Thursday, March 26, 2015

DPW Spotlight Interview: Saundra Lane Galloway

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

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

From Saundra's DPW Gallery Page:

An artist for over 35 years working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, wax and most recently mixed media. You will see paintings in several different media. Saundra graduated with a degree in Art Education and taught public school secondary level for over 10 years. She now works in her home studio and teaches workshops in mixed media, wax collage and other requested art topics.

Saundra has won awards in Nebraska and Colorado and shows regularly throughout Colorado. (click to view more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I actually began painting in 1975 when I was in college.  For many years, I read books and I really taught myself.  The desire to paint and be an artist began before I can remember.  I always wanted to be an artist.  I used to draw “Bambi” in magazine articles that were advertisements for art schools.  They sent me letters back that said I should pick another career.  However, that never killed my desire, so I just practiced and read and observed the world around me and did my own thing.

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

Yes, I stopped when my children were born so I could do the mom thing, and then, when they were older, I painted and drew when I got off work.  When I began teaching full time in the early 90’s, I did not have time to do my own art during the school year, but picked it back up in the summers.  Eventually, I figured out that I could create lesson plans that incorporated what I wanted to do - teach and create a painting or piece of artwork for an example… I didn’t get to work constantly on my own interests, but it did allow me to keep my fingers in my work.  My students were very enthusiastic learners, and even began selling the work they did in class.  It was very rewarding to see!

S'up
(click to see original image)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Saundra's interview.
What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have worked in oil, watercolor, acrylic, wax, charcoal, fiber, paper, wire, metal, wood; well just about everything I can think of.  I absolutely love experimenting!

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

I have developed a way of working that has allowed me to hold on to just about all the media I’ve experimented with.  I don’t do a lot of wax collage, but I still love it.  I don’t work in straight watercolor anymore, but I do manipulate acrylics as if they were watercolor when my work needs it.  
Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I want to work more in 3-D.  I love working with materials I have created and am constantly trying to find ways to combine them.  Lately, I’ve been interested in how I can use my paper casts that I created molds for in old window frames; combined with branches.  My mind just will not stop trying to find ways to do things in a visual sense.

Who or what inspires you most?

My inspiration comes from observation and experimentation.  I have been an avid “watcher of the world” ever since I can remember.  It can be a color, or the way a composition comes from seeing a shoelace in the sun… just about anything.  I am inspired by Alisa Burke; our work isn’t the same, but her desire to find new ways to explain existing things and her recycling very much inspires me.  Other strong women like her have always been an inspiration.
What does procrastination look like for you?

I have never been one to procrastinate, so I’m not sure how to think about this.  I was always that kid that did what I was asked first, before I played, and that has followed me all my life.  I suppose it is a bit boring, but I am just wired that way.

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

If I am excited about what I am doing there is nothing that will keep me from working on my art every moment I can.  I think of my art as my job; my fun job mind you, but still my job, my responsibility, so I apply responsible thought to my work.  I have a routine where I get up and begin… before I shower, before anything just about. It doesn’t matter if I do it for five minutes or an hour, I just start. After that, inspiration takes over and there is no stopping me.
How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

As I have mentioned, I am an observer of everything: color, pattern, design in everything. One idea came to me from the design on the back of my bathroom door while I was showering.  I have ideas for two paintings that I see in the tiles in my shower.  I take time to look at lots of art.  I want to find inspiration in them.  I see the colors they use and that gives me ideas, I see a line that looks so nice and it can become a beginning of a new piece.  I am just always thinking and experimenting with so many things and ideas just come from that.

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

If I am bored with what I am doing it is a clear indication that I need to grow. If I feel burned out, I take time to get away.  I use that time to see the world, walk a path near a lake, anything to clear my head.  It usually doesn’t take very long.  My fingers itch when I go too long without working.
Again, experimenting with many different materials is the absolute best way to continue to grow and keep work fresh.  I don’t feel like I have to continue doing the same thing because it is expected of me by a gallery owner or a collector.  I believe it is my responsibility to myself to continue to grow and change and find exciting ways to express my vision as an artist and person.

