31/31: Julie Prichard

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------

Julie Prichard

I gravitate toward analogous colors, darkened hues, and monochromatic palettes rather than a bright cartoony plethora of paints which I find too distracting.

I always create with my eyes and inner self.

My hands are only a tool, a trowel... think Captain Hook... and I never smile at a Crocodile.

------------------------------------

Julie may come from The Land of Lost Luggage but I was thrilled when I found her blog way back when. Julie is an artist, photographer, gemologist (who knew), workshop instructor, and soon to be author. We have pretty much been in contact in every way possible online and by phone but never in-person. But that is about to change as Julie is making the nearly 3,000 mile trek from San Diego to NYC (or from the country to the city as I like to say) to be part of my upcoming artist panel at The Ink Pad later this month. 

I have had the pleasure to collaborate with Julie and Lynne Hoppe on two projects: Graffiti Wall 2009 and 2010. During those years of collaboration I got to know Julie quite well and we have had many-a-conversation about the more challenging aspects of being artists and bloggers today. I am happy to be part of Artists for Respect, an effort spearheaded by Julie. I have always appreciated her willingness to take a stand and share her voice, no matter how difficult the issue. Even better, her "realness" is evident in her art, which really resonates with me. 

See you on the 31st Julie! 

------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED

31/31: Danny Gregory

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------

Danny Gregory

My art is an opportunity to reflect on the everyday, from the clutter on my desk to my neighbor's fruit stand, from what I ate for lunch to my unfolded laundry. In recording and meditating on it, I find beauty and significance in the things I do.

I work exclusively in books, so the progression of my days unfolds with each page.

The totality is the sum of my days and my life.

I love the look of juxtaposed images and calligraphy, so my journals are diaries as well as sketchbooks.

------------------------------------
Danny Gregory. If you sketch, if you journal, and especially if you combine the two together...you know Danny Gregory. Artist, author, blogger, filmmaker and, as it turns out, great guy. You never know for sure what artists will be like when you meet them but with Danny, what you see is what you get. And that is because he is honest, direct, vulnerable, and just plain real in every piece of art he creates. He is humble too and in response to these words would probably say something like "I am just drawing things."

Living in NYC provides me with so many opportunities and in 2008 I jumped at the chance to take an extended course with Danny called Everyday Matters: Illustrated Journals as a Path to Creativity.  I learned so much from Danny during those sessions and not just about the technical side of drawing. He spoke about drawing without judgement and drawing for oneself, how an artist can commit, the importance of observation, how one cannot ever separate the "you" from the drawing, and a few of my favorites: surprise yourself...do what you can't...love mistakes...never complain - never explain...express yourself. Sounds like he is talking about life and not just about journaling. Got it...and thank you for that Danny!

Be sure to check out his site and his earlier post about his experience with the book.

------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED

31/31: Orly Avineri

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------

Orly Avineri

I am a gatherer. While on my tracks I find sky-kissing mountains and deep valleys, barren deserts and lush rainforests, wandering nomads and firm settlers. My tracks take me places.

At times I get lost.

Enchantingly, as soon as I gather my findings, lay my images and words on a physical or virtual canvas, I get found.

------------------------------------
Orly started her blog One-Artist Journal in June 2008 but I discovered her much later. And when I discovered her blog, I found a feast for the senses. The majority of Orly's posts highlight spreads from her journal. They are always layered, complex, detailed, thought-provoking, and filled with movement and color. You get the sense that each and every aspect of the pages has deeper meaning and a personal significance. Her artwork is not only fascinating to look at but meaningful too.

Truth be told, my primary focus goes to images rather than words when I visit blogs. However, Orly's blog is one of the exceptions. And that is because she has a way with words. You wont find long paragraphs or lengthy descriptions. Instead, much like the details in her artwork, every single word seems carefully chosen and important. Her writing is eloquent, descriptive and powerful. I look forward to meeting her for the first time later this year at the Create New Jersey art retreat.

------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED

31/31: Donna Watson

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------

Donna Watson

In the moment. I sift through black river rocks from Japan. The light and shadows draw me to the edge.

The changing seasons are in black, white, gray with a touch of color.

The textures and layers are weathered and rusty with a subdued patina.

I look for dots, marks and circles on surfaces. There is a quiet strength in the riverbed as I seek memories and feelings. Bound by nature and the passage of time, I find solitude.

Balance.
------------------------------------
I have been intrigued by Donna and her aesthetic since the moment I found her blog. She creates the most beautiful and serene artwork in a limited palette of grays, browns, blacks, creams, and whites. The colors of the earth. Her work is abstract, balanced and ordered. At first glance there is a simplicity to her pieces but look a bit closer and you will see the complexity and depth that she brings to each of her creations.

A visit to her blog provides a breath of fresh air and a sense of calm serenity. It is a bit of escape from a chaotic world. Whether she is showcasing her own art, sharing her photographs and finds from her periodic adventures in Japan, or posting vignettes of her space and the objects she has collected along the way...their is always something compelling to by found.

I am lucky enough to be meeting Donna when my book tour stops in Seattle. I am excited to spend some time with her and to see her work in person. I know that I will feel both exhilarated and exhausted by the end of the tour but my sense is that the minute I see Donna and her art, I will feel still and at peace. 

------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED

31/31: Robyn Gordon

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------

Robyn Gordon

Since commandeering my mom's unused chisels way back in childhood, it seems that I have been carving forever.

A hobby that was once used to fight boredom on lamplit evenings on the farm has now become a form of meditation.

There is nothing better than spending the first few hours of every day carving in the courtyard with a troop of wild monkeys for company.

------------------------------------
I have never met Robyn and, given the fact that she lives in South Africa and I live in New York, chances are we will not meet. But I enjoy all the time that I spend with her. And what I mean by that are my frequent visits to her blog. I admire the world that Robyn has carved out (pun intended) and created at Art Propelled. In fact, in my Your Blog, Your Way series at Create Mixed Media, Robyn's blog was the only one that I directly referred to by name.

She continues to write in-depth posts based on themes that highlight the work and words of other artists. Robyn seemingly has an endless well of creative ideas and the themes keep coming and coming and coming. She also showcases her own work -- mesmerizing wood carvings that are unique and speak to art, culture, history, and creativity. And she also allows me to see her country, so distant from mine, through an artist's eye. Art propelled indeed!

------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED

31/31: Bridgette Guerzon Mills

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------

Bridgette Guerzon Mills

I am a creator of things, a maker of images, a weaver of words. I seek peace and stillness in the worlds that I create.

Memories and experiences are sewn together, bound with thread, painted and layered with fire and wax.

 My work is a vision of where I have been, who I am now, and a vision of what I am becoming.

The rest will be written as the story unfolds.

------------------------------------
I discovered Bridgette very early on in my life as a blogger: just one month after I started The Altered Page. I am not sure how I came across her blog, as is often the case, but I immediately knew I found a gem. In fact, I emailed her and asked about purchasing one of her paintings, which now very happily lives on my wall. We have been blog friends ever since. We have also been creative collaborators, working along with Jen Worden on a project that produced three pieces of art: Book of Trees, Shine and Contexture. The experience was a pleasure.

As luck would have it, I travelled to Chicago for a weekend back in October 2011 and was able to spend a wonderful morning with Bridgette. She was just as I had imagined and it felt like we had been friends all along. We found ourselves in similar situations, and spent time talking about making art, publishing, exhibiting, teaching, career directions, and life in general. My only regret about that day was that our time together was too short. But I will be back to visit again at some point and hopefully we will have time to see more than just "The Bean."

------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED

31/31: Michelle Ward

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------
Michelle Ward

All my jammies are speckled with paint. I am fortunate to have a home studio that is my daily destination. It is filled with abundant supplies and books and rarely will you find a clear space on my table. While I love being surrounded by my favorite things, I frequently find myself happiest with just a surface to paint on, a few brushes, and some handmade tools.

It's not about your workspace, or your materials, it's about plugging in, getting messy, and seeing what emerges.

------------------------------------

Like many of the artists in my book, I first learned about Michelle through one of my all time favorite books: True Colors. Her 'color' was Autumn. But my most vivid memory of her work in that book was her 'Stairway to Heaven' spread in Lisa Renner's Blue and Ochre book. Wow!

Since that time I have loved seeing the direction that Michelle's art has taken and really admire the freedom and joy that is a trademark of her work. She has been a leader in the mixed media community, through her blog, her rubber stamp line, her Street Team crusades, her new column in Somerset Studio, and the creativity that is in every cell in her body.

I first 'met' Michelle online less than 6 months after I started my blog when she so graciously agreed to support me and be a participant in my first, online version of The Pulse.  I have almost met her in real life on several occasions and am so very excited to be able to finally and officially meet her later this month at my artist panel at The Ink Pad. Think if I ask nicely, she will autograph my copy of True Colors?
------------------------------------
GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED