Visually, I love the delicate beauty and tone of paintings by Michael Borremans, the mood and sometimes unsympathetic subjects of works by Adrian Ghenie, the luscious and almost edible flesh painted by Jenny Saville, the provocative and in-your-face works by Angela Fraleigh and oldies like JMW Turner. Those are the ones I currently thinking about a lot, but there's no end to the talented artists whose work I'm awed by. I read everything I can on guys like Damian Hirst and Jeff Koons because they are entertaining. I haven't decided what I think about them as artists. I read everything by the artist/writer/critic Matthew Collings. I have a love-hate relationship with "Big Eye" art made popular by Anime and Mark Ryden.

Are there any other relevant experiences that shaped who you are today and what you do?
I am a lucky person. I was raised by a loving family and just want to try and do good things in my life and take nothing for granted.




Is there anyone that you really look up to as an inspiration?
Mastodon is the only band I'm aware of that refers to their music as "art." Normally such a thing would sound pretentious, but they are sincere. They are constantly working to better their music. I began painting in oils about 2-3 years ago. Before that it was just acrylic. Acrylic unfortunately played to my largest weakness at the time: impatience. When I started in oils I had to learn patience and that allowed me to slow down my overall process and to focus on other details of the craft. Mastodon has shown incredible resiliency and patience as they try to perfect their art. Watching them progress has reconfirmed to me that good quality art takes a while (not just to do a piece necessarily, but the overall development of ones skills and vision).

What motivates you on a daily basis?
Figurative works often go through an awkward phase as they are developing. The motivation for me in doing a piece is to get it beyond that phase. There's a point when your piece goes from smudges of color on canvas or panel to looking like something. That's a great feeling. My guilty pleasure is coffee. I rarely do it in moderation and so I do actually feel guilty.

What's your working style? Do you work for 12 hours straight nonstop, or do you take lots of breaks?
I paint when I can. Usually this means nights and weekends. For my upcoming show I did 27 oil paintings in about 7 months. This was a pretty blistering pace for me, but it allowed me to fall into a zone. I learned more about oil painting and painting in general than I had in all my life.

What are your websites/social networking links?
-website: www.panatier.com
-I'm on facebook too.

A Poem for Wednesday

Autumn Rapture
Acrylic and Mixed Media
A fine art print of this original painting is available on my Etsy site:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/35928489/autumn-rapture-12-x-12-fine-art-giclee


After a While
by Veronica Shoftsall

After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans, and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. .

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to leave you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure;
You really are strong, you really do have worth.
And you learn, and you learn
With every goodbye you learn.

Just Like Heaven

6" x 6" x 1.5"
Acrylic andMixed Media on Canvas

I painted this for a dear friend as a baby gift. She is expecting a little girl ina few weeks, her first, and is often asking me what it will be like when her little one arrives. The best way I could describe it was through this Cure song, "Just Like Heaven".

"Show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream" she said
"The one that makes me laugh" she said
And threw her arms around my neck
"Show me how you do it
And I promise you I promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you"

Spinning on that dizzy edge
I kissed her face and kissed her head
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
To make her glow
"Why are you so far away?" she said
"Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
That I'm in love with you"

You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
You're just like a dream

If you are looking for a sweet original baby/wedding/housewarming gift, these paintings are highly textured, full of layers of color and are available to be custom-ordered. Priced from $75 - $150, email me at utopiapkwyarts@yahoo.com for more info.

Thursday's Other Creative Soul: Scott Trent

Today's feature highlights Sculptor Scott Trent, whose passion for his own work as well as creating a platform that helps artists pursue their passions is inspiring and refreshing.

Name
Scott Trent

Education
MA – UTD, Arts & Technology, ABD, PhD. – UTD, Arts & Technology, with an emphasis in “Digital media based design that facilitates collaboration.”

Current City/Hometown
Dallas/Richardson

Tell me about your work in one sentence.
I am a metal sculptor, creating large and small scale work utilizing found metal, abstract. The project I am most excited about these days is the Henderson Art Project. I approach everything I do as a creation and the process is similar whether welding a metal sculpture or designing an event.

