Paint Party Friday: Week 16, Year 2 Check In... And A Note To Our Guests

Dear wonderful PPFers,

We have received many messages from lots of you not knowing "if your paintings are good enough" or thinking that since you don't "sell your art", you shouldn't submit an interview to be a PPF Featured Artist...

Please know, and we feel this is worth repeating it is so important:

*ALL PAINT PARTY FRIDAY PAINTERS ARE WELCOME!!!*

If you paint, we want to hear your story.

We all learn from each other...

It doesn't matter if you use oils or fingerpaints; if you paint on canvas or cardboard; if you paint in a studio, at the kitchen table or on the floor; if you've been published or you only post paintings to your blog...

We all have something to share! It has been fascinating to hear Stephanie S's, Kathy's, Mary's, Marcia's, Patsy's, KAT's, Lisa's, Stephanie C's, Kristin V's, Sigga's, Kat's, Elisa's and Jenny's stories and to learn more about each Featured Artist. Such inspiration! Similarities, differences, uniqueness  and wonderful paintings. Thank each of you so much.

Now, we want to hear YOUR story!

What are you waiting for? 
Submit your interview  ;)

xoxo
EVA and Kristin

Now that we have that bit of business out of the way, let's get this party started!

Please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.

Have a great creative week! Lots of parties going on this week... Happy Canada Day and Happy Independence Day to all of those celebrating. Hope you see magnificent fireworks!

Paint Party Friday: Week 15, Year 2 Check-In Featured Artist: Jenny Lee Wentworth

image courtesy of Jenny Lee Wentworth

Welcome to Week 15 of Paint Party Friday (Year 2) and to the next edition of our Featured Artist Series! (Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Please click here for details!) This week's featured artist is courageously dreaming of an amazing painting adventure in Italy.**  Please welcome Jenny Lee Wentworth!

1) Please tell us a bit about your personal history with painting. (When did you start painting? How has your painting evolved since you first started?) A few years ago I was feeling like something was missing. I had been reading a book about a mom who sounded a lot like me. I started to follow the author's blog and one day read about a summer art retreat she attended. There were photos of women painting and making art together and my heart leapt! I knew I needed to paint.

My first attempts weren’t very good but it made me really happy and I wanted so much to paint that I kept going. I checked out art books and took some online classes and I’ve been painting nearly every day since. I have gotten better and better with daily practice.

image courtesy of Jenny Lee Wentworth

2) What are your favorite techniques, media, and tools to use in creating your paintings? I like to layer my work and take photos along the way of all the different stages. I mainly work in acrylics and pastels. I love using transfers, stamps, a palette knife, and my hands (it’s fun to get a little messy in the process).

image courtesy of Jenny Lee Wentworth

3) What is your favorite thing to paint? Why?   I’m always drawn to painting the female face. I love the range of emotion you can portray and women are so beautiful. I’m working on a piece for a friend right now who really wants me to include a moose in the painting. I have most of the background done and now I need to be brave and paint the moose.

4) What is your proudest painting moment and/or greatest painting achievement so far? This year one of my paintings was included with an article by Misty Mawn in the current issue of Somerset Studio Gallery! I will have my own article coming out next month in the July/August edition of Somerset Studio featuring a couple of my paintings! I’m so excited about it! That has been my proudest painting moment so far.

image courtesy of Jenny Lee Wentworth

5) What's next in your painting future?  ** I’ve been dreaming about taking a painting class in person with Misty Mawn. She is teaching in Italy this fall and I really want to be there. I know it would mean major growth for my work. I have been saving up to go and with the help of friends and family I have reached 40% of what I need to make my dream a reality!

Thanks so much Jenny, we're so excited about your inspiring dream and hope that you reach your goal!  To learn more about Jenny, her art, and her dream,  please visit her at:

www.jennyleewentworth.blogspot.com
www.etsy.com/shop/JennyLeeWentworth

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN...
WE WANT YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR STORY!

**Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Click here for details!**

What awesome paintings last week! So great to see everyone painting even though warm (hot) weather has finally arrived (for those of in the North - Hope you Aussies's are keeping warm indoors!) Now, here is our check-in for this week's party:

Please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.

Hope you have a fun, painting filled week as Summer (or Winter) starts.

Paint Party Friday Week 14, Year 2 Check In Featured Artist: Elisa Choi

image courtesy of Elisa Choi

Welcome to Week 14 of Paint Party Friday (Year 2) and to the next edition of our Featured Artist Series! (Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Please click here for details!) This week we are thrilled to feature an inspiring artist all the way from the Phillipines. Please welcome Elisa Choi from Harmony Thoughts!

1. Please tell us a bit about your personal history with painting. (When did you start painting? How has your painting evolved since you first started?) I started painting last year (2011). I am an artist all my life ever since I was a kiddo as I love to draw and make stories but I wasn't able to be one as I grow up. It's a very typical story for most Artists isn't it? My calling is to be an Artist. It is my God-given dream. That moment when God revealed to me my dream or shall I say reminded me of my dream I went out like a panick buyer buying paints and brushes. I experimented with watercolor. I keep painting and trying to be brave. I find time to paint as much as I can. Sometimes I waste my time away or simply feel too tired. But since painting is important to me I make time. I self-study and paint everyday this May 2012 and hopefully beyond. Painting everyday has increased my self-confidence plus it's very therapeutic too. I am still finding my voice. It's never too late for everyone to reach for their dreams. :)

image courtesy of Elisa Choi

2. What are your favorite techniques, media, and tools to use in creating your paintings? I use watercolor in all of my paintings. I love it! I have acrylics and oil paints but haven't tried using them but I will! Also I use oil pastels, watercolor pencils, prints from used materials for textures, gesso, color pens and magazine for collage. For digital painting I use PhotoShop.

image courtesy of Elisa Choi

3. What is your favorite thing to paint? Why? I love to paint trees and nature scenes (nature lover!), abstract-like painting which are a result from my intuitive painting (it's liberating!) and painting my on-location sketches (I enjoy sketching on-location). I usually incorporate inspirational wisdom (encouraging words about life and God) on my paintings.

4. What is your proudest painting moment and/or greatest painting achievement so far? My proudest painting moment was when my digital painting was accepted as an official entry for the Green Canvas Digital Illustration Contest. The theme is preserving forest. The winner hasn't been announced yet but win or not I am so thankful to God to be part of this endeavor and to be able to share my work to others. I won't be sharing my work yet as of the moment. Each of my painting has been a work in progress and I must say that I am proud of my work. I embrace each of the beautiful and ugly pieces. :)

5. What's next in your painting future? To keep painting and learning and then making a living out of it. :)

***

Thank you Elisa! To learn even more about Elisa and see more of her art, please visit her at:

Website: http://harmonythoughts.com/
Facebook Page: Harmony Thoughts
Twitter: @harmonythoughts

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN...
WE WANT YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR STORY!

**Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Click here for details!**

Another Fun and visually stunning party last week with so many wonderful paintings!

Now, here is our check-in for this week's party:

Please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.


Have a fun, painting-filled weekend!

Paint Party Friday: Week 13, Year 2 Check In Featured Artist: Kat Sloma

image courtesy of  Kat Sloma

Welcome to Week 13 of Paint Party Friday (Year 2) and to the next edition of our Featured Artist Series! (Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Please click here for details!) This week we are thrilled to feature a talented artist who inspired many of us to "liberate our art"** last year. Please welcome Kat Sloma of The Kat Eye Studio!

1. Please tell us a bit about your personal history with painting. (When did you start painting? How has your painting evolved since you first started?) Up until high school, I always took art classes. Watercolor painting was my love at the time. Sadly, as I neared the end of high school, all of the college prep classes filled my schedule and slowly art was dropped. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago, more than 20 years after high school, when I moved to Italy for a temporary work assignment that I felt called to paint again. But this time, I wanted bright vivid colors, something I had never learned to do in watercolors. I decided to go with acrylics and just started playing.

My first few paintings were from photographs, but this quickly lost its appeal for me. Since photography is my primary art, I felt like I could already create imagery that represented real life. I discovered I was craving to paint colorful, abstract art. I wanted to paint color and emotion, rather than represent reality, but I didn’t know how to get there. I was lucky enough to take Flora Bowley’s Bloom True course at the Do What You Love Retreat in England last year. That course helped me push through my preconceived approaches to painting toward abstraction. I’m still figuring out how to paint what I feel.

2. What are your favorite techniques, media and tools to use in creating your paintings? Right now, my favorite tools are my hands and fingers! I love the feel of paint on my fingers, smearing it around the canvas. I also use my spray bottle a lot. I love what water does to the paint – blending and dripping. It’s so unpredictable! I also like working with layers, building up multiple layers and seeing what emerges.

3. What is your favorite thing to paint? Why? My favorite thing to paint is really color. Bright, bold color! Where else can I choose a color and create based on my mood? I love color in my photography, but I am limited to what is already there. With painting I can pick colors that appeal to me. It’s interesting to see how I’m drawn to some colors over and over again.

image courtesy of Kat Sloma

4. What is your proudest painting moment and/or greatest painting achievement so far? My proudest painting moment was last summer, when I finished my first abstract painting completely on my own. Instead of following a photograph or an instructor, I felt my own way through the process. I started by choosing my colors and letting the painting evolve as I built up the layers. I could never have predicted how it turned out. I was pleased to see that I could paint this way and end up with a finished piece of art! Painting is so different from photography, where I compose an image from what is already there.

5. What’s next in your painting future? Hopefully, painting regularly again is in my future! After last summer’s success I haven’t been back to painting in a long time. My creative inspiration ebbs and flows in many directions… painting, photography, writing and music. The pull to paint is coming back, though. There is something about painting… I just know it’s not done with me yet! I always have my easel set up and paints available for when inspiration strikes. I have this feeling that someday my painting and my photography will come together into one art form somehow. I’m going to continue to let things evolve and see what happens!

Thank you, Kat! One final question... Last year many of our PPFers participated in your Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap. We are very excited to see that it is back for a second year, would you mind telling us a little bit more about the motivation behind it and how we can sign up? Yay! I'm so excited to tell you about the swap. The idea formed when I was living in Italy, from so many influences... I truly treasured each piece of mail I received while I lived in Italy, each one was a physical connection to people far away. I also started to print my images on postcards, and send those to my friends with a little note. The postcards were inexpensive to send and my friends always loved to get these little surprises in the mail. It's amazing how excited people would get to receive a simple picture with a note on the back! Knowing it was my artwork made it even more special to them. I made many new connections during my time in Italy too, with other artists online. I wanted a way to increase those connections, and bring them into the real world. Seeing the way my postcards were received and wanting to increase connections between artists, I got this idea about the swap. I thought it would be a great way to encourage others to reproduce their work and share it as a simple postcard, to brighten the day of those who received them, and to make connections between artists of disparate mediums in disparate places. It worked better than I ever thought it would! It was such an amazing experience to have so many artists from around the world sharing their art with others. I received so many comments from people who said this was the first time they had printed their work, or shared it with others. It pushed them out of their comfort zone in a good way. That was an unexpected and wonderful benefit to the swap!

I truly believe that good things happen when you Liberate Your Art into the world. I've seen it, first hand! This swap is a great way to encourage artists to share their art and connect with others in new ways. You can learn more and sign up for all of the swap details at this page on my website: http://kateyestudio.com/liberate-your-art-postcard-swap. I hope to see many of the Paint Party Friday participants joining in again this year!

That sounds great, Kat! If you would like to see more of Kat's art, please visit her at: 

http://kateyestudio.com/

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN...
WE WANT YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR STORY!

**Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Click here for details!**

Another creative and hopping party last week with so many wonderful paintings!

Now, here is our check-in for this week's party:

Please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.

Have a fun and creative week!

Paint Party Friday: Week12, Year 2 Check In Featured Artist: Sigga Dis

image courtesy of Sigga Dis

Welcome to Week 12 of Paint Party Friday (Year 2) and to the next edition of our Featured Artist Series! (Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Please click here for details!) This week we are thrilled to feature a very versatile and enthusiastic artist all the way from Iceland. Please welcome Sigga Dis!

1) Please tell us a bit about your personal history with painting. (When did you start painting? How has your painting evolved since you first started?)

My name is Sigga Dís, I´m 53 years old, a Mixed Media artist and an art teacher, teaching children ages 6-16. I was 42 when I went to University to learn to become a teacher, an art teacher. I have always been doing some kind of art. Art class was my favorite class in school and I did go to art class after school too. I have been working with oils, acrylics, watercolors, glass, clay, making paper and just all kinds of material. If I´m not painting, I´m knitting or doing some needlework. I think my painting has been evolving all the time but today I feel like I can work with almost all materials without fearing that I can´t and that feels good.

2) What are your favorite techniques, media, and tools to use in creating your paintings?

I have been taking a few classes with Tam at Willowing.ning.com. The best class ever I think is the Live Book where Tam is teaching with I think 15 other teachers for one year. Each teacher teaches a different style and different technique. One of the teachers is Mystele. Something happened to me after her class where she was teaching us to paint ladies with a big nose and eyes all over the place. I just fell in love with her technique and since her class I have been painting and painting, having so much fun and liking my work very much. I'm using acrylics, watercolor, all kind of pens, stamps, paper, watercolor paper and just everything I have around me.

image courtesy of Sigga Dis

3) What is your favorite thing to paint? Why?

Painting angels has for a long time been my favorite. I have painted angels many ways, big and clumsy, small and beautiful and everything there in between. But I have also been painting all kind of things. Now after Tam's Fabulous Faces I learned how to draw faces and then I began to draw girls, ladies, beautiful angels and little girls. As I said before I´m painting clumsy but beautiful ladies now, but of course I continue taking Live Book classes as soon as they come every other week.

image courtesy of Sigga Dis

4) What is your proudest painting moment and/or greatest painting achievement so far?

I think that must have been when I had my first solo exhibition and sold a very expensive one. And now few weeks ago I was asked to have an exhibition, that was a good feeling. So now I´m going to have my 5th solo exhibition in 3 years and one more to come in September.

image courtesy of Sigga Dis

5) What's next in your painting future?

A few days ago I bought Kelly Rae´s e-book, Flying Lessons. It was on 50% discount for one day. I´m reading it and I´m going to learn from it now as I´m working on my own shop, having a blog and a FaceBook like page. Please come for a visit. It would make me very happy. I want to make something out of my art. And from now on I´m going to say like one of my FB friends said, I´m an artist and that feels good.

***

Thanks so much, Sigga! If you would like to see more of her artwork, please visit her at:

Blog: www.Siggadisart.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Siggadisart
Shops: www.Society6.com/siggadisart
www.Cafepress.com/siggadisart
www.Etsy.com/shop/siggadisart


NOW IT'S YOUR TURN...
WE WANT YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR STORY!

**Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Click here for details!**

Another busy party last week with so many lovely paintings! Can you believe it is June already? (How the heck did that happen?) Now, here is our check-in for this week's party:

Please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.

Have a great time at the party!