As much as I love to blog and frequent my own blog to see how my latest color-sketch dimensions are really playing out on a piece….I’ve become quite sick of me!!
To infuse this blog with some entertainment and creativity I’ve asked some artists from varying backgrounds to be interviewed throughout the month. I’m very excited about their work and their agreeing to be put on the spot here.
Today I’d like you to meet artist (creative instigator)…..Hanna Andersson from Sweden. I found Hanna’s blog (ihanna) thru Tammy at Daisy Yellow a few years ago. Hanna is the Queen of Productivity. I don’t think there is a Craft or an Art that she has not tried. She’s always pushing her technical capabilities as well. She’s done video tutorials, digital newsletters, on-line classes and she’s a published writer. She’s a whirlwind of inspiration.
1. What words best describes your art/style?
Messy and colorful
2. What advice/quote do you respond best to?
I love quotes and often use them in the beginning of my blog posts to set the tone. My newest favorite is about feminism and by Caitlin Moran, posted here [http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/2012/10/feminism-and-pussy-girl-power/]. But when it comes to art (doodling, blogging and many other things in life) I'd like to quote Jude Hill of Spirit Cloth blog [http://spiritcloth.typepad.com]:
"When you do something all the time, even if you move too slowly for others to notice, the constant motion produces surprising volume and achievement."
3. How has your work evolved?
My work is being birthed as we speak, and it will look different tomorrow from how it looks today. It evolves with me and for this I feel grateful, though I sometimes wish I had "a set style". It seems life would be easier with just one recognizable style, but right now I go with the flow and create on a whim. All that is the same is the joy from day to day.
4. What interests do you have other than "art"?
I take a horrendous amount of photos, make photo books and dabble in textile art, embroidery, knitting, yoga, writing, quilting and book binding. I am a avid reader of books, love to go thrift shopping and visit inspirational art exhibitions.
5. What is your favorite blog post or piece of art that you'd like to share?
I recently published How to Make and Price a handbound Journal [http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/2012/10/making-pricing-handbound-journal/] and would love to get feedback on how others price their handmade things. But I couldn't pick just one favorite, so if people want to click around a bit visit the iHanna Blog Archive [http://www.ihanna.nu/archive/]. I read all comments and appreciate it a lot when older blog posts gets some TLC!
Just looking at Hanna's art and reading her words gives me inspiration! She has a real gift for color combinations. I always appreciate her honesty and sharing her personal journals with us. That can be scary…not that hers are… but mine are! Haha!! If you have some time, I urge you to click over to her blog. If all you do is look at her pictures, you will be motivated in no time!
Thank you Hanna for sharing your work and your art with us today. Please check out the links below which will lead you to more of Hanna’s work.
website: http://www.ihanna.nu
etsy: http://ihanna.etsy.com
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ihanna
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ihanna/
pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ihanna/
instagram: ihannas [http://www.gramfeed.com/ihannas]
As much as I love to blog and frequent my own blog to see how my latest color-sketch dimensions are really playing out on a piece….I’ve become quite sick of me!!
To infuse this blog with some entertainment and creativity I’ve asked 5 artists from varying backgrounds to be interviewed throughout this month. I’m very excited about their work and their agreeing to be put on the spot here.
Today I’d like you to meet another Flickr friend, Sheila (who lives in the UK). I spotted her work in a doodling group on Flickr. Sheila not only can doodle with world class flair, she incorporates actual figures into her doodles. I would spot animals, fish, people in many of her doodles. It was a bit like a seek-n-find! Absolutely aMaZiNg!!
1. What word best describes your art/style?
These days I think of myself as a mixed media artist but at heart I am a doodling illustrator, dabbling in everything from stitching to paper sculpture.
2. What advice/quote do you respond best to?
There are two quotes which constantly pop into my head, one is by Henry Ford who said “if you think you can, or think you can’t, you are probably right!” and as I am Queen of the Procrastinators the one I have to say to myself every day is “if not now, when?” especially as I realize the years remaining are not limitless and I want to try everything.
