I have been invited to participate in a “blog hop” by artist Alicia Forestall-Boehm. Alicia is one of the many active members in the FUSEDChicago group and one of the first artists I met when I moved back to Chicago last summer. Participating in the blog hop allows me to introduce her art and her blog along with three other artist bloggers I admire. I also have an opportunity to answer 4 specific questions, allowing me to share more about my creative process and art.
Alicia Forestall- Boehm
Alicia’s encaustic and fiber sculptures are a simplified interpretation of urban living and spaces we inhabit, quite a contrast from my interpretation of cityscapes and skyscrapers, which is why I find her art sculptures so fascinating. Thank you for including me in the blog hop, Alicia!
www.afboehm.com
http://afboehmnews.blogspot.com
Blog hop questions:
1) What am I working on?
I am close to completing a Cityscape series of mixed media encaustic paintings, something I immediately started once I became settled into urban life last summer. Moving back to Chicago after spending 25 years on the East coast gave me a refreshed appreciation of the amazing combination of urban architecture alongside landscaping, perennials, and nature. I am also exploring encaustic Monotypes, layering color and texture, working on paper, reconnecting with my watercolor background and nature inspired techniques.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
My vision and inspiration comes from every day life. I am always looking at my surroundings, often photographing (with my phone) when I find a composition that is unique to Chicago. I have noticed most recently how beautiful the city is landscaped and my depiction of urban life involves combining elements of nature balanced between the skyscrapers, concrete, and amazing skyline.
My vision and inspiration comes from every day life. I am always looking at my surroundings, often photographing (with my phone) when I find a composition that is unique to Chicago. I have noticed most recently how beautiful the city is landscaped and my depiction of urban life involves combining elements of nature balanced between the skyscrapers, concrete, and amazing skyline.
3) Why do I write/work what I do?
Sharing my vision and understanding of land, the gifts of nature, and our world through various art mediums allows us to understand what words cannot always express and allows me to share my unique vision of finding the beauty in everything I see. My life feels more complete after each idea comes to fruition in a painting, and my hope is that others can feel the same beauty and peacefulness as I do upon viewing my work.
4) How does my working process work?
I always start with a composition and color. Color is my immediate connection to mood. Sometimes I let the paint dictate and I follow, other times I have a specific plan and I always seek to find a balance between the palette and depiction of place. Most important to me is that I trust my instincts and process, allowing for deviation from the original plan if need be, yin and yang.
I have chosen to feature 3 artists and bloggers I have known for many years, and have also included links to their blogs.
Barbara Parker and I met in 2007 when we both attended the Master of Education program in Arts and Learning, at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. We both were mid-life mothers going back to school to embrace the creative learning processes and as part of a small cohort, we were able to grow and learn in the safety of the graduate school setting. Barb is an amazing painter, writer, bookmaker, with a full time balancing act between her family and her farm, and her art.
Bio: Barbara graduated in 1979 with a BS in nursing from Syracuse University. Her lifelong passion for drawing, writing and photography led her to complete a MEd program in Arts and Learning from Endicott college. She and her husband live on a small farm north of Boston where they raised their four children alongside a potpourri of farm pets. Bookmaking and sketchbook journaling are a favorite pastime along with painting cows.
http://barbarazparker.com
Kathleen Krucoff was one of the first artists I became familiar with online via the Art Calendar website from almost ten years ago. As long as I have known her, Kathleen has been able to share her amazing art jewelry through social media. I feel like I have a deeper connection to her work because many of her jewelry pieces are landscape inspired, similar to my paintings.
Kathleen Krucoff
"I have always loved working with my hands, so the tactile experience of sawing, filing, sanding, and working with metal is as necessary as breathing is to me. I have never been one to color inside the lines, so my feelings are my work should not be limited by any boundaries. Being creative is an essential part of my life.
I consider my art jewelry unique forms of personal adornment. Mountains, trees, and landscapes speak to me as I start working with stones and metal. I must listen and then I create. I must see what is taking shape in my mind's eye, transferring that imagery to my work.
My life is shared with my best friend, soul mate and husband Dan, who is a photographer, along our three very colorful Basset Hounds. Our life is never dull.
I grew up in Northern Illinois and today I call Colorado my home. The rugged beauty and charm of the Rocky Mountains captured my heart over 20 years ago.
Throughout my life I have studied various art forms. Once I discovered metalwork, I knew I had found my passion. I am honored and humbled every time one of my pieces speaks to someone and they become a collector of my work."
http://kathleenkrucoff.com
Kathleen Krucoff
"I have always loved working with my hands, so the tactile experience of sawing, filing, sanding, and working with metal is as necessary as breathing is to me. I have never been one to color inside the lines, so my feelings are my work should not be limited by any boundaries. Being creative is an essential part of my life.
I consider my art jewelry unique forms of personal adornment. Mountains, trees, and landscapes speak to me as I start working with stones and metal. I must listen and then I create. I must see what is taking shape in my mind's eye, transferring that imagery to my work.
My life is shared with my best friend, soul mate and husband Dan, who is a photographer, along our three very colorful Basset Hounds. Our life is never dull.
I grew up in Northern Illinois and today I call Colorado my home. The rugged beauty and charm of the Rocky Mountains captured my heart over 20 years ago.
Throughout my life I have studied various art forms. Once I discovered metalwork, I knew I had found my passion. I am honored and humbled every time one of my pieces speaks to someone and they become a collector of my work."
http://kathleenkrucoff.com
Kathleen’s blog link - http://mysticalmythicalmetalwork.wordpress.com
Deborah Younglao is another artist I met via the Art Calendar website around the same time I became familiar with Kathleen’s work, and I have watched her silk paintings develop as 2 dimensional art, three dimensional quilts, and as wearable art. Her style of painting on silk feels very much like watercolor washes, something I admire and also can relate to on a more personal, creative level.
Deborah Younglao
"Painting on lustrous silk with brilliant, liquid dyes has been my passion for nearly 20 years. A piece of silk being painted becomes a living thing. While the dyes are wet they are constantly on the move… the creation in front of me is always changing. The dyes, the silk and I dance together. Sometimes I lead; more often than not the painting leads. My painted silk may become a 2-dimensional painting, a 3-dimensional quilt, or a fluid piece of wearable art to grace your shoulders."
http://www.deborahyounglao.com
Deborah blog link - http://www.deborahyounglao.com/blog
"Painting on lustrous silk with brilliant, liquid dyes has been my passion for nearly 20 years. A piece of silk being painted becomes a living thing. While the dyes are wet they are constantly on the move… the creation in front of me is always changing. The dyes, the silk and I dance together. Sometimes I lead; more often than not the painting leads. My painted silk may become a 2-dimensional painting, a 3-dimensional quilt, or a fluid piece of wearable art to grace your shoulders."
http://www.deborahyounglao.com
Deborah blog link - http://www.deborahyounglao.com/blog
Next weekend all three of these artists will be participating in the blog hop, and you can find out more about them and artists they admire by visiting their blogs.
