Artist Interview with Linda Barutha

Today I’d like to share an interview with artist and fellow Wisconsinite, Linda Barutha of Linda Barutha Designs.  We met through Flying Lessons, an e-course sponsored by artist Kelly Rae Roberts.   Linda is a gal-of-all-trades, dipping herself into paint, papercraft, crochet as well as teaching others.   

Do you remember when you first really started to enjoy creating things?

Growing up money was tight for our family, so my mom always had us crafting something as gifts for the holidays.  At the time I had no idea it was a money issue.  I just thoroughly enjoyed crafting. 

Who are some artists that have inspired you or are still inspiring you along your creative journey?

My brother is an amazing artist, but he really doesn’t practice his talent.  And, my uncle was a professional artist all of his life, so maybe there is some genetics involvedJ  I have followed Donna Downey since her beginning scrapbooking days and love her constant growth and passion.  Melody Ross is also another artist that inspires me because she has made me feel okay with inter-mixing my passion of inspiring anyone to make art and just love being themselves.  Which also takes me to Christy Tomlinson.  Another great mixed-media artist that shares my passion for teaching. 

Do you have a muse or an inspiration that helps you with your creations and design?

Over the years I’ve become quite particular about what inspires me.  Typically, it’s a feel or style that I’m trying to achieve. 

If you weren’t an artist, what do you think you’d do for a living?
Although I’m not currently relying on my art for my financial obligations, I can’t imagine not having a form of creativity in my life.  I seem to crave it. 

What is your favorite quote, motto or affirmation?

 “There are no mistakes in art”. 

(Photo credit:  Linda Barutha)

Do you have a community of other artists or friends/family members who you consider to be supportive of your creative endeavors?

Thanks to Kelly Rae Roberts, I now have the honor of being a part of the elite artists that I took her Flying Lessons course with.  The support I receive from them truly has been a highlight of my daily life.  It really does help to keep my business focus in the forefront of my mind. 

Do you have any favorite blogs you enjoy reading and would you share them with us?

I’ve been blogging for quite a few years, and I follow well over 250 blogs right now.  My favorites change all the time.  My top three right now are Christy Tomlinson, Donna Downey and Kris Lanae Binsfeld. 

Do you have any future dreams or goals that you are working on or dreaming about?

Currently, I’m working on creating enough art and then hiring a licensing agent to help me line up contracts.  I’m also in the beginning stages of writing my second book and launching an online art course. 

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who truly want to live a creative life?

Simply do what you love.  Don’t fall victim to thinking you “can’t”.  You can do anything you set your mind to. 

Thank you so much for sharing yourself with us, Linda! 

I hope you all enjoyed learning a bit more about Linda as well.  Personally she's an inspiration to me and I'm excited for her to achieve her upcoming goals such as writing a second book.

Etsy Love - Gallery Zo

Here's another beatiful creation from an etsy artist whom I've admired for a while.  Her shop is called Gallery Zo and one of my favorite items by far is Show Your Colors.  First of all, it caught my eye immediately with its colors and design--what a huge impact that painting can make on a wall!  I love her style of using different layers of patterns and colors to bring her creations to life. 
 

 

Thanks, Zorana for such beautiful inspiration! 

Thanks to any visitors who are stopping by today to see a little more of my "etsy love"!

See ya Bright Eyes

Me and my paintings were in a craft show this past Saturday at an area church (I know--bad grammar).  Long story, short:  craft fairs aren't my thing.  I need to stick with art shows.  But I did sell one of my newest paintings called "Bright Eyes" and I was actually sad to see her go.  She went to a good home--a girl my daughter knows who already owns another of my giraffe paintings--so I'm glad this seventh-grader Hailey was thrilled to get her. 



However, I just finished her (Bright Eyes) about a week before and didn't have her sitting around very long before she was sold.   I really was proud of her and giraffes are my favorite animal, so it just felt weird to get rid of her so quickly! 

Do you know what I mean?  I know she's just a painting, but it was hard, believe it or not.  Have you ever created a piece of art that was ultimately for sale, but it was hard to let it go? 

I guess maybe this is telling me I need to create more giraffes?  Hmmmm....

Thanks for visiting today and I hope you're having a good week.  We're having amazing fall weather in Wisconsin all week--the 70s--so I'm looking forward to enjoying these days before the cold finally sets in for good.

Bedroom Remodel ~ Are We There Yet?