3. How has your work evolved?
I began work in the 1940’s as a commercial artist now more grandly called “graphic designer” and it has been my joy and frustration to live through so many changes – “From ‘Letraset’ to Photoshop” could be the title of my memoirs! I have designed packaging, games for Chad Valley Toys, picnic ware and toffee tins to name just a few and then I retired and discovered a whole new world of fabric, collage, beading, felting and the freedom to explore them all via the internet.
Doodling has become an obsession, from simple shapes to imaginary landscapes and to designing my own doodled font, which has probably been the most fun of all.
4. What interests do you have other than "art"?
Over the years I have been involved with volunteering locally and am a Trustee of several local Charities, one of which is Active Arts Castle Vale a group dedicated to raising aspirations through involvement in art. This year to coincide with the London Olympics, there was a local Cultural Games week and as part of the art exhibition I enrolled local women to crochet or knit a Rainbow Reef. The response was overwhelming, we ended up with nearly a thousand pieces and no two were identical.
I am a voracious reader and collector of art/craft books and never come home from an exhibition without bags stuffed full of new gadgets because it’s not as if my house is not already overflowing with stuff I am going to use next week to try a new ‘direction’!
5. What is your favorite blog post or piece of art that you'd like to share?
Probably my favorite piece is the animated video that my daughter in the Netherlands made using my doodled alphabet. It was her first attempt at animation and I think she made a great fun video. It is on my blog, posted on Sunday 5 Feb 2012
Isn’t Sheila just fun? Wouldn’t you want to see how she decorates?
To do this kind of work…..with needle, thread and beads on fabric….stitching & stitching & stitching…. takes an extraordinary amount of patience. What beautiful creations she has made with fabric!
Thank you Sheila for taking the time to answer my questions and to share all your Beautiful…Creative…Versatile Artwork.
Please check out the links below which will lead you to more of Sheila’s work.
Blog: http://2smart-clothencounters.blogspot.co.uk
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bostinstuff/
As much as I love to blog and frequent my own blog to see how my latest color-sketch dimensions are really playing out on a piece….I’ve become quite sick of me!! Haha. I use this blog as a learning tool, and since I’m in colored-pencil-sketch-mode I’m sure the variety and inspiration that others stop by for has been a little waning. I stop by to learn, you stop by for inspiration.
To infuse this blog with some entertainment and creativity I’ve asked 5 artists from varying backgrounds to be interviewed throughout this month. I’m very excited about their work and their agreeing to be put on the spot here.
I’d like you to meet a very talented artist….Julie Leuthold, my flickr friend. I was drawn to her work immediately. She has a wonderful way with color and has many varied pieces of art. From watercolor flowers, to yoga girls & blue jean girl series and her latest mixed media paintings. I’m so glad she’s shared a few of her amazing pieces with us today.
I asked Julie a few questions which she agreed to answer for this post.
1. What word best describes your art/style?
The word that nearly everyone says when they first see my artwork is....."It makes me HAPPY". I refer to my artwork as "Hidden Joy". I hide the word "joy" in each piece. People love looking for it.
2. What advice/quote do you respond best to?
The one word I try to live by...."Be Kind".
3. How has your work evolved?
I started painting in watercolor about eight years ago. I am self taught. My father was an artist, I think I inherited his talent. Recently, I moved into acrylic and multi-media. My new creations are quite unique. I use a variety of patterned doodles with pen and paint, stones, crystals, gesso and as many ways to get different textures. People often say it reminds them of Gustaf Klimt, which of course is an awesome compliment.
4. What interests do you have other than "art"?
I love to walk outside in beautiful Bellingham, WA. Whether it be on the trails through the parks or along the waterfront. I just love to walk and talk with my husband or friends.
5. Where can we find your work?
Julie has begun selling her work. If you’d like to find out more about a piece or to see if something is for sale please go to her flickr page.
Shared art at www.flickr.com/julieleuthold
If Julie’s art doesn’t give you inspiration then I don’t know what will. Check out her flickr photostream to see what I mean.
Thank you Julie for taking the time to answer my questions and to share your Beautiful Artwork
