Stella Gets Her Groove Back, or Thank God for Summer School

Feeling so inspired today...2 commissions and 4 new paintings rolling in the studio.

"I think people don't place a high enough value on how much they are nurtured by doing whatever it is that totally absorbs them" 

Jean Bolen

I tend to work in spurts, frantically creating every second I can steal away into the studio for weeks at a time, followed by  a bit of  a drought.  To roll with that analogy, these past few weeks have been like the Sahara Desert. During this downtime, I believe some part of my brain is subconsciously letting the creative energy sort of pool for a bit and slowly reprogramming, recollecting. 

Luckily these dry spells are actually a good opportunity to catch up on bookkeeping, updating the website, client meeting, etc...all of the business of being an Artist that most people forget about. Taking care of business (or "TCB" as we call it around here) is actually a welcome change of gears for me because it keeps me from feeling like my career is idling and the bonus is that often leads to more progress, jobs, etc.

It is amazing to me each time when these droughts strike that inevitably the muse returns...because when I am in one of my little creative breaks I often wonder how I am ever going to muster the inspiration up to paint again. To me, creativity is not something that can be "used up". It is an infinite well that we can always tap into.  Even though the well may lie dormant for a while, it is never dry.  I love how each new work I paint leads me to the next...this little journey I am on is quite an amazing ride when I stop back and take a look.

I'm sure it's no coincidence that all three of my kids, ages 4 and under, will now be out of the house (and out of my studio) two days a week for summer school.  It has been fun having them home every day for the past few weeks as it has given us a lot of leisure time to play with friends, plan fun excursions, but I am a big proponent that breaks are good for everyone.

Stella got her groove back!

Thursday's Other Creative Soul: Kiki Curry

Being a creative person myself, I am always fascinated to see how other like-minded souls tick. Thanks for joining me today as I interview lifelong Dallas-Based Artist Kiki Curry. Kiki will be debuting some new works at the ArlingtonMuseum of Art, click here to learn more about her show, "Ectoplasmic".

 Education

Self taught - 

Fashion Merchandising College - Dallas

Current City/Hometown

Dallas

hometown - Waxahachie

Describe your work in one sentence. 
I create what is in my heart.

What are your passions? 

Art, fashion, travel, educating myself, spiritual growth

What are your goals? 

Spiritually - to be a person that will make a difference in another person's life

Physically - to honor the temple of body, mind and spirit

Emotionally - to be happy and in gratitude

Artistically - I am a spiritual being in a human experience, enjoying the life of an artist. It is my intent for my art to raise the consciousness of those who view it

Who are your creative influences?

Georgia O'Keeffe - Maxfield Parrish

Are there any other relevant experiences that shaped who you are today and what you do?

Seeing through the eyes of a child and

Exploring Mexico and having the opportunity to study at the Institudo of Arte in San Miguel de Allende

Travel opens my awareness of self and creates gratitude - especially in third world countries

Is there anyone whom you really look up to as an inspiration?

Dali (but I didn't look up to him) I admired his confidence and accomplishments

Georgia O'Keeffe - I admired her fortitude to break from the herd and live where she did 

How do you set the table for your muse?

I am the muse.

What's your working style? 

I work at art 24 hours a day. When I'm not creating, I'm thinking, when I am sleeping, I'm dreaming of creating.

What are your websites/social networking links?

www.kispirit.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/artofkikicurry

http://kikicurry.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/new-kikis-art-youtube-video-subscription-link/

http://network.artwallzine.com/profile/KikiCurry

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=733251693

View my latest art videos here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxeHKcUs4xw

Our Anniversary

Today marks 6 years of wedded bliss for me and Mr. D.   In six years, there have been three beautiful children, two unruly dogs, two homes (one to begin and one to grow up in ), two thriving careers...we joke that we certainly have a lot of baggage to show for that fateful day we were married at the Maison Dupuy courtyard in New Orleans.

I love our life. The joy I feel every day at the sheer beauty of this journey we are on together never ceases to take my breath away.  And at the foundation of it all is us, our love.  The secret is the love.

I was shopping yesterday and saw this inscription on a dinner plate, of all random things, but I was so taken by it because it exactly describes my love for Mr. D, my gratitude for the unconditional love he shows every day and my hope for our lives together.  I took a pic and gave it to him via email as sort of a digital card this year...feel so techie. :)


These words inspired me on so many levels that I wanted to share them with you so that they may do the same...

