This is the official Blog for the EBSQ Self-Representing Artists Community, where you'll find news, reviews, site announcements, and of course, a generous helping of art!
Fantastic art, fresh from our front page!
1. Alessandro Andreuccetti mixed media painting Cavaliere Errante was impossible to miss on the front page of EBSQ this morning. I love the burst of colors on top of the text. Magnifico!
2. Did you know the University of California Press has over 770 ebooks available for free to the public? There is a collection of books on Architecture, Art, Art History, Art Theory and many more subjects. Browse the public ebooks by subject here.
3. Ever wondered how often you should be posting to different social media outlets? It could make a difference to how you market you art!
4. Art Installation at J.F.K. Faces Possible Destruction – It would be a crime to destroy this installation. Anyone have a 600 ft wall available?
We’ve had better weeks here at EBSQ, but up’s and down’s are a part of life, as are snow days. Snow days are those days off allotted to schools when inclement weather hits. They throw everyone off schedule, the schools, parents, work, etc. But sometimes a change of pace can be a good thing, it can open a door to new ideas and creative adventures. Today’s Friday Five invites you to try something new.
Today’s post is a celebration of art created in November by EBSQ artists who are also dedicated bloggers. Mind you, this is only a sample of the amazing art I’ve seen. I invite you to explore more from our gifted artists:
http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/
 
 
 
 
 
Artist Featured: Kimberly Vanlandingham, Sherry Key, Gretchen Del Rio, Diane Whitehead, Patience, Marcia Baldwin, Karen Winters, Mark Satchwill, Sandra Willard, Torrie Smiley, Christine Striemer, Dia Spriggs, Carmen Medlin, Michele Lynch, Carol DeMumbrum.
September 2012 marked the 44th annual Yellow Daisy Festival in Stone Mountain Park, Ga. The festival is named for the Confederate Yellow Daisy that grows on the granite outcroppings of Stone Mountain. Every year it features more than 400 artists and crafters from all over the country. In all the time I’ve lived in Georgia, I have never been to the Yellow Daisy Festival. I’m not a native to Georgia, but for many years the festival was only a ten minute drive away! While I don’t live so close to Stone Mountain now, I decided it was about time I experienced the arts, crafts, food and live music of this wonderful event.
I discovered soon after planning my trip that former EBSQ artist Patti Ballard, of PBS Art Studios, was going to be there selling her whimsical paintings. What a treat! If you ever have a chance to see an artists work beyond the monitor do not hesitate. Nothing compares. Patti’s paintings are like a piece of childhood wrapped with magical daydreams. Browsing her booth was serene and calming.
Patti was kind enough to chat with me a bit before the next wave of visitors hit her booth. Here’s our mini-interview:
AM:Â How long have you been coming to the Yellow Daisy Festival? And what made you choose this festival?
PB:Â This was my first year at this festival. I was recommended by a fellow artist who has been doing the show for a long time.
AM:Â How far in advance to you begin preparing for an art festival?
PB:Â I usually have shows 1 or two weeks apart so when I am not at a show I am making more art and preparing for shows.
AM:Â What do you like most about participating in art festivals?
PB:Â I love meeting new people and seeing all the art. I always find something interesting. And it’s always fun to see other artists I have become friends with at other shows.
AM:Â Do you have any upcoming festivals? And if so, where?
PB:Â I have a show scheduled almost every week starting in October. My next show on October 6-7 will be in Melbourne Fl. Only 45 minutes from home… If you like You can see the rest of my art show schedule on my website…mostly all are in Florida!
You can also find Patti here:
Who and where are you?
I’m a multimedia artist that is known as samos (only because that’s how I sign my work) and most everyone
calls me Stephanie. I create unique abstract figures in bronze, delicate ceramics in bright, funky colors and abstract paintings in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. I’m a native of beautiful Colorado and live in the mountains with my amazing husband, three loving dogs, and two very handsome horses.
How were you introduced to Facebook?
I believe I learned of Facebook through discussions on MySpace. I was just getting into the social networking scene for my art and like everyone else, I had to join.
Any tips for other artists starting a Facebook Page?
I would suggest using interesting images of your work with good descriptions and post art related articles or blurbs that are interesting to you. It lets your readers get to know you a little better as an individual.
What’s your favorite Facebook Page feature?
I actually like the new timeline layout for my Facebook page. I didn’t think I would, but what I like about it is that you can read it more like a book or magazine in a horizontal format as opposed to the traditional vertical one.
What’s coming next from your studio?