Describe your normal day. What would your *ideal* day be like?
I am passionate about my work and try to focus on meaningful, fulfilling, creative endeavors that stimulate my mind and pushes me physically. My day usually begins around 6 am, I’ve found a nice routine that begins the day working out, which might be running slow laps around the track or reading on the elliptical machine and days full of meetings with artists, business owners and community leaders who are making things happen in the art community. I love the conversations and the new opportunities that surface daily. In between are the details and logistics work that facilitate collaborative events. I seek activities that engage both sides of my brain.



What are your passions?
Communication, Creating, Competitive Sports (handball/squash), Design and sculpting. Teaching and nurturing others is also very important to me.

What are your goals?
To create a platform that helps artists pursue their passions. www.artistconsortium.org, www.hendersonartproject.com
As an artist my goal is to continue to create a body of work that explores the depths of my creativity. I can’t wait to see what this looks like in the years to come.

Who are your creative influences?
Muhammad Yunus, Gordon MacKenzie, Ira Glass, Dean Kamen

Are there any other relevant experiences that shaped who you are today and what you do?
I believe the most influential experience in my life was my parents allowing me to express myself and encouraging me to think differently. This has been my most valued perspective that guides everything I do. I find it’s not about intelligence, but the ability to look at life differently and be able to consider all perspectives. It seems that most limitations are self imposed which can directly inhibit creativity.

Is there anyone that you really look up to as an inspiration?
I admire people who have a vision and can make it happen. Look for ways to overcome obstacles when the consensus is “NO.” Embraces unique thinking and appreciates creative ideas. But, maybe most important are those who can articulate their visions so others understand and are inspired to collaborate. I haven’t figured it out, but strive for this daily.

What motivates you on a daily basis?
I am happiest when I have a goal or project to work towards. The busier the better. My guilty pleasure will always be some form of food with sugar and fat. I love McDonalds, but primarily because of the efficiency and quickness of the food. It’s most difficult for me to eat healthy when I’m pushing myself work wise. Metal sculpting can be heavy lifting, hot and dirty. Nothing better than a burger, fries and a coke. (Of course, that was 30 pounds ago, so this summer the turkey sandwich and sparkling water might have to be the new “fast food.”)

What's your working style?
No breaks. Usually, all out. Up early and to bed early. Best time of the day is morning.

What are your websites/social networking links?
Facebook: Scott Trent, Henderson Art Project
Twitter: strent
Flickr: Scott Trent
www.hendersonartproject.com
www.scottrent.com
www.utdbox.com

A Poem for Wednesday

Gotcha
11" x 14"
Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas
This painting is available on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/32683236/gotcha-original-painting

Phenomenal Woman
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Stumbling Through Memories

16" x 20" x 1.5"
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas

The recent move and coming across lots of boxes filled with things that trigger memories has really stirred up some feelings I had forgotten about, sort of like dust being raised when you lift things you haven't touched in years. That's how the title for this new painting emerged.

We got Apple TV in our new house, it's a really fun new toy. We have music playing through every room in the early evenings, and it just makes that hectic time of day a little more tolerable when you can listen to something mellow. I complied an all-DMB playlist, and although I've heard the song, "Grey Street" a million times, it struck a chord with me last week when I listened to the lyrics. It's a deceiving song because it has such a light and happy melody, but the lyrics are much darker than the tune implies. I really worked from that place in my latest painting.

Oh look at how she listens
She says nothing of what she thinks
She just goes stumbling through her memories
Staring out onto Grey St.
And she thinks...hey
How did I come to this
I dreamed myself thousand times around the world
But I can't get out of this place
There's an emptiness inside her
And she'd do anything to fill it in
But all the colors mix together
To grey, and it breaks her heart

Oh how she wishes it was different
She prays to God most every night
And though she swears He doesn't listen
There's still a hope in her He might
She says I pray
But they falls on deaf ears
Am I supposed to take it on myself
To get out of this place
There's a loneliness inside her
And she'd do anything to fill it in
And though it's red blood bleeding from her now,
It feels like cold blue ice in her heart
When all the colors mix together
It's grey, and it breaks her heart

There's a stranger speaks outside her door
Says take what you can from your dreams
Make them real as anything
It will take the work out of the courage
She says please
There's a crazy man creeping that's outside my door
I live on the corner of Grey Street
And the end of the world