Private Art Lessons

Teaching art to children and watching them create is a never-ending well of inspiration. Their inhibition is amazing.

So proud of N & his sister E, ages 10 and 12. They have been taking private art lessons with me on and off for several years and we recently delved into Picasso and his Cubist period.  They were inspired to create their own Cubist self-portraits, which I think turned out amazing.

Their mom had very specific color schemes for them to work with in mind because these are going to be presented to their Dad at his surprise 50th B-day party this weekend and will hang int their living room.  Mom has been planning this party for months, leaving no detail to chance, but there is no doubt their masterpieces are going to steal the show.

"Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Do not claim them. Feel the artistry moving through and be silent. "  - Rumi

Thursday's Other Creative Soul: Casey Weigand

As a creative person myself, I love learning about what makes other like-minded people tick. Thanks for joining me today as I interview fellow Dallas-based Painter and Mother of itty bitties Casey Weigand. Casey is a beautiful person inside and out, and I feel certain she's a creative kindred spirit.  Make sure to stop by her  Blog, she's having a great giveaway!

Name/Location:  Casey Wiegand: Dallas Texas

Education: Early Childhood Education degree from Baylor University

Tell me about your work in one sentence: "Free" and abstract!

Describe your normal day. My normal day is waking up early with the two little ones... we make breakfast and get ready for the day. We usually try and have a playdate or outing in the morning. (if it's warm we head to the pool!!!) Then we eat lunch and go down for naps (if i am lucky their naps will overlap and I will have some time to paint, return emails and blog.) When they wake up we usually "create" together (my little guy loves loves loves to paint) and play outside until dinner. Then dinnertime as a family when my husband gets home...then the night routine...baths, prayers, snacks, a little more playtime then bed! After the kiddos are down Chris & I usually watch a movie or finish up any work that didnt get done! Sometimes I will paint really late at night when everyone is alseep. My ideal day would look a lot like this...my kiddos are my world and I love that my days revolve around them. They won't be little for long so I am trying to soak up every single second. 

What are your passions? My passions are first God, then my family then my art and sharing my life/my story with anyone who is interested. 

What are your goals? I would love to write a book someday and a silly dream is to be able to completely support our family on my art. Maybe a big gallery, I am no where close to that yet...but a girl can dream right?!

Who are your creative influences? My greatest influence is my husband Chris. Not only is he insanely creative & talented himself....but shortly after being married he encouraged me to do the Dallas City Arts Festival; it would be my first art show. I was nervous and insecure, it was a juried show and truthfully I felt a bit silly to enter. God moved in my life a lot that weekend...I sold 11 paintings and won a jury award. He confirmed that my passion could also be my profession and it has been an incredible ride ever since!

Is there anyone that you really look up to as an inspiration? I love not necessarily who these people were but their art: Klimt, Kandinsky & Picasso. Very inspiring. 

What motivates you on a daily basis?  Nature and music. I look at the world through an artists eyes. I am always noticing shapes, colors and the way things move and flow.... and music always will inspire me to paint. If I have a good playlist going, i can get a lot done! 

What's your working style?  I take lots of breaks. my art is all about layers so I may have numerous pieces going at once....layers and layers. Plus I dont have tons of time to paint these days with two kids under the age of two...I just take what I can get!

What are your websites/social networking links? 

BLOG: http://thewiegands.blogspot.com/

WEBSITE: www.caseywiegand.com  

Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casey-Wiegand-Art/175899174261    

Twitter:http://twitter.com/CaseyWiegand

Another Creative Soul: Jocelynn Schneider

As a creative person myself, I find it fascinating to learn what makes other like-minded people tick.  Thanks for joining me today as we get to know Cleveland, OH-based Photographer Jocelynn Schneider. Her no-frills, natural light approach is gorgeous.  Here, in her own words, she tells us how she sets the table for her muse....

I Studied Visual Communication Design and Photography at Kent State University. Currently continuing my studies in Art & Graphic Design at Cleveland State University. And, of course, my life experiences have educated me even more than any schooling ever could. 

My "normal" day includes either going to work as an activities leader at a nursing home...or going to school at CSU as an art student. It also includes lots of social media and text messaging, I'm addicted. My "ideal" day would be full of free time, creativity, success, people that I love to be around, and sunshine. 