I’ve been working on a new design for my planters that I’m excited to introduce in my ETSY shop MuddyPotts and I’m also working on three new large paintings.
http://stephanieamos.ebsqart.com/
This week’s theme is Fireworks.
Who and where are you?
I am Took Gallagher, a self-taught artist living in Northville, Michigan. I have a never-ending curiosity and I am very easily entertained and amused. I find a lot of my inspiration in song lyrics and random phrases. I am an active Art-o-mat artist, as well as the host of two Art-o-mat machines in the Detroit area. I love my cats, Detroit Derby Girls roller derby, cotton candy, and playing Magic: the Gathering.
How did you get started art blogging?
I was first inspired by the multi-talented Elin Waterston (who is also a fellow Art-o-mat artist) who was doing a carving a day for her 365 Project. I followed in her footsteps and my blog began as a way for me to work daily on my various Art-o-mat series. After the first year was completed, I took a little time off from daily blogging and really missed it. This year I returned to the 365 format to do a sort of daily Creative Progress Report.
Any tips for other EBSQ art bloggers?
Photos — links — show us what you are talking about. Donât get hung up on the writing aspect of the blog. Speak in your own voice…it is much more fun and it helps the words to flow… and your readers will get to know âyouâ. (P.S. — Spell Check is your friend!)
What’s your musical inspiration of choice when you’re working in your studio?
I turn my iTunes on âshuffleâ and listen to random songs. I love Slade, Arthur Brown, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Laura Nyro, Motorhead, Hall & Oates,The Cure, The Decemberists, A Perfect Circle, Syd Straw, Jethro Tull, funk, Motown, world music, British Blues, British Invasion, metal, rock…actually I like a lot of different music…it would probably be easier to say what I donât like.
What can we expect to see next from your studio?
More plaster cloth sculpture, relief prints, collage, mixed media assemblages. Plus plenty of collaborative projects — like my series “Penciled In” — I make the drawings and artist friends add their own special touches with colored pencils.
http://fraughtwmeaning.blogspot.com/
Thank you Took for being an EBSQ Blogger of the Week!
If you are an EBSQ Artist and would like to be considered for Blogger of the Week just add us to your blogroll. Iâm searching EBSQ profiles weekly for links to artistâs blogs. If you arenât an EBSQ Artist, what are you waiting for?
This week’s EBSQ Blogger of the Week is both a exceptional artist and a captivating blogger. Her art is sometimes whimsical, sometimes surreal and often a little deliciously creepy! I especially love reading about her art WIPS!
Who and where are you?
I am a very late bloomer to the art scene here in Denver. When I graduated from art school I was a widow with two small kids, so I immediately had to work. About five years ago I quit my part time job with the Post Office, and began to do art again. I started by selling on eBay to get a feeling for the direction I wanted to go and to have a sense of the business of art. A little later I took some on line marketing classes from Alyson Stanfield (Art Biz Coach), who happens to live in near by Golden Colorado. Shortly after I joined an old co-op I used to belong to right after art school which gave me courage to try for a co-op in the Art District itself. So I have belonged to both for the last few years.
Over the years I knew I wouldn’t be happy unless I gave my all to making a name for myself here in Denver. I live in the foothills west of Denver I have a studio in my house, quite literally. Recently a friend and I have rented a studio down in the center of the art district. It’s an exciting place to be right now, lots of energy, lots of great art and we have a huge First Friday Art Crawl. Since it is centrally located we both teach classes there and work of course. It’s been a very gratifying experience.
How did you get started art blogging?
I decided to start blogging when Alyson, made a very good case in one of her classes about web sites vs blogging. She pointed out we need both but if we could only afford one then blog….why? Blogging uses lots of words, for search engines to pick up and they almost all connect to Facebook and Twitter. Your message and name can go almost viral sometimes depending on your topic.
Any tips for other EBSQ art bloggers?
I would say that the single most important thing is to do it regularly. I had someone ask me last First Friday if I added content on a regular basis, I knew he was asking me was it worth his time to check in every so often. You need to keep it interesting and give people something to come back for. It’s a great way to show your new art. I really like showing point A to point Z during a project. Sometimes I feature things I see that are of interest on other blogs (always ask permission first). Some of my content is about my dog who is a real character, I did a recent flyer featuring my dog. On my blog we can also add a snippet of a sentence or two to help entice people to swing in for a look. One time I was having the blues about my art and the short phrase I chose was “my art sucks”…boy did I get a lot of interesting comments and a bunch of hits. Pictures are always good I use them almost every time I post. Try to be concise, sometimes you don’t need many words, people tend not to read long rambling posts. I try to mix it up, with tips and suggestions to just posting art. Spell check everything!
