DPW Spotlight Interview: Valerie Lazareva

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Valerie's painting, "Red Poppies" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Valerie's DPW Gallery:

My name is Valerie and I am a self-taught artist. A little about my work: All my work (with rare exception) are made from nature. I chose impressionism because it is «an explosion of emotion» and «feelings from the other side», respectively, in this direction, I develop my creativity. My works are made in my own original technique. It is a mixture of materials such as gouache, tempera and acrylic accents. I prefer all the tools -- used palette knife. As well known artists distinguish more shades of color, always in the process of contemplation. You may find it hard to believe, but all the colors that I use in the work I do see on a subject that I depict, but mostly pale shades. I deliberately exaggerating the color so that you will have been able to see what I see, I see what an incredible number of colors in world around us! Welcome to my world!

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

It's hard for me to remember what became the catalyst or starting event for the beginning of drawing. The most interesting thing that did not foreshadow anything and did not lead me to painting, in spite
of the fact that I was always a creative person, loved to sew my clothes at school and wanted to become a designer, was I created hand made jewelry and for some time sold it quite successfully. But all these passions quickly ended, became obsolete and became not interesting. After graduation, choosing a university and a further profession, I first thought about painting, but I followed a different
path, which, I thought, was also quite creative and interesting.

However, faced with the realities of life, I once again realized that I was wrong. And in 2012, when I was twenty-five, I started drawing with a pencil and looking for lessons on the net, I participated in various online flashmobs, including "365 days of drawing", I tried different materials for the first year and understood what I like about painting palette knitting - in particular Impressionism. I admire the French Impressionists of the late 19th century, I am close to their ideas, aspirations in painting and impressions from the world around us. In this direction, I have been developing my work for the fifth year collecting knowledge and information of interest to me. Now I dream of going to Paris, visiting museums (in particular the Museum d'Orsay) and see in the living paintings of Monet, Renoir, Degas and other impressionists.

Red Poppies
(click to view)

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

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

I think that stops are a part of process and are present at any creativity. I consider myself the cheerful person, but we are only people and are powerless over bad events which sometimes happen in our life. I am emotional and I take everything very much to heart - probably therefore during the difficult periods I can't draw.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

In due time, I tried almost all picturesque materials, such as pastel, acrylic, watercolor, but most of all I like gouache, love it for dullness and velvet. Recently, was fond of oil as it gives boundless opportunities for painting. I tried different genres, but always had thirst for the nature, landscapes and a plein air at heart.

Peaches
(click to view)

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

The "still life" for me is one of my favourite genres, and architecture doesn't especially inspires me as well as portraits (it is possible this will change).

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Now all my desires and a creative power are directed to studying of a landscape and  plein air painting. Summertime passes too quickly. The nature and space live their own life and constantly change, and what you can't draw today - tomorrow already looks a little differently, differing in both color scale and the made impression.

What does procrastination look like for you?

Therefore, procrastination is a missed opportunity, which can no longer be ever.

Black Cat and Blossoming Apple
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

Already about three years, as I was with my family (my man and our little daughter), we moved from the big city to the Karpatian mountain country on other end of the Ukraine. I studied all this time and I admire the nature surrounding me, but only now I find forces to try to represent the beauty of the world surrounding me. All of this is very difficult. Man in his history has created many beautiful things, including cities, and a majestic and stunning architecture, but human creation can not be compared to what the Lord God created - His majestic mountains, incredibly beautiful breathtaking sky, the sea, nature in all its Diversity. To at least try to portray all this, we need moral strength and a lot of courage. :)

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

Most likely it's my family, my beloved man and our daughter who support me and take on my responsibilities at home when I immerse myself in the world of painting and creativity. I am very grateful to them for their moral support!

The Sky at Sunset
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

As Louis Armstrong sang, I paint what surrounds me - this is the basis of my work. I would like to show people that even in the most ordinary, simple subjects there is a zest and even in the simplest, ordinary life with its everyday life and everyday life there is magic. It is easy enough to sometimes look up at the sky.

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

This feeling of inner contentment... It comes by itself, regardless of the time and labor invested in the drawing. It happens that the picture or sketch painted under the influence of the mood of the moment makes more impression than the work on which is spent a lot of time.

Yellow Shoes
(click to view)

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

I am always in the learning process, whether it's simple contemplation of nature, reading of teaching literature or master classes. As an artist, I see a variety of colors and all kinds of shades in the world around me and with every new work I'm getting closer to being able to convey this all as inspirationally as possible.

What makes you happiest about your art?

When I would say that happiness in art is a picture that turned out or a fee for work... And today I feel - it's not so important whether the picture looks idyllic, whether I am satisfied with the result of my work, whether I get money for it (although all this is also important) but the main thing is that I can see that all this there, all this Magic around! I think our mission on earth as artists, is to at least try to show it all to people. :)

Thanks, Valerie!

© 2017 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Emilia Leinonen

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Emilia's painting, "Daffodils and Grape Hyacinths" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Emilia's DPW Gallery:

I am a Finnish translator and an art enthusiast, born in 1972 and living in Finland. I have studied the theories and techniques of art-making on my own and on a few art courses.

In my work, I use mostly oil, water colour and dry pastel. The inspiration for my work comes from the nature and family life.

With my pictures, I wish to render the viewer a warm, pleasant feeling and a sensation of beauty. My aspiration is to capture the essence of the human nature and the timeless beauty of nature.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started painting in 2003 when our first child was a baby. I had been playing the cello so far but obviously had to give that up for the time being. I craved art in some form and found painting. Tired but happy, I painted in pastels while the baby was sleeping. As the kid grew and two more were born, I continued painting.

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

I’m more or less waiting for the ‘start’ all the time as I’ve always had too little time to paint. I’m a translator by profession, and over the years, my work load has tended to increase. The past year has been especially tough, but now the situation is much better and I look forward to painting again.

Daffodils and Grape Hyacinths
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

Mostly because of the lack of time, I experiment too little. Seeing a beautiful painting done with an interesting technique makes me want to give it a try. I’ve tried acrylics, watercolour, gouache, dry pastel, oil pastel, ink, different drawing media and water-soluble oils. As to the genres, I’ve tried abstract painting on some courses but it seems that is not for me. I’m attracted to depicting the beauty of the natural world pretty realistically.

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

Transparent watercolour, dry pastel and oils are my favourites. I attended several courses on Chinese brush painting and found that fascinating, like meditation, but had to give it up to make room for the kids’ hobbies in our family timetable. I’ve also given up painting with acrylics, as they dry too quickly to suit my pace.

Towards Spring
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I look forward to plain-air painting and landscapes, which probably have to wait until the kids have flown out of the nest. I’ve been working almost entirely on photographs so far.

Who or what inspires you most?

I love to paint what I know best: my family members and the flowers in our garden. It’s people’s personalities mirrored in their bearing and faces as well as the colours in nature that inspire me most. Sometimes I see an image that I feel instantly connected with and I know I have to paint it. ‘Face To Face’ is one of these paintings. DPW is a very important source of inspiration for me. If I need a quick surge of energy, I look at My Picks, and if I need to cheer up, I read the kind comments my wonderful fellow-artists have sent me.

Face to Face
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination is lurking behind every corner for me: there is always a hoard of domestic chores waiting for my spare moment to blame me for being a bad house-keeper. I try to keep them at bay by repeating to myself that the house is there for me, not the other way around.

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

I’m working towards being a part-time translator as I was earlier. Then I just go to the ‘studio’ (our utility room) at a certain time in the morning. The same thing during the weekends: when the kids have had their lunch and start their 1-hour computer game session, I try to leave the dishes alone and go to paint. I’ve learned it’s no use trying to paint at other times. I can’t concentrate as I want to be available for my family.

Summer Flowers in a Jug
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Invariably, I see something beautiful that strikes me. I rush to take a photo. It may take years until I get to actually painting it, but if the photo is good, I can still see what I originally fell in love with.

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

I haven’t experienced burnout in art – rather, it helps me not to reach that state in work life. I greatly admire freshness in art and achieving that is always a struggle for me. The lack of time tends to tighten up my style, so the idea of ‘painting for the bin’ is impossible for me. When a painting inevitably fails, I immediately start a new one on the same subject and try to make use of the mistakes I made earlier.

With an Umbrella
(click to view)

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

I feel like I’m at the point of realizing what ‘do what comes to you naturally’ means in practice in art. I greatly admire loose, bold, seemingly quick and spontaneous paintings and I’ve thought that’s how I should paint, too. But when I pick up the brush, it just does not happen. So why go against it? I’m about to give myself the permission to paint pretty tightly, like in my latest work ‘Daisies And Marigolds’. It’s hugely important to follow your true nature and enjoy the process. If I can afford, I can always buy one of those magnificent, loose paintings someone else has created. Or at least admire it on-screen.

