Featured Artist: Sarah Wyman

Oh, I am so happy to introduce you to Sarah Wyman.
I happen to think she is an artistic genius. 
I love her textures so much.  I love the eyes, in every single piece. 
I own three of her prints, but one day I hope to own a very large original.
I love all of the artists in Sharing Stitches, but Sarah's art touches my heart in a way I can't even explain.
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your paintings with the world.
Her interview is below:

Tell us about your art, Sarah. What kind of style do you consider it and what are your favorite mediums to work with?
My art is considered mixed-media, collage, modern and folk. Primarily I create female figurative pieces, though have recently began a series of bird paintings. I use acrylic paints, charcoal, pencil, oil pastels and colored pencils as mediums as well as lots of paper, usually vintage or antique atlases and magazines. I would say the paper collage element of my work is my favorite material and am always on the look out for beautiful maps to use. Lately I have been tearing up paper into little pieces and treating it almost as a mosaic.

What inspires you?
Art history inspires me. Learning about the great masters of the past and how and why they created the work they did. It makes the pieces I see in museums and books so much richer and real to me. I am near completion of a degree in art education and will have a minor in art history. I can’t wait to share my passion with my students and enrich the history and social studies lessons they will have in regular classes.

 How do you define "artistic success"?
I achieve artistic success each time I complete a painting. I feel proud of each thing I accomplish, (even when it’s not great) because I feel like I am learning and growing every time I pick up a paintbrush. So many people say they wish they could paint, and I say you can! I wasn’t born knowing how to mix colors and render, but through years of working at it I am finally getting somewhere. Not everyone has the high level of interest in art that I have and that is the difference. I don’t think it’s a mystical gift that was bestowed upon me, it was just that art is my passion and therefore I am happiest when doing ‘art’.

Did you enjoy art as a child? When did you learn how to sew?

I have always enjoyed art. I remember getting so excited when a Highlights magazine would feature a craft, like making a caterpillar out of egg cartons. I’m in awe of all the great books and shows and materials kids have now to get them inspired and crafting. But I get to experience it all over again now with my two kids. The first thing I sewed (with my mom’s help) was a little red felt stocking for a school project. Then in sixth grade I got a sewing machine as a birthday present and started making clothes for my Cabbage Patch doll. I love sewing, but have not had much time for it lately.

Is there a part of the day that you enjoy creating the most? Tell us how a typical creative day may go for you.
I like creating in the morning, when I’m fresh and energetic. It doesn’t always work out though, between kids and other obligations. The ideal morning is when both kids have school and I have at least two hours till I have to pick up my preschool age daughter. I prefer to do packaging and listing items in the evening, when I’m slowing down after the busy day. Someday I would like to treat this more as a business with regular hours, but that is a ways off, till my kids are both in full day school. Until then I just do the best I can, and try to be the best mom for them because they are growing up too fast!

Go check her out and send her some love:
 
http://sarahgreenweeds.blogspot.com/
http://shop.ebay.com/green_weeds/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahwyman

Coming Soon

I'm working on so many new items.  I haven't decided whether to list everything in my etsy shop, or go big and build a new website.  I've got tags and pillow and quilts (oh my!), as well as the card line I've decided to sell on my own.

Life is good.  The creative juices are flowing...:)

xo,
Chrissie


**edited to add:

On a completely random note, I just saw these and had to share.  Aren't they wonderful?!?
(available on amazon)

Have a beautiful weekend...

I will be taking a computer break for a few days and I wanted to leave you with some beautiful images.

1. lawn spiral, 2. Peacock Hair Fascinator, 3. me plus you quilt, 4. Anna and oil painting, 5. my signature, 6. happy patchwork pillows, 7. sunshine, 8. 02-01-10, 9. A Deciduous Tree for Christy, 10. finger and holey stones as jen described them, 11. New Work, 12. Kaffe Fassett Rainbow

Have a wonderful July 4th weekend, and thank you for all of the sweet and supportive comments.
xo,
Chrissie

Contemplation and REALLY learning to trust (or, Turning 35)

Almost a year ago I was contacted by a very reputable card company who was interested in my art.  I worked with an editor for about four months and we put together a small line of about 8 cards.  The cards went out for a market review back in October.

I got news this week that the cards didn't score high enough in the market review for the company to license the line.  I have to say that the experience I had developing the line was wonderful.  I learned a lot!  The editor I worked with was gracious and knowledgable and taught me so much.  But I will admit that when I heard the news I was so very disappointed.  Licensing has been a dream of mine for so long now.

So when I celebrated my 35th birthday a couple of days later (yesterday) I was in a very contemplative state.  I've been praying for this dream to become a reality for a long time now.  I laid in bed that night and I asked God if this is what He wants me to do.  Should I keep working as an artist, trying to gain a licensing deal?  Maybe I could take the line and market it myself.  I thought God did not place a dream in your heart without a reason.

Silence.

And then I heard, clear as day, Trust Me, child.  Give your heart  fully to me and I will help you.

Now let me be clear when I say that being a mother and wife is my full time job.  My family is my number one priority and I am confident that God and I can agree on that.
Writing books and creating art is something that I love to do.  But apparently God has something else in store for me.

I have to say with an honest and open heart that letting go is very hard for me.  What if God has different plans for me?  What if creating art for a living is not what he intends?  What if what he intends for me is crazy and unexepected and not what I have been yearning for and working for?  Or what if it only to care for my family right now and not follow my own dream?

So when I heard it...Trust Me, child, I wanted to say, Ok.  Here is my heart and soul.  I am YOURS.  I trust you completely.  Do with me what you will.  I trust that you have a plan for me.

Friends, I am not 100% there yet.  But I see that.  My prayer now is:  God, please soften my heart.  Please take away the anxiety I feel about not being the one in supreme control.  I pray that the strength will come soon when I can leave my comfort zone and say, "I trust you fully".

And it will come.  I am certain of that.

Featured Artist: Danita

This week's Featured Artist from Sharing Stitches is Danita.

Danita is a self-taught mixed-media artist who makes Original Paintings, Collages, Mixed Media Creations, as well as Original Art Dolls, Soft Sculpture Plush Dolls, ACEO Cards, Giclee Prints and Fiber Art. 
I have been a fan of Danita for years. She has FANTASTIC rendentions of one of favorite all time artists, Frida Kahlo.  It seems like there is no medium that Danita cannot conquer.  Her style is so unique and I love going over to her Etsy shop to see what brilliant things she has created every week.
She has also been published in almost 15 magazines to date. Whew!  She is one super talented lady!

Below is an interview with her:

What inspires you?
 Beauty and the absence of it. I live in a city with many problems and I use art as a way to scape from all of that. Some days there are so many bad news that I just want to create something beautiful for a change and when I'm creating I forget about everything.

Tell us about your art. What kind of style do you consider it and what are your favorite mediums to work with?
 I think I illustrate my thoughts in mixed media. I love working with paper and acrylics and gouaches adding touches of pencil and pastels. It's difficult to chose just one medium to work with because it all depends on the mood I want to give to the final piece. I also m
ake dolls, jewelry and fiber art. All of them I enjoy very much so picking just one would be very difficult.

 How do you define "artistic success"?
For me artistic success is when I create something from my heart and people responds to that in a positive way.

 Did you enjoy art as a child?
 Yes! I've always enjoyed drawing and painting and I remember that I used to make miniature figures with modeling clay and followed a TV show that taught how to make stuff.
When did you learn how to sew?
I'm still learning!

 Is there a part of the day that you enjoy creating the most?
At night, when I have nothing else to do or anybody calling for my attention. Tell us how a typical creative day may go for you. I usually check my mail and facebook in the morning after dropping my daughter at school. I have to pick her up early so I only have about 3 hours to work and I usually spend them listing, answering questions, taking pics or anything that can be interrupted with no trouble. In the afternoon I usually do my mom chores and after I put my daughter to bed then my creative work really starts. I usually work from 8 pm to 12 or 1 am. I choose what I'll be doing and prepare my materials, put some music and start working. I usually work nonstop until my husband starts nagging that it's too late and then I wake up from my creative slumber and go to bed. Next day, repeat and rinse.

Blog: http://danitaart.blogspot.com/
 
Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/danitashop
 
 flickr:  www.flickr.com/ photos/danitaart
 
 facebook: danita art
 
Thanks Danita!  You rock!

Opinions please

In my haste to make these mosaic tile quilts, I cut the background fabrics 10" x 10" (which should have been the finished size).  Lesson learned.In order to save the pieces, I'm going to applique them to one big solid piece of fabric.

Here are my three color choices for the background fabric:  dark teal, dark gray, or a dark pearl lavender.

I would love your opinion!  Which one do you think?

Oh, and here are some pictures of my quilting buddies. 

It makes for an enjoyable afternoon of quilting.:)
Happy Tuesday Friends.

Baby shower for a little boy

I threw a baby shower this weekend (with the help of my mom), for my friend and neighbor.  After two sweet girls, she is having a little boy now!

                                           

It was so fun.  I'm so excited for him to come so I have a sweet little baby to snuggle ( if his Momma will give him up:).  I guess you can imagine after having four kids that I love sweet little babies.  Since I'm not having any more of my own, it will be fun to have another little one near by.  :)

I hope you all had a safe and fun weekend.

xo,

Chrissie