Oh there's an emptiness insider her
And she'd do anything to fill it in
And though it's red blood bleeding from her now
It's more like cold blue ice in her heart
She feels like kicking out all the windows
And setting fire to this life
She could change everything about her
Using colors bold and bright
But all the colors mix together
To grey
And it breaks her heart...Oh and it breaks her heart

Thursday's Other Creative Soul: Randy Gregg

Name
Randy Gregg

Education:
some college

Current City/Hometown
Ft. Worth/Concord California -San Francisco Bay area

Describe your work in one sentence.
Contemporary/abstract acrylic and mixed media art that I envision and then create.

What are your passions?
I love my daughter, Mandalyn and my granddaughter, Eva. I play Hockey. I am 46, so a lot of people are surprised. I also love sushi, Starbucks Chai, and chips and salsa. My girlfriend-Kathleen is my biggest fan/manager and she is my best friend.

What are your goals?
I want to establish a name for myself as an artist and earn a living doing what I love. I want to spend some time traveling and painting in different cultures. I am planning to go south to Latin America at some point in the future.



Who are your creative influences?
I am influenced by many people. I study artists on the Internet and i usually can learn some new technique every time. I enjoy watching other artists work. i have spent many nights studying famed artists like Jackson Pollock and Kieth Harring, l like to visit galleries. We recently took in the Andy Warhol exhibit in Ft Worth. I was inspired and immediately came home and started to incorporate some of his elements into my work. There are many pivotal moments that have helped shape who I am today, but I have decided to never look back.

Is there anyone that you really look up to as an inspiration?
My older brother Norm is an accomplished artist in California. I have always lived in his shadow artistically,. He is a fantastic and talented airbrush artist so i try to stick with a traditional paintbrush or sponge-brush and keep my own style. I can always call him when I am stuck or have some art question. I was initially inspired by an awsome talented artist-" Ottograph" from Amsterdam (Ipainteveryday.com) on youtube. I love to listen to his narrative. He is so very matter-of-fact. He seems to be very genuine and just plain cool. We've become friends on Facebook. ( hey Otto keep it up!) Jackson Pollock is another very interesting artist. Twisted but brilliant. Other inspirations? I recently saw a video("http://www.youtube.com/v/m3gMgK7h-BA) of a musician who sings and played guitar with his feet! (he has no arms). He is very talented and i found it inspirational. It makes my problems seem small.

What motivates you on a daily basis?
i really feel good when people compliment my work. When someone says they like it, it makes me want to do more. Everyday i think the same thing-"i gotta paint". Selling a painting, to me, means that I can buy more paint, canvasses and supplies! I really enjoy meeting art enthusiasts and collectors. The art scene is really intriguing. Do you have a "guilty pleasure" that you can't miss out on to get you going? Starbuck's Venti Chai, 1 pump vanilla, no water, no foam, whole milk, 155 degrees, with a straw. It's outrageously indulgent and expensive and I loathe the thought that those corporate SOB's are getting even richer, but I gotta have it at least once daily.

What's your working style?
I often spend several days thinking about what I want to create or how I want it to come out, but once i get started, i like to keep at it. Sometimes I paint until early in the morning. I have a favorite pair of jeans and a sacred shirt that I wear when I paint. Usually i am barefoot. If my painting clothes are being washed, I may paint in my underwear. I don't have a studio yet, so I am painting inside our apartment (my girlfriend is very tolerant). I run a blow-dryer on the work while i am painting to make it dry faster. I don't mix paints. I take them right from the tube. I dont like when my paints mix on the canvas either. I like sharp, intense colors and I want the white to be bright. I don't use an easel, i just hang the canvas on the wall and begin. Do you work for 12 hours straight nonstop, or do you take lots of breaks it depends, i have to be in the "zone". i feel it and i gotta keep going. I become impatient because allowing the paint to dry always slows me down. many times i may initially hate my paintings, but as i continue to work on them they begin to grow on me. i like to stay connected to them until they are completed. I love being able to really live my life the way i do. art for me is my life.

