Artist Interview - Michelle Reynolds

Today I’d like to share an interview with the wonderful Michelle Reynolds, a vibrant “artist, creatrix and sunset photographer” living in Western Australia. We met through Flying Lessons, an e-course sponsored by artist Kelly Rae Roberts. Sit back and enjoy learning more about Michelle and her passion for life and creating.

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

In 2009 when I fell in love with acrylic painting.

Who are some artists that have inspired you or are still inspiring you along your creative journey?
 
Flora Bowley, Kelly Rae Roberts, Rosetta Santucci, Modigliani and Mondrian

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

My best friend Sandra always encourages me to go for it and gives honest feedback and criticism.

Tell us a bit about some of your creations or how you like to create. I know you enjoy working with acrylics and painting in layers.

I start a few layers and then I love to stamp all over the canvas using bubble wrap, rubber matting, and any other found objects in my box. Next I decide what I’m going to do with the canvas such as a vase and flowers and with a small brush and white paint I draw it on my canvas, then I start to block out with opaque colours and translucent as well. Then I add some bling colours such as gold and copper.

If you could have lunch with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?

Jesus Christ

If you weren’t an artist, what do you think you’d do for a living?

Librarian - I love books.

What is your favorite quote, motto or affirmation?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson.

Why? Because I have often asked myself that question - Who am I to be….and I love that line - Your playing small does not serve the world. And I believe that God does want us to be the best person we can be.

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

Yes. I attend a small community centre each Monday and help others with their art. I also have an online community of very supportive friends.

If you have an afternoon free, all by yourself, what would your dream day look like?

Painting with my friend Sandra, coffee and laughter.

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

Aside from Kelly Rae Roberts, Flora Bowley and the Fly Tribe blogs:

http://www.design-seeds.com This blog is great for colour palettes.

http://www.tracibunkers.com/blog/ Traci is the queen of stamping.

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

I recently came to terms with the fact that the cost to achieving my dream would be too high in terms of my relationship with my husband and God and so I’m looking for a new dream. I’m ok with this - there’s nothing wrong with changing our dreams.

Goals and plans for 2012 - Life Book 2012 ecourse, a painting course with local artist Neil Elloitt starting at the end of January - mixed media and abstract art, a group exhibition in June, to be part of the 30x30x30 project -completing 30 paintings in 30 days to sell at an exhibition in mid Sept, to attend an overseas worshop in October - meet a few online friends, go to New York and see a few galleries in the USA, In November - go to Melbourne to see the Sketchbook Project and meet up with some online artists and in December -organise a 25th Wedding Anniversary Party for hubby and I.

(Photos courtesy of Michelle Reynolds)

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

Have fun and enjoy yourself.
Learn - attend workshops, do online courses.
Community - build up a community of artist friends - in real life and online.
Reach out to other artists - those whose careers are more advanced than yours and those who are just starting out and need your help.
Get your work out there in the community - enter it into awards and shows.

I personally would like to thank Michelle for sharing her life and inspirations with us.  She's a very motivating person, whom I think many of us look to for our inspiration as well.  If you'd like to learn more about Michelle or see some more of her work, you can find her at the following links.  Thanks again, Michelle!

www.shellsinthebush.com
http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/

Artist Interview with Ann Marie of That Girl Designs

Today I'm excited to share an interview with Ann Marie of That Girl Designs.  We met through Flying Lessons, an e-course sponsored by artist Kelly Rae Roberts.  Ann Marie is a former custom jewelry artist who owned a boutique and now is living her dream of being an interior designer and artist, and along with her husband, owns Go Design, a design + build company in Austin, Texas.

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

I don’t remember a specific age at which I found my love of creating and designing, but from a very early age I loved to color!  In fact, I would spend hours with my coloring books and even submitted my “works of art” to local grocery store coloring contests.  I was always very precise with my coloring, making sure to color in the lines. ( That was my left brain fighting for a spot in the activity.) What is funny to think of now, is that my mother was an extremely talented seamstress.  She would have loved for me to join her and be her student, but I was a tomboy and would have no part of girl stuff like sewing or cooking. 

  

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

Rex Ray is one of my favorite currently active artists.  His collage work is so inspiring to me.  I bought his book, keep it in my studio, and look at it often.  Beatriz Milhazes is another artist whose work always inspires me.  Her use of color speaks to me as it is how I think of color in my own mind.  I always say that “color is my muse” and her work certainly is color rich.

Which brings me to my next question which you partially answered above: Do you have a muse or an inspiration that helps you with your creations and design?

Color is my main muse, but nature is right up there with it.  In fact, I get a ton of color inspiration from looking at nature.  The color of the sky as a backdrop to the green tree tops.  That sort of thing.  And, this might seem strange, but words, phrases and quotes are also ever inspiring.  I actually painted a recent work based solely on a word and its definition.  It came so easy to me, that I plan to do more art based on single words and their meanings.

