Finding Fine Art

Artist Interview with Shana Squier

2011-06-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

Rainbow State I

24"x24" gallery wrapped acrylic on canvas

Where are you from and what is it that you do?

I am originally from Seattle, Washington, and moved to Oahu, Hawaii 11 years ago. When I moved to the islands my art developed an “island style” theme, which has blossomed into my own original style over the years. I consider Hawaii my true home, where I found myself, where my artistic nature came to life, and additionally where I started selling and showing my work. The Hawaiian landscapes and natural landforms have been major inspirations in my work. The abstract nature of flowing lava on the Big Island of Hawaii translates into my red lava series by pouring layers of paint on the canvas and tipping it in various directions. I have sat and studied the shore break on the north shore of Oahu hour after hour and what I’ve seen is splashes of every shade of aqua, green, gold, and white, along with free flowing waves. The power and beauty of mother nature is a big motivator for me to create art. In my surf and wave series I use acrylic watered down and splatter it on the canvas to depict wave backwash. Much of my work is abstractions of nature. From Hawaiian rainbows, waves, and lava flows.

I work as a soils tester as my day job and live painter at a local Waikiki gallery Monday and every other Friday night as a live painter. I have been selling my work there steadily the last two years, and received several commissions.

Red Lava I

24"x48" acrylic on treated wood panel

How long do you typically work in one sitting? Do you need to take lots of breaks or do you work hours at a time?

When I work from my home studio the time I spend in one sitting varies depending on what medium I am working with. When I work abstractly with acrylic and water I spend 1-2 hours on several pieces at a time. When I work on a detailed oil painting I spend 2-3 hours in one sitting. It helps to take breaks in between to stretch or get a drink of water because I get so focused and lost in my work my muscles tense and I don’t even realize it. It also adds to my work to take a few steps back and study the painting from far away. If I sit too close the whole time my painting is distorted in the end. I think I create more “believable” art if I am constantly moving and constantly looking.

Raging Waimea II

16"x20" gallery wrapped acrylic on canvas

Where would you like to be in 5-10 years?

In 5-10 years I would LOVE to be a full time artist. At this present moment I am about 25% to the goal, but still depend on my day job to pay the bills. (It’s very expensive to live in Hawaii). I have dreams of being well known, to travel the world and have my work positively affect others. I’d like to build my own studio someday with a garden and hammock in the back yard. I think it would be so soothing to take a break from painting to lay in the hammock and breathe in the scent of mint and lemon trees growing in the garden.

I think another aspect of an accomplished artists life is travel. Seeing other places and exploring other cultures will help me mature as an artist.

Sunset Beach Lifeguard Tower

24"x36" gallery wrapped oil on canvas

Were you interested in art as a child? What sort of things did you create?

I have always been interested in art, especially as a child. I remember having a very vivid imagination. I played in the woods behind the school with small plastic frog toys and pretended I was a frog that could talk with my frog family. I went to a private art school in Seattle and started watercolor painting, drawing and playing the violin. I loved and was obsessed with mermaids. I wanted to be one, so I drew hundreds of them. I remember wanting to be in a fairy tale, to be something non-human, to live in a different world. I think creating art is my fulfillment for that dream, because it IS like being in another world when I am in middle of creating something.

Hawaiian Monsterra Leaves

36" x48" original oil on stretched canvas

Take us through a typical day in your world.

A typical day for me is very full. I have been in school the past four years working on a degree in art, along with working my day job and live painting at the Waikiki gallery. I wake up around 6:30 am, eat breakfast and answer emails, check my Etsy shop, post new work there and on my blog. My watercolor class is from 9-11:45 Monday through Friday. After class I grab a quick lunch and start work as a soils tester. Then grab some dinner (finding food I can eat is another full time job, as I am allergic to wheat, dairy, apples, almonds, olives, and cottonseed oil) and head home to walk my dog, work on art prints, paintings, and getting work ready for the gallery. I have to come prepared to live paint, which means I work on a particular painting for a few hours so that I don’t show up with a blank canvas. It helps sales to have a piece halfway done so that customers can see what the end result may be.

Visit Shana's shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShanaSquierFineArt and her blog at http://shanasquier.blogspot.com/. Thank you for a great interview, Shana!

Artist Feature - Jaye Fox

2011-05-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

Landmark

Cultivation

Cha-Cha

Today's featured artist is Jaye Fox who is now our new team captain! I (Jessica) have stepped down to a leader position and will continue to support and promote the team as Jaye takes the captain's chair. Here is a little more information about Jaye in her own words.

I'm a classically-trained oil painter, just like they used to make 'em. Subject matter is generally less important to me than the sensibility or idea that brings a particular painting into being. My intent is that each piece have a life and personality of its own. I pay a lot of attention to composition, and how compositional choices affect the "feel" or emotional resonance that a piece holds for the viewer. My work has been featured in publications including failbetter and the Manhattan Users Guide.

I co-direct an art gallery in North Adams, Mass.; www.studio21south.blogspot.com. Please visit if you're passing through the Berkshires, our little corner of New England!

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Visit Jaye's shop to discover more incredible, original fine art. http://www.etsy.com/shop/jfoxstudio

Artist Feature - Todd Stewart

2011-04-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Van Horne Viaduct

The Plague

San Francisco

Here's information about Todd in his own words...

"Originally from Saskatchewan and residing in Montreal for nearly twenty years, I am an illustrator and a self-taught screenprinter. Since 2004 I have run Bree,ree, a small scale print studio. Photography, illustration, collage, stencil and letterpress have all found their way into my screenprinted works. My prints and posters have been seen on city streets and galleries in Canada, the United States and France.

My creative practice is improvisational and process-based, whereby I print identical images – illustrations and organic forms - many times within a given piece. This process allows me to work with these images meditatively and automatically; a composition emerges as layers are added to one another, revealing the dynamics between transparency and light. My pieces are built by exposing the control and precision of illustration to the unpredictability and chance inherent to the printmaking process.

Trained in the fields of landscape architecture and urban planning, I am acutely aware of how construction - with regards to both structure and meaning - informs my work. These abstract land and cityscapes embody both serenity and instability, resulting in a dreamlike tension from which subjective narratives can be b-orn. Working from a base of imagery culled internally - from memory, dreams, past experience - and externally - from my immediate surroundings - I create pieces that consciously allow for open interpretation and multiple perspectives. They reflect a search for meaning in unfamiliar landscapes."

House by the Freeway

Visit Todd's Etsy shop for more of his eye catching work http://www.etsy.com/shop/breeree.

Artist Conversations - Rebecca Dresser and Martha Marshall

2011-04-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Artists Rebecca Dresser and Martha Marshall have invited us to "listen in" on a conversation they had about their lives, their art and more for our Artist Conversations. Click on each image or corresponding artwork title for purchasing information.

Harbor Triptych by Martha Marshall

Martha: When I read your bio, I smiled at the things we have in common. Three dogs, walks in the woods, love of nature, gardening, photography, painting, etc. I can just imagine what it must be like to live in your beautiful area in North Carolina. Being so close to nature has to permeate everything you do as an artist.  We moved to rural Alabama from suburban Florida two years ago. Alabama is my original home, so it was wonderful to get back near the Tennessee River and the rolling hills. And the seasons, which I missed so much! The first things I noticed when we moved in were that we could hear so many birds, as if we were in the woods, and we can see the stars at night! When you're near the city you miss hearing the birds and never get to see the stars. It's been many years since I'd lived here, so I had forgotten how magical it is.

Rebecca: Yes, I thought the same thing about our bios... all the commonalities. I'm sure your home in rural Alabama is beautiful too, and what a great change from suburbia... no matter what state. When people come out here and stay through the evening hours, they are shocked at the stars! (I wrote a song last fall that speaks to some of these things, including the stars...) People just don't realize what they're missing by living in the city. I did that for so many years, coming here (before we started renovating) on weekends when our kids were small, and now it's really hard for me to leave these woods and go into the city. Too many cars, too many people, too much noise. But I do it one day a week, and sometimes on other occasions, for music gigs or art shows. Each time I'm very anxious to get back home. I'm very much an introvert.  

