Member Spotlight: Ellen Lai

I’m Ellen Lai, a Chinese, born and living in Singapore.

I found Paper Traders by chance while clicking links when hopping between blogs, and joined Paper Traders about a year ago.  This is about one of the most active groups I’m in, with a number of swaps going and a good number of participants.  I also enjoy the variety of different types of swaps we have here. I counted 10 swaps I have joined so far.

I have been crafting since young.  I remembered sewing lots of hand puppets and making crepe paper roses with my grandmother in my primary school days (7 to 12 years old) for school charities.  A little bit of cross-stitch, crochet and knitting too.  And there was my favourite set of origami books my father bought for me then.  Fond memories of childhood! I always joined the schools’ Art Club.  I remembered doing all those face masks for my secondary school’s play “Animal Farm”.  We had so much fun thinking up the concepts and spent hours and hours making all the animal masks, starting from paper mache over blow-up balloons!  I also took paid classes and join free workshops since I started working some 20 years ago.  Here in Singapore, art and crafts are not as popular, we do not have those craft fairs or guilds. However, people are now more exposed and there are more happenings than before.

I’m not so much an artist and my drawing sucks, especially drawing portraits!  I’m more a crafter and likes to try all sort of crafts, but tatting is the one that I have been doing constantly since I learnt to tat 14 years ago.  Now my forte, I design tatting patterns and teach whenever there are opportunities or when people approach me.  With a full-time day job in the construction industry and 3 schooling children (a boy and 2 girls between 12 and 17) , my hands are usually full and in fact up to my neck, I can only do small projects. For the past 8 years, I have been participating in swaps in tatted laces (though seldom now), and more in ATCs, inchies, postcards, Moos, paper dolls, button fairies, little books and whatever interesting that comes, and I can still squeeze out time.  My proudest collection is the set of fabric ATCs on the alphabet theme which I hand-sewed over a year and a half, featuring a tatted critter for each of the alphabet.

I’m not drawn to any particular artist or crafter, or perhaps, I just don’t have the time to study anyone, though I really love and are inspired by nature, especially flowers and butterflies.  Well, I’m working on a little tatting book on hearts now and looking to finish it before mid-year to self-publish it, and slowly fine-tuning more tatting patterns to go in hopefully a 2nd and 3rd books.  That’s my dream!

Some original tatting patterns designed and tatted by Ellen: Merlion, Vanda Miss Joaquam, hibiscus, goldfish.

Member Spotlight: Shelly Recicar

This month our spotlight is shining on Paper Traders member, Shelly Recicar!

How did you find Paper Traders?
I found Paper Traders surfing the Net.

How long have you been a member?
I have been a member three years.

Where do you live?
I live in Boca Raton, Florida (USA) which is about an hour north of Miami.

How have your surroundings affected your art? 
Florida is bright and sunny and tropical. Much of my art is bright and the flora and fauna of the region are often the subjects in my work.

Please share a little about your own art experience.
I find art to be a great outlet of expression.  I have a passion for creating.  I cannot imagine life without art.  I am not afraid to try new things and am constantly experimenting with different techniques.

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?
I enjoy mixing paint and collage.  I like the look of layers and texture which this combination provides.  I also love to watercolor.

What inspires you?
Anything can bring inspiration.  Inspiration is often spontaneous for me.  I do rely on the Internet - especially Pinterest - and my photos for inspiration if something around me has not sparked my creativity.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?
I find that mixed media contemporaries inspire me more than traditional artists.  I really like the work of Julie Fei Fan Balzer, Teesha Moore and Roben Marie Smith who, coincidentally, all produce colorful work that combines paint and collage!

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?
I have a separate room for my artistic pursuits.  I have a paper table and a sewing table and a cutting table which is usually piled high with things that I have not put up.  There are two tall bookcases - one for paper and one for sewing.  Above my paper table are shelves as well.  The closet has shelves on one side and I keep my paper things there.  On the hanging side, I have fabric things in labeled boxes.  I also have many cabinets with fabric and patterns and books in my air-conditioned garage.

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?
I love to use boxes and bins. Whenever I cut out an image, I toss it in a box. I have shoe box sized cardboard boxes which are labeled by category such as winged animals, females, tags, etc. They are stacked on top of each other and do not take up much room. Then, when I work on a project it is easy to locate the images.  I keep 2 gallon baggies for cut-up paper (that is primarily one color) from junk mail and magazines.  I have a separate bag for each color.  These are placed in a wooden crate that tangelos came in.

Please share a little about your family and pets...
I have been married 31 years and have two daughters, 23 and 25 years old.  They both have their own places but you never know how many times a week they may drop by because they both live near us.  We have two King Charles Cavaliers and a tuxedo cat.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I am an only child who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) with her parents and both of her grandmothers under the same roof.  My Mom and Grandmothers were always working on a sewing or craft project.  I never remember a time when something artistic was not in progress at our home.  I took art throughout high school and started out as an art major.  I changed my major to journalism my junior year and then pursued a Master's degree in English.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
I have two other major hobbies.  I am an avid quilter.  I have an art quilt group that meets at my house every week and I belong to two other quilting bees and two quilt guilds.  I find that if you can do it on paper , you can do it on fabric and vice versa.  Experimenting with techniques from both hobbies has really broadened my horizons.  I am also a boater/fisherman.  We live on the Intracoastal and have a 44 ft. Sea Ray Sundancer docked in our back yard. We fish, we do weekend raft ups, and we take trips to the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.  The Bahamas are only  three hours by boat from our house. Our favorite marina is at South Beach Miami.  What fun!

Member Spotlight: Debra Claxton

It's time for another member spotlight and this month the light is shining on... 

Debra Claxton!

How did you find Paper Traders?
I was searching for art images on the internet and saw some work done for Yahoo Groups.  I went there and searched for collage & mixed media.  Many sites were available, but I waited about 4 months before committing to sign up!  Paper Traders seemed to be the BEST of all I viewed.

How long have you been a member?
3 years

Where do you live?
I live about 45 miles north of Chicago, in a rural/small town called Hainesville.  It is actually attached with the same zip code to the town next door where I grew up, Grayslake, Illinois.

How have your surroundings affected your art?
Nature, nature, nature.  There was no internet, cell phones, etc. when I was a kid.  We were outdoors playing all the time, day and night, during all seasons in a small-town setting.

Please share a little about your own art experience.
I always drew, colored, and painted - even when I was very little.  So the adults around me supported that and kept me supplied with art materials.  I always liked solitude; and looking back, I think this nourished my interest in art.  We all need time to process the visual world and store our impressions. It takes time. I took two years of art in high school and got an Art Education degree in college. I taught Elementary Art for a while.  And I may not have been the best artist, but I like to think I was a very good teacher!

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?
I love collage.  I also do a lot of work with watercolors and colored pencils.  I like to try new ways to “blend” them and soften their look.  Pen & ink techniques interest me, too.  And recently I have been making friends with acrylics.  I am trying to loosen up a bit and be more abstract.  I was a graphic designer (prior to teaching) and that experience with design has been an ongoing influence.

What inspires you?
Everything... not a very interesting answer, sorry!!!

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?
Artists that have taken risks are inspiring. I recently took my first trip to France and walked in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh in Arles, where he lived and worked for a few years.  He knew his work was not popular at the time and yet he kept painting because it fed his soul.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?
Finally, I have a space to work.  Just this summer we turned an open loft space into my art area.  Before that my supplies were in the garage, dining room, laundry room, under my bed, etc... Now at last everything is within 6 feet of my desk.  I worked on one end of a dining room table for many years - so now it's a thrill to have my own space!

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?
The biggest issue is time - so I call making art my “work”  and when I go to work I allow myself to ignore the phone, laundry, shopping, husband, and whatever else beckons.  It helps if the people around you respect your need to be your creative self.  I choose a consistent time of the day or week that is just set aside for my art - and hope for the best!