What are your websites/social networking links?
Facebook: Randy Gregg or Rocket Studios Inc. rocketstudiosinc@gmail.com

A Poem for Wednesday

Dance in the Sun
12" x 24"
Acrylic andMixed Media on Canvas
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38863596

Let it enfold you
by Charles Bukowski (excerpt)

either peace or happiness,
let it enfold you

when I was a young man
I felt these things were
dumb, unsophisticated.
I had bad blood, a twisted
mind, a precarious
upbringing.

I was hard as granite, I
leered at the
sun.
I trusted no man and
especially no
woman.

I was living a hell in
small rooms, I broke
things, smashed things,
walked through glass,
cursed.
I challenged everything,

I changed jobs and
cities, I hated holidays,
babies, history,
france, italy, walnuts and
the color
orange.

peace and happiness to me
were signs of
inferiority,
tenants of the weak
an
addled
mind.

but as I went on with
my alley fights,
my suicidal years,
my passage through
any number of
women — it gradually
began to occur to
me
that I wasn't different
from the
others, I was the same,

they were all fulsome
with hatred,
glossed over with petty
grievances,
the men I fought in
alleys had hearts of stone.
everybody was nudging,
inching, cheating for
some insignificant
advantage,
the lie was the
weapon and the
plot was
empty,
darkness was the
dictator.

cautiously, I allowed
myself to feel good
at times.
maybe the other life had worn me
down.
I no longer found
glamour
in topping somebody
in conversation.

I re formulated
I don't know when,
date, time, all
that
but the change
occurred.
something in me
relaxed, smoothed
out.
I no longer had to
prove that I was a
man,

I didn't have to prove
anything.

(the whole world is at the
throat of the world,
everybody feels angry,
short-changed, cheated,
everybody is despondent,
disillusioned)

I welcomed shots of
peace, tattered shards of
happiness.

(don't get me wrong,
there is such a thing as cockeyed optimism
that overlooks all
basic problems just for
the sake of
itself —
this is a shield and a
sickness.)

The knife got near my
throat again,
I almost turned on the
gas
again
but when the good
moments arrived
again
I didn't fight them off
like an alley
adversary.
I let them take me,
I luxuriated in them,
I bade them welcome
home.
I even looked into
the mirror
once having thought
myself to be
ugly,
I now liked what
I saw, almost
handsome, yes,
a bit ripped and
ragged,
scares, lumps,
odd turns,
but all in all,
not too bad,
almost handsome,
better at least than
some of those movie
star faces
like the cheeks of
a baby's
butt.

and finally I discovered
real feelings of
others,
unheralded,
like lately,
like this morning,
as I was leaving,
for the track,
I saw my wife in bed,
just the
shape of
her head there
so still,
I ached for her life,
just being there
under the
covers.

I kissed her in the,
forehead,
got down the stairway,
got outside,
got into my marvelous
car,
fixed the seatbelt,
backed out the
drive.
feeling warm to
the fingertips,
down to my
foot on the gas
pedal,
I entered the world
once
more,
drove down the
hill
past the houses
full and empty
of
people,
I saw the mailman,
honked,
he waved
back
at me.

The New Digs

The studio from the outside is above, and then inside is below:



Finally, we have unpacked the last of the boxes and are settled in our new home! It feels indescribably right here, and I am amazed that everything has worked out for our family...after months and months and MONTHS of searching, we found the home that is perfect for us. And the art studio is a perfect new space. It's bigger, brighter, and even has a "children's area" and a "mommy area", and I have so enjoyed working side by side with my two toddlers as we create in our new space together.

When I first began to paint, I named my art studio Utopia Pkwy. Art Studio. Webster's dictionary defines the word "utopia" as an "ideally perfect place", which is exactly where I feel I am when I'm working in the studio. Plus, Utopia Pkwy. was the actual street name of where Joseph Cornell, one of my favorite artists, grew up. I feel like Utopia Pkwy. Art Studio is growing as I am, and this name that is so much a part of my identity as an artist transfers well to my new workspace.

Thursday's Other Creative Soul: Anne Potter

This week's Creative Soul is Artist Anne Potter. Her handmade jewelry and goods are available on Etsy and have an effortlessly chic vibe. not to mention, she is a stay-at-home mother of five...so how she finds time to be creative is an inspiration in itself. :)

Name/Location:
Anne Potter. I’m originally from the Chicago area, but I “came for school and stayed” in Champaign, Illinois.

Education
BA in English from the University of Illinois

Tell me about your work in one sentence.
I use secondhand and interesting materials to make whatever I’m excited about at the time.

Describe your normal day.
Wake up, shower, coffee, get the older kids ready for school, drive kids to school, catch up on emails/sales, spend the morning watching my twin toddlers and doing household chores, lunch, work on projects during naptime and package any items to send out, pick kids up from school, go to Post office, reign over after-school snacks and homework, make dinner, hang out with fam, go for a run, put four out of the five kids to bed, work on projects/knit while drinking wine and watching travel shows on TV. Go to Bed! My ideal day would look a lot like this, but there would be some good garage sales in the morning, a bit of uninterrupted creative time at some point, and a fun date in the evening with my husband at a cool bar for cocktails, followed by a good restaurant.

What are your passions?
I love missions. I could give a long list of things I love, but missions transcend my everyday life into something greater than myself.



What are your goals?
Besides raising well-adjusted children, I want to build the most laid-back domestic empire ever, including beautiful DIY books on knitting, quilting, needlepoint, and successfully selling the pieces I make.

Who are your creative influences?
I'm mainly inspired by the art traditions of foreign cultures – Coptic crosses, Thai pagodas, Mexican Milagros, Chinese calligraphy characters, Indian metalwork.

Are there any other relevant experiences that shaped who you are today and what you do? When I was young, I enjoyed decorating my dollhouse. Around Christmas time one year, I begged my mom to take me to the hobby store and buy me a dollhouse house Christmas tree – you know, the kind that comes in a plastic bag with a cardboard hanger tag stapled on the top. She wouldn’t, and she told me to “make do.” So I made a tree out of green crayoned typing paper, wire and white glue. I wasn’t proud of it and I still wanted the hobby store Christmas tree, but that event began the long journey that led me to where I am today. Today I love to match up humble materials with the ambitious projects I dream up. It is so gratifying to really_create.

Is there anyone that you really look up to as an inspiration?
My grandmother was an artistic, resourceful woman that made an enormous amount of beautiful pieces, from Norwegian handknit sweaters to fine cabinets made in her woodshop, and never seemed to think there was anything special about her abilities. (Effortlessly cool!)

What motivates you on a daily basis?
I love to be alone. And in a busy house with lots of kids, this feels like a guilty pleasure! I have a clearer head when I don’t have to be social. I also love to watch BBC’s Pride and Prejudice – cheesy, I know – but it’s just so beautiful!

What's your working style?
Just by necessity, I usually work by grabbing bits of time. But this also suits my scatter-brained style: I usually jump between projects because it keeps my mind sharp by working with different media, with projects at different stages of completion.

What are your websites/social networking links? I currently write a weekly interior decorating article for www.itsasweething.blogspot.com.
www.handmadebyannepotter.etsy.com
50% of all proceeds go towards missions

A Poem for Wednesday

Into the Dark
12" x 12"
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas
This painting is available on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32935416


The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (an excerpt)
by. T.S. Eliot

And would it have been worth it, after all,
After the cups, the marmalade, the tea,
Among the porcelain, among some talk of you and me,
Would it have been worth while,
To have bitten off the matter with a smile,
To have squeezed the universe into a ball
To roll it toward some overwhelming question,
To say: “I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all”—
If one, settling a pillow by her head,
Should say: “That is not what I meant at all.
That is not it, at all.”

And would it have been worth it, after all,
Would it have been worth while,
After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,
After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor—
And this, and so much more?—
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen:
Would it have been worth while
If one, settling a pillow or throwing off a shawl,
And turning toward the window, should say:
“That is not it at all,
That is not what I meant, at all.”

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

The Edge of the Deep Green Sea

16" x 20"
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas

"and so we watch the sun come up
from the edge of the deep green sea
and she listens like her head's on fire
like she wants to believe in me" -The Cure

The tentacles of an octopus first inspired this painting, sort of a reflection of how tied down I feel at times. With the children so young, there are often days when I don't leave the house or even make it out to the studio to paint. (If I don't make it outside for a morning run before the household wakes up then I'm REALLY cranky.) As much as I love all three of my precious babies, it's simply a hard time feeling so occupied with constantly meeting their basic needs.