High Hope Hollow by Rebecca Dresser

Martha:   What is your favorite subject to paint? Even though most of your work is realistic and all of mine is abstract, I think both are responses to our surroundings. I'm watching for subtle color changes to result from changing climates and environments from tropical to sub-tropical.

Rebecca: Oh, me too! The colors of the seasons truly inspire me. My husband calls me a seasonal painter. It's because I become caught up in the colors around me in the mountains, the fields, the woods, the gardens, and that tends to dictate what tubes of paint I'll pull out for a new painting. I've been painting  lots of birds, they tend to dominate my shop, and various views of nature, so I guess the easiest way to answer your question is by saying what is my least favorite subject to paint... and that's people. But I did enjoy working on my abstract Women in Seasons line paintings, inspired by friends of mine. These are in my shop too.  

How Now Yellow Cow by Rebecca Dresser

Martha: I personally love your cows the most. Do you have easy access to cows as models? And if so, are they cooperative? (I have one friend who has Black Angus. They are pretty relaxed and tame, and I love to go out there and photograph them.)  

Rebecca: Oh, I’ve had a love affair with cows ever since I was a small child. I have a B&W photo of me in underpants only in the middle of a cow field. I was about two, and my parents had left me with some close friends while they took a trip to Michigan to deliver an old fire truck to someone there (strange? yes, but they had a great time traveling with friends in a sort of caravan!). And so my love affair with cows and other farm animals began. Perhaps that had an influence on my later vegetarian diet too. LOL. We have some friends nearby who have a couple of cows. When they got their first one, they told me that she wouldn't let me get near her to pet her nose. I proved them wrong in no time.... went straight out there, stood patiently and talked to her quietly, and she let me stroke her. She licked me too; I’d forgotten what a strange feeling that is!! There are also some other nearby cows that I take photos of on occasion for painting purposes.  Our farm friends also have goats and pigs on occasion. Last year I was hoping to get to their place and get some pig photos, but alas, I went a day too late. They'd sent them off for butchering a few days early. They know this hurts my feelings, since I don't eat meat, so they don't always tell me about it. I've grown a bit stronger since we've been living here and don't cry as much about these kinds of things.

Martha: I have such a hard time with that whole inconsistency on my part. I think I will have to permanently give up meat at some point. I've done it and gradually slipped back into eating like most other people, especially now that we're back living in the Deep South. But eating meat does bad things to me guilt wise.

Rebecca: Yes, and it isn't good for us physically either. At least at the rate at which most Americans consume it. For me, there's nothing better than a fresh salad right out of my own garden!

Martha: Yum, me too! OK, another question I’ve wanted to ask you -- do you have any tips for photographing birds other than thousands of dollars worth of lenses? I am absolutely not a good bird photographer, but they are just everywhere and I'd like to at least be able to take halfway decent pictures of them.  

Waxwing Memories by Rebecca Dresser

Rebecca: Photographing birds..... I don't have an elaborate camera, just a small and simple digital Nikon. But my sister and son both have really great cameras, so sometimes I paint from photos they have taken. Sometimes I am lucky enough to get a good photo of my own of such small, moving targets. It's a matter of patience... of sitting for a long time, watching and waiting for a close enough landing. It's a good practice to simply learn how to be, how to relax and listen to your own breathing, how to enjoy all the  life around us and find a connection with it. But it's time consuming, so sometimes I paint from bird books. And sometimes I just paint general bird shapes... no particular species in mind.... and sometimes little whimsical scenes with birds.  

Martha: I think what you just said is good advice for anyone, especially an artist. Learning to sit and just connect is meditative in itself. And I have noticed that when I do, the birds are less fearful, even curious.  

Rebecca: Isn't it interesting that when we sit still and observe, the natural world around us accepts us just a little more and opens itself up to us? 

Martha: It truly is. It's so completely calming. I love the different bird songs. Do you recognize a lot of their songs? If so, do you ever try to imitate them to see what their reaction is, or maybe to get them to come closer? My Dad used to do that sometimes when I was a little girl. He could get a quail to come closer by whistling "Bob White".

Morning Song by Rebecca Dresser

Rebecca: There are some definite bird songs I know… the Carolina wren, the woodthrush (my favorite), the finches. And yes, I sometimes call to the cardinals because that's an easy enough sound to imitate. I think they are listening because sometimes they continue to call with me for several minutes at a time. I think they are wise enough not to come closer, though. My cat is often near me when I'm outside! One unlucky cardinal was caught by her. I have the skull on the windowsill of my office, along with some teeth from an oppossum. In my garden there are deer skulls and some bones that the dogs have found and brought home. We don't hunt, of course, but we sometimes find these things in the woods when we walk. And sometimes people will bring them to me. Weathered bones fascinate me; I think they're beautiful... a sign that a soul has been here and that spirit lives on.  

Martha: I love keeping natural things around too - both plant and animal. My grandchildren know this, so once my grandson even mailed me a snakeskin. He knew I would love it! He's grown now, and I still have that snakeskin.

Rebecca: My middle child is a "collector" of things, and he brought me an entire deer skeleton two summers ago. We had to let it sit out in the sun to bleach out the smells! I like snakeskins too and have two complete ones on a shelf in our little hallway. One came from a friend's yard (she would have DIED if she'd seen it, so I took it home with me and saved her from trauma). I love their patterns. And they also signify that life is a changing and growing process.  

Martha: Do you paint your landscapes on location, or do you mostly use reference photos?  

Moore's Wall in Fall by Rebecca Dresser

Rebecca: Mostly I paint from reference photos, but I love plein air painting too. Now that the weather is getting warmer, I plan to do some of that soon. Some of my landscapes are just collective images from memory or imagination.

  Rebecca: So Martha, I have a few questions for you. Why abstract? What took you in that direction? I love abstract art and I admire your use of color. I've tried my hand at it, but find that I am almost always drawn to put some realistic frame of reference in. I'm not sure why that is; perhaps I'm too uptight!! LOL. But I think to do abstract, you have to have a certain amount of trust in yourself and feel a certain amount of freedom with your brush.  

Safari by Martha Marshall

Martha: I painted and drew realistically for a long time. But when I was a teenager, I started to see pictures of abstract works by the modern artists of the mid-twentieth century and began to wonder what  it was all about. My mother was an artist and a teacher, and she had a lot of art books around that I loved to look through. We certainly weren't exposed to abstract art in my little town. But just looking at those I became more and more fascinated with the mystery of it all, and still am. I still love realism, especially if it has something new to say, or has a new twist on a familiar subject. But abstract art really keeps me engaged.  As for having trust in yourself, I think you're right, no matter what your subject matter is. You have to just create and create, enough to have a track record of knowing the next thing you do is going to be even better than the last, wouldn't you agree?  

Rebecca: Definitely! It's a sign of growth and working through process. When I returned to college during my early 30s (kids came before I could finish at a younger age), I started out as an art major and studied the surrealists, my favorite art movement. Miro is one of my favorite artists. As is Klee, though he isn't a surrealist. But now thinking about that, perhaps that is why, even when I start off working abstractly, some element of realism finds its way in. So how do you come up with titles for your work?  

Echoes 30 by Martha Marshall

Martha: It's a struggle sometimes! I don't start out with a title in mind, but try to respond to the piece after it's finished. I'm a big believer that titles help people to connect with the work. So I try to insert a little humor or irony into them sometimes. I keep a running list of things that could trigger a possible title for a painting or a collage -- things I find on the web or in a magazine or a book. I have a pretty long list. Sometimes I just look at the list to see what best fits the piece, which is fun.

  Rebecca: What a wonderfully cool way to do this. I keep a running list of phrases or simply words I like for my songs, but never thought to do the same for my art. It's a great idea though, and your titles are great! I was excited to find out that you also have the brushwithimagination shop. Which art form do you prefer, and how do you balance your time between the two? Is it hard to keep up with the two separate shops? For me, sometimes I get overwhelmed because I have to keep a balance between the visual art and  the musical art. I've found that I work based on the pressure of upcoming events, but sometimes I have to let the painting go when I become involved in a song that has to get out or learning a new piece of music. And vice versa.  