What’s your musical inspiration of choice when you’re working in your studio?
Well I like to listen to the tv in the other room and my favorite show is NCIS and on the week ends the scifi channel, just can’t get enough of bad horror and sci fi moves…lol. It’s in the other room so it works like background noise to help keep me from getting distracted. In my studio down in town I have a ipod with podcasts from a couple of local art podcast shows and music which runs the from old Walyon Jennings and Johnny Cash, to vintage rock ‘n roll, Leon Russell and some BB King. I have eclectic taste I guess. However I do have strict work rules for myself and work during my studio time whether it’s home or down town. I’m pretty serious when it comes to not wasting time.
What’s coming next from your easel?
Currently I have a big show in May coming up, so I doing both clay assemblages and paintings, for that show. I’m hoping to have one semi big installation piece made up of smaller pieces, the clay molded ones I’ve been working on and been blogging about. Also I will have new paintings which feature black and white animals and backgrounds which have a little more substance for that one as well. This show will loosely follow the sideshow carnival theme I have been exploring for a couple of years. Then in the fall a small group of artists will be doing a carnival happening show in the district and another one in Boulder. I will also have another show at Pirate the other co-op at roughly the same time. So I will be crazy busy late summer into winter! Keeps me thinking and working hard.
Thank you Claudia for being an EBSQ Blogger of the Week!
If you are an EBSQ Artist and would like to be considered for Blogger of the Week just add us to your blogroll. Iâm searching EBSQ profiles weekly for links to artistâs blogs. If you arenât an EBSQ Artist, what are you waiting for?
The EBSQ Friday Five offers a brief look at noteworthy news from around the EBSQ Artist Blogosphere. This week itâs all about Decemberâs fresh pressed art!
1. Sunny Journey by Fawn McNeil
2. Dylan Reading by Kathy Jurek
5. Heart Collages by Janell Berryman
Have a great weekend!
This week’s EBSQ Blogger of the Week creates art full of magic and whimisical delight. She’s sure to get you in the Christmas spirit with her angels, but her art is inspiring all year long!
Who and where are you?
Thanks for inviting me here. My name is Betty Stoumbos, and I live in a small city in Ontario, Canada. I work full time at a job which pays the bills, and in the evenings when everything else is done, I get to have fun and create. Â My style would be considered whimsical, and I love experimenting with different techniques.
How did you get started art blogging?
I remember when I had first heard of blogs, I couldnât understand why anyone would want to talk about themselves online, and why would anyone want to read it? Â It wasnât long before I got hooked. Â As I began reading art blogs, I decided to start my own, mostly to document my artistic growth. I didnât expect anyone else to be interested, but surprisingly people started to follow.
Any tips for EBSQ art bloggers?
If I were to offer any tips to art bloggers, I would say share yourself, and share your art. I like to know a bit about the bloggerâs life.  However, if this is outside your comfort zone, donât feel like you have to share your personal life.  This is your blog, and you can make it into whatever you like. Donât forget to show lots of photos too. They make your blog more attractive to readers.
Whatâs your musical inspiration of choice when youâre working in your studio?
When Iâm working,  I usually have on Hay House radio, which is an online radio station. They offer programming by lots of well known spiritual authors, and I love having it in the background.  However, starting in November I listen to Christmas music all day long. Itâs my favorite time of year, and it helps me create holiday art. I also started lighting a little tealight which I put in a pretty crystal holder on the window sill that I face.  Creativity is very important in my life, and itâs a small way to honor it.
Whatâs next coming from your easel?
I love painting whimsical girls, and in the New Year I hope to start creating larger paintings more regularly. I also would like to get back to my fairy tale series which has been sadly neglected. đ
http://pinkglitterfae.blogspot.com/
Thank you Betty for being an EBSQ Blogger of the Week!
If you are an EBSQ Artist and would like to be considered for Blogger of the Week just add us to your blogroll. Iâm searching EBSQ profiles weekly for links to artistâs blogs. If you arenât an EBSQ Artist, what are you waiting for?
This monthâs featured gallery is Portraits & Figurative Art. Portraits are the artistic representation of an individual or individuals with the face as the focus. The term âfigurative artâ most frequently refers to the representational depiction of a human or animal figure. Often they are deeply personal â either to the artist, because of the emotions being expressed by the subject or because of the emotions these works elicit from us. They delight, disturb and connect us. During the month of May, we are going to take a few moments to catch up with some of the EBSQ artists that create some of these evocative pieces of art.
