"Friday Features"

It's Friday so that means "Features Time!" I am very excited to bring you another talented member of our Etsy community. This week it is a wonderful Artist from Florida. Stacey from http://www.artsnark.etsy.com/

Not only did Stacey answer questions for us this week but she also kindly offered a Giveaway as well. Here is the Giveaway first! "Waiting for Spring?" This one of a kind piece is a mix of painting & drawing on scrapbook paper. It measures approx 5.5" x 7.5". There is an extra 1/2 border on top (not shown) to make matting easier. You can use a standard 5"x 7" mat. It was inspired by an Emerson quote: "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." and the idea of Waiting.

Just leave a comment on this posting by Friday 30th October and you will be entered to win this amazing piece of original artwork.

And now the fun interview with Stacey from http://www.artsnark.etsy.com/

Tell us a little about how you got to where you are creatively.


I have always enjoyed working with my hands. My mom had a craft/sewing room where I spent a lot of time. I didn’t study art until high school. My friend told me it would be “an easy A”. Boy was she wrong! But it peaked my interest. I tried Art School for a year but it didn’t take.Over the next 10+ years I didn’t do much art. I did get a job in antiques restoration which kept my hands happy for a while. Around 2001 I started drawing again & began painting (I’d always been afraid of color). Joined some local arts groups, had some shows & sales, won a few local awards. In 2003 I stopped again when my son was born. I used to work very big & very slowly – not easy with a new baby. In 2008 discovering ACEOs on ebay was a big turning point for me. That led me to Etsy. Seeking to feed my new ACEO addiction, I started making them to swap. I found the online art group, Variazione (ZNE). There I met the most supportive group of talented artists who gave me the confidence to start creating again.If you are curious, I’ve posted about ZNE here: http://artsnark.blogspot.com/2008/11/toot-toot-toot.html


Tell us a little about your creative process.


There’s about a dozen unfinished projects going on at any time. Plus several more outlined in my head, clambering to get out. All day while I’m at work & running errands, a part of me is thinking about designs. As soon as I can, I rush to my studio & jump into an unfinished piece or start something new. Other times, I’ll be cleaning my room & pick something up (say a scrap of printed paper or a broken pocket watch) & am overwhelmed by the desire to turn it into something else. I let random chance dictate things & see what happens.The last few months I have been really into online art challenges, like IllustrationFriday.com or Mix it Up with Melange.


What do you love about creating?


I love working with my hands. Everything else falls away & I’m able to focus.


What is your favourite item in your Etsy store right now?


Probably my watercolor, A Sinister Gentleman. He was so much fun to make & practically drew himself. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14342282


Why Etsy?


I started on Etsy as a buyer. I liked the feel; It is very window-shopper friendly. I also like the idea of buying directly from the artist. I had a lot of my artwork lying around so I figured I might as well open shop.


What do you love about Etsy?


#1 People I’ve met there. There are so many creative, wonderful artisans discussing all sorts of fascinating topics. The forums & teams are a great resource and many people are just so darn nice.
#2 I love browsing on etsy. There is literally something for everyone.
#3 It is so easy to set up and maintain a shop that even a neo-luddite like myself can do it.
#4 The fee structure is simple & fair.
#5 Each day I tune in, I learn something new.


What do you do in your spare time?


I’ve been struggling with time management this year. Most spare time is spent playing with my son. I also love baking bread, reading, blogging, and of course making stuff.


Tell us 4 things about yourself that would let us peek into your world or that you think define you.


1). I love to travel.
2). I am an art-addict. If I had the $ I’d be buying art constantly. Since I can’t do that I’ve been having fun posting artist interviews & behind the scenes studio tours on my blog.
3). Don’t drive. Never have. I love to walk.
4).I try to learn something new everyday.


If you could, what would be your dream life?


In my dream life, I’d have the freedom to spend all day in my studio until school lets out. Then hang out with family & friends. My house would always be clean & I’d have a sales/marketing/PR crew to deal with getting my art into the world. I’d also be able to go globetrotting on a whim.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19462767 "Icarus who?" mixed media collage ooak.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32636069 "Red’s walk" mixed media collage ooak.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32196758 "worn out" original drawing ooak.

Here are the fun places you can find Stacey ;

On Etsy- http://www.ArtSnark.etsy.com/

Blog - http://ArtSnark.blogspot.com/

Other Shop on Etsy - http://www.SteamDreams.etsy.com/

Hope you enjoyed meeting Stacey! I certainly did. Go check out her Shops on Etsy or leave a comment on her blog!

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

What Kind of Artist am I?

I received an email yesterday announcing a local Artist demonstrating her painting technique at a local farmer's market/art fair. My immediate reaction was, I couldn't do that and it got me thinking about some of the things that are challenging for me being an Artist.

Performing in front of an audience freaks me out; I am OK doing well rehearsed examples while teaching a class but my whole creative process is very private, a mostly quiet and a very solitary affair. I do not want to be pushed to be a performing seal because people want to see a "work in progress." Part of my creativity comes from the calm of being away from the Maddening Crowd, also, my work requires me to make huge messes before I get to the final result, it is hard to be judged by people who see the mess but not the final finished art piece, my process does not really work well in a demonstrating technique environment. But I am glad others can, so more power to them.

The other part of being an Artist I do not particularly like is marketing although it is an essential part of the whole "get out there and sell" process. If you want to sell you have to market. I was talking to a girlfriend the other day complaining that I had only sold a few pieces of art this year and had not been able to participate in any shows (due to ill health as opposed to just being a slacker or not being accepted to any :). She said, don't worry about that as long as you are having fun creating. That simple! That is one of the reasons our friends are so precious to us, they boost us up regardless just at the right time. So, I am taking heart in that statement and enjoying the creative process.

There is a nagging doubt that being an Artist is a glorified hobby and after 10 years of not making any money or even covering costs I am wondering if it is time to get a real job. I guess most artists do, don't they?

So, what kind of artist am I? A pretty typical one, I think, broke, frustrated my work isn’t seen more and would love someone to discover me!! (He! He!)

But I truly love being creative, being an Artist and a Seamstress gives me many avenues to explore and so I continue.


Happy Painting and Creating! :)