Martha: I really enjoyed hearing you sing. I went to your myspace page and listened yesterday! My experience with moving between activities is just about the same. I may know that I have to get ready to ship several paintings to a gallery in x number of weeks, and that's a sure way to make me want to do collage instead! LOL! I don’t really have a preference for one medium over another, but I do get bored easily and find that switching back and forth helps me stay fresh.   As for the Etsy shops, I'm beginning to wish I didn't have two separate shops, but I can't see both bodies of work looking right together for some reason. So I've hesitated to merge them. But if Etsy ever comes out with that “merging shops” feature, I might be tempted to do it.

Reborn by Martha Marshall

Rebecca: When I first joined Etsy, I listed only jewelry and made some sales, but eventually took all of that out of my shop, except for the scrimshaw. I'm not doing jewelry any more, unless someone I know needs a repair or has a specific request. Still have a large inventory though. Now it's become a personal inventory for the most part... ha ha! Anyhow, I'd thought about opening a separate shop for my paintings and then just decided to slowly add them and phase out the jewelry. I don't know that I could keep up with two shops.   Do you have a regular daily or weekly schedule for creating, or do you create whenever the mood strikes?  

Martha: I pretty much create when the mood strikes, unless I have a deadline. And the older I get, the fewer deadlines I will allow myself. I do very few shows any more. Right now there’s an annual juried show that I'll have three large pieces in. You'd think I could at least stop what I'm doing and put screw eyes and wires on the backs of them, but I'll probably wait till the last minute.

Rebecca: This is the same way I work. Those deadlines seem to push us sometimes, and like you, I am trying to not have so many. Sometimes I feel way too stretched and find myself choosing to sit and read a book or watch birds instead of creating. And how many times have I found myself putting in screw eyes and wires right before I load work into the car for a show? I have a solo show in Banner Elk, a resort town further up in the mountains, at the end of June. The coordinator there asked me to make a flyer for it for promotion, and I'll create a powerpoint slide show that will run throughout the opening reception. Fortunately there’s plenty of time, and I’ll get busy on it before too long.   Have you ever done a Myers Briggs personality profile? If so, I'd be curious to know what "type" you are.

Martha: I did one years ago, and don't remember the set of four I ended up with. But looking at it again on Wikipedia, I'm pretty sure I'm ENFP. The interviewer told me at the time a good career for me would be the ministry. I find that pretty funny now after all these years.  

Fathom by Martha Marshall

Rebecca: I did one when I started a job as a communications director at a small church many years ago. The rector used these to help us all find the best way to communicate, and it was quite helpful, though I wasn't too thrilled with answering all those questions. I'm an INFJ, or at least I was back then, with touches of ISFJ mixed in. Of course the older I get, I realize there are hormonal influences taking part in my lifestyle these days too! But yes... the ministry would have been a good career for an ENFP.
And yet you became an artist! Good for you.   So you mentioned earlier than you may find some phrases for art titles from a magazine or book. Are you an avid reader? If so, what good books have your read lately? I just finished Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry for an April book club reading (a monthly commitment that I find myself sometimes neglecting). It was an incredibly moving story of an old woman sharing her life history and lessons. Could have been sappy, but with Wendell Berry as the author, it wasn't. It was, instead, a beautiful, thought-filled story of a farming woman and the lessons she's learned about community, the environment, relationships, war, and love. I highly recommend it. Sometimes when I read a truly beautiful book, one that is poetically written, I have imaginings or visions or simply emotions that might become paintings or more likely become a song. No one else may be able to connect the two by viewing a painting or hearing a song, but nevertheless, the inspiration was there. And sometimes I just absorb the book and breathe it in so that it simply becomes a part of my being.

Martha: I am sad to say I've gotten in the habit of reading more for information than for pleasure. I will sit and read a whole Mother Earth News or an art book from cover to cover, and spend way too much time on the computer, so my purely pleasurable book reading time suffers. There's nothing better than sinking down into a wonderful book, the kind that you don't want to end. Thanks for that book recommendation. I've admired Wendell Berry's philosophy about living in community and caring for the environment, so I know I would like it. And summer's on the way -- the perfect time for some books!

Be sure and visit their shops to see more of their work - thank you Rebecca and Martha!

Rebecca Dresser - http://www.etsy.com/shop/KneeDeepOriginals
Martha Marshall - http://www.etsy.com/shop/colorpoetry, http://www.etsy.com/shop/brushwithimagination

Pretty Pink Paintings for Spring curated by Julie Glenzinski

2011-04-14T17:37:00.000-07:00

In the first of our member curated exhibits, Julie Glenzinski has put together this beautiful collection from members of the Finding Fine Art team. Click on each image or its corresponding title for more information about these works of art.

Schooling by Sarah John Afana

Strawberry by Linnea Heide

Columbine by HappyStrokes

Renewed Energy by Jessica Torrant

Magnolia by Valerie Capewell

Spring Tulips by Thea D.

UpsaDaisy by KneeDeepStudios

Tulips, Golden Gate Park by Victoria Webb

Signs of Life by Martha Marshall

Purple Coneflower by Marcia Crumley

Chartreuse Marsh under Rose-Pink Sky by Nancy Hughes Miller

Pink Rose Abstract by Lauren Snyder

Apple Blossoms by Linda Hamilton

Herberge Zum Roten Stein by emmarts

Fuchsia by Nancy Merkle

Pink Tulips by Angela Moulton

Artist Conversations - Sonya Johnson and Scott Price

2011-04-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

Artists Sonya Johnson and Scott Price have paired up to talk about their artwork in the first installment of what will be a regular blog series called Artist Conversations. Click on each image or corresponding artwork title for purchasing information. We'll begin with Scott's questions for Sonya.

Light and Shadow Along Hwy 491 by Sonya Johnson

Scott: Describe your art and how it is created?

Sonya: Most of my paintings have their origins in photographs taken of an event, object or scene that appealed to me on some emotional or aesthetic level. I never travel without my camera; it is the first tool in my creative process. Back in my studio, the photos serve as a loose guide for a painting - my goal then becomes to create a painting based on what originally inspired the photograph - rather than copying the photograph itself. I work in both oil and soft pastel, and I find there are some pieces that work better in one medium or the other, and my style ranges from realism with a surrealistic edge to colorist-based pieces, with most of my landscapes falling within a more impressionist style.

Travels Abroad #1 by Sonya Johnson

Scott: How did you become an artist?

Sonya: My road to becoming an artist was long and indirect. Actually, I've drawn and done some type of art all of my life, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I decided to pursue it as a primary focus. Many years ago in college, I took two art classes that counted as humanities credits in my very science-oriented major, and absolutely loved them. Instead of pursuing a degree in art, I chose what I thought would be a more practical career in medicine. During my time in medical school, I did commissioned medical illustrations, after teaching myself to use pen and ink, and also enjoyed that immensely.

After my residency was finished, I relocated to northern AZ to set up my practice in what I thought would be a life-long career as a podiatrist. During that time, I had discovered and began doing mixed media realistic equine sculpture, in which I found a niche and a good customer base. Sales from my art helped pay for my living expenses while I tried to get my practice going.

Ultimately, after struggling for eight years to make a living in what became an increasingly unrewarding and unpleasant job, I decided to retire at the end of 2006. I briefly continued working in mixed media sculpture after our move to New England, but in fall of '09, decided to focus on my real passion: landscapes, with an emphasis on the southwest and Colorado Plateau region where I currently reside.

Two Gray Hills by Sonya Johnson

Scott: Is there anything you'd like to share about the creative process or how art benefits those who view it?

Sonya: I think all art has to have its foundation in an underlying passion or inspiration of the artist, whatever that might be. I find inspiration and beauty everywhere around me - in the classical elements of earth, water, air and fire of the landscape - as well as all things living. What I hope to accomplish for those that view my paintings is to share a bit of what moves me and brings me joy, and hope that it will resonate with them on some level as well...basically, the same things that I want art to do for me as a viewer.

Now we'll flip the table and see what Scott has to say about his work...

Frose by Scott Price

Sonya: What, or whom, has helped influence your art? Historical? Contemporary? Family? Teachers?

Scott: My influence to create visual art was purely accidental. I went on a solo wilderness trip and took a bunch of photos and one campfire photo was an angel in the flame. When I got home and edited the pictures they became my first art pieces. My Etsy item Frose is one of these images. My relationship to historical art and community is just a winding path to me that leads where it may.