Animals have very rich social and emotional lives. Their capacity for empathy, their delight in play: these are the very things that we first seek out in them when we wish to bond with or understand them. I often take my artwork to middle ground between animal and human — a place where characteristics of both are blended, and perhaps a bit of humor is added to sweeten the mix. My human and animal portraits share these traits. – Sandy Farley
Like what you see here? We hope youâll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today
This week’s Featured Friday store is home to the art of Aimee Marie Wheaton.
Aimee’s art is based in mixed media. Her work is riddled with happiness and positivity. This is done with either a positive message actually incorporated in to the piece or with a bright and colorful palette. Her background as a graphic designer is embedded in the dynamic compositions, while the visual artist in her supplies the dreamy nature her artwork showcases.
Her EBSQ bio describes herself as “…A whimsical and colorful artist who combines traditional aspects of art with several different mediums such as watercolors, pencils, collages, wax, ink, paints, paper, buttons, and whatever else strikes her fancy.”
~Kris Jean, Mod Team EBSQ-Etsy
As a side note keep an eye out for lots of butterfly art this month. The wings are fluttering, and the art is starting to fly in!
This monthâs featured gallery is Seasonal Art: Be My Valentine. St. Valentineâs Day is February 14th. Itâs popularity means that February has become the season of everything love â hearts, flowers, candy and things done up in pink and red. Throughout the month of February, we are going to take a few moments to catch up with some of the EBSQ artists that celebrate this holiday by creating art.
I love creating sentimental little works that will hold memories of the day it was received. It will be loved not simply for its own beauty, but for the spirit in which it was given… Love. How beautiful is that!? – Christina A. Kapono
Like what you see here? We hope youâll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!
This monthâs featured gallery is Seasonal Art: Be My Valentine. St. Valentine’s Day is February 14th. It’s popularity means that February has become the season of everything love – hearts, flowers, candy and things done up in pink and red. Throughout the month of February, we are going to take a few moments to catch up with some of the EBSQ artists that celebrate this holiday by creating art.
Valentines Day for me, has always been a day of celebrating the love in my life; but not just romantic love! As a child, my Mom would always have a special little gift for each of my sisters and myself as a token of how much she loved and thought about us. This gesture gave a deeper meaning to the holiday for me and I continued the tradition with my own kids as they were growing up. I’m certain I’ll do the same with my grandkids someday.
I hope my art continues to bring smiles and joy to collectors. I’m always happy when I know it has been given as a memento of love and affection on Valentines Day! – Kim Niles
Like what you see here? We hope youâll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!
This weeks EBSQ blogger of the week is a well of creativity. She takes her love of color and shapes then applies it to painting, jewelry, clay, mosaics, you name it! Her whimsical designs are an inspiration to all.
Who and where are you?
My name is Maria Greene and I live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Art has always run like a red thread through my life, during my years as a full-time writer, and now, a home decor shop owner. Art influences all the areas of my life, my sense of vision of the world around me, my gratitude for being alive, and my ability to express myself through various art forms. Art adds appreciation of shapes and color, especially in Nature, one of my favorite places to be!
How did you get started art blogging?
I was reading a lot of art blogs and decided to start one myself a couple of years ago. At first I thought to write it through the viewpoint of my cat, but he’s too flippant! I get a lot of inspiration from other blogs, and I walk around with my camera for good pictures to share. Pictures sometimes inspire posts that I might not have thought of before.
Any tips for other EBSQ art bloggers?
Write about your passion! If you don’t know what that is, blog to excavate that from your inner self. Many people can relate to that search, and feel inspired from reading about it. How-to’s about the process of your work are good to blog about, or any kind of tip pertaining to your area of expertise. Don’t be afraid of the personal touch; that’s what will bring in your readers. Blogging will bring you a lot of new wonderful friends all over the world!
What’s your musical inspiration of choice when you’re working in your studio?
I like Blues artists a lot, but to be honest, I don’t listen to music that often when I work on my art. I find that it distracts me.
What’s coming next from your easel?
My passions are too many count. One day I’m painting, the next, collaging. Then I move on to jewelry design and torch-fired enamel beads. I also make unique polymer clay mosaic tiles that I use in a variety of projects. My next finished art piece will be (I hope) a collage-mermaid-painting-mosaic tile adventure, an 18×24â wall art project. I’m about half way there!
http://greeneearthoriginals.blogspot.com/
Thank you Maria for the an EBSQ Blogger of the Week!
