DPW Spotlight Interview: Amanda Bilson

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Amanda's painting, "Resting on the Rocks" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Amanda's DPW Gallery page:

I am a British artist living in Murcia, Spain. I love to draw and paint. I work mainly in oils and pastel. I enjoy painting various genre but my main focus is animals, whether it be a pet portrait or wildlife, I endeavor to capture the likeness and character of each subject. I am very grateful to be able to devote myself on a full-time basis to my passion. Thank you for taking the time to look at my work. I hope you enjoy my art and continue to follow me on my artistic journey.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I have always enjoyed drawing since my teenage years, but only started painting in 2010 when my husband bought me my first ever watercolour set. We had finished renovating our house in Spain and I then had more free time to pursue my art.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Since starting painting in 2010, I have never looked back. I have been painting now for just over four years and never wanted to stop. This is me.

Resting on the Rocks
(click to see original image)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the home page announcing Amanda's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Like most artists, in the beginning, I experimented with watercolour, acrylic, oils, pastels and various genre from still life, landscapes, figurative, pet portraits and wildlife.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Painting domestic animals and wildlife are the subjects that I feel most passionate about and really enjoy painting. I never tire of doing these. These subjects, using pastels and oils, are now my main focus. In the early days, I painted still life and other genre, but none of them interest me or inspire me as much as the animals.

White Bengal Tiger
(click to see original image)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I am looking forward to using pan pastels which I have just recently ordered from the UK. I enjoy using pastel pencils as I can achieve great detail. I also enjoy using oils and will be doing larger paintings in this medium to try to achieve the same level of detail as I do with the pastels.

Who or what inspires you most?

I have always loved animals. Painting domestic pets and wildlife is what inspires me. I remember a few years ago, I saw a painting of a tiger by Martin Aveling, who is a wonderful wildlife artist. I thought how amazing his work is and his attention to detail is excellent. This inspired me. There are other artists that inspire me, like David Shepherd, David Stribbling and Pip McGarry, all of whom are outstanding artists.

Zuri
(click to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination for me is when I am unsure of what to paint which can result in me putting painting off altogether. This can be very frustrating and can waste time but thankfully this does not happen often.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I prefer to get my housekeeping tasks out of the way every morning before going in to my studio. It doesn’t always work out that way, as my eagerness to complete a painting can at times overrule my routine. Either way, I am usually in my studio by early afternoon working through into the evening.

Soulmates
(click to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I would like to say that for all my paintings I use my own reference photos, but that is not always possible, particularly when painting wildlife. Our own dogs and cats are a great inspiration, but I am so grateful for sites such as Wetcanvas and Morguefile where very generous photographers allow us artists to use their photos. It is great to have such inspiration at hand.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I try to keep my art fresh by looking for interesting images that I can build on by interpreting in my own style. I have learned that if a painting is not working out, trying to re-work it just does not work for me. I can waste many hours trying to improve it and through experience I now know it is best to scrap it and start afresh. For me this avoids burn out.

Cooling Off
(click to see original image)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I am learning all the time. I think there is always room for improvement and with every painting I try to improve my techniques. The most important thing for me is to push myself to achieve better results, but it is equally as important that whilst I am striving to improve I am still enjoying the journey.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I am so fortunate to be doing what I love. To start with a blank piece of paper or canvas and to create a painting that connects and gives joy to the viewer makes me happiest. It is so rewarding to receive positive comments from people who enjoy my work.

Thanks, Amanda!

© 2014 Sophie Catalina Marine Cruse

DPW Spotlight Interview: Carol Zirkle

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Carol's painting, "Gilded" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Carol's DPW Gallery page:

My passion is all about the sky!!!

There is nothing that demands my attention like a piercing, brilliant sunrise or sunset. The colors are so vibrant and clear. The clouds are pure drama. And, it is all so fleeting!

I love the way a peaceful sky with soft white clouds and bright blue skies can make me feel like everything is right with the world. When the storm clouds give way to the sun, the sense of relief is palpable. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

Art class in grade school was always one of my favorites. In high school, I took a drawing class that I really enjoyed, so I decided to major in Fine Art in college.