Sonova by Scott Price

Sonya: What are the sources of inspiration for your art? That includes subjects (ie, nature) or themes (ie color), as well as things like music, etc. that might inspire you while you are working.

Scott: My main inspiration is how our inner state projects the beauty we see, a wonderful connection artists have is pulling out and presenting the beauty they see in ordinary things or abstract images. My underlying motivation to add beauty to the World and my images tend to have inspiring or healing energy. I enjoy listening to Sigur Ros and Jonsi when creating though I don't seem to consciously hear the music.

Ghost Girl by Scott Price

Sonya: Explain a bit about your favorite medium(s) and materials, including how long you've been working in it/them, and why it/they are your favorite(s). Feel free to share a bit about your process here as well.

Scott: It has been less than 2 years since my first art image. It took many many tries to find materials and production to have the images become the power behind them. With digital art there is a huge difference between what you see on the monitor and what is printed. My process of printing on various fine art papers which are fronted with acrylic glass give a vibrant color and depth that surpasses the digital form. I choose to present the images without frame and floating from the wall which gives the art a sense of lightness and simplicity. I suggest to everyone not to underestimate the power of bringing beauty and new energy into what you do, it transforms the environment and strengthens intentions.

Be sure and visit both of their shops to see more of their work - thank you Scott and Sonya!

Scott Price http://www.etsy.com/shop/InnerhandShaping
Sonya Johnson http://www.etsy.com/shop/SonyaJohnsonArt

SONGS OF SPRING

2011-04-04T15:11:00.000-07:00

This month's online exhibit - Songs of Spring - is brought to you by artists of the Finding Fine Art Etsy team. Images and titles link to the individual listing, and artist/shop names link to each artist's Etsy gallery. This month's theme is inspired by Spring, the songs of the earth, and the music the season inspires within.

Easter Shadow by Sally Mara

Pink Butterfly by Eeli-Ethel Polli

Arlington Cemetery by Joy Appenzeller Bauer

Morning Songs by Martha Marshall

Emerson String Quartet at Tanglewood by Jaye Fox

Purple Haze by J-PAW

Iris by Rayna Havelock

Fly High by Toula

Awakening Pale Rose by Marlayne Brace

Longing by Linnea Heide

Reach for the Sky by JC Strong

Sunflower by Scott Price

It's a New Day by EastwoodArt

Portrait of a Soul by Rachel Ackerman

A Morning Song by KneeDeepOriginals

Jeweled Plume by Devika Keskar

Toward Planter's Hill by Bonita LeFlore

Spring Fantasy by Marcia Crumley

Apple Blossoms by Linda Hamilton

Early Spring Blooms by Sarah John Afana

Wild Garden by Jessica Torrant

A Day in the Life of a Daisy by Thea D.

Roots and Rain by Aimeshad

Amidst the Narcissists by Nithya Swaminatha

Red Shirted Banjo Player by Gwen Meyerson

I Heard Myself in the Bird's Sad Song by Brienna Pruce

San Juan Capistrano Mission Gardens by Barbara Gilroy

Flowering Tree by SunnyLeeStudio

Spring Valley Morning by Donald Oplinger

Mosaic Bunny by Carol DeMumbrum

Spring Morning by Debbie Shirley

Sunshine on the Creek by Dorothy Harrison

Spring Rain by Julie Glenzinksi

The Orchard by Chelsea Dicksion

Waynes Iris by Happy Strokes

Blooming Happiness by HweeYen Ong

Feminine by Gioia Albano

Spring in the Swamp by Dotti Berry

Finding Fine Art hits the front page of Etsy!

2011-03-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all who were featured in this incredible collection curated by Chris of NovemberStudios!

Artist Feature - Darla Jackson

2011-03-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

What Are You Afraid Of?

Smoke and Mirrors III

They Struck...(Snake)

In Darla's words... "Hi! I'm Darla, a sculptor living and working in Philadelphia. I make crazy animal sculptures that tend to be cute and dark at the same time. I like birds, peppermint patties and getting mail. I dislike slugs, zombies and not getting mail. I have a husband, 3 cats and a baby. I think they are all pretty awesome.

Surprise Party (Fawn)

Visit Darla's shop to see more of her curiously clever sculptures. http://www.etsy.com/shop/alfalfalovesme

Open Studio with Chris Zahner

2011-03-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

In the first of the new Open Studios series, we are taken to Boston, Massachusettes to visit with artist and art conservator, Chris Zahner. This behind the scenes look at his work space should be a refreshing reminder that where there's a will to create, even in limited space, there is a way.

Welcome to my “studio”. Yes, it’s actually my bedroom.

I moved from Cleveland to Boston two years ago. In Cleveland I rented a 1500 square foot apartment that doubled as my studio for the same price that I now rent a room in Boston. Lemons? Nope, I’m happy to make lemonade. My current studio situation has a lot to do with why I’ve chosen Etsy as a venue for selling work. Obviously my space is limited, so I’m forced to make smaller pieces, which seems ideal for selling on a site like Etsy. Here’s a tour...

The space from the left of my laptop to the end of the table is my work area. It’s about two feet. Speaking of the table- I made it by coating a solid wood door with polyurethane and adding legs I found at a warehouse that sells old office furniture. Upcycled for sure.

I have everything I need here- a plastic container for art supplies, foam trays for mixing paint, garbage, printer, my tiny tv, coffee cup, wine, paint in clear jars and part of the huge bay window that gets lots of awesome light. The painting on the wall is by Paul Yanko and it’s called “Big Ship”. I love it.

http://chriszahner.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/paul-yanko/

Dresser close up. The teapot is something I made years ago in school, the “Fuck You Loser” is by Dana Depew (http://www.etsy.com/people/DanaDepew ), and the yellow lollipop has a scorpion in it. I use the old drawers and boxes to take photos for new shop listings.

My work area. The white and green boxes are from Ikea. The wine is from Trader Joes and it was delicious. The top of my printer currently stores paintings on MDF blocks in various stages of completion. The black board is something I use for drawing- I use it to support the drawings as I work on them. It’s really stiff and light weight.

Books are important. I have tons. I use the top of my dresser as a photography space because it’s the best spot to create the vignettes that people love so much.

At the end of the day I enjoy having my bedroom and studio be combined. When you live with your work all the time it forces you to make stuff you enjoy being around. I won’t consider a piece finished until I’ve lived with it for at least a week- if I still like it then it’s finished.

Lush

Visit Chris's Etsy shop for more original artwork at http://www.etsy.com/shop/NovemberStudios

Artist Feature - Harry Stooshinoff

2011-03-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

White Cloud

Toronto City Hall

Outing

"When I was a boy growing up in Saskatchewan, I used to look far into the distance and wish I had more trees around me....to protect me and make the place feel less empty.

Now I have lots of trees around me, but I still like to look very far into the distance.

It's a big, NOISY world...
So I make small, quiet paintings...

It makes a certain kind of sense."

- Harry Stooshinoff

Trio

Visit Harry's shop for more amazing, original artwork. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Paintbox

AWAKENING

2011-03-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

This month's online exhibit - Awakening - is brought to you by artists of the Finding Fine Art Etsy team. Images and titles link to the individual listing, and artist/shop names link to each artist's Etsy gallery. Enjoy these fine works of art inspired by the awakening of the earth, spirit and mind as we shift into spring.