If you are an EBSQ Artist and would like to be considered for Blogger of the Week just add us to your blogroll. Iâm searching EBSQ profiles weekly for links to artistâs blogs. If you arenât an EBSQ Artist, what are you waiting for?
This weekâs Simon is EBSQ artist Donna Gill Colestock. The theme she has chosen for her turn as Simon is âI hate Mondays! (Except Monday holidays…)â. This is what Donna said about her theme: “I want to see moods, holidays, and dreams. If you can relate it to Mondays or a Monday holiday, it works for me. Go ahead and wow me with up to 5 entries. All media welcome.” The original end date was January 25th, but Donna has extended the deadline.
All Simon Sez challenges are open to everyone. To enter Simon Sez… I hate Mondays! (Except Monday holidays…) and to see the all the entries, simply go to the EBSQ Forum, find Member Groups, Challenges & General Art Discussions and then go to Challenge Central. All the challenges past and present â including Simon Sez, can be found there.
Like what you see here? We hope youâll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!
This weeks EBSQ blogger is an incredibly talented artist who spreads her creative inspirations across several mediums. Whether she’s working in digital media or collage and paint her art always provokes a sense of whimsy and recalls the power of color. I’m sure you’ll love her as much as we do!
Who and where are you?
My name is AimĂ©e Marie Wheaton and I am a stay-at-home working mom and mixed media artist. I live in the Adirondack region of Upstate NY. It’s like driving through a post card at times. I’ve been selling on Etsy for 3+ years and also on ArtFire. I found EBSQ around the same time I found Etsy. I won a permanent EBSQ account through a blog contest last year! I fit art in with my daily life. If I’m not creating I’m not happy. It’s part of me and who I am. I even get my 3 year old daughter involved. She LOVES making art. I’ve been doing mixed media art for about 3 years now and before that I did graphic design for 14 years.
How did you get started art blogging?
I got started blogging a few years ago after seeing some of my favorite artists promoting their work through their blogs. It was a better way to connect with art fans and buyers and also a great way to vent if need be. I’m so glad I did because I’ve connected with so many people that way. I love blogging and wish I had more time to devote to it.
Any tips for other EBSQ art bloggers?
Keep it interesting. I still have a hard time not just posting what I’ve been up to. It’s great to promote other artists, shops or even post recipes. Lots of photos always draw me in to blogs. One pet peeve of mine is music on a blog, I find it distracting and usually turn it off if I’m trying to read the blog.
What’s your musical inspiration of choice when you’re working in your studio?
Depends on my mood. Some of my greatest times of creating where I feel really into it is when I listen to A-ha, Coldplay, Imogen Heap, Elbow, Enter the Haggis or jazz and classical. I have such an eclectic mix on my iPod sometimes I just let it shuffle through. Music plays a HUGE role in my creativity, it gets me started. Sometimes a song spurs on a new piece or just a word in a song. I feel like I connect with my music and it connects me to my art as well.
What’s coming next from your easel?
A few different things, I’m still creating for the Bad Girls Project 52 Team so there will be a few more challenge pieces. I am also going to do a smaller series of mixed media paintings with my long legged birds in various colors and sizes. I’m also working on some darker vintage pieces at the moment. I’m trying to change things up so my stuff doesn’t get stale. I hope you like what you see!
http://creativeflutter.blogspot.com/
Thank you Aimee for the an EBSQ Blogger of the Week!
If you are an EBSQ Artist and would like to be considered for Blogger of the Week just add us to your blogroll. Iâm searching EBSQ profiles weekly for links to artistâs blogs. If you arenât an EBSQ Artist, what are you waiting for?
This weekâs Simon is EBSQ artist Amanda Makepeace. The theme she has chosen for her turn as Simon is âWarm Me Up!â Amanda said this of her choice: “I thought it would take me longer to come up with a theme, but with my hands so cold it’s difficult to type, there was only one theme to suit the week. Warm Me Up!!
This is open to all mediums, limit 3 entries. Lot’s of possibilities here…could be images of some place warm, or images of things to warm me up, or even abstracts of colors to thaw my frozen fingers! Be creative!
Here’s my contribution. Doesn’t that steaming hot water look inviting?
Oh, and the challenge ends this Sunday at midnight. I’ll pick the winner next Monday while sipping on my HOT coffee.”
All Simon Sez challenges are open to everyone. To enter Simon Sez⊠Treats! and to see the all the entries, simply go to the EBSQ Forum, find Member Groups, Challenges & General Art Discussions and then go to Challenge Central. All the challenges past and present â including Simon Sez, can be found there.
Like what you see here? We hope youâll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!
Art & News from EBSQ 