Please share a little about your family and pets...
We have three grown children. Our son is 26 and our daughter is 24. I have a step-daughter who is 32. They all have careers and are out of the house.  We often babysit our only grandson (20 months old).  No pets yet - but maybe someday!

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?  
My husband and I are bicyclists.  We have done many 3 - 5 day biking trips where you peddle from hotel to hotel.  I think an appreciation of the outdoors and fitness inspired this activity.  We also love to travel and hope to do more now that we are both retired.

Below are some samplings of Debra's fabulous work:

Member Spotlight Time - Bevlea Ross

 This month our Member Spotlight is shining on Bevlea Ross.

How did you find Paper Traders?

I heard about PT through three friends who are members.. they seem to be having way too much fun without me so I applied for membership.

How long have you been a member?
This time around... About six months... I originally joined the group in 2006 but left after a few years due to ‘real life’ time pressures... However as things settled down, and I was only working part time now I asked to rejoin

Where do you live?
Home is Mill Park, Melbourne, Australia... Its an outer northern suburb of Melbourne. Mill Park is a ‘new’ suburb and only came into being about 20 years ago...we are on the outskirts with National Parks and forests at our back – and yes, its not unusual to see a kangaroo hopping down the road due to our close proximity to the bush lol

Please share a little about your own art experience.
I come from a family where something was always being made.. Mum knitted, sewed clothes for us kids as well as my dolls, embroidered... Dad made wooden toys (wish I still had that dolls house he made me), hook rugs, also embroidered... It rubbed off on us... I have knitted, sewed, embroidered, cross stitched, macrame'd, painted, made cloth dolls, porcelain dolls, cottage crafts (oh the lace we went through making those tissue box covers)... Around 2002 I became interested in ATCs..which lead to altered books.. Which lead to art journals. I went 'off the boil' for a while with ATCs while I experimented with the altered books etc., but have come full circle back to them.. And now like to include them in my art journals etc

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?
I love vintage and shabby chic... and playing with paint to create backgrounds.. I have a ‘texture box’ that contains all sorts of found objects that I use for adding texture and layers to the piece I am working on... gesso is my friend.. I use it in about every piece lol..

What inspires you?
images.. hands down every time.. I usually see an image I like and the rest of the piece is built around it.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?
love the work of Finnabair.. took a class with her this year.. love the way her work is tactile.. there is depth to it... also love DJ Pettitt...the way she incorporates her photos into her artwork (I’m also a shutterholic) .. I admire the work of Susan Lenart Kazmer and Stephanie Baron Lee.. and still make jewellry using what I learnt from them

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?
We moved in April and I have a small studio – its only 8ft x 10 ft but I love it.. .I had to divest myself of LOT of supplies I had collected but never used to fit it in there.. and as I like ‘neat’ and ‘pretty’ that I have the rule that if it doesn’t fit, theme or spacewise, then it doesn’t go in there lol. I painted the walls a soft turquoise, all the fittings are white with touches of black. I have a shabby chic table as my workbench... it has built in wardrobes across one wall so I filled the robe space with cubes and book cases and lots go in there so the room doesn’t look crowded. ... I blogged about the setting up of the new room here http://artiology.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/new-house-new-studio.html

Please share a little about your family and pets...
We were a family of myself, hubby, grown up daughter, three dogs and a cat... but Cino, our bichon/maltese cross passed away at 15 yrs old a few months ago.. and last week my daughters poodle Teddy was euthanised with liver failure... so now its one dog and the cat.... our little Cavalier King Charles girl called Maggie.. she’s only 5 but is stone deaf – has been since we got her as a pup... and my daughters rag doll cat who considers himself totally in charge..