Coffee and Oranges by Pamela Munger

Poppy Field by Soli Deo Gloria

Maui Blooms by Devika Keskar

Red Sky by Eastwood Art

3 Seasons by Rayna Havelock

On the Beach by Boretto

Blue Birds by Elizabeth Matlack

Awakening by Toula

Tatoo Woman by Gioia Albano

Cascading Greens by emmarts

Cherry Blossoms II by Heather Lee

The Marina by Candice Ashment

Awakening by Paula Manning-Lewis

For Eve by artfields

Narcissus Upstate by Sally Mara

Wild Blue Yonder by Victoria Webb

Awakening by Jessica Torrant

Girl Watching the Surf by Gwen Meyerson

Desert Sun by HappyStrokes

Amaryllis Bulb by Kristina Closs

Vacancy Series by Sergio Martinez

Morning Glory by Richard T Pranke

Cottage Landscape by Dublin Roots

Girl With a Red Bow by Trudi Doyle

Onions Spring by Linda Hamilton

Opal by Marina Taliera

Awakening by Chloe Urban

Dream of White Light by Sarah Giannobile

Red Coffee Cup by Brooke Howie

Purple Stormy Sky by Nancy Hughes Miller

Chatham Harbor Sunrise by watermediaworks

Bird Song by Glenda Bailey

Hope by Debbie Shirley

Opening by Masako Simmons

In the Bath by Stacey Ball

The Yellow Mountain by solomoon

A Morning Song by KneeDeepOriginals

Sea Machine by Jon Allen

Red Lake by Eeli-Ethel Polli

Dawn by Derek Shockey

Awareness by Patti Agapi

Glowing Peach Hibiscus Bathed in Raindrops by Leila Hooper Zeitler

The Depths in Flow by Connie K Sales

Coffee Shop Corner by Jen Ashme

Red Tree Peony by Barbara Rosenzweig

Rainbow Tree by Brienna McLaughlin Pruce

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." - Carl Jung

Artist Feature - Aja Apa-Soura

2011-02-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

The Sound

Midnight Harbor

Faces of the City CXVI

About Aja: "Although I've been painting since my age was measured in months (my mom, a toll painter, would give me scraps of wood from her projects, a cup of water, and a brush for me to "paint" with....) I really became serious with it in '99 during my last years of high school. Resigned to my profession I was accepted to Montserrat College of Art on scholarship and concentrated on painting.

Sagittarius Gallery, my business, was started in April of 2003 and since then I have been blessed to have over 250 patrons on 5 continents. I have shown at several galleries including Karin Sanders Fine Art in Sag Harbor, NY, Robert Dowling Studios and Gallery in Bangor, ME, the gallery walk at Memories on Market LLC in Oshkosh, WI, as well as a solo show at the Gallery and Grille in Newburyport, MA. My work has been featured by the online Self-representing artists website EBSQ as well as the web zine Pedestal Magazine. My work has also been shown at the Empire State Legislative Building in Albany, NY, First National Bank of Scotia in Scotia, NY, and several student shows at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA during my time as a student.

I am influenced by all around me but have an affinity for the Abstract Expressionists such as Rothko. de Kooning, and more contemporary examples such as Susan Rothenburg and Cecily Brown. I am in love with my palette knife and thick oil paint but I do utilize a bevy of different media and techniques to illustrate my unique vision. Melted crayola crayons, Testors model car enamels, sharpee pens...anything is fair game."

Pride

Visit Aja's Etsy shop for more beautiful, original fine art. http://www.etsy.com/shop/sagittariusgallery

Fine Art Friday Update 2/11

2011-02-11T15:12:00.000-08:00

Jilly's Walkup Studio - Hand pulled lino-cut by etchlings

Selected from the Working Artists for Fine Art Friday treasury by lauraprill

Fridays have become a day absorbed in dazzling artwork from around the globe. Participation in Fine Art Friday continues to grow week after week, on Twitter, facebook, flickr and Etsy. There is a new Fine Art Friday team on Etsy that I'd like to invite everyone to join. There are no rules for membership - artists and art lovers alike are encourage to join and share their favorite work. Visit the team page here http://www.etsy.com/teams/7329/fine-art-friday. You'll also notice there is a new page on the blog that explains the Fine Art Friday movement and how to take part.

Golden Light in Paris - Original painting on canvas by SarahGionnobile

Selected from the Fine Art Friday travel edition treasury by SunnyLeeStudio

Meanwhile, the Finding Fine Art team has been steadily growing with an incredible member list of fine artists. With the team tag of "findingfineart" shopping for original fine art, photographs and hand pulled prints on Etsy has never been easier. The team tag is another great way to find art treasuries any day of the week. There is a new page on the blog that I'm very excited about for Finding Fine Artists. You'll find the link above or you can just click here to see the growing art collection. (Artists interested in joining the team must please review the list of member requirements before applying.)

Charcoal drawing - original (FD 14) by Fagerlund

Selected from the Let There Be Light treasury by JessicaTorrant

Many thanks go out to everyone that took part in the fun today and in previous weeks. How did you celebrate Fine Art Friday today? Did you make a new treasury, blog post or list a new work of art? Let us know with links in the comments!

July in Provence - Original oil painting by KelleySanfordStudio

Selected from the dada in custard for the trees treasury by sarahknight

Transformation

2011-01-27T22:38:00.000-08:00

Plant by Brooke Wandall

What Smell? by jfox

End of the Road by Donna Walker

Windmill Dreams by Aimee Had

Grace of Morning Light by Rebeca Dresser

Red Dots by Eeli-Ethel Polli

Fernando Waiting For Raisins by Rina Miriam Drescher

Autumn in The Forest by Kim VanDerHoek

Shift by Masako

Forbidden by Melissa Tevere

Metamorphosis by Janet Snell

ELOI ELOI LEMA SABACHTHANI by Wayne Lo

Kaya by Marina Taliera

Dragon Fly II by Laura Frewin

Azurity by Scott Price

Still Life with Peaches by Kristina Closs

Open and Closed by Jean Stillmock

Alive by Christina

Succession 42 by Marilyn Fenn

Lovers Kissing by Jade Webber

Monarch Butterfly by Jon Allen

Stanlow Oil Refinery by Amanda Hone

What Remains by Debbie Shirley

Glowing Bright Blossom by Leila Hooper Zeitler

Territory by Jen Ashmen

Wild Blue Yonder by Victoria Webb

Wheat by Rayna Havelock

Little Mermaid by Gioia Albano

Outlaw by Chris Zahner

Artist Feature - Alexandra Kopp

2011-01-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

Summer Pond

Summer Skies

Poppy Garden

About Alexandra: "My name is Alexandra Kopp and I am an artist living in Maryland. Since childhood, my favorite things to do was drawing, coloring, painting and creating. My art education consists of design classes at Towson University, and painting classes in oil and watercolor with local artists in their studios and attending workshops. I am inspired by the works of Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Hassam and Richard Schmid."

Visit Alexandra's Etsy shop for more beautiful, original fine art. http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlexandrasStudio

OPEN CALL FOR ONLINE ART EXHIBIT

2011-01-04T11:48:00.000-08:00

Every month, the Finding Fine Art blog will host an online exhibit that is open to all artists. This month's theme is...

TRANSFORMATION

All artists online are welcome to join in. Simply choose one of your works of original Fine Art * that fits the theme (it's up to you how you choose to interpret the theme) and post a link to that image online in the comments section of this post. By adding your link, you give me (Jessica Torrant) permission to include your work in a blog post at the end of the month as well as a YouTube video of the exhibition. Your name, the title of the artwork and a link to find you/your work will be included in the blog post and in the description of the video.

Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, on your blog - wherever! While you're at it, please follow Finding Fine Art on Twitter and Facebook.

* Fine Art categories include painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, photography, hand pulled prints.

UPDATE: I can't download images from flickr like I can on Etsy so if there's anywhere else you have it online, please use that link - thanks!

Happy Holidays from Finding Fine Art!

2010-12-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

Stocking Stuffers by Polly Jones - Acrylic on 6" x 6" canvas

Here at Finding Fine Art we want to wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday! We look forward to introducing our readers to more wonderful visual artists and original art in 2011, and we thank you all for supporting this blog and the hard working artists we promote.

Artist Interview with Jen Ashmen

2010-12-16T22:21:00.000-08:00

This week, it's my pleasure to introduce you to the original artwork of Jen Ashmen. Jen is a professional, fine artist living in southern New Jersey. Her current preferred medium is ink, but she also enjoys working in oil and watercolor. Jen's colorful and bold murals can be found throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

"More than anything else, I enjoy drawing images of the world around me." - Jen Ashmen

Orange Masks - Oil on 48" x 24" canvas

Who are some of your favorite famous artists?

There are so many famous artists that I adore! I love the motion and emotion of Dorothea Tanning's oil paintings. Edward Hopper's use of color is magnificent. I enjoy Herakut's thought provoking wall paintings. Remedious Varo is also an artist I greatly admire.

Always Changing - Watercolor and ink on 5" x 8.5" paper

Who are some of your favorite peers making art today?

Emily Carroll, Junko Mizuno, Barbara Maxwell, and Marc Sijan are currently creating stunning art that is unlike anything that came before them.