What makes you happiest about your art?

Painting is like meditation, it offers an escape from the usual train of thoughts and daily worries. Seeing jewel-like colours on the palette thrills me even before I put them on canvas. By creating something beautiful I feel like I’m taking part in the elevation of humanity and the strife towards making this world a better place. I’m happy with my work when it pleases my own eye or delights even a single viewer.

Thanks, Emilia!

© 2017 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Debbie Miller

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

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

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

From my early passion for coloring books and pot-holder weaving, I was always interested in creativity.  I was a big “dabbler” – knitting, cross-stitch, art quilting, mosaics, visual journaling, hand-built pottery, block printing, mixed media – you name it, I’ve probably tried it or dreamed about trying it.  But I was gun-shy about painting.

Except for the elementary years, I never took a formal art class in school. I didn’t know how to draw, and I felt intimidated about proportion, perspective, shading and color mixing.  My husband, Brian, who is now my daily painting partner, was an art school graduate, so I Ieft the “serious art” to him. But I was in my mid-50s, feeling creatively stagnant, and wanting to invest in that part of my life more fully.  So, we started taking online painting and mixed media classes, and eventually discovered Donna Downey Studios in Huntersville, NC.  Donna -- a talented painter in her own right -- has a vibrant following of online art students, and she offers intensive workshops featuring artists from around the world.  These workshops were so life-giving and inspiring, that we committed to going several times a year to learn, get re-energized, and have fun with other creatives.

In March 2016, Donna hosted a workshop with Lisa Daria Kennedy (one of DPW’s daily painters).  Lisa taught us her style of painting abstract florals.  But more significantly, she talked about the value of daily painting, the beauty of making your creative mark in the world every day, and the benefits of generating a large body of work for helping develop your personal style.  Brian and I were hooked.  Even though my first paintings were woeful, I caught the vision.  We went home and started a ritual of waking up at 5am, painting before breakfast, and putting our art out there on DPW, Instagram, and FaceBook.  It is probably one of the best decisions we ever made.

We are now rapidly approaching our 500th consecutive day of completing a small painting, each day, no matter what, rain or shine.  Now, I consider myself a painter.  Who knew? It’s never too late! And, if you do something every day, you get better at it.  I’m a living testament to that fact.


Slice of Life
(click to view)

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

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

In terms of mediums, I mainly paint in acrylic, but I hope to transition to oils after I get a little more practice.  I am also still a huge fan of mixed media.  I haven’t been doing it as much in the past year, but I love the look and feel of mixed media artwork, especially incorporating vintage papers and line work with graphite and crayons.

As far as genres go, my first love was impressionistic abstracted florals – and you know what they say, “you gotta dance with the one that brought you.”  So, I continue to paint florals as a staple, but I have also discovered a passion for painting vintage dresses, especially styles from the 1950s.  My dress paintings were motivated, in part, by a feeling of nostalgia for an era of civility and manners (in contrast to what I was encountering in the daily news cycle).  And they seem to stir feelings of longing and memory in the viewer, too.  I am having so much fun combing through archives of photographs from pattern makers, designers and fashion magazines.  And I love hearing stories from people about their their prom dresses, memories of watching their mother get dressed up, or what draws them to love mid-century images.  I feel like it’s given me a connection point with others, which is so meaningful to me.

Afloat
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

I guess that I am most inspired by passion and story.  When I’m not at my easel, I work as a professional mental health counselor, journeying with adults who are dealing with relational challenges or recovering from emotional, physical or spiritual abuse.  As a soul-care provider, I am deeply moved by both the fragility and the resilience of the human heart; and I think that makes me particularly drawn to artists who reveal some of their own authentic stories in their work or their public persona.

I’m just blown away by the passion of artists out there who are parents, squeezing in a few strokes on a painting in between nap times and laundry. Artists who work at all kinds of other jobs to pay the bills and get health insurance, but still manage to make space in their worlds for their creative endeavors.  Late-bloomers, like myself, who grew weary of art-making and finally took the leap of faith into creative self-expression.  Artists who have honed their craft through dedication and practice and keep showing up to the lifelong dance of being and doing art, overcoming resistance again and again.  Activists who use their art and influence to take on issues and make a stand for their beliefs.  Brave souls who come to art as a pathway of healing.  Their stories, their energy…it makes me want to be brave and faithful and use my art for good in the world.