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
I love to take photographs... started with a box brownie when I was 13 and over the years have owned instamatics, polaroid's, 35mm film camera etc., three years ago I bought my first DSLR and love it.. I now have a Canon 7D ... shoot in RAW .. thanks to lessons from DJ Pettitt on a holiday we took together... I’m not a professional.. just a keen amateur... but love to enter competitions (never won any lol) and share my work on http://www.viewbug.com/member/bevlea#/bevlea/activity

Thanks Bevlea!! We enjoyed learning more about you.

Member Spotlight Time - Mel Dunkley

At Paper Traders, we love learning more about

our fabulous members and so

this month our Spotlight is shining on

Mel Dunkley. 

I found Paper Traders by searching in the Yahoo groups for a new group with different challenges. I have been on other groups for a few years, but it is nice to branch out, get different ideas and be inspired by different artists.

I live in Oakham, a small town in a rural area of the middle of England (near Leicester/Nottingham), with my husband, two children (8 and 14) and my little pug dog, Katie. I work in mental health in Leicester and it is lovely to drive back to such beautiful countryside at the end of a busy day.

I grew up in Yorkshire, in the north of England and always enjoyed creating things from an early age. I remember learning to knit, sew and crochet, made my own clothes and dabbled in jewellery making. I was always useless at art at school and quickly realised that I cannot draw at all. It was only in adult life that I realised I could create artwork without having to!

With a full time job, two kids and a house to look after, I don't have spare time to do anything much other than art, although I love socialising with friends. Recently, my son stopped using the conservatory as a play room, so it has evolved into my craft space. I love having an area that can be messy all the time!

I love Van Gogh, Picasso and Kandinsky, but am equally inspired by modern day artists like Teesha Moore, Tracy Bautista and many of the artists' work that I come across on groups like this. And, of course, my craft room would be half empty if it wasn't for Sir Tim Holtz.

If you would like to join Paper Traders and be a fabulous member
 like Mel, click on the purple yahoo
button in the right sidebar for more information.

It's Member Spotlight Time.....

....and this time it is shining on

Nydia Dominguez.

How did you find Paper Traders? I was invited by Pam Prosser to check you guys out since I was enjoying expanding my artwork to outer limits.

How long have you been a member? I have only been with the group for a few months. I was welcomed into Paper_Traders in March 2013

Where do you live? I live in Meriden, Connecticut in the USA.

How have your surroundings affected your art? I tend to look around me to see what I can use to include in any of my projects. The seasons also affect my artwork as I love to use botanical, birds and seasonal themes. I adore Spring! It gives me life. I am reborn along with the buds and blossoms after all the snow melts away.

Please share a little about your own art experience. I was always drawn to art as a child. Drawing at the kitchen table. I went on in studies in Art. I have a BS in Studio Art.

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres? My favorite medium are soft pastels but I have been turned on to collage and mixed medium and get get enough of it!

What inspires you? Beauty around me, Springtime, and bright colors.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this? Leonardo DaVinci especially for his drawings and studies, Frida Kalo for the colors and thought process in her paintings and Georgia O'Keeffe for her botanical work.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room? My studio is pretty messy and cluttered(I think I need to save so many things). I am in the process of re-doing it to have it organized.

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art? Bins so far...I've researched, measured my studio room and will have my sister and brother-in-law build me my work area, counters and cubbies...now to empty out my studio into large bins! hahaha...

Please share a little about your family and pets... I am married to a big rig trucker, and have two sons(16 and 26). I have a granddaughter and a grandson (expected any day now) and a Skye Terrier.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began. I am the first born of 3 siblings and I tended to be shy. I used to aways draw on scraps and napkins and doodled all over in my notebooks. My favorite class was art.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests? I collect anything that has ladybugs on it!... my youngest son has Aspergers Syndrome(On the Autism Spectrum). I am focused on sharing Autism Awareness in our community. I teach Art to teens and young adults on the Spectrum at Autism Services and Resource Center

The work I have included is recent for the Puerto Rican Festival we just had this past Sunday. I sold The Magi 14x17 collage.

~Nydia
http://nydiart.blogspot.com

Member Spotlight: Roselyn Pratt

Welcome to another Paper Traders Member Spotlight.

This month we are shining the light on:

Roselyn Pratt

How did you find Paper Traders?
I found out about PT through my good friend Melissa Wilson, she is one of your mods. She was so positive and excited about her experience I had to check it out.

How long have you been a member?
I've been a member since May.

Where do you live?
I live in American Falls, Idaho. 

How have your surroundings affected your art? 
Where I live is rural or a better way to describe it is RURAL with a capital R. I am no longer able to have all things cultural at my fingertips. I've found living here affects your art in the way you need to be deliberate and work hard at your creativity. Search it out, it's not falling in your lap here. (Although Idaho is BEAUTIFUL! :)

Please share a little about your own art experience.
I have always enjoyed being an artist, even as a small child. My dad would come have lunch with me in grade school, all the kids loved him. He was an excellent artist (drawing anything) and he would do caricatures of all the kids at my table. It was fascinating to me. My parents were friends with a well-known local artist, suddenly I was spending every minute with her, drawing and painting. She was an excellent teacher/mentor, really put me through my paces, and I was eight years old. 

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?
My favorite genre of art? Drawing and painting. I'm currently doing a portrait class with the portrait artist Dan Lewis. I enjoy mural work. I'm known to try different styles, most recently modern/minimal art in the spirit of Yves Klein. (Also one of my favorite artists :) 

What inspires you? Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this? 
Surrealism artist Rene Magritte is a favorite. The imagination it takes, the stories you make up in your head as your viewing his art...so fun! I've mentioned Klein- his work is pure and beautiful. Rodin's sculptures, Cezanne, Georgia O'Keeffe, Edvard Munch, Paul Klee to name a few. :)

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room? What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?
My studio has recently been organized! What a good feeling, huh? I have four different table surfaces, each serves a different purpose. I love the tiled floor because the mess/spill factor is a non-issue. I have one wall of open shelving, and a roll around paint cart (very handy). 

Please share a little about your family and pets...
I have such a fun family! My husband John is a farmer, with a B.S. in Zoology who loves reggae music. Oldest son Dylan, 20, is currently serving a mission in the Philippines for our church. He had been attending ISU pursuing a degree in pharmacy.  My daughter Hannah will be a senior. She sings/dances/cheers/runs track/athlete/plays violin and guitar, an all around entertaining and fun kid. My baby Luke, is the sweetest! Because he's 12 and still let's me call him the baby. He's a hard worker, spending this summer (like his siblings) in a tractor working for his dad. 

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I grew up in Missouri with an amazing and talented family. With parents who owned and ran a full-line music store/studio. They gave us five kids every possible opportunity. I'm a classically trained violinist who attended college on a viola scholarship. I ended up playing so many instruments because mom would tell the 20 teachers who worked for her....don't bother with rent, just put Roselyn in your piano, guitar, banjo, flute, trumpet, drums, violin, viola, dance, clogging, and the list goes on....lesson. It was convenient as we lived downtown in the loft above the store. In 1986 the governor of Missouri recognized our family as the 'Most Musical Family of the Year'. I'm very grateful to my family. My background has helped me so much, since living in rural Idaho I sometimes work to find or provide myself the artistic or cultural experience we all want for our families.  I've been a violin teacher for 28 years, running a private studio for 18. I'm enjoying a sabbatical as my kids fly the coop. Pocatello Idaho has a symphony I currently play with - they're great! 

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?  
As for other interests outside of art and music, John and I enjoy traveling very much. Winter brings opportunity for travel (farmer remember :) we try to pick new places, but London and Paris are still my go-to/favorites. 

Thanks for having such a wonderful group. The Paper Traders site is amazing and well run. Thanks for including me, I look forward to swapping with all of you guys!!! :)  
--
Roselyn Pratt

Another Member Spotlight

Welcome to another Paper Traders Member Spotlight.