As I worked on this piece, I noticed this painting slowly started to take on a more abstract look while preserving the feeling of something aquatic. I almost quit working on it because it was frustrating me so much and I hate feeling like I am fighting with my paintings, but then I had a breakthrough on Friday. Friday happened to be a special day as my husband and I were celebrating our fifth anniversary. I like to think that April 2 is a lucky day for me all around, and I'm glad a little luck made its way onto the canvas.

Am feeling very "oceanic" lately...ever since I did the two paintings below I feel like I am stumbling upon a new series inspired by the mysteries of the sea.

Happy Words from a Collector

Here are a few pics one of my dear friends and collector of my art, Kelley, sent to me of what she now refers to as her "Ginatastic" dining room. :) She ordered some fine art giclee prints of my original paintings and then did a beautiful job framing them. Giclee prints are available of all my paintings and many are featured on my Etsy site.

"I'm really, really happy with the way they turned out," she told me. Yay! I can't think of a better compliment than for someone to display my artwork in their home and love how it looks.

Thursday's Other Creative Soul: Roy E. Vance

This week's featured Artist is Roy E. Vance, a talented and very kind soul I have had the pleasure of getting to know through Artisan Style Gallery. In addition to his beautiful large scale abstract works, Roy has been creating some amazing small works on paper, now available on his Etsy site, and is offering free shipping. Check them out at:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/roysart

Name/Location:
Roy E. Vance. I live in Richardson, TX

Education:
Associate Degree in Art & Design

Current City/Hometown:
Born in Berea, OH. Have lived in OH, FL and currently TX.

Tell me about your work in one sentence.
I like to create mixed media abstracts.

Describe your day.
Normal day: Work.Eat.Paint.Sleep.
Ideal Day: Breakfast and brisk walk. Estate Sales from 9-1, grab a lunch, shop for art supplies (or work on an existing piece), Dinner @6 and then off for a night of fun with friends (the theatre, movies, cards)

What are your passions?
Painting, theatre, antiques, nature...enjoying life

What are your goals?
To live comfortably, working in a job that I enjoy and have the time/resources to pursue my art and spend time with my loved ones.

Who are your creative influences?
Robert Rauschenberg for his use of mixed media, textures, Georgia O'Keefe for her wonderful floral abstractions and depth of color

Are there any other relevant experiences that shaped who you are today and what you do?
I have learned that happiness comes from within. It should not be based on external criteria such as people, places or things. All of those external factors can come & go...but you will always have "you". Sure, you can surround yourself with friends, nice things and a cushy job...but what happens when that all disappears? My first and second experiences with corporate downsizing taught me that lesson.



My second experience/life lesson is to always make time for loved ones. I think of missed birthdays, dinners, fun get togethers...no longer available when the loved one has passed on. It's even more tragic when your job has passed on as well.

Is there anyone (celebrity, dead, alive, in your life) that you really look up to as an inspiration? Anyone who has overcome obstacles (physical, financial, educational) and then become successful. Every year my grandma (who also inspires me) sends me a calendar from the Foot/Mouth Painters Assoc....I find it inspiring to see the talent from theses individuals who have overcome their challenges to pursue their artistc dreams.

What motivates you on a daily basis? I am a big fan of finding joy in the little things in life...like getting a bunch of green lights on the way to work. I also get a lot of inspiration from nature and daily events. For example, my inspiration for my painting "Metaphor for Mosaic Mountian": Mountains can be viewed as immovable obstacles or as a challenge to overcome. There are those who refuse to even start a journey because a mountain might be in their path. There are others who will bravely take on the mountain and then go look for the next one to conquer. How do you perceive mountains?

Do you have a "guilty pleasure" that you can't miss out on to get you going?
Coffee, chocolate and gooey pastries.

What's your working style?
Sporadic. Sometimes I will work 4 or 5 hours at a time if I have multiple canvases going at once. If I'm working on only 1 piece, I have to take breaks between "drying time" between layers of color, texture etc.

What are your websites/social networking links? http://www.yessy.com/roysart
Facebook; http://www.723.com/roysart/gallery, MySpace, Twitter, OvationTV