Who's There?
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I used to be the Queen of Procrastination -- especially when my perfectionism was in full gear.  The interior dialogue would go something like this: “I have to do this right (i.e., perfectly).  I’m not prepared enough to do it perfectly today, so maybe tomorrow I will have the energy to be perfect.”  But tomorrow would come, and “I still can’t tackle perfect, so it would probably be best to wait. I’ll be more inspired tomorrow.”  And that game could go on for quite some time, until a crisis or a deadline loomed.  Then I would just have to get it done, and I could tell myself “Of course it’s not perfect, not your best work, because you didn’t have time to do it perfectly.  Next time… next time you’ll just have to try harder.”

It was a horrible hamster wheel of fear, shame, and self-loathing.
But my daily painting routine has taken the pressure of perfectionism off my shoulders.  I paint every day, no matter what.  So, if I don’t love my painting today, it’s okay.  Because tomorrow will be another day, and I get a fresh start.  This daily-ness has really helped me wean off procrastination as a lifestyle.  In fact, I don’t even like to delay painting until the afternoon or evening, because the energy feels different.  So, I find myself waking up, wanting to paint, and willing to make the sacrifices needed to make that happen.  Let me tell you – this kind of resolve is new for me!  And it’s leaking into other areas of my life, too.  Go figure. And hallelujah!

Earl Gray Morning
(click to view)

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

It helps to be married to my art-making bestie, who is equally committed to daily painting.  But we’ve also done some practical things:
• We converted our family room into our art studio.  So now the thing that it most important to us takes up the most real estate in our home.
• We create art goals for ourselves every 6 months, so we know our targets and milestones we need to work toward.
• We have an artistic alliance with a friend.  We usually paint together at least one day each weekend, we text each other nearly every day to share our work and participate in an informal critique, and we hold each other accountable for staying on track with our goals.
• This might seem like a minor thing, but it’s really been helpful to me: I use a stay-wet palette with a limited number of paint colors.  So, my paints are laid out and ready to go when I am.

All of these things help create mental and physical “space” for our art-making.

Love Grows
(click to view)

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

I think my art stays fresh because I am a life-long learner who also loves to teach.  For two years, we led a monthly art group for twelve people who wanted to be more creative and practice art in community.  We continue to do that on a smaller scale, and it’s always energizing to teach a technique or share a project idea with others and see what happens.  The act of teaching solidifies and opens us up simultaneously.

And every good teacher is a learner.  So, we continue to invest in our own artistic education by taking classes, trying new things, and spending time looking at art.  Instagram is a great, accessible, daily opportunity to feast on artwork.  But we also enjoy larger-scale art adventures.  For example, in August of this year, we will be taking a 4-day coastal landscape painting class in Cornwall, UK.  I have never done plein air painting, and I’ve never been happy with the landscapes I’ve attempted.  So this course will be an adventure.  The trip will also include sketching in the Portrait Gallery in London, a visit to the Tate in St. Ives, a day spent exploring the Royal Academy of Art’s annual summer exhibition, and a day at the British National Gallery’s modern wing.  I will also be studying about icons in Oxford University’s Summer Theology Programme.  It should be a rich and inspiring time.

I Will be Ready at Eight
(click to view)

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

Right now, I think I am learning the most about form and figure.  Through painting vintage dresses, I have had to develop a sense of how the fabric is affected by the body underneath.  In the past, I’ve avoided doing full-on figurative work because I’m very aware of all that I don’t know about anatomy.  But the figures have kind of sneaked up on me, because I want to capture a certain attitude, turn of the shoulder, posture that communicates something about the girl wearing the dress, even though I don’t typically paint their faces.

What makes you happiest about your art?

That I’m doing it! Seriously. It still makes me so happy that this is my life.  I get to wake up each day and paint.  I get to luxuriate in color and beauty.  There are people who have responded so favorably to my work and buy pieces from time to time.  How amazing is all of that?  And I get to do this with my amazing husband and a community of friends who inspire and delight me.  I wouldn’t trade this season of my life for anything.  I am very sensible of the reality that I am a blessed woman.  And I hope that I pass blessing along to others, as well.  There’s happy for you, right there.

Thanks, Debbie!