If you could have lunch with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be and why?

Totally not art related, but I would have lunch with Cary Grant.  He is my all time favorite movie star.  I just read his daughter’s book about her life with him and his fathering of her and fell even more in love with him.  I own most of his movies and watch them over and over.  His comedic roles never cease to make me happy.

 If you weren’t an artist, what do you think you’d do for a living?

Well, since I’m an interior designer, I guess I already have an alternate to being an artist.  Although, the two are very closely related.  Honestly, I’ve waited so long in life to be a creative, that I can’t even think of any other career that would be suitable. Or acceptable!

 What is your favorite quote, motto or affirmation?

My own mantra is “find your peace” and another is “i have all the tools within me to have the life i want to live.”  (That second one is going to be a poster for sale in my shop soon.)  Favorite quotes include: “your work is to discover your work and then to give yourself to it with all of your heart”  Buddha.  And.... “live a balanced life.  learn some and drink some, and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some” by Robert Fulghum.  Each of those are on my blog home page. 

I know your husband is your partner, aside from him, do you have a community of other artists or friends/family members who you consider to be supportive of your creative endeavors?

My friends and family are supportive, but until KRR’s class and meeting all of you, no I didn’t have an artist community.  I’m so, so grateful to have found all of my Flying Lessons peeps!  My husband and my son are incredibly supportive of my art making and have given me courage to put it out there in the world. 

If you have an afternoon free, all by yourself, what would your dream day look like?

I’m pretty fortunate, and actually have lots of free time (wasn’t always the case) and every chance I get, I’m up in the studio creating art. 

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

Yes, in no particular order:

http://lovelife.typepad.com/ - love this gal’s take on life.

http://crazysexylife.com/ - this one is about wellness, nutrition, and spirit.  It is Kris Carr’s blog who is a gal living with cancer which she “treats” through healthy living and a plant based diet.  She also has documentary called Crazy Sexy Cancer.  Good stuff on this blog.

http://thisiscolossal.com/ - just really cool stuff found here.  Great inspiration for creatives of all types.

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

I constantly dream of having a second home outside of Texas.  I love my home state, but really feel the pull of a cooler climate. My recent trip to the mountains of Colorado sealed the deal.  It is the mountains for me.  One of my goals is to sell my artwork to help us pay off debt and save for travels and a little home somewhere in New Mexico or Colorado.  I’ve got it on the three year plan!

 

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

Just to never give up.  I just turned 47.  I went back to school at age 44 to pursue my interior design degree.  I’ve waited a lifetime, or it seems, to live a creative life.  I’ve done all the things I had to do to get here.  I was a single parent for a while and worked many, many 9 to 5’s and jobs I hated just to pay the bills.  My point is, that I believe that we are where we are supposed to be at any given time, and that there are many hills on the way to the mountain top.  Never give up on reaching that mountain top.  It will happen!

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I would like to thank Ann Marie for sharing so much with us about herself, her art and her future goals.  I especially love her optimism and positive outlook.  I hope you enjoyed "meeting" her as well.

I'm Loving!!! Flora Bowley

Right now I'm loving, LOVING, the artist Flora Bowley.  Below is one of her new paintings.  Aren't the colors just amazing?  I truly would love to have such beautiful creative talents.  I would also love one of her beautiful, big canvases on one of my walls.  I visit her blog "Bloom True" quite often just to see if she has any new creations posted.  They just speak to me.  They wow me.  They mesmerize me.  I would love LOVE to take one of her workshops but don't know if I can swing it financially.  But, wow, would I love to be in her presence and learn from her.  For now, I guess I keep checking out her amazing paintings. 

Painting: http://florabowley.typepad.com/blog/

Encouragement

I'm feeling a bit discouraged with my art/painting lately.  I don't want to go into much detail because it's probably just one of those poor me moods that I know will change if I help it.  I think I want something so badly I sometimes lose sight of the reason I do it.  Patti Digh gives a good reminder to "Stop trying so hard...Just do to do."  I love painting and sometimes I forget that I need to paint just to paint, not worry if someone will buy them.  The reward is just creating.  She also says to "Detach from outcome."  Hmmm...this completely relates to my last thought.  The outcome can't always be others approval, hence others purchasing my work.  My focus sometimes goes a bit off track and then I feel like giving up when I know I shouldn't and I won't.  I guess I'm just having a pity party inside my head right now. 

I'm going to get some fresh canvases today and paint just to paint.  I'm also going to look back at her book, Creative is a Verb and look at the highlighted words that really spoke to me.  Hopefully it will help me remember why I love to create.