After college, I worked in a non-art related corporate job. Fifteen years went by, then one day I picked up a pencil and drew a picture. After showing it to friends at work, one of them wanted me to draw her child. That gave me confidence to do more.

I worked on my drawings in the evenings and on the weekends and began participating in art shows. At one of these shows, a full time artist came into my booth and told me I would have to make the leap to full time. It seemed like a dream but within a couple years, I finally quit my corporate job and moved from Minnesota to Montana to be an artist.

It has been a really good move for me!

Gilded
(click to see original image)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the home page announcing Carol's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Once I made the decision to make painting my career, I have not stopped.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Regarding mediums, I started with pencil. Pastel paintings were next, because it was a way to learn color while drawing. From there, I have focused on oils. That was more challenging than pastel because there are more parts to it. It has been a fun journey so far.

As far genres, my favorite is skyscapes. Painting landscapes and animals, as well as the occasional person, are fun, but the skies are where my passions lay.

Dragon Dreams
(click to see original image)

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Pastel and oils have stuck. The color has become a special fascination and these mediums are both great for bold, colorful statements.

The genre that has stuck has been skies. It seems that this muse picked me more than the other way around. At first, it was not an obvious choice. But, if I veer very far from skies, I always come back.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Using dyes to paint on silk has been something I have been considering and researching.

Who or what inspires you most?

When I was learning about pastels, Harley Brown's work and book "Harley Brown's Eternal Truths for Every Artist" were very inspiring. I would strongly suggest this book for any new artist!

Half Moon Over the Lane
(click to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Sometimes I procrastinate if there isn't enough time available for the tasks in front of me. For example, an hour and a half is a good painting session for me. If there is only a half hour available, I tend to find something non-art related to do.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Based on the things that happen at my home, I figure that I can fit in an hour and a half session in the morning, and two in the afternoon.

Also, it helps to have everything set up all the time. My studio is set up in an extra room. It is set up so that I can easily switch my materials from oils to pastels. I always try to leave my projects and materials set up for the next day.

Flash
(click to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Montana is known as Big Sky country. When I see a spectacular sky, I grab the camera.

In order to manage the vast number of photos, I identify and keep the best compositions in a separate file on my computer. I also will print a number of them off and keep them in photo albums. I never toss the lesser photos, in case I need more ideas.

When it is time for new painting ideas, I just look through my computer file and photo albums. I love working in sets, so it's just a matter of choosing 4 to 6 photos that look good together.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

Lately, I have tried a couple ideas.

The first was changing my compositions a little. I took the land out and the remaining sky images were very exciting to me.

The other thing I'm working on is airbrushing with acrylics for my oil under paintings. I learned airbrush years ago and just love it. It works very well for me to get a 3-D feeling for the piece in short order.

Wind Dance
(click to see original image)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I'm learning that there is always more to learn. When an idea comes, it's important to research it. If it seems like a good one, time to take action.

What makes you happiest about your art?

When I'm having a show, it is so fun to walk into the gallery and see all the sky paintings together. It is most fun to talk about the paintings with art lovers and sky enthusiasts. That makes me happy!

Thanks, Carol!

© 2014 Sophie Catalina Marine Cruse

DPW Spotlight Interview: Felicia Marshall

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Felicia's painting, "Blue Caboose" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Felicia's DPW Gallery page: 

I am an artist, mom, wife, and teacher. Since 2008, I have undertaken the challenge of being a daily painter. I continue to be rewarded by the process. I live in Texas and enjoy being able to spend my life surrounded by art.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I have always known I was an artist. I was lucky to be able to attend a high school that focused on visual arts. There I was introduced to many different art materials which included acrylic paint. In college, I had a little bit more freedom to choose the materials that I wanted to work with. I found myself naturally drawn to the versatility of acrylic paint. I have considered myself a painter ever since.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

No, I create paintings regularly and always have. Sometimes I create them for publishing houses in the form of children's books. When I'm not working on a book, I get to paint whatever I want, which is a treat. Luckily, other people enjoy my work enough to purchase some of my paintings.