I have found that if I am excited with my work others will feel it as well.  There is no wall to stop a person if they are willing to find a creative way through it or around it or over it!  I apply this belief system in my life.  I don’t like the word “can’t”.  It is stifling and well, just not true in my world! Ha... within reason.  I’m pretty sure I can’t spontaneously speak another language, but I can learn how.
What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

To continue to work diligently at something I love and becoming a success.  Success to me is a fulfillment of my dreams. I will find joy and excitement in my work, and I will share it.  I am learning that there are no walls, that there is always a new thing just around the corner that I will want to try and share.

What makes you happiest about your art?

That I get to do it!  I am so thrilled that my mind just keeps coming up with ideas and thoughts that lead to new work.  I have ideas that, in order to follow them all will take years… That is thrilling and fun!

Thanks, Saundra!

© 2015 Sophie Catalina Marine

Thursday, March 19, 2015

DPW Spotlight Interview: Dorothy Fagan

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

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

From Dorothy's DPW gallery page:


I paint in oil and mixed media. I work en plein air and in my studio near the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. In 2013, I was fortunate to have a six week residency in France, painting en plein air in Provence, Brittany, Normandy, along the Emerald Coast, Giverny and Paris. I became fascinated with the juxtapositon of ancient structures, vibrant people and the landscape.
You can find info on Dorothy's current art show (happening March 20-22) here - http://paradisecityarts.com/


Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.



I have been painting since I was a little girl. My bedroom was always an art studio. I won my first award at fourteen, a five-county regional in New Jersey.


Cliffside Dwelling, France
(click to see original image)

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

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

As a young mother, I suffered a series of traumas. The PTSD and depression caused me much difficulty. Ultimately, my art became the healing force which enabled me to move past them. This helped me learn the connection between energy medicine and painting. As a result of this, I lead classes in healing color for people from all walks of life.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I have a BFA in Printmaking and Painting. After college, I worked in pastel exclusively for twenty-five years. I also work in oil. During my residency at Musee de la Grande Vigne in Brittany, I experimented with turpentine wash fused with willow charcoal. Returning to the States, this led me to my mixed media fusion paintings, using alkyd paint with willow charcoal and pastel.

Island
(click to see original image)

Who or what inspires you most?

Landscape has always been my inspiration. However, since my French residency in 2013, I find much inspiration in my interactions with people. My blog has become a Virtual Artists' Residency where I am exchanging creative ideas with readers. I have begun teaching again and find it very stimulating.

What does procrastination look like for you?

I don't procrastinate. I have some projects which are in the incubation period. Others which are in action. I don't confuse the two.

Blonde Wax Beans
(click to see original image)

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

I am painting all the time. Even if I don't have a brush in my hand, I am painting in my mind's eye. Generally, I write in the mornings and paint in the afternoons. I take a day off to have lunch with a girlfriend.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I am still working on ideas from my French residency. One painting usually begets others. I follow them and they lead me through self exploration. Writing about them on my blog opens new ideas as well.

High Tide, St Jaces de la Mer
(click to see original image)

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

Some time ago, I came to the realization that even if my painting is inspired by something I have seen in the landscape - what I am really painting is a self portrait - an inner landscape. This realization made me a better painter and keeps me engaged in exploring new territory every day. I am always eager to go into the studio to see what I painted yesterday - it always surprises me!

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

This year, I am planning a residency in Tuscany. From August through October, I will paint and blog from Tuscany. My project is called, "Muses of Tuscany," as three 'muses' will visit me to inspire my paintings. When I return home in November, I will exhibit the paintings at the Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough, MA. People can register to follow this project on my blog.

Lavande Magic
(click to see original image)

What makes you happiest about your art?

I am happiest when I connect with someone through my paintings. Watching someone see themselves in a painting is a humbling experience. I am so fortunate to be able to paint and share my art. I can't think of anything I'd rather do. I even paint with my grandchildren!

