Mary Ann Wakeley : colorful secrets of the abstract painting realms

Mary ann is a beautiful soul that paint with the colors of her emotions, her secrets.



That is what I sense in her work : the secrets, because you can interprete abstract the way you want to read it, she keeps her mysteries of how the piece is born:)
I adore her choice of colors, it really touches me and most of her work grab me at once.
I feel I can enter those luscious realms and find something for my soul.

She is one of my favourite contemporary abstract artist and I am lucky to know her and consider her as a generous, open minded kind very supportive and sharing friend,so I wanted to share her work with you.


Why did you choose abstract as a means of artistic expression? Or was it abstract that chose you?



In the beginning, when I first started to paint on canvas, I painted still lifes and some portraits of family. But I did not enjoy it, and often it felt labored—not fun. I truly admire all forms of expression, but I am best able to express myself using abstract methods, and this is the way I have been painting since 2004.



Do you link colors to special emotions when you paint? So what do they mean to you?



I do believe that on a subconscious level I associate colors with moods, feelings and emotions. I am never “down” when I paint, therefore, each piece is created with a good feeling. I do not paint dark moods…. In fact, painting lifts me out of dark moods. I become unhappy when I am not expressing myself through art. Art is what has saved me from continuing down the former path of work for a paycheck at meaningless and unfulfilling jobs.



I love all colors, especially pink and green which calm me. When I am feeling particularly expressive I use shots of strong color. In a more sensitive mood I may use lighter lines and more subdued color. I like drama and will frequently use black to set off brighter colors.



How do you begin a work? Is it all planned or do you improvise? Can you share with us the process?



First of all, I am not in planner!....in anything, for that matter. I fly by the seat of my pants always. I start with an idea for a painting, like a color, but even then, when I am putting the paint down and moving it around with other colors, if it doesn’t feel right at the moment, I change it.



The whole process of making a painting from beginning to end is one of editing, trial and error, not being afraid to mess it up, especially if I like the way a particular area looks, I try not to preserve it while working around it. This approach makes painting fun, free, and full of possibility. I do not try to control anything but let it happen as I go, always editing by moving color around with a brush or knife, or my finger, switching from acrylic to pastel, and blending the colors sometimes dry into wet, sometimes dry onto dry paint, sometimes wet into wet (no rules) just spontaneous. During this process, as long as I am in the spirit of creativity, I am hearing silent prompts within that gently guide me to pick a color or material. This is how it works, and why the paintings are usually so harmonious—they come from that place of harmony that leads me to it. If on the other hand, I start feeling tired, or I get irritable and begin to fight what I am doing, I stop and take some kind of break…. I’ll read, or walk the dog, or go outside, or cook (!)… just something else entirely that I enjoy doing. I never force myself to paint, but usually it is not a problem for me to get to work.


Did you ever have those struggling moments and the feeling you could have given up your artist path?


I have had moments when I have questioned how much time I want to devote to making art. I have never thought I would give it up completely…. I made a commitment to myself several years ago that it was this or bust! But I have a healthy attitude about what I do. I know that it does not define me. It is simply something I do that I enjoy and the others enjoy too, so because it is such a pleasurable activity, I choose to continue doing it. I can see myself being creative in other ways too, though, as in being a promoter for artists or creativity coach, or in helping people decorate their homes. I love to help people find new and beautiful ways of seeing different things whether it’s in art or a living environment. I am definitely an aesthete and my path will always have something to do with beauty, order and harmony. Right now, I am enjoying making art.



How is it to lead a business as an artist? Do you have any advice for other artists?


This is not an area of expertise for me. I make and sell art, but from a business perspective, there could certainly be improvement. I don’t use a business plan, and don’t budget. Again, it’s the fly by the seat of my pants approach here. I try to be reasonable in my expenses and am ever resourceful in creating the best art I can with the materials I have on hand. I always make a profit, but my goal is not to label my success by the bottom line. My success is gauged upon how happy I am overall. My only advice for other artists, is to trust your inner urge to do or try something. If you are happy and want to be successful pursuing art, then be happy while you are engaged in the making and selling of your art and you will experience happy results. Don’t get caught up in reaching specific goals. Just trust that what you are doing is right for you and let your universal manager handle the business details. Keep processes simple…. don’t complicate the day to day, moment to moment experiences by being down and letting the externalities of life seep into making your art. Don’t be afraid to try new venues for selling, but also don’t overwhelm yourself with the selling part so that you are too exhausted to create. Focus on the making, and the selling will naturally flow.



What king of music takes company to your paintings? Develop if you can with examples of artworks and why they are related to this or that music.



I listen mostly to women artists, but I like all kinds of music. If I had to choose specific artists that have accompanied the creation of most of my work, I’d probably say Tori Amos. She has had the strongest influence in terms of a singular artist providing the background music while I paint. I have always loved her voice and having played the piano for several years myself, I related to her style of piano playing, as she studied classical for a long time before she found her own style.



I can not look at any one piece of work and tell you what I listened to while I painted it. That part of the process does not leave a residue with me. I see only what is in front of me… nothing else.



What other talent would you have liked to have if you hadn’t been a painter?



I like change so much that it would be difficult to consider anything outside the creative field. I value my solitude so I am best suited to working alone most of the time, and it would have to be something where I have complete freedom of expression and the ability to do things as I feel them. Outside of being an artist, I don’t know what that would be.






see more of Mary Ann's work here:

her flickr

visit :

her blog

The Wonderful Spirit of a fairy piano & a British fae that has magic and emotions to feed your soul

'Helen Trevillion is a British composer, arranger, songwriter, performer and producer of eclectic, modern ethereal faerie pop and neoclassical-influenced songs and soundscapes. Heavily inspired by poetic imagery, ancient mythology, fairytales and philosophies, she uses music and lyrics to build collages of poignant life experiences.

Helen fell in love with writing music as a child, enthralled by how many worlds were contained in sound, how profoundly it spoke of the feelings there are no words for. She fell in love with magical stories and metaphor, symbols of raw beauty and transformation and with these ingredients she built her own secret language. What began as a hobby in early childhood became a necessity, a passion and an alchemic path, a way of sharing and expressing a deep-rooted personal mythos.

She is a self-taught producer and prefers to work alone in her home studio, enjoying the charms and idiosyncrasies of DIY production and the freedom it offers to her imagination. She has also offered her talents to the independent video game and film industries as a composer and sound designer and has been involved in a number of freeware video games, animations and audio dramas.'

'Helen Trevillion is a British composer, arranger, songwriter, performer and producer of eclectic, modern ethereal faerie pop and neoclassical-influenced songs and soundscapes. Heavily inspired by poetic imagery, ancient mythology, fairytales and philosophies, she uses music and lyrics to build collages of poignant life experiences.

Helen fell in love with writing music as a child, enthralled by how many worlds were contained in sound, how profoundly it spoke of the feelings there are no words for. She fell in love with magical stories and metaphor, symbols of raw beauty and transformation and with these ingredients she built her own secret language. What began as a hobby in early childhood became a necessity, a passion and an alchemic path, a way of sharing and expressing a deep-rooted personal mythos.

She is a self-taught producer and prefers to work alone in her home studio, enjoying the charms and idiosyncrasies of DIY production and the freedom it offers to her imagination. She has also offered her talents to the independent video game and film industries as a composer and sound designer and has been involved in a number of freeware video games, animations and audio dramas.'

But most importantly Helen is a dear fairy friend to me and a wonderful inspiration, her voice is very touching and like someone I've already met in a previous era or something.
Her fae pop music and her magical piano could be the music soundtrack of several of my paintings.

I respect and admire her a lot, plus I adore her genuine ways to deal with her art business, she is unique and real, a beautiful sister of name :)







1) How would you describe the universe around you, what you music ismade of? the secret ingredients of Helen Trevillion's faerytale work?

Secret ingredients... ahaha, what kind of chef gives away the secrets of her cuisine? ;)
Ha, well no seriously and truthfully, I feel a bit clumsy answering this question. The universe of Helen Trevillion is a messy, matted tangle of metaphor and feeling. We all have our own perception filters, we all have our own personal mythos. Mine is an intensely emotional language, filled with pieces of my past and future decorated in fairytale and poetry. I yearn for the sort of everyday magic that you find in ordinary places, the kind that leaves you breathless and vividly alive and renewed - it's really no coincidence that actual fables and folktales are so close to my heart! I romanticise and glamorise everything, through music, through words, through images, whatever I can tune into - I always need to immortalise the things I feel and the ways in which I change from moment to moment. To me there's something inescapably beautiful about intangible human experience.


2) How do you work with music, do you begin with finding the melody and you put words onto it, how do you create a song?


The process varies from song to song, but usually everything sort of collects together at once. I'll be playing something on the piano, and there's this whisper of a melody there, and certain words, sounds or syllables that just feel right and real and organic, so I work from there and look for a way to flesh it out. Lyrics come much more easily than they used to. These days I just sing about whatever imagery I'm obsessing over.

I choose the instrumentation depending on the emotions. The voice and the harmonies will carry the song. The rest of the arrangement is there to add colour and amplify the feeling.

I feel blessed in that I can carry music around in my head that doesn't exist and yet sounds so complete. In a sense I don't even consider what I do to be creating because I feel I'm tuning into something rather than actually creating it from a blank canvas. It's just that sometimes it's hard to really hear it and to make it real in a way that does it justice. That's the most frustrating thing, feeling that you haven't quite done it justice.



3)Whatis the feedback you receive from people who know you and like yourwork?what do they say? how do they see you and appreciate your work?


People who know me always give positive feedback. Sometimes it's hard to gauge whether they genuinely love the music or whether they appreciate it because it's a part of me! The feedback I get from complete strangers gives me more confidence because a stranger can listen objectively and feels absolutely no obligation to enjoy it! So when a stranger listens to my music and finds something beautiful and worthwhile in it, I know I'm doing OK. :) I don't make music for entertainment, I make it to communicate my experience of this world, so I love it so much when people can get beyond technical skill and pretty melodies and really connect with it and understand it. And I love it when people are inspired by my work!

Not everyone will connect with my music or love my voice, but there are enough people who genuninely believe in me to keep me determined and believing in myself. I think I owe it to them as much as myself to keep doing it. Belief is a precious and powerful thing. When people give that to you, you pay attention.

I have made a lot of new friends through my music, some really amazing people. When you share your creative work on the internet, you leave yourself wide open, and I've been fortunate enough to discover nothing but warmth and kindness in reaction to that.


4) Tell us about your Muses, all the places where you find inspiration? is it books? art? love? fairytales?your inner heart?

In the external world, I look to poetry and literature, people and relationships and of course music and sound, but I think inspiration is found in the way I internalise these things rather than in the things themselves - it's observing how I react to all these sources that really inspires me. The internal world is where my Muse lives. I'm an introvert with a very rich and dominating inner world, so I am always fascinated by the way things translate from inner to outer, and then again from outer to inner.

In poetry and literature I connect most with rich imagery and fantastical themes, because those are littered with associations, in universal experience and in my personal mythos. Fairy tales are treasure troves of symbolism! I like language that sounds pretty to say, and I find that sometimes even the sounds of words, or how they look on the page, can set something off!

As a musician, I'm inspired a lot by other musicians. I'm very picky with the music I choose to listen to. I like music that cuts me emotionally. Most music doesn't blow me away but when I hear something that does, this is the typical series of events:

1. Oh.... WOW.
2. *hopeless fangirling*
3. I wish I'd written that song.
4. GAHHH, but I'll never be that good!!!! EVER!
5. *angst angst angst FLAIL*
6. *little puddle of woe*

...and then, because that is all quite woefully unproductive, I tend to just let it wash over me and enjoy listening to it (but not TOO much) and hope that at some point my internal world will find an honest way to borrow the essence of this treasure. ;)




5)Wouldyou say your music/lyrics talk about you, or are more like a prolongation of yourself and thus creating a persona and talking or revealing many different sides of you?


I would say both! I think of my songs as freeze-frames of me. They're little pieces of a jigsaw, or threads in a tapestry. Everything I write is me, but not the whole me. A lot of my songs are about real things that have happened in my life - those depictions of me are real in a very human and relatable sense. Other songs, such as the ones I've been writing for The Cocoon, express identity in a much more fluid way. To me, it's just as important to express myself more abstractly as it is to express myself in terms of the things I've been through, because I have a very vivid idea of who I am and I am definitely more than the things I've said and done.


Do you feel your work as an artist is telling you more about who you are, who you're becoming?
Yes definitely! I've always thought the creative arts are the perfect tools for self-exploration. I have learned so much about who I've been and how I've changed (and, more notably, how I haven't changed). Writing music tells me about my potential, it tells me about the person I hope to become, who I perhaps could become if . . . All the different possibilities present themselves - you are a canvas, you can create yourself and sculpt yourself. I think the reason art is so natural and so important for humans is because it's externalising a process that's happening internally all the time! My music has changed my life and the way I see myself more times than I can count.


6)When did you begin to play music and why did you choose the piano, what is your connection to the piano? Is she your best friend or a half of you you can tell anything and feel comfort while playing?


I've played music since I was tiny. My parents recognised that I had a gift and hastily sent me to pre-school music classes. I learned the recorder and the violin first, and then piano, I think, because my older sister played it and as a child I always wanted to be just like her, she was my idol. ;)

I didn't have much interest in playing the traditional repertoire. I learned new pieces almost exclusively by ear and was terrible at sight-reading, so reading music was stressful and frustrating, and I hated performing. I found it a bit weird that everyone wanted to play the same pieces from the same books - there was much more reward in teaching myself to play other songs by ear and giving life to the tunes in my head! And the exams... oh... the exams terrified me!

I played the piano a lot as a child but didn't have a strong emotional connection to this instrument until I was a teenager. Then, yes, she became my best friend, the one who knew all my secrets, who understood my fears, my hurts, my dreams and my confusions better than anyone. The piano is almost a sister to me. She's been my comfort through every shadow and there's really not a single thing I haven't shared with her - sometimes I think I must have dropped my soul between those keys once upon a time... ;) Yes, when I play I do find relief and comfort and strength and understanding somehow, a way to open myself, to amplify my emotions and break down and feel the storm and move on through. To me the sound of a piano is strong and feminine, soothing, full of life and love and wisdom. It's a lovely instrument regardless of any deeper connections I may have.


7) What kind of artist would you like to collaborate with if you could?


In music, I'd most like to collaborate with artists who make music that contrasts with my own, artists who have different strengths. It's more interesting when each party can contribute something unique and new to the work of the other. In the arts as a whole, I'd most like to collaborate with animators and experimental short film makers. I think music and film can have a real magic together! I would love to do more work like that.


8)how would you describe yourself today and your life at the present time?


'Messy' would be the answer that fits best on most days. ;)
No, really, I think the most accurate description of me and my life right now would be 'in transition'. There is definitely change going on. I can't read the future (sadly!) but I'm trying my best to steer my life in a direction that's good for me and my art because I believe that you have to do what makes you most alive, and this is what makes me alive. There are so many obstacles, money being the biggest and most stressful at the moment. I'm sure many people can relate to the struggle of trying to balance out their dreams and their security. It's tough sometimes. There are days when I think I must be insane. (And there are people in my life who make it abundantly clear that they believe this to be so! It's up to me to prove them wrong. At least it keeps me on my toes!)


9)How was your first cd release experience? how does it feel to complete something and have one's cd sold at cd baby and itunes?will you play live and release soon another cd?


Ha... well it was a very mixed experience. I went through just about every emotion you could imagine.

While I was preparing the final mixes and the CD artwork I was so excited.
When I paid for the pressing and ended up with boxes of CDs on my doorstep, I panicked. A lot.
Suddenly it seemed real and I faltered and started to believe that nobody would buy it. I thought it wasn't good enough, I thought no way would I ever sell all of those CDs... it got so that I couldn't even bring myself to listen to the CD or look at it because suddenly all I could think of were the imperfections and I thought I had failed. I was really upset about it. Then release day came and people started buying them. Oh my. MADNESS! I'd expected only my closest friends to buy it, but people I had never heard of or spoken to before were buying it. I sold over half of them in the first week :) So then, of course, I was euphoric. Insufferably so. Ahahaha. Well it was a massive relief. And I started to feel genuinely proud of myself, because for me it was such a brave thing to do. And I felt so incredibly grateful.

I put off that CD for years because I felt as if I was only pretending to be a musician and an artist - there was always a huge abyss between me and all those 'real artists' of the world, in my mind. Going ahead and actually releasing a CD helped me to get over that silliness.

I'm proud of my work and what I put into it. I am enormously grateful for my gift. I know it's not an everyday thing and although from my perspective it is always so imperfect, it doesn't matter because there's a beauty in it that is mine alone.

I've never performed live. I thought about it this year, but I finding suitable musicians is not easy. I think this will remain a future project. But I do know that one day I will do it.


10)Is the art of music to you made of healing energies? Are you aware of the way it can make other feel and how you inspire them?


It is, yes. I think music offers a kind of empathy, a path to self-acceptance. It is an amazing amplifier. Sometimes it brings us peace, sometimes it brings us to tears, sometimes it unearths old sorrows... it can affect us in different ways but I've never found it hindering, it always works towards release and resolution.

A couple of times I've had people email me to tell me that one of my songs helped them through a struggle and brought them peace. I thought that was beautiful. Although I write music for selfish reasons (as my own unravelling and release) it's good to be reminded that it can affect others and become personal to them too.


11)what are your dreams for the near future?
I want to get another album out! :)
I want to reach more people, and I want to work with more people.

I'll mostly be working on The Cocoon, because I want to release it next year and I have a lot of songs to write! Apart from that, I have an EP coming out and some collaborations too.

So, just very simple dreams for now. I just want to get more music out, music I can be really proud of. I view my first album as a test run in many senses, and for that reason I have been hesitant to go all out with the promotion for it. Actually I'm a little bit daunted by the prospect of finishing The Cocoon, because I've set myself such high standards, and I know I will not be happy with it unless it matches my vision exactly! But I will do my best!





Links:

My official website - website of Helen Trevillion
MySpace - see her on myspace and savour listening a quiet fairy moment

youtube
youtube, maybe we'll see her more here within the next months? ;)

Angela Petsis the Gatekeeper of a Surreal mysterious mystic voyage...

I was so happy when Angela agreed to do the interview, she's an artist I truly admire in the mixed media world.
There is so much enigmas, alleys of mystic mysteries & spiritual rebirth in her work that I wanted to share her work with you here.



The artist path that I have taken has been a very winding road! My first love has always been photography. I started taking photography classes when I was just 15 years old; I love photography so much that I continued with my education and in 1995 I graduated with a degree in photography for the Art Institute of Philadelphia. There was a long stretch of time after I graduated that I actually stopped taking pictures and didn’t do anything creative at all. I went back to college in 1999 and later received a bachelor’s degree in an area of the liberal arts. About three years ago I started creating college work. I really loved it and just kept experimenting with different techniques. I never had any formal training in painting or drawing – in fact I can’t draw very well, it’s not a natural talent for me like it is for a lot of people. I think that’s why I started getting deeper and deeper into to mixed media work, if I wanted to use an image of a bird, I could just use a photograph of a bird instead, and that’s how it really started to evolve.


1)your mixed media artworks have mysterious titles , how do

they come to you? is it the title first or the piece that

came first ;-) ?

I think creating titles for your art is just as important as the artwork itself; sometimes I will come up with a title first and create a new piece around the words. Most of the time, I create a piece of art an then I look at it for awhile…the titles then just come to me as if the painting or photograph is speaking for itself. I think instinctually you know when the title is right –it just fits the piece.


2)I sense torments, poetical melancholy and spiritual

depths in your work, where do you find all these

inspirations and is your life and soul painted in those

works or is it more stable & sort of happier?

As my work has become more public, I have received more and more questions about my motivations regarding my work. It’s funny because I see myself as a very happy and optimistic person by nature and I don’t think my work is dark or foreboding. I think we all are on our own path in this life and we all come fully equipped with our own baggage to carry. Some of us have been more wounded by life than others and I think that can come through in the creative process. I don’t know what the psychology is behind the images I create, I just enjoy elements that are fanciful and whimsical - a sort of ethereal look into those things that can only be found in the unconscious or the imagination.

3)You do see the Unseen, could you share about this please?

I definitely see the unseen in everyday life. You have to look beyond the curtain of what you perceive is your reality to find the magic. I was always told growing up I had my “head in the clouds” I think that’s where you have to be in order to see past the mundane and find the creative spirit.

4)There symbolic imagery in your work like eyes, red

balloons,crows,twisted trees, what do they mean to you?


I do have a personal iconography; these symbols definitely mean things to me. I think defining these symbols takes away from the mystery and enjoyment that the viewer gets from looking at my art, so most of the time, I try not to talk about what these images mean to me, because I would much rather hear about what it means to the viewer.



5)How do you begin a painting, is it something spontaneous

or it grows for several days or sometimes months in your

mind?

Most of the time when I work, I don’t have an exact idea of how the painting is going to develop. I do work very quickly – most pieces are done the same day they are started. Usually I’ll begin a piece based on a vintage photograph, a color theme or a particular element. For instance I’ll get an idea that I want to do a piece with both airplanes and an elephant, and it just takes off from there.


6)If you were one of your artwork at the moment here and

now which one would you be and why?

I would be “There are Many Mysteries along your Journey”. The female figure in this piece looks like the gatekeeper that you must pass by in order to move forward into a more mystifying voyage. She is the one that knows all the secrets, she has all the answers to all the questions you’ve ever had. I think it would be exciting to be that character.

7)you also do photography, how do you define your style and

what are you trying to express with photos?

I enjoy using inexpensive cameras when taking pictures. The lack of technology creates some interesting results that are unpredictable and fascinating. I like to describe my photography has still images from dreams; you’re not sure what the context is at first, it’s like taking vignettes of someone’s thoughts – small moments in time that are frozen forever as if taken out of someone’s deepest thoughts.




8)what are your present projects and dreams?

I’d like to continue creating new mixed media pieces, and I really want to publish my own photography book.

9)what is your biggest fear and greatest joy right now?

My biggest fear is that I will get so caught up with everyday life that I will let my creativity lapse and not have time to continue to create. My biggest joy right now is just being here, going wherever the moment takes me.

find more about Angela's work here:

venus the muse

The soulful watercolor planet of Juri Ueda A.k.a Juriu

* first of all if you could give a small introduction
of you, your work and how it all began for you

My name is Juri Ueda (a.k.a. Juriu,) I am an artist in
Osaka, Japan. I paint watercolor illustration of girls
with big eyes in mythical world.
I was born in Japan, grew up mostly there and a few
years in Thailand, with no particular interest in art.
After many failed faint childhood dreams - such as an
astronaut, a psychologist, and a biologist- I started
drawing, and graduated from the Academy of Art
University, San Francisco in 2005.


1) What is your work about? Are you rather a story
teller with your paintings or sharing your own
emotions in them?

My art is all about personal communication. Painting
for me is like writing letters - letters with colors
to express emotions.
I consider myself a storyteller, but I like to keep
the story ambiguous. I may tell the beginning and the
end of the story in one image. I enjoy getting totally
different responses and comments from the people who
see the same painting.



2)Who are some of your muses/mentors, where did you
find your inspiration?

It is hard to say who are my muses. I paint the girls
from the impressions I get/got from the real life
people I know/used to know. My biggest source of
inspiration is nature - the sky, the ocean, and
flowers. I can spend hours just looking at colors in
the clouds, or the patterns on the surface of the
water. And since I happen to live with a flower
designer, my life is surrounded by flowers, and I
watch them change as they live and die. The beauty in
nature can be so perfect and transient. It fascinates
me and makes me want to try to keep a fraction of it.


3)I have seen you also do abstract, is it a way to
complete your artist work/path or just not to get
bored and try different things?

Although I majored in illustration, last few years in
art school I spent most of my time working on
large-scale mixed-media abstract pieces - and that is
how I started my career as an artist. The first time
when I knew what art meant for me was when I painted
my first abstract - my teacher said to me, "seems like
you have found your language."
Compared to illustration, abstract is more purely
emotional and freeing for me, even though the process
is more challenging. The experience is so special I
cannot get from anything else.



4) you have published a book can you tell about it,
where can we buy it, what is it about etc?

I have not exactly published a book - it (UZUMAKI) was
for a local hand-made picture book show. The theme of
the show was "birthday." My book is about a girl who
lost her wings and her re-birthday. The title UZUMAKI
means "swirl" or "spiral" in english. It is my
favorite symbol, which means "change" among other
things. The book is available upon request at an art
store called ART HOUSE in Osaka.

5)How do you proceed when you begin an artwork? do you
have any ritual, are you rather spontaneous, or think
a lot about themes, series, projects?

I do not think much about themes and such unless they
are the purpose of the painting.
I do not plan in details about shapes and designs
either, but I cannot even start doodling in my
sketchbook until I know exactly what I want. I admire
the artists who can doodle naturally and beautifully
as if the lines flow from their hands.
I am very spontaneous when it comes to colors. I
barely think about palette until I have everything set
up and a brush in my hand. That is the most exciting
and fun part of making a painting for me.



6) what are your next important projects?

I am planning to have my online shop. Hopefully it
will happen within this year :)


7)if you have ever exhibited your work, tell us about
the first time? how is it ?how did you feel?

I had my first solo show last July. It was not a big
financial success, but quite an exciting experience -
very different from showing in group exhibition. I got
a good lesson about the harsh reality of having my own
business and the responsibility that comes with it, as
well as the pleasure of meeting new people. Overall I
found it addictive. I can hardly wait for the next
time.


8)I have seen you are a writer too ,it's really lovely
and inspiring too, why do you write? is it for you
another way to paint with words?
what inspires/pushes you to write?

I think writing is my first response to my feelings.
If my illustrations are letters, my writings are
diaries. It is rather easy to create images about a
pretty flower or a sweet scent I just happened to come
across, but when I have a deeper connection to the
subject, I need some time to distance myself from it
until I can process it into the image I want to paint.
So I take quick notes in words about the incident, the
person and the emotions, so that they will not fade
and buried into my everyday life. I believe that the
essence is in the details, which are so easily
forgotten no matter how precious and often painful
they are at the time.


9) your art is like sweet melancholly is it for you a
way to heal your big sensitivity or something else?

I am very nicely surprised to know that you see my art
that way.
My paintings are personal, insignificant and awkward.
Especially with my illustration, I always like it to
be subtle and whimsical, with some sense of hope and
wishfulness, even though it usually comes out of
sadness and loneliness. Painting may be a process of
my healing.


10) what kind of music do you like to listen to when
you create?

I listen to heavy-metals, pop-rocks to mainstream
classicals and operas. I like anything catchy and
emotional. I also like to keep the TV on while I paint
- I find the sound of people talking comforting. I
have the fear of silence when I am alone, although I
prefer silence when I am not alone.

11)how would you describe yourself in a few words?

A solitary optimist with a stubborn wandering mind.

12)what is your motto or favourite quote?

My motto is "KOUN-RYUSUI" which is a zen word meaning
"like clouds that float, like water that flows." I
hope to create and live my life simply and naturally.



Here are two writings by Juri Ueda:

"anemone"

a flower thief stole an anemone.

the translucent blue violet
dark
burning

transient

but
exciting and beautiful.

I know you want it
he smiled

in the middle of the wind
swaying in every direction

I love your freckles
he says.


"remembrance"

the endless beach
and the footprints our bare feet leave behind
green water
silver bubbles
and the shapes waves draw on the sand

the afternoon about to evaporate

impulsive and abstract
like a drop of ink
absorbed into paper

memories fade
always incomplete

the pictures we did not take
the color of hair that has changed
if you don't remember
how will I know
that I was here

the endless beach
and the footprints our bare feet leave behind
the vibrant sun
the ocean and grass scented wind
our distant oblivion
if I could
never let go of your hand

I am here now
I am here with you



visit her etsy shop there:

Etsy

visit her website here:

Juriu website

Debrina Pratt where whimsy & colorful inspirations spark your Imagination!

Debrina Pratt is an amazing fairy artist!
one of the most whimsical soul in Fairy world art :)
always copied never equalled ^_____^
I remember the sweetness I felt when I discovered her work! aaahing and oooooohing like a little fae child :)
I had to send her some praise and I got her so sweet kindness back.
She is someone absolutely adorable on top of being a great artist which sincerely doesn't ruin anything :-)
I can only love artists who are pure golden heart fairies ;o)
Debrina has lovely taste for colors it's also so elegant full of little girl reveries.

Her art is one of a kind, very refined and it touches the soul sharing it's positive thinking!
she takes us in her own little world. She reminds us to dare to dream:)
This is why I decided to interview for you to be inspired!

*first of all give me a brief bio of you,your art etc.

Growing up in a family of artists my interest in art developed at a teeny weeny age. I've experimented with many different mediums and came to paper collage almost 3 years ago and my creative world has never been the same!



1)When did you begin Mixed media art and what drawn you to that kind of art?

I played with mixed media since childhood but didn't take it too seriously until about 3 years ago when I discovered the world of collaged artist trading cards. I was intrigued and fascinated by them and have since created almost 400 cards!

2)Your artworks are full of sweetness, delicate colors and beautiful words that inspire positive thinking, can you share with us your philosophy of life?


Thank you for the sweet words Helene!
It seems as I'm getting older my philosphy changes at a rapid pace! LOL...Currently, my soul has been reminded that we are not the rulers we have a higher power that is much stronger than us. I think my art also reflects my appreciation/search for simplicity, purity, and gentle hearts.

3)You often work with vintage children pictures is to talk about your inner fae child ? to share your love for Children/childhood?

Children fairies are a common theme in my work due to the fact I've never truly grown up! The grown up world does not fit me. I want to live in a world of pink lollipop trees and little bunnies hopping about where hearts are pure and your inner child can roam freely.


4) You do a lot of different things: boxes, cards,3D artworks, booklets, jewels etc. what are the things you prefer to create?

I LOVE creating teeny tiny anything but especially books and playsets.

5)Tell me about the great things and drawbacks about your artist life?

The greatest thing about being a full time artist is all the wonderful people I have met along this journey and it fascinates me to see how art can connect people, change lives, and speak to complete strangers! As for drawbacks, once art became my job there have been moments where creating has felt like a job but I try to stay far, faraway from those feelings.

6)I have seen a lot of people trying to imitate your style ,what do you say to those people? what is your kind advice to them?

Well, this kind of goes back to the drawbacks of being a full time artist. Once an artists puts their work "out there" it does open the door to this kind of thing..especially if they are successful. Seems some people want to do what makes money and if that means robbing another artist's soul then sadly some do not care. I do realize it may take some time to develop as an artist and get into that cozy little spot of creating where the art is all yours but it can be disheartening waiting for some to reach that spot.


7)You're working on small type of artworks, what is your next challenge?what are your plans artwise?

PAINTING!!! That has been a personal challenge of mine for years and I have never really devoted the time to cradle that medium but something has been pulling me to play with paints! I mean go crazy!!! There's so many things I want to do that I have found plans drive me nutty and procrastination has a way of making me feel like an art school dropout so currently I'm planning to not have concrete plans as far as what I want to create and to take things as they come and let things develop naturally.


8)Lots of artists do video blogs, will you try this one day?will I have this opportunity to see you at youtube too?
Video blogs! EEK!!! Does that answer your question? LOL...


9)what is your motto?

Nurture your inner child and eat cupcakes if you want to...quite simple!



10)what is the art supplies you can't live without?

SPARKLING Swarovski rhinestones, lots and lots of glitter,
and my newfound love vintage fabrics and trims!



11)Tell me about all the little things that make you happy?

My daughter's laugh attacks, baby smiles, giggles, pink cupcakes, little fairies dancing about the garden, music that touches the soul, feeling, seeing, things that go jingle, things that sparkle, Hello Kitty, the box of new crayons, watching people dance, kindergarten classes at play, imagination, yummy pink feathered Christmas trees (as seen in Michael's a week ago!)


12) Is music or books an inspiration to your art?

I would image music and books do provide inpiration but perhaps it's more indirect than some other things that inspire me. I have found much inspiration from pictures in books of Japanese Harajuku girls who make their own clothing and and honor individuality in their dress. Google harajuku if you've never heard of it! It should bring smiles!



you can admire debrina's whimsical work at flick
Here


and buy some of her artwork :
Here

Lara Jade, when photography becomes painting and surreal poetic art

Lara Jade is an eighteen years young British( yes indeed British girls are the best ^_^kidding) Photographer/artist/singer...I have come across her work at deviantart.com one day

Lara Fairie, here
and was speechless & even more when I knew her age, she was probably about 15/16 at the time o_O
I really admire this creativity & maturity in young beings, it's so good for them, so enriching and it decides of their path so early which is for the best most of the time, it leads them to living deeper and higher in some ways, to grow a personality, a world of their own.

Lara has an eye for beauty and so many beautiful inspirations.
Her work is obviously one of a kind & it intrigues the watcher, it makes them want to enter these worlds or understand what it is that it makes them feel so bewitched or fascinated.

All in all I admire Lara very much, she is one of my favourite photographer.
On top of that she is a very pretty & smart young woman and has such a lovely voice.
I just wish her all the best, hoping lots of good things for Black Rain (with her love Ant Moore)too!





1) First of all would you mind telling me how Photography came into your life? what was the click that made you felt that it was your artist path?

I've always been interested in art from a young age, I'd always be drawing or painting, art was my favourite subject at school. However, it wasn't until I was taking my art GCSE at school until I started working with photographs.

2)What do you prefer in photography( between taking pictures and editing with photoshop,finding creative themes)and how do you work?(by the second part of the question I mean, how do you organize a photo session, how do you choose your themes etc)


Taking the pictures is definately the best part, when you can fit your theme into the camera frame. It's great when you finally see the idea fall together after much thought. Editing is also fun though!



3)How do you see and feel about the connection with model and photographer?

If you and the model are comfortable with each other, everything seems to fall in place within the camera. I have become very good friends with some of my models, and with those models I produce the best work.

4) What is one of your favourite picture you've taken and why?(yeah I know it's a very tough question :oP but you can say the fav of today! ;)

One of my recent favourites is my 'fight series' pictures, I hadn't done anything like that before. It was a challenge so I think I can say I am proud of those.




5)People always think the narcissism in self portrait as arrogance and being " better than thou" type of person, what do you answer to this?
(I dont think that way at all and I adore your self portrait, they are one of a kind and greatly above superficiality or vanity)

When I started out in photography I used myself a lot to practice with, I wasn't comfortable using models when I had no technical ability, so sticking myself in front of the camera was the best thing. I still do self-portraits now to express certain feelings.
As you said, some people believe self-portraiture to be vain. I don't think this is true if the artist has intent to express a certain feeling/emotion aspect and shows a technical ability to create the photograph.


6)Do you receive a lot of mean messages from envious people or do you sometimes see how people can lack respect to you or assume things about you just because you are a wonderful and rather e-famous very young photographer?
How do you deal with their attitude?

Yes, I do get quite a few negative comments. I've learnt to deal with it the simple way - just leave it and ignore it. If people are trying to help you e.g. constructive criticism, I take it in and listen. You have to filter out the good from the bad.




7)What is according to you the difference between photography and painting( because it can really merge sometimes and it's hard to see the difference)?
I think they have their similaries, both mediums involve time, thought, practice and creativity. Photography has more of a creative elemt - you take the photos, you edit, you print. I can't say much though, i'm not a very good painter!


8)Tell me about a good memory of a shooting and how it felt?
I've had quite a few good memories with photoshoots, a few models in particular you can have real fun with, sometimes it's not just about the shooting, it's about the fun involved in it all.


9) I know you also have a band called " Black Rain" with your boyfriend, how did that idea come to you? what singing brings to your life?

Ant started the band a few years ago. I've always been quite unconfident with singing, so it was a huge challenge for me to sing, even in front of him! let alone post it on the internet. Singing in Black Rain has definately been a big confidence booster for me.



10)You are a mutli talented girl which are the other talents you have but don't really express them enough for now?
Hidden talents? haha. Well I used to be a dancer before I started photography from the age of eight, me and my sister did a range of dancing, and we come first place in the european dance championships. When we left, we had around 250 trophies. I'm also quite a good stylist. :]




11)What do you expect for your future after your studies, how do you imagine your career?
I'd love to either carry on working for myself or become part of a team for a company, carrying out creative commissions. I also plan to get into the film industry.


nb: all images are copyrighted. All rights reserved to Lara Jade.
so don't be silly using them! it already happened to her & the whole world will kick your ass if you try this again :P

Cordelia(cordayrox)when the little mermaids turns into a fairy at her piano***

There are persons on this planet who really have something about their soul, an aura, a real cute charisma that really amazes me!
Cordelia is one of them.
She's coming from Fairy tale ,a kind of singing Rapunzel princess or Fairy cinderella, with an adorable voice and so much talent at the piano.

Cordelia is on top of that a very pretty girl inside out, well it radiates and she is also so mature and smart for her age.
This girl kicks ass ^__^

Cordelia is a beautiful soul who will (no doubt) with work and time grow into a great artist, I wouldn't be surprised in some years to buy her cd :)
She is intelligent and has great taste in music and has a lovely honesty of being,no gloss no pretense which doesn't ruin the image she gives of her.

She is multi talented and she keeps it real! You rock girl!
so I wanted to share this talented sugary gem with you all.
Go send your praise guys! Cordelia is really one of a kind!



1) give us first a little biography of who you are,
how and when you begin piano and singing, when you
decide to go for youtube etc, your artistic path :)


Well, my name's Cordelia and I'm 14 years old =]


I began playing the piano when I was about 5 or 6 - my
music teacher at Junior School liked my singing and
thought that I should learn the piano so that I could
accompany myself - possibly the best thing she
could've done! I really like being able to sing and
play songs together =]
I've been singing practically all my life - my parents
are both really musical, so when they would be singing
songs around the house, I'd just copy them, so I was
singing the Hallelughia Chorus at age 6 =]]

I decided to go for youtube because around last
Christmas I really discovered how fantastic it was -
and I felt that getting comments on my singing would
be really helpful for improvement =]] I also thought
that because I was commenting (really harshly) on some
singing videos - which I regret now =/ and I thought
that I should post videos of myself, so people could
judge me too =]




2)Tell me about your muses? the persons you admire the
most and who have helped you improve and develop your
own gift?

I think that Vanessa Carlton really plays a big part
in my music - she makes a living from playing the
piano and singing, which is what I want to do. She
also isn't really famous - which I think is good,
because she doesn't get loads of bad press from
magazines, which I think would be good. But she also
has fans worldwide, so I think she's got exactly the
right mix of popularity and unpoplarity (?) lol =]]


3) Do you want to do this as a career and which part
do you prefer in this?the singing or the playing
music?


I think I do want to do it as a career - I know that
it definitely won't be easy, but I'd like to have a go
at least.
Ahh I couldn't choose! Probably being able to do both
at the same time! =D


4)How do you feel when you sing,what does singing
bring to your life?

I love to sing, I sing around the house, I sing at
school, I even sing when I'm just waling along
sometimes - and I love the fact that I can actually
sing. I think that without music, my life wouldn't
really have a meaning. I just feel diferent when I
sing - I'm definitely more confident.

5)Do you compose music and/or write song lyrics
yourself?(if you want to share one ;)


I do =]]
On my youtube channel, there's a video called "Better
Memories (original)" which is, in fact, my own song -
lyrics and all =]]




6)do you have any other talents and which ones would
you like to have?

Not really! lol - I like English and History at
school though =]]
I'd like to play the guitar - but I'm really busy at
the moment, so I don't think that it's gonna happen
anytime soon =[


7)How do people around you and online react about your
talent? (I mean are they interested? Do you get lots
of good feedback or unpleasants one etc?)

Well my father watches my videos religiously, which
REALLY annoys me - but I can't stop him, so I just
have to cope with it =] Most people in my school know
about my youtube, and also watch my videos =]
I don't get that many hater comments - I get a few,
but that's to be expected. Most of the feedback I get
is really good - which makes me happy =D
i also had an awful lot of comments on the videos
where I talk saying "hey, omg I love your accent, it's
sooooo hot" which kinda annoys me, but hey =]]


8)how would you describe the emotional landscapes of
the music you like to sing and play?

Well I like mostly singing quite downbeat stuff - I
don't really like Beyonce or Rhianna or anything like
that - I like more classic styles of singing - I like
Regina Spektor a lot - if you haven't heard of her,
check her out! She's awesome =]]



9)what are you biggest fears,dreams,goals,at the
moment?

One of my biggest fears is that I won't get passes in
my major exams
that are coming up next year - and that I'll lose my
voice permanently, or go blind or deaf or something =/

10)the first time I saw you I thought you looked like
a little fairy playing the piano, so I wanted to know
do you like fairies? fairytales? which one do you
identify the most?

Aw really? That's so cool =D
I love fairies =D I think they're really cool and
priddy =]] lol =D
I don't really know about fairytale - I like most
fairytales, bubt probably one of my favourites is
Cinderella =D
I don't really think that I identify with any
fairytales - my life hasn't been that extreme yet! =D




(nb:maybe I didn't share the best videos, there are many that kind be seen at her youtube,but I did love these!she's our future tori amos ^_^)