Paint Party Friday: Week 41, Year 2 Check In Featured Artist: EVA from "to be determined"

image courtesy of EVA of "to be determined"

Hi Everyone, it's EVA here... First, I'd like to welcome you all to the 41st week (Year 2) of Paint Party Friday and thank you all again for making this such a fun party. Second, I'd like to repeat: Please, please, please send in your PPF Artist Interview!!! We warned you that if you didn't send in your interviews, you'd be subjected to Kristin and I blathering on about ourselves...Kristin did so eloquently a while ago and I guess it is now my turn… So, while we wait for your stories (please send in your stories), you're stuck with me! Third – after this interview, we have an idea we would like to get your feedback on.

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 am fairly new to painting and to art. I remember enjoying it as a child though I never pursued it beyond that. My sister was “the artist” in the family and I was happy for her to be such and kept busy with a myriad of other interests. A few years ago (late 2009) I was questioning my creativity – wondering if indeed I was creative since I rarely did anything more than admire art. I came across Leah’s Creative Every Day website and decided to create something in some blank books I had - every day in 2010. And I did. 365 one-page creations. I tried pens, coloured pencils, pastels and paints. I really enjoyed the painting.

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

I am really still learning and experimenting. Captivated by art stores, I have bought and tried a few different media. So far I like acrylics best, though watercolours are very easy to take with you when travelling – maybe I’ll eventually get the hang of them…

image courtesy of EVA of "to be determined"

What is your favorite thing to paint? Why?

I don’t have any favourite things yet. I keep experimenting with whatever idea the muse or prompts bring my way. I’d like to try more abstracts but so far only one attempt has made me happy. I always think they look easy when I see them on walls but I now realize that there is a lot of skill and talent that goes into making a beautiful abstract. I always admire the gorgeous ones I see my fellow PPFers create.

image courtesy of EVA of "to be determined"

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

About two-thirds of the way through my year of “living creatively” in 2010, close friends were over for dinner. They had just renovated their main floor bathroom and were gently bickering over artwork and how to decorate it. All of a sudden I heard myself say “I’ll paint you a picture for it…”!! (??) To this point all the “painting” I had done was in a small book, never on a canvas. But I started. And finished. They loved it and spent over $300 to frame it! I was very happy and proud of that.  

image courtesy of EVA of "to be determined"



I am also thrilled with my nutcracker paintings that I created last January. They are now hanging in my seriously-over-decorated-for-Christmas living room.

image courtesy of EVA of "to be determined"

(btw - note Kristin's lovely Nutcracker on the mantel)

I am also (most of all) super proud of PPF and all of you and your participation in the party here. I am always (and Kristin is too) thrilled when I read your comments about how PPF helps you keep up with your painting activities and goals. It is exactly what we hoped for when we created it.

  

What's next in your painting future?

I would like to paint bigger! Maybe a 3-4 ft  canvas, or larger size? I don’t really have a good spot to do this though so it might wait until summer returns to the north… and I can paint outdoors.

To learn even more about EVA, she can be found at:

http://ejl-tbd.blogspot.ca/

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This past week, despite all the excitement and busy-ness of the holiday season, has also been a time of great shock and sorrow over the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Our heartfelt wishes go out to the families involved. Many of you have been commenting about this on your blogs, some of you have been creating art in memoriam and others have been wondering how to contibute. It was suggested to us that we might want to hold an art auction with the proceeds going to the school's support fund. We wonder if you would like to participate in this idea? Other ways to help have been suggested by Liv Lane in this post. If you like the art auction idea, then we will hold the event in January. Please email us or let us know in the comments. Thanks! 

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**Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? (Of course you do!)
Click here for more details!**

As always, 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.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday celebrations!
xoxo
EVA and Kristin