This month we are shining the light on:

Marion Bockelmann

How did you find Paper Traders?
I had met the three sisters who founded this group in another Yahoo group. We had traded ATCs there, and they liked mine, so they invited me when they founded this group.

How long have you been a member?
I joined in November 2005, so I'm here for almost 8 years.

Where do you live?
I live in Münster, Germany. It's a middle sized town (300.000 inhabitants) between Hamburg and Cologne in the North-West of Germany, near the Dutch border. I came to Münster to study at the university when I was 19, and now I'm stuck here for 30 years ;-) Well, it's a really nice place to live.

How have your surroundings affected your art? 
They probably give me the opportunity to create: I need inspirational input from museums, libraries, concerts, theatre, a zoo, cinemas and so on, and as a university town, Münster has all these, but is also a quiet place with more bikes than cars.

Please share a little about your own art experience.
I've always been creative. As a child, I drew and learned as many art techniques as I could find in books. As a teenager, I wrote stories and poems and knitted all my self-designed sweaters. While studying in Münster, I had a job in a shop for buttons, yarns, and beads for 1 1/2 years where I learned some beadworking techniques and could help our customers with their knitting problems. In 1999 I started stamping and never stopped doing it - I just combined it with more and more mixed-media techniques over the years. A few years ago I also started learning Photoshop and am still learning every day - digital collages have become a clean alternative to my usual messy artwork. I can do it on my desk in my living room while I have to sit at my kitchen table when it gets messy ...

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres? 
I love doing collages of any kind - including stamping, sewing, digital collages or assemblages. I just like to put stuff together that looks like it needs a new life.

What inspires you?
Music and books, and of course other artists' work. Most of my pieces start with a few words that are going around in my brain, others just come together because there are leftovers from finished projects on my table that build up their own story while I collage them, and in the end you'll probably find words on that piece again ...

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this? 
While I only admire some artists like Dürer, van Eyck, and Rogier van der Weyden, but can't learn anything from these heroes, there are others whose art has been more similar to what I'm doing - just MUCH better. That's why I love Max Ernst's artwork though I'm not a big fan of surrealism. But he has started with DADA art which has been the beginning of mail art, then he invented some great art techniques like frottage and grattage, and he made the most fabulous collages from old book illustrations that I've ever seen. Of course he's been a great painter and sculptor, too, but I prefer his paper work and especially his cut and paste art.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room? 
I live in a very small one room flat, and as I have to sleep in my living room, I have to create at my kitchen table. As I also like to cook, my kitchen is always a mess, and the only good thing is that I don't have guests often ... when I have guests, it takes several hours to put away my messy stuff so that my guests dare to eat what comes out of my messy kitchen. I'd love to have more space, but I can't afford a bigger flat. I already spend one half of my income to pay the one I have.

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?
Well, I wouldn't call it a trick: I just put my art stuff everywhere and don't have guests anymore ;-) And instead of cleaning, I often sit down and rather make a mess.

Please share a little about your family and pets...
Apart from the family I was born in, I don't have a family and no pets either. I've had several long-time partners but am a single now for many years.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I was born in Cologne, a much bigger city than Münster (1.000.000 inhabitants). I had two sisters and a brother, all much older than me. When I was 9 years old, we moved to Bremen (600.000 inhabitants) where I finished school before I moved to Münster at the age of 19. My father (who died when I was 21) liked drawing and was quite gifted, but it wasn't before he lost his night sleep because of lung cancer that he started painting with watercolours. During his last years, he sat there all night in our living room with a daylight lamp, painting to forget his pain. I've been the happy receiver of his watercolour box and still use it.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?  
More often than doing art, you'll find me reading what is called "a good book". In fact I never leave my home without a book, and there isn't one day that I'm not reading. When I don't read novels or poetry, I choose books about art or history. I also like to knit but don't do it as intensely as when I was 17; nowadays I mostly knit socks which gives me the feeling that watching TV isn't that useless because I can knit while watching