© 2017 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Kathy Broyles

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

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

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

My background is in Graphic Design. About twelve years ago, I began to take some classes at the local Art Center. I explored acrylics, basic drawing, Chinese brush painting, figure drawing – whatever was being offered that interested me and would work with my schedule. I was raising five children, so there was not a lot of time to spare. As the years passed and the kids grew, I recognized that oil painting was the passion I wanted to pursue, but I was reluctant to voice my ambition for fear of failing. I asked artist friends to tell me about their journeys and watched as they persevered in practicing their craft. I knew I had to ignore the fear and jump in - I am happy that I did.

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

In the summer of 2009, I decided I wanted to paint full-time, so I quit my job (thank you, supportive husband!) I spent a productive year working in my home studio and in various workshops and classes. I still look back at the body of work from that time and think, “Wow!” After a year, I was called back to work and my studio time was cut. In the fall of 2013, work became full-time and time for painting dwindled to nil. Happily, I retired this past spring and am painting once more (thank you, husband, once again!)

Cherry Tomatoes
(click to view)

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

What have been some of the highlights of your career as an artist?

When I was working part-time, a ceramist friend and I began selling our work at the newly opened community Farmer’s Market. We enjoyed getting to know the farmers and the regulars, and marketing our artwork to a diverse audience – and we sold a lot, too! We quit when my job became full-time. I still miss the fun of it (but not the early morning set-up).

Another highlight was spending a perfect week in Provence painting under the tutelage of Atlanta artist Nancy Franke. What a wonderful experience it was to paint with an amazing artist in such a beautiful place. Local workshops with Lisa Daria Kennedy, Scott Conary and Lorraine Christie have been invaluable as well. I think the workshop experience is so beneficial. I feel concentrated time with the instructor and fellow artists ensures real growth for me.

Ranunculus
(click to view)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with? Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

I’ve worked in oil, acrylic and watercolor - and oil is what snagged me. I think it is the history of the medium in addition to the luscious feel and workability that keep me enthralled. The paintings I admire most are oils, so I want that connection with them.

I have explored many genres and find there is so much to learn from all practice. Painting a still life or floral each day, working at training the eye to really “see” is always helpful, so I come back to those. I do love landscapes, architecture, animals and don’t exclude any genre. I anticipate moving into more abstract work going forward.

Kiwis
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

“Place” is what I am excited about right now. A sense of place; a safe place; a place of my own; right place; wrong place; a place in time; out of place; in place – not really a genre, but an idea. I am moving into a studio space for the first time in late summer. It’s a new “place” for me, and I am looking forward to exploring that idea, literally and figuratively. I am really excited about the work ahead.

Who or what inspires you most?

I am motivated by the challenge. The challenge to express an idea, an image, a shadow on the board or canvas with the paint. The challenge to master a new subject, technique or perspective. Painting can be terribly frustrating, and yet so fulfilling. A painting can have a fantastic beginning that is so, so exciting, and next thing you know it’s a disaster. But I keep at it, and “trust the process” and work my way to the finish. The result may not always be a successful painting, but the reward is what I have learned during the process.

Eggshell
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Working in my home, it looks like going out into my vegetable garden in my back yard - pulling a few weeds, picking a few green beans, looking for the friendly water snake. I don’t see it as a negative, but as a time to refuel, to appreciate the beauty of creation. I imagine I will work longer stretches in the studio space, in the company of other artists, but I will still take the opportunity to step outside now and then.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings? 

Sometimes I must fish for them, look around me and see what is there - or I will look through photos for inspiration. Other times, often while day or night dreaming, I will imagine a finished work. I’ll spend time figuring out how I will create it in my head. I can get so excited about executing it with that vision in place. I believe that some of my best work has been a result of this process.

Yellow Flowers
(click to view)

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

I am (re)learning the art of being a painter - I am learning what that looks like in this day, at this point in my life.

What makes you happiest about your art?

When I know that my work has brought joy to another, that makes me happiest. Whether someone purchases a painting or comments on it favorably, I know that it has touched them. I can remember as a child when someone would admire something I had created, I would feel a tingling up my spine and a perfect peace inside that I did not want to end. I want to recapture that blissful feeling of connecting with another person through my work. This, and the thrill of meeting the challenges each work presents, are what make painting so compelling and joyful for me.

Thanks, Kathy!

© 2017 Sophie Marine