As I mentioned recently, we've decided to remodel our daugher Isabella's bedroom since she hasn't had a change since she turned three and got into the big-girl bed.  She's now ten (and a half!) and she's showing an interest in Paris and pink with touches of black.  I figure the black will make it last into her teen years and won't seem too young then.  Here are some before and after pictures.  Beware:  the before pictures show quite a messy room as she had started letting it go before we took everything out.  I'm almost embarrassed to let you see them.  There are some with old decor and some with just a stripped down room.  As you can see over her bed she already had the Paris itch a while ago and painted that sweet canvas with the Eiffel Tower and charming blue trees.



Here are two I took right after we tore off the oak stained woodwork prior to putting up new white woodwork.  The carpet was already ripped out and the blue stuff you see on the floor is the underlayment for the wood laminate soon to go up. 

Here she is helping Daddy caulk the crown moulding before it gets painted. She can be a great helper. Sometimes.

Finally, the wood laminate floor is going in and she helped with almost the whole thing. 

The floor is finally finished! We're making progress...

Stay tuned for the finished product in a few days.  I'm excited to show you how it's all turned out.  I also can't wait to get her out of our bed--she's a kicker and an elbower (even gave me a bloody nose once in the middle of the night--seriously).

Thanks for visiting and bearing with the long post today.

Etsy Love - Christina's Magic!

Hey!  How are things going for you today?  Pretty good over here, especially when I'm doing art-related stuff.  Today I want to share a gorgeous painting from the etsy shop Christina's Magic.  Christina is actually a gal I met through our on-line Flying Lessons course by Kelly Rae Roberts.  Take a look at this beautiful 20 x 24 painting called Red Guitar and the Butterfly Blues.  I love how you can only see part of the guitar with the rest of her "subjects."  Just love it.

 

This is one of my favorites of hers, but she has so many more unique and beautiful paintings that are so striking.  Another large-size painting that catches my eye everytime I visit her shop is Dancing in a Purple Haze.  That title makes me think of Jimmy Hendrix everytime I see it!

If you have a chance, stop by Christina's shop and check it out. 

Thanks for visiting me today and I hope you're enjoying some more of my etsy loves.

Etsy Love - Erin's Artwork!

Here's another beautiful etsy shop that I have added to my favorites--it's Erin's Artwork!

She has sweet and charming decoupage products that really caught my eye.  Many of them are recipe boxes, jewelry boxes and wedding gift card boxes as well as others that all have these amazingly eye-catching papers decoupaged onto them.

I just checked out her shop again today and noticed something that's new to me which is her custom personalized photo box.  I love it!  It can be used as a wedding card box or since I'm already married, I'd just use it for anything because I love having photos around me as much as possible--maybe a photo of my daughter and husband.  It would be great in the kitchen, on my painting desk or even my desk at work--so great!  



I hope you enjoyed one more of my "etsy loves" today.  There will be so many more to come because I have so many favorites there! 

New Bedroom on the Horizon

Lots of "stuff" going on over here.  First of all, we are in the midst of redoing Isabella's bedroom.  She's now ten and hasn't had a change since she first got her big-girl bed when she was three. 

For some reason, she's obsessed with Paris and the Eiffel Tower so that's going to be somewhat of a theme for her room.  Years ago we started replacing all our oak woodwork with white mouldings, baseboards, etc. and didn't get to her room yet.  Welllll....now we are. 

Last Sunday we tore out the carpet (lots of orange vomit stains from a night of too many Cheetos, Doritos and sour cream and cheddar chips at a cousins house-just won't come clean).  So, we're opting for wood laminate flooring for her.  Looking for a cute area rug--any ideas for some girly rugs that aren't too pricey?  She's still opting for girly colors, mostly pink, maybe some light lavender polka dots on the walls and wants a light blue ceiling to look like the sky. 

I bought two prints from etsy artists a while back--one with a cute weiner dog looking out a window at the Eiffel Tower by DJ Rogers Fine Art.   Isn't he a doll?

I also bought this print by one of my favorite artists, Karen Fields called "Bistro Paris Dress."  We've framed it in black to give it a bit more of a grown-up look since we want this room to last through the teenage years. 

Also, I fell in love with this personalized canvas with her initial "I" and Paris details as well from the shop Owen and the Princess.

I want to post before and after pictures when it's all finished.  We still have to lay the floor (just the underlayment blue stuff is down so far), paint the walls, ceiling, install and paint white new baseboards, trim around windows, doors and new closet doors.  Oh, and find new bedding!  So, we're going to be pretty busy the next week or so.  Hubby wants to get it done before he goes hunting (I think so he doesn't feel so guilty leaving us so often). 

Thanks for stopping by today!