Thanks, Dorothy!

© 2015 Sophie Catalina Marine

Thursday, March 12, 2015

DPW Spotlight Interview: Diane Eugster

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

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

From Diane's DPW gallery page:

Since my mother was also an artist, painting has always been a big part of my life. As a child I loved drawing people, as an adult I hiked the red canyons of Nevada capturing the rugged landscape, but figurative painting has always been my passion. Teaching classes and workshops over the years has definitely helped to hone my painting skills. I've been involved in and won awards in Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society exhibits as well as being represented by several galleries; The Weatherburn Gallery, Naples Florida, The Lee Youngman Gallery, Calistoga California, The Willow Gallery, Scottsdale,Arizona and the Gallery at Summerlin, Las Vegas. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

My mother was an artist. I don't know how she found the time to paint with two small children, but I do remember the smell of linseed oil on rags as she toned her canvases. When I was a teenager my father bought The Artist, an art supply store, which was also my first job. Reading all the art books when business was slow and getting substantial art supply discounts enabled me to creatively experiment with many materials. This experience provided the spring board to really dive into painting.

Reflection
(click to see original image)

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

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

Oh yes, in around 2008, I was questioning my motives for painting. The excitement in the beginning had been replaced with meeting deadlines for shows, the experimenting replaced with "just getting it done". So one day, I boxed up my brushes and paints, not being sure if I would ever open them up again.

Three years later, I realized the original things that drew me to painting were still there, I just had to go back to a place before I let other things get out of control. Someone told me to just paint what I love and other people will share in my enthusiasm, that has been very good advice.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I worked for several years in watercolor. I was even the librarian on the board of our Las Vegas Watercolor Society. Again, devouring the books and videos, taking yearly workshops offered, and featuring artists such as Stephen Quiller and Don Andrews caused my skill level to rise exponentially. Eventually, I changed to oils when I realized what a flexible medium it was.

First Tide
(click to see original image)

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

Oil paint really allows me to "speak paint". The things I want to express about my subjects just seem to flow from paint to canvas. It feels very natural to me. I don't see myself changing mediums anytime soon.

Who or what inspires you most?

When I began oil painting, it was primarily as a plein air landscape artist. Hiking in the Red Rock Canyon to find subjects to paint was my favorite past time. I loved the feeling of being outdoors, even in adverse conditions while I painted. In 2001, I started going to weekly life drawing sessions. This is where my eyes were opened to the endless possibilities of using not only the human body but also individual expressions to make painterly stories.

On a day to day basis, I've found many artists on the internet that give me inspiration. One of my favorite places to find inspiration is Pinterest. My top three list would include John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorrolla and John Asaro.

Mending Her Shoe
(click to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I find procrastination creeps in when I make a drawing for a new painting in the morning. I'll look at it over and over but there it is, untouched for the rest of the day. I tell myself I'll begin on it tomorrow but other "more important" things come up that I just have to do. After a day or so of that, I realize I didn't have a firm idea of what I wanted to do with that painting in the first place. The remedy then is to move on and choose another subject. Not every image is a good reason for a painting.

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

Since doing the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, I've realized I need to be working in longer blocks of consecutive time so that my paint stays workable during the whole process. I've documented many of the things I learned during this challenge on my blog at DianesPaintingBlog.Wordpress.com. Now, I plan my painting to fall on three consecutive days. Day 1 - get the drawing down correctly, day 2 - work for five to seven hours on the painting, day 3 - as long as it takes to finish. This gives me the rest of the week to get other things done.

Looking West
(click to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I orchestrate photo shoots using scenes and clothing that fit the personality of the individual I'm working with. The resulting photos fill my thoughts with so many scenarios and stories I just can't wait to get them out of my head and onto the canvas.

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

I don't plan my paintings as much as I used to. Jumping into it a little unsure of what's going to happen keeps my senses sharp. I also learned doing the 30/30 to just hang in there, every painting has it's rough spots, and it's all a part of the process. I believe in the past I've given up on too many paintings too soon.

