Total Art Soul - for artists

I had to feature Cindy's work for the simple reason that it just makes me happy every time I see it.  Looking at her portfolio it's reminiscent of an explosion in a paint factory!  There's color everywhere and her paintings are just joyous. 

Cindy is from California and is a Human Resources Manager. A little over a year ago Cindy rediscovered her love of art.  One of her major inspirations is an artist called Robin Maria Pedrero.  She loves the work so much that she has in fact started to collect it and now owns several of her works. 

Garden of Love by Robin Maria Pedrero

When she wants to be inspired to paint, she goes to what she refers to as my "Robin Maria Pedrero Wall" and receives energy and inspiration to begin her works. You will see her influence in her art.

Cindy would be glad to hear from you so feel free to send her a message here.

(Active members on the site get featured)

Article courtesy of gringrimaceandsqueak

I am writing this because I am up. I didn't want to be up, was in fact quite definite on the subject, but I was outvoted. I never considered myself to be a democracy, but apparently, if my 'self' and my brain are at odds, the body gets the deciding vote. The process went something like this...

me 'it's nice here in bed, warm, cosy...there's a duvet, and everything'

brain 'Ahem'

me 'I didn't hear that'

brain 'I have an idea :)'

me 'Am not in, come back later'

body 'What was that?'

me 'Nothing, now will you lot quieten down, some of us are trying to sleep here'

brain reaching for funfair 'on' switch 'Ta-Dah!'

body 'that's exciting :)'

me 'sigh. I'll put the kettle on, then, shall I?'


Whilst the other two were amusing themselves, I got to thinking about inspiration. Turns out the word means, literally, 'breathed upon'. Does this mean it's catching? Would certainly explain artists' colonies...

It used to be thought that inspiration came directly from the gods. In which case, the fact it only happens to me at two in the morning proves they do indeed have a sense of humour.  Stephen King said that artists and writers are the only truly accepted mediums of our time, summing up for me the distinct feeling when I'm working on something really good, that I'm merely translating something that is already there- the idea comes not from me, but through me.

But the whole thing is infinitely more complex than that, isn't it? How many times have you sat down to do something, having got out everything you needed, only to find yourself ending up with something completely different? You think you've got the idea fixed, only to watch it turn into something else in your hands. I often open my sketchbook with the intention of working on a particular creature only to discover that they are out, or that I can't see them for the other thing jumping up and down in front yelling 'me, me ,me!'

Or, better yet, you get a partial idea – a tantalising glimpse of something. Just enough to have you set off barking after it, but not nearly enough to do something with. That leaves you with the painstaking job of reconstructing the idea from the bits you have, a process more akin to archaeology than art.

Which is why, when I used to do fairs, every time someone would come up to watch me draw and announce 'You're so lucky being able to do that, it must be lovely', I would give them such a look.....:)

Karen,
the beardless one.

gringrimaceandsqueaks art work can be found here to purchase. Cards are only $2/€1.50 and they are stunning.

I came across this highly creative individual. She makes the most lovely jewelry out of old zippers! What amazes me is the quality of the pieces and the fact that they look like small pieces of art. Not at all what you'd expect from something made of an old zip! Londi believes all jewelry should tell a story, and reflect your style. She loves to mix the old with the new.
Whatever your stlye, Romantic, Visionary, Adventures, Contemporary, or just fun Art Jewelry, you will find it with Londi!

Londi Creations can be found here.

I've been admiring the delightful and fun illustrations of Susan for some time now. She has a huge amount of new ones on her website www.montyandrosie.blogspot.com/ all with a festive theme so I thought it was perfect to highlight them here on TAS to get in the Christmas mood.

Susan lives in Bristol, UK with her beloved dogs that give her much inspiration. Monty and Rosie, the border collies are often featured in her drawings.

She has published a book 'White Lies and Custard Creams' which is available here.

Here's the blurb on the book:-

All Liz Houston wants is to keep her head above the financial white waters of her life. Somehow, though, other people, including ex-husband Hugh, repeatedly get in the way.

Hugh just wants a quiet life and to be there for the people he cares about. Caring about Liz does not lead to a quiet life…

Moocher, Liz’s Border Collie, wants to be where all the crumbs are; he wants to keep all his paws, but most of all he wants to keep Liz company as she rides the rapids of her life.

Add in odd-shoe-wearing lodger Simon, Git-next-door, a lost brother, an illicit fortune stashed away decades ago, a trio of part-time thugs, kidnappings, a tree-climbing tortoise and a dog-flap with a story of its own, and it becomes apparent that a few white lies (and custard creams) between friends are the least of Liz’s problems.

Enjoy this little bit of fantasy and return to your childhood with Susan's adorable images!

Happy Christmas from all of us at TAS.