Blue Caboose
(click to see original image)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the home page announcing Felicia's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have experimented with many mediums, that's what I actually enjoyed about being a student in high school and college. I got a chance to try everything. Some of my favorites were printmaking, photography, and of course painting.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

I love acrylic paint because of its versatility. You just can't beat them. They clean up easily, they dry quickly, and best of all they don't smell. You can layer it, you can thin it out and use it like watercolor. In my earlier children's book illustrations people thought my paintings were watercolors. As for genres, I'm still trying different genres, though I always go back to portraits. I find people interesting. Everyone has their own story and surprisingly you can tell so much of it in a simple portrait.

Little Mermaid
(click to see original image)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I'm looking forward to exploring collage again in some of my portraits. I've always admired collage artists, but when I attempted it I got lost in the possibilities. I think I'll start out simple by collaging a single word or image onto one of my painted portraits. Then slowly work my way up from there. I am also committing myself to working on larger paintings. The portraits of children's faces cropped extremely close are so fun, colorful, and playful already. I think they would be even more extraordinary if they were larger.

Who or what inspires you most?

My children inspire me most. They are a constant source of images for my paintings.

A Study in Orange
(click to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

It looks like me cleaning. It also looks like me sitting alone in my comfortable chair staring off into space. I'm thinking and enjoying the silence. Whenever I am doing this, it means I am avoiding making decisions large and small.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

I found my own little space and completely took it over. This way I am able to come back to whatever I was painting and pick up instantly where I left off. I also make the most of my weekends and late nights painting.

Stripes
(click to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I take a lot of photographs, so it becomes a matter of looking at images until something catches my eye. Sometimes I'll come across an object that I fall in love with, like the glasses in the painting "Glasses What Glasses" or the goggles in the painting "Turtle Eyes". I'll use these as props in my portraits.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I keep art fresh by taking more photographs and pushing myself to make them in a different way or from a different perspective. I don't have any techniques for burnout. I wish I did. I get burnout often. It's mostly about issues concerning time. I get overly ambitious about what I can accomplish in the time that I have.

Bold & Bright
(click to see original image)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

How to make things more exciting using light. I'm still learning this!

What makes you happiest about your art?

When I have painted something and look at it and think, "I don't believe I painted that!" This happens to me a lot. I'm also greatly moved by people who e-mail or comment on a painting that they have made a personal connection with.

Thanks, Felicia!

© 2014 Sophie Catalina Marine Cruse

DPW Spotlight Interview: Jurij Frey

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Jurij's painting, "in der Mittagspause" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Jurij's DPW Gallery page:

Jurij Frey lives in Böblingen near to Stuttgart, Germany. The painter works in a realistic style. He gets inspired by people living in our modern world, by the contrast between the vanity in business, city life and his desire for muse, nature, light and wonder. He paints the people in their usual environment, in large, almost rough stokes. (click to see more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

It all begin in childhood. The desire to learn to paint was always present, and resulted in me going to drawing school where I greatly enjoyed drawing lessons.

In der Mittagspause
(click to see image)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the home page announcing Jurij's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Yes of course; there were periods of time when I could not pick up a pencil, but I always came back to drawing as its humble servant. And in the end it became a part of my life.

Im Cafe
(click to see image)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I've tried various mediums, but always returned to oil. As for genres, I've always been curious to try a lot and I hope I will remain curious in the future.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Today, I like to work in a realistic style of expressionism; I like to convey feelings clearly.

Model
(click to see image)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I am pleased with the genre and style that I paint, and I would like to delve into them further.

Who or what inspires you most?

People, my surroundings, the environment in which I am in, the time in which I live.

Straßen von Paris
(click to see image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

During perfectly quiet mornings or sometimes I leave the house and wait for random sensations. At other times, I do not have an inner state of mind that I'm trying to bring out through painting. Each time is different and I like it.

Unterwegs
(click to see image)

What makes you happiest about your art?

Working at my art and making a living with it.

Thanks, Jurij!

© 2014 Sophie Catalina Marine