Passions. Hard question! I'm still figuring that out but...my passions are people who do big things. I love hearing people's stories, how they overcame the obstacles in their lives and what they do day in and day out to make it work. I'm also passionate about food and cooking. Cooking is seriously a spiritual experience for me. No matter what cards my day may have dealt me, if I can get home and cook a great meal, I'm happy. I love photography - showing others how I see them; making the mundane glorious. Typography. Antique books. Yoga. Oh, yoga. See my blog post about it at nichecreative.tumblr.com. Food. Wine. Just let me eat, drink, and be merry. 

Goals! One of my goals is to be more goal oriented. :-) Seriously, though...I'm trying to organize my life. To pay attention to the things I really want and the things that really define me. Things in my life could range from items in my wardrobe to my free time, to the people I spend my time with. I'm trying to get my priorities straight and surround myself with big ideas, action and positivity. 

My creative influences are definitely Audrey Hepburn, and Martin Luther King Jr. They are high and lofty in the creative sphere to me. Diane Arbus. I love her photography. I am also wild about the work of Noa Azoulay-Sclater who founded Feather Love Photography, check her out at http://featherlove.com/. Oooh, and Tara Gentile at Scoutie Girl. Her blog is chock full of inspiration and creative business savvy - http://www.scoutiegirl.com/. Last but not least, there's a recording studio in Cleveland run by a friend of mine. The raw creativity and edge of this place gives me the chills and constantly reminds me that with hard work and diligence, your dreams can become reality. Check them out at www.badracket.com. 

I've had a lot of childhood experiences that have shaped who I am. Delightful things and really difficult things. I think the most creative time of my life was spending my summer in my grandfather's woods and gardens. There was so much imaginative play and fresh vegetable eating. You can't go wrong with either. 

Influences - Audrey Hepburn. As I mentioned before. She's such a classy lady, you can't help but want to be like her! There's really no explanation needed here. I also love old musicians such as Otis Redding and Billie Holiday.

Some experiences that have shaped me are my exposure to typography and letterpress work at Kent State. It was like I entered this nerdy world that I would never escape. When I meet someone else who is equally enthralled with the curve of an 'a', the hook of a 'y', serifs and sans serifs, kerning and tracking...I am on cloud nine and could talk for hours. The typographers that produced the characters that we use to express our language day in and day out are truly unsung heroes. 

When it comes to my "muse" or "guilty pleasure", I'd have to say it's social media. Particularly Twitter. I love to see what others are doing creatively and I love to share it.  Tweet, tweet, retweet. I also really love watching Glee. 

My working style. Well, I'm totally sporadic. One day, you might find me plugging away for twelve hours straight. Another day, I'm useless and lazy. And another day I am off an on. It really just depends. I must admit, I am very ruled by my moods, feelings and emotions. This is a strength and a weakness!

My official website for my photography is  http://www.jocelynnhunter.com. I'll be sure to let Gina know as soon as it's up! You can find me on Twitter @ohjocelynn, on Facebook @http://www.facebook.com/jocelynn.schneider and my blog...of course, my blog...http://nichecreative.tumblr.com/ 

Art Therapy, Play Therapy

 It's a funny business, this business of being an Artist. There is so much of the Self involved in your work, and it can be hard not lot let your ego get in the way. Sometimes you want to create and you can't.  The Muse is often fickle. Sometimes paintings sell and sometimes they don't. The incredible highs (I sold a painting! I'm in so-and-so gallery!) and lows (If I had more time I could be more successful! Why didn't they come to my art show?) are part of the ride.   And  when it gets to be a little overwhelming I try to remind myself that it's all about the journey.  That deep down inside I am still the little girl in third grade who hid in the art room and drew while the other kids played outside at recess, and whether or not people "like" my art is irrelevant to them liking ME. Cue deep breathing exercises...

This is my daughter at the DMA, but could have easily been a photo of me twenty five years ago.
What could be more special than coming to that realization?