Papyrus Peacock - Ink on 5" x 5" cotton paper

How long do you typically work in any one sitting - do you need to take a lot of breaks or do you work for hours and hours at a time?

I typically work for three hours at a time, break, and then work three more hours. Some paintings, like my small plein air watercolors, only take three hours to complete.

Second Tree from the Right - Watercolor and colored pencil on 8" x 10" canvas board

What are your feelings on the state of Art in the world today?

Artists today are some of the luckiest of all time. The internet has afforded artists the ability to speak directly to their audience, without the filter of an art dealer or gallery. Immediately after finishing a work I can post it online. The work will be seen by hundreds of people before it is even a day old. While there is nothing like looking at a painting in person, social networking allows artists to share exactly what they are creating when they are creating it.

Princes - Oil on 48" x 36" canvas

If you could try any new medium or art-form, what would it be?

I've always wanted to branch out into more sophisticated digital art. My Photoshop and Illustrator skills are more than adequate, but I would love to learn animation and 3-D rendering.

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Thank you so much, Jen, for taking the time to share a little more about yourself, your work and your interests. I really appreciate your take on the effect the internet has had on the world of Art and I couldn't agree more!

- Jessica Torrant

JEN'S LINKS

BLOG - jenashmen.wordpress.com

ETSY - jashme.etsy.com

TWITTER - twitter.com/jenashmen

What's New?

2010-12-09T23:58:00.000-08:00

This is the first installment of the "What's New?" series featuring the latest works by Finding Fine Art artists. The Finding Fine Art team is a curated group of visual artists selling original fine art on Etsy.

Jack by Chris Zahner - Mixed media on wood, 8 x 10

Chris Zahner Gallery

Chris on Jack: "I finished this piece on Saturday. It's part of a series I'm working on where I draw all the members of the senior class from a 1972 yearbook. He's Jack. I like the fact that he's probably only 18 years old, but tried to look older for his picture. Funny, I look through these yearbook photos and wonder what became of these people as their lives moved forward."

From the Trees by Philippa Jones - Original hand pulled etching

Philippa Jones Gallery

Cotton Candy Kaleidoscope by Sarah John Afana - Mixed media on canvas, 30" x 30"

Sarah John Afana Gallery

Poetic interpretation by the artist herself... "Floating weightless and spinning through the air the crystal particles glisten and shine enchanting with their wink."

Snowy Plein Air Landscape by Joy Appenzeller Bauer - Oil on canvas, 11" x 14"

Joy Appenzeller Bauer Gallery

Joy's latest painting is painted "ala prima (wet-in-wet) rather quickly in the traditional Impressionism genre."

Borrowed Underwear by Gabriele Maurus - Mixed media on canvas, 12" x 12"

Gabriele Maurus Gallery

Urban Sunset by Kim VanDerHoek - Oil on linen panel, 6" x 8"

Kim VanDerHoek Gallery

Kim was inspired her view from home. "When the sky is this dramatic, I have to pick up my paintbrush! This view is just above my neighbor’s house. Every time the sun sets, I am treated to a stunning view."

Textures in the Shed by Nancy Bray - Photograph

Nancy Bray Gallery

Nancy shot this photograph in her friend's shed. "Interesting articles stacked in the the corner of an old shed... I was taken by all of the different textures; wood, basket weave, twisted wire - all in rich, warm tones to create a beautiful still life for me to photograph."

Museum Mannequin by Jen Ashmen - Watercolor and ink, 5" x 8.5"

Jen Ashmen Gallery

Jen shared that this was "painted at the Noyes Museum of Art in Oceanville, New Jersey. This piece features a worn yet beautiful plastic mannequin in front of a vibrantly abstract painting".

Onion Bulb by Kristina Closs - Watercolor on paper, 10" x 11"

Kristina Closs Gallery

Finally we have this beautiful painting by Kristina Closs which is brand new and already sold! (Hint hint - if you love a work of original art, remember, it's an original, and once it's gone, it's gone!).

Artist Interview with Monica Stevens

2010-12-02T14:45:00.000-08:00

What a pleasure it is to bring you the first of our Artist Interview series with the extremely talented Monica Stevens. Monica's expressive paintings exude such a vibrant energy and intensity. You can visit her website at www.monicastevens.com or visit her Etsy shop where she sells her original artwork at www.monicastevens.etsy.com.

Androids of Suburbia Unite - Acrylic and oil pastel on masonite, 47'' x 35'', 2010

Were you interested in art as a child? If so, what were your favorite things to create?

I was involved in more performance-based art forms when I was a child. I loved going to the theatre in New York, and one of my majors in college was theatre. As a child, I enjoyed more "silent" types of performance, such as mime. As a theatre major, I thought I would be more engaged in the performance aspect of the theatre, but I quickly realized that I enjoyed the design aspect much more. I loved creating scale models, drafting, and making color renderings of costumes.

Fields - Water mixable oil and oil pastel on artist's panel, 12″ x 12″, 2010

Do you have a creative family? How does your family feel about you being an artist?

I sang gospel music as a child with my family. Many people in my extended family played multiple bluegrass instruments, and there was always what my grandfather called the "best instruments", our voices. I fantasized that our family were modern day Von Trapps. Today, my sister is a singer/ songwriter, my cousin is an indie filmmaker, and my brother-in-law is a lighting designer in Hollywood. My family is more performance-based, so visual art is something that separates me in some way, although I can't describe exactly how. There is the introspective, more inward quality of a visual artist as opposed to the more outward quality of someone who performs.

Lavender Harvest - Water mixable oil and oil pastel on canvas, 16" x 20", 2010

Take us through a typical day in your world.

I make a living as a psychotherapist, who works with children, adolescents, and families. I am fervent about and committed to my work as a therapist. I enjoy doing play therapy and find that it is connected to my work as a visual artist in ways that continue to amaze me. Play therapy is extraordinarily metaphorical, which suits my work as an abstract artist. The very word "play" implies my approach to painting. It is a way I unwind at the end of the day. My curiosity as a therapist translates into my visual art, as I approach painting with an innate questioning of my experiences, beliefs, and environment.

Smiling Medusa-Woman of the Hills - Acrylic and water soluble oil pastel on canvas, 16" x 20", 2010

Who are some of your favorite peers making art today?

My favorite peers making art today are without a doubt my friends, who are artists. They are inspiring to me and create work that challenges me in myriad ways. They are supportive and nurturing without being competitive, and, besides, they are great company!

Who are some of your favorite famous artists?

My favorite famous artists who immediately spring to mind are Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Joan Mitchell, Carroll Dunham, Alyson Fox, John Singer Sargent, David Park, Barbara Rae, Otto Dix, and Jennifer Wen Ma.

Woman and Ukelele - Acrylic and oil pastel on canvas, 24" x 30", 2010

Do you like to work in silence or do you prefer to listen to music when you work?

I find that I work best in silence. At the end of the day, it gives me a chance to reflect and meditate. Rarely do I listen to music while I paint. I couldn't live without music, but for some reason it distracts me from painting. I do love when my dogs come into my studio and root around, though.

Have you ever had an awakening moment as an artist where something new clicked into place and propelled you to a new level as an artist? Tell us about that experience.

Definitely! When I visit art museums, I am struck with new knowledge on both a cognitive level as well as an intuitive one. I just can't wait to fly back home and make art! Viewing a living, breathing piece of art is a transformative experience for me. There is always a sense of curiosity and new learning for me. An example is when I saw Monet's Water Lilies in a museum. I really "got" it for the first time. I had always seen them in books, and I thought they were beautiful. But I had never "seen" them, and, as the saying goes, "what is seen cannot be unseen." I never realized how big they were. Seeing art in a book is great and inspiring, of course, but I did not quite imagine Monet's Water Lilies being the size of entire gallery walls. While at the museum I learned for the first time, that Monet suffered from cataracts, and this naturally changed the way in which he "saw" and influenced his palette. I was amazed that the same images I had seen on paper since childhood, images that had become banal to me, were suddenly transformed in my sight.