White Veil
(click to see original image)

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

I'm learning more and more about the importance of harmony in my painting. Using fewer colors and slowing down to see how everything is interconnected has improved my work immensely.

What makes you happiest about your art?

When I get to that place in a painting I mentioned above, the rough spot, then I begin to slowly pull it out of discord and into the place I had imagined in my head. It's such a fantastic feeling, like playing an instrument and making beautiful music.

Thanks, Diane!

© 2015 Sophie Catalina Marine

Thursday, March 5, 2015

DPW Spotlight Interview: Jim Bliss

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

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

From Jim's DPW gallery page:

Jim Bliss was formerly a professional illustrator for 30 years, working with clients including Disney, The Wall Street Journal, The National Geographic Society, and hundreds of others. Currently, he is on disability and supplements his income, as much as possible, by selling his art. He often collaborates with his wife, Noma Bliss on paintings, as is the case with numerous works offered for sale here on Daily Paintworks.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

My dad worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for his entire professional life. He encouraged my brothers and I to create art from the time we first began to mumble sounds. Throughout much of my childhood, my dad taught us techniques and introduced us to a variety of mediums and was always encouraging. I learned a lot from watching my dad and competing with my brothers.

Miss Cow
(click to see original image)

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

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

High School was a dry period for me as I was thoroughly confused over just about everything. Later, (after attending Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY for a year as a 'special student') upon returning home when the school year ended, I shocked my dad by telling him that I was no longer interested in art, and wanted to go into construction. Apparently, some of that confusion was still lingering. After that, I got sensible and began my career as an illustrator, which lasted about thirty years.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

There is very little that I have not tried. As an illustrator, I did digital work and airbrush as well as created with many painting techniques using every medium imaginable. I've also done ceramic work.

My Dog
(click to see original image)

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

Most of my work now is executed with a combination of painting techniques using oil, acrylic and pencil. I lost interest in digital work and airbrush as I find them both tedious and lacking in 'feeling'. I'd rather have fun.

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Any exploration that I do generally comes about spontaneously, as I may discover a new, better way of applying paint or using my brushes to speed up the process or create interesting effects. I also do a lot of experimenting with the way I design faces or figures, whether human or animal.

Dapper Frog
(click to see original image)

Who or what inspires you most?

Most of my inspiration and ideas come from my own brain. I've looked at art my whole life so I'm sure that I have influences though none I can point to specifically. As I work very closely with my artist wife Noma Bliss, I learn much from watching her and have over time learned to loosen up due to her fearless influence. Also, always a source of inspiration is my passionate interest in animal life and the natural world. Most of my work includes animals.

What does procrastination look like for you?

I rarely procrastinate when it come to doing art. If I don't feel like doing something, I'll do it even quicker than if I'm enthused just to get it out of the way.

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

Art has always been the way I have earned my living so the fact is that art is just about all I do. Even through the middle of the sleepless night.

Cat Woman
(click to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Often, my wife gives me ideas, other times, I use my own brain. My ideas are generally so simple that they do not require much mental exertion.

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

Once again, very often my wife Noma searches around for innovative approaches or techniques and gives them to me. She seems to enjoy doing it, and generally has great suggestions, so I don't mind. Saves me the trouble. As for the imagery that I select, I use my own sensibility to determine an approach. My goal is creating a piece that is always geared toward sell-ability, so I always try to create a visually interesting and pleasing-to-the-eye finished product.

Sir Pug
(click to see original image)

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

I think the thing that pleases me the most about my art at present is that at sixty-one years of age, I am continuing to improve at my drawing and painting skills. I draw and paint much faster than I have in the past and with superior results. My wife's influence has been key, as she is a very intuitive painter and obeys no stultifying rules.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I'm happy because I probably have one of the best jobs that anyone can have. How many people get paid money for simply expressing their joy?

Thanks, Jim!

© 2015 Sophie Catalina Marine