I was having one of those low days last week and I took the big kids to the Dallas Museum of Art. It is one of our favorite places to visit. I was lucky enough to consult on the design of their Center for Creative Connections, which they re-vamped about five years ago, and I love the stations where you can make a project with dry media (aka mess-free media) just for the fun of making a project. My kiddos got so into the foil sculptures they would not leave the work table until I finally had to bribe them with treats I keep in the car just for the sole purpose of getting them into the car. I loved watching them create just for creativity's sake. Seeing them and the sheer "art brut-ness"

(Art brut: French for "raw art", the art of children and outsiders; actually, anyone not producing art for profit or recognition.)

of their whole experience was like the rain for me, washing my insecurities and hindering ulterior motives away and unearthing the pure, the true, the real.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

My creative ruts always seem to come from overworking, which is really tempting when you are running a small business on your own. I have to constantly tell myself that it's okay to shut the door of the studio and go do something completely unrelated to Utopia Pkwy. Art Studio...my little passion project, my happy place. The longer I work in the creative field, the more certain I am that 'working through it' does not lead to great ideas. It's a combination of life experiences and incubation time, mixed with some heavy trial and error. When I feel like I have no other creative ideas, I try to be gentle with myself and have faith that, with time, my next inspiration will arrive when I least expect it.

Thursday's Other Creative Soul: Jill Nononemacher

  As a creative person meself, I love to see what makes other like-minded souls think. Thank you for joining me today as we get to know Dallas-based Artist Jill Nononemacher. Jill and I will be having an exhibit together entitled, "Made for Love", this weekend along with a few other Artists at the Cameron Gallery on Dragon Street in the Dallas Design Disctrict. Here's Jill's story...

Name: Jill Nonnemacher (JillyArt)

JillyArt Studios

973.975.3426

Location: Native from New Jersey, now calls home Mansfield, Texas.

Education/Training

FIT, NY - Textile Design Degree

The School of Visual Arts, NY

 Fordham University, NY - MSW   

About JillyArt

JillyArt is best known for her wildly colorful palette. My style is best described as expressionistic and figurative which captures the essence and spirit of people and playfulness. 

My normal day is jumpstarted with a pot of coffee along with getting my 2 sweet pugs,   Mozart & Fiona walked & fed before I can even think about starting anything else.

 After taking care of business related stuff I turn usually settle into my studio by mid morning or early afternoon, turn on my rock & roll music and begin painting for the day.

  

My passion is to create art that is full of life. Art that is filled with color and is emotionally provoking to my viewer. 

 

My goal is  to paint 5 days a week creating new, exciting, stimulating art to share with the world. 

JillyArt aims to  create a world full of passion, celebration and seduction that evokes a sensory experience and emotional response within her viewers.  My subjects include expressive solitary figures, whimsical collective figures, and socially provocative figures.    

My inspiration comes from people, life experiences, music, fashion, design and my training as a psychotherapist.  I am also very inspired by other artists and spend lots of time looking at art and enjoy collecting different styles of art for my own art galley. 

My working style is to paint nonstop for 6 - 8 hours at a time. I do take a few breaks to play with the dogs and try to squeeze in  a mid day walk around the block.

If I am working on a deadline I will  take a couple hours off, share dinner with my husband and go back into the studio to continue painting.

If I get into my painting zone again I will paint  for several more hours before retiring for the night.

 I like to paint in collections. Each painting has a story to be shared and is part of a larger series.  It is fundamental that my paintings radiate with liveliness, movement and a playful spirit.

A few of my favorite artists that have greatly influenced my style and appreciation for art are the 20th century expressionistic painters: Picasso, Matisse,  Klee and love the colorful art of Peter Max.

 

Social Links:

www.jillyartdesigns.com

    facebook.com/jillyartstudios

    jillyartdesigns.blogspot.com

    linkedin.com/in/jillnonnemacher/jillyart

    twitter.com/jillyart

Features:

JillyArt is cited in Art Calendar (Professional Artist), March, 2011

http://www.artcalendar.com

Jillyart is featured on: Manhattan Arts International - The Artrepeneur blog (Sept.22,2010) http://reneephillips.blogspot.com/2010/09jill-nonnemacher-featured-artist.html

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JillyArt is included in the CityArt Cal Engagement Book 2009.    http://www.cityartcal.com

JillyArt is featured in The Art Buzz Book, The 2009 Collection of Contemporary art for Emerging Artists.    www.atbuzz.com

JillyArt is featured in the John Hopkins Art and Addiction Book, 2010.  www.press.jhu.edu

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jillyArt has been featured on many magazine covers including: Sasee Magazine, South Carolina, Rising Women Magazine, Canada

JillyArt is represented by The Cameron Gallery, Dallas, TX