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It's so wonderful to get to know the person behind the artwork and I want to thank Monica for her thoughtful and interesting interview. I too was struck by Monet's Water Lilies at the MOMA and can really relate to that sense of awe that she described. Please do go on to visit her websites and consider purchasing the work of this incredible artist!

www.monicastevens.com
www.monicastevens.etsy.com

Giving the Gift of Art - Part 2

2010-11-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the gorgeous treasuries curated on Fine Art Friday. Click on any of the images below to see each collection on Etsy.

Remember this Place by SarahJohnAfana.

Fine Art Friday Gift Guide! by jvdarcy.

Give the Gift of Fine Art by JessicaTorrant.

BlackFriday Fine Art Sales for holiday gifts! by Furiousdreams.

Giving the Gift of Fine Art - Finding fine art by VictoriaVeedell.

Stories in Abstract by flyingwhale.

I'm looking for something to go over my couch.... And get under my skin by thePaintedSky.

Giving the Gift of Art - Part 1

2010-11-25T21:56:00.000-08:00

In the first installment of Giving the Gift of Art, we've asked the artists of the Finding Fine Art team to tell us a bit about their experiences giving and receiving art as a gift, as well as selling their art to others to be given as a gift.

Jazz Green has a theme going with birthdays.

"A patron, who has since become a good artist friend bought a small piece of my work at an exhibition many years ago for her birthday and it was on her birthday too - she said it made her day - it was lovely to know that! Then she recommended my work to a good friend of hers who then bought a series of works for her landmark birthday! On another occasion I had to secretly deliver a painting to someone's house late on Christmas Eve as he wanted it to be a big surprise for his girlfriend on Christmas morning - but it also happened to be her birthday! Another person bought a large work to mark a partner's life/work-related event, so it seems that landmark life events such anniversaries, retirements, weddings, etc are special moments which are aptly acknowledged through the acquisition of art.

Art is special and people buy art for special reasons."

Carrie Venezia shares her experience creating commissioned paintings and giving art to loved ones.

"I'm working on a couple of paintings for customers right now that are going to be gifts this holiday season. I love that! It's commission work so I have the pleasure of the story like; the women giving a painting to her very best friend of her kids from a vacation they spent together; you get the idea! There are sad ones too; a loved one passes and it's a gift of a memory shared. I feel like I know them just a bit, so it's a different kind of pleasure in creating the work. A very different feeling then when I'm just creating for my own purpose. However, with that sometimes comes a little anxiety. Something I need to work on!

Whenever the chance arises to give my art as a gift to family and friends, I take advantage of it. It doesn't always happen at holiday time or on birthday's but the times in between, when it's not expected. That's really fun!"

Michelle Pryor shares the thrill of knowing your art is being given as a gift.

"I've always given art and handcrafted items as gifts for the holidays and they have always been well received. I take care to match up the art to the person I'm giving it to so that it will be meaningful to them.

I've also had people buy my art and give it as gifts to friends and family and I've gotten feedback that the recipient loved it.

Of course, we as artists love making each piece - but when someone chooses something that we created, then gives it away as a token of love or affection....well that's the pinnacle, isn't it? It fills my heart with joy to know that what my hands created spread happiness to others."

Paula Manning-Lewis has a great idea - an art swap!

"I have always given my art to family and friends for Christmas, birthdays and wedding gifts. They are always appreciated.

Something I have also done the past couple of years is put together an art swap party where I invite all my artist friends and we trade art to give as gifts or keep for ourselves. It was a huge hit and a LOT of fun! Plus, my family gets different art as gifts for a change of pace!"

Who wouldn't love a Brooke Wandall original as a gift?

"I usually give artwork to my friends and family over the holidays and they adore getting handmade presents especially original artwork!"

Monica Stevens appreciates the value of art as a gift.

"I always give art to friends and family for the holidays, whether they be pieces of my own or pieces that friends have created, including paintings and pottery. I have found that my friends and family are greatly appreciative of the pieces I choose for them, and it gives me great joy to choose pieces I believe they will like and will suit their personal tastes. Of course, it thrills me when I visit them and see that they have proudly and prominently displayed the pieces I have chosen for them. To me, the holidays and gift giving are about helping my friends and family to be happy and feel cherished and cared about. Art is truly a wonderful way to show them that I care about them and value them. I also appreciate receiving paintings and pottery that my friends have created. It reminds me of them, and I treasure these gifts, as they have been personalized just for me!"

Michelle Arnold has found that special places represented in art are appreciated.

"I have had people purchase my art as gifts because they were of places that were meaningful to them - where they had spent time or vacationed. I have also had people commission paintings or drawings of special places as a gift (and I would like more people to do so!)."

Marilyn Fenn shares her experience giving the gift of art.

"I have given a few original paintings/drawings and a few hand-pulled prints to some of my best friends and to family members, and they seemed to really love receiving a gift of my art--especially when they are allowed to select the piece they want (from a limited selection). It's a lovely feeling when you visit them to see your art on their walls, and to hear them gush over the piece they received.

I also gave a framed giclee print of one of my paintings to two of our favorite local musicians when they got married. Now whenever we see them, they always comment on how much they love that piece, and how nice it looks in their dining room.

Finally, every so often, I will make calendars of my latest paintings and give those as Christmas gifts. These are very popular, but have also been a bit time-consuming in the past. If I found a quicker way to produce them, I would probably do it again. It's a great way to keep your art in the minds of your loved ones (and whoever else you think might appreciate and use such a gift)."

Nancy Jean has filled her shop with gift worthy art.

"In my shop, I'm trying to concentrate on smaller works for gift-giving and trying to market them almost more as objects than wall art. I'm hoping that if people think of them more in terms of something they can hold in their hands, maybe that will feel more gift-like!"

Debbie Shirley shares her joy receiving art as a gift.

"I love getting art as a gift! I have been fortunate enough to have been given a number of original pieces as gifts from various extended family members and friends. As a result, nearly every piece hanging in my house has a special meaning to me because of the association with the person I got it from."

Dotti Berry has a beautiful story about receiving art on her wedding day.

"One of the most special art gifts I have ever received was for our wedding. We received other very special art gifts but this one had a special story which enchanted everyone who knew it. An artist friend who was very reclusive came to the wedding (completely surprising me as he never makes this type of appearance), bringing a beautiful painting which had a special significance to me. I hadn't ever seen it before, but as soon as I opened it later I realized why he had chosen it for us. I think of that thoughtfulness in recognizing a motif special to me every time I pass by it. I'd also like to mention that even though others were dropping off gifts that day, everyone instantly gathered around and became interested in the contents since they could tell it was a painting and could sense the gravity of the presentation. My friend wanted me to wait to open it until later and I honored his wishes (we weren't opening gifts at the reception of course but there was so much interest I would have done this if he wanted us to). When my friend brought the painting in to the reception, we were greeting guests on the other end of the room. A few of our guests came up to me and led me over (by the hand!) to see my friend holding the painting. There was a circle of people gathered around him, smiling quietly. There was something magical about them standing there in a respectful but joyous hush, recognizing that "Art" was being given as a gift and supporting that moment."

Jessica Torrant

So this holiday season, instead of getting caught up in big box shopping and Black Friday mayhem, consider the gift of art for your loved ones. Clothing goes out of style in a year, every home has more than enough nick-nacks, and gift certificates are so impersonal (unless you are getting one from an Etsy seller, that is!). The gift of art is a gift that, like a fine wine, just gets better with age. Not only does original art gain monetary value in time, it grows in emotional value as well, which is really what's most important. It is something that won't be a great fit for everyone on your list, but if you know someone well, have listened and payed attention to what they appreciate, purchasing art as a gift won't be as daunting as it's made out to be. In fact, it can be a real thrill picking out the perfect piece for that special someone!

Join us tomorrow for another Fine Art Friday celebration with a focus on art as a gift. Search the Treasury on Etsy using our tag "fineartfriday" and if you're inclined to make a treasury, think about art as a gift and be sure to tag your treasury with fineartfriday AND "gift guide". Part II of this special "Giving the Gift of Art" blog post will be a collection of gift worthy art discovered on Fine Art Friday (tomorrow) which will be published on Sunday. In the meantime, stay away from the crazy shopping, make yourself a cup of tea, and enjoy some art this Friday.

(PS Happy Thanksgiving to our US readers!)

Curated and written by Jessica Torrant.

A new and easy way to shop for Fine Art on Etsy

2010-11-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

Etsy.com has become the go-to website for arts, crafts, vintage goods and craft supplies. The number of new items listed every minute can be overwhelming and make shopping for one particular thing a challenge. Artists and art buyers alike have complained in the past that it's a challenge to find Fine Art when shopping on the site. Even though there's so many talented artists selling on Etsy, their art can easily disappear amidst the sheer volume of other merchandise being offered.

Now there is a new way to shop for Fine Art on Etsy that makes it easy to find gallery quality, original two and three dimensional art, hand pulled prints, and photography. We have created a growing, curated team of visual artists on Etsy whose work fits the categories of original paintings, drawings and mixed media works, sculpture, printmaking or photography. These artists have tagged appropriate items that fit the requirements with the tag "findingfineart" so buyers can search that tag for a virtual gallery experience.

The Argument of Function by Michelle Pryor

Discovered searching findingfineart

You can also search for a particular medium or style within the team. The following are some examples of what you'll discover searching for findingfineart original paintings.

Portrait Study of Bob by Christian Fagerlund

From the edge of the deep green sea II by Tina Will

Night Cottage by Harry Stooshinoff

Urgent by Julia Brucker

Pilot by Ursula Andrejczuk

New World Order by Michelle Daisley Moffitt

Search for original drawings from our team...

All in One by Carol Hopper

(not a photograph, this is a pencil drawing!)

Zeppelin City by David O. Smith

Whitechapel on Eid by Olha Pryymak

Robert by Karl Larson

Discover a diverse collection of original mixed media works.

Quadis X by Ana Gonzalez

I Will Never Let Go by Danny Phillips

The First Snow by Ali Herrmann

Nature Speaks by Sarah Gionnobile

Heart Tether by Leah Pettway

Search for hand pulled prints like wood and lino cuts, and serigraphs.

Hibiscus by Viza Arlington

Siena Cathedral by Michelle Arnold Paine

In the Fenway by Anne Silber

Rain by Victoria Webb

You can also search for Fine Art photography from our team.

Spiral Stairs by Kevin Bierbaum

Untitled by Karine Léger

Left a' shore by Sarah John Afana

Holga Sepia Landscape by Al Brydon

And finally, we have a growing group of sculptors on the team that are sure to delight you.

Gel Box 1 by Graham Heffernan

Copper Sun by Aimee Had

Elephant by Thomas Wrenn

This team is new and growing quickly. The artists featured above are just a fraction of the many talented members of this team. Please visit the Finding Fine Art team page to view all of our members' shops.

Artists interesting in joining this team should visit the team page linked in the previous paragraph, and read about requirements in the "Who can join?" section to see if you'd be a good fit.

- Written and curated by Finding Fine Art Team Captain, Jessica Torrant

Fine Art Friday Highlights

2010-11-11T22:07:00.001-08:00

I spent some time browsing back through all the Fine Art Friday venues and found an amazing variety of work…

On Tumblr…Botanical by Kendra Zvonick

In the Flickr Gallery…Pain has an Element of Blank by Patti Agapi

Shared on Twitter…White Shirt on White Hanger by Steven Beckly

A Murder (of Crows) by David Geoff

Etsy Treasury Gallery…Fine Art Friday: the chair series curated by PaulaArt

Found in another Fine Art Friday Etsy Treasury Gallery…Autumn Splendor by solamar7

Facebook Page launched mid-week…Late Afternoon Red by Joanne Licsko

I have to say I’m pretty excited to see what you all will share with us this week for Fine Art Friday.

curated by Sarah John Afana

Fine Art Friday - Take One

2010-11-07T21:35:00.000-08:00

The first Fine Art Friday was a great success considering we decided to go for it and set up all of the sites in a matter of two days - two days! People got on board in the Etsy thread, on Twitter , our Flickr group and Tumblr sharing their favorite art. I think one of the greatest successes we had was being "tweeted" by an art site on Twitter with over 3,000 followers! It's just going to get better from here and we're so grateful for everyone that has participated in any and all ways.

We were hoping for a Fine Art Friday treasury to make the front page on Friday, but it didn't happen. Since it's such a new thing, perhaps it just took a bit for Etsy to take notice of our efforts. Instead, we had TWO "FineArtFriday" (update: THREE!) tagged treasuries make the front page today! Some have been a little upset that items not considered traditional "Fine Art" are included in some of the treasuries, but to that I say A. there's no controlling the content of anyone's choices in a treasury and B. the more attention we get for the movement, the better. We'd like to encourage everyone to make all art treasuries but if you don't, we won't be banging down your doors demanding you to edit them. This is a free and open movement, free of hard set rules, free and open for people to express themselves as they like. Items included in treasuries may not fit the criteria of "Fine Art" but the act of curating a treasury can be like creating a work of art unto itself. Also, the tag is a link to other treasuries also tagged with "FineArtFriday" and that helps us all in the end.

Here are the two treasuries that made the front page today. Congratulations to the curators and let's keep them coming!

Fine Art Friday

2010-11-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

What is it?
Fine Art Friday was created by Jessica Torrant to bring awareness to independent artists online. It began on Twitter and is now expanding to many other venues. Sarah John Afana is the co-manager of the Fine Art Friday movement and together we are putting together a number of ways people can show off and share their favorite art online once a week. It's a day of celebration, of sharing and promotion of Fine Artists online.

How can I participate?
Anyone can participate and here's how!

Twitter
Every Friday share links to your favorite Fine Art (or your own for that matter) with the hashtag #FineArtFriday. This creates a search-able keyword to click on and view other participating Twitter posts. You can also share links to your special Fine Art Friday blog posts or Fine Art Friday Etsy treasuries. We have created a Fine Art Friday Twitter account so we can retweet our favorites and keep a weekly history of this movement. Follow us at http://twitter.com/FineArtFriday.

Flickr
Join our Flickr group where you can share your Fine Art and meet and greet fellow artists! This is a public group so we ask that you be conscientious of our intentions and add appropriate images to the pool. Anything that is considered Fine Art is welcome - including painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and mixed media. (If I'm missing something here, let me know). You can upload up to 3 images a day to the pool and we may tweet your image on Fridays on Twitter. Join the group here - http://www.flickr.com/groups/fineartfriday/.

Etsy
All of the Etsy community is welcome and encouraged to join in on the Fine Art Friday fun! You can create all art treasuries on Thursday or Friday and tag them FineArtFriday (no spaces) so we can search through everyone's curated collections. I'm particularly excited to see the variety of styles, subjects, materials, etc. that are sure to show a wide range of artistic interest and tastes. You can promote your treasuries in our special promotions thread on Etsy here http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6674238&page=1
and keep the FAF business thread alive by posting a hello or whatever you'd like here http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6674232

Blogs
You can do special Fine Art Friday blog posts about anything under the Fine Art sun that interests you. Perhaps it's a feature of an artist you admire or an artist interview, maybe it's about what art means to you, what art moves you, or what you love about a particular medium or style. It's up to you! Share the blog on Twitter with the #FineArtFriday hashtag, in the Etsy promo thread, post the link on the Fine Art Friday Facebook Page or anywhere else you'd like to share news of the Fine Art Friday movement. We would appreciate you including a link to this blog or our Twitter account if you do make a Fine Art Friday blog post so you can help spread the word!

Tumblr
Share your Fine Art Friday love on Tumblr with the tag FineArtFriday (no spaces) and we will reblog our favorites and perhaps tweet them as well. Follow our new Tumblr Finding Fine Art blog here http://findingfineart.tumblr.com/.

Facebook
Come share your favorite art with us at the Fine Art Friday Facebook Page. Feel free to add links to your online portfolio, shop, flickr photos…anywhere you share your art can be added to the wall.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fine-Art-Friday/174178202596034

What's next?
We will launch the official start of Fine Art Friday this Friday, November 5, 2010. As this is just the beginning, stay with us as this movement grows and expands, widening out to include other social networking sites and the like. If you have any questions, please contact us at fineartfriday@gmail.com. Sarah and I are a team, making it easier to juggle the workload and giving us the ability to take over if one is out of town or unavailable on any given Friday. We look forward to watching this grow and working together with everyone that participates. This is going to be a lot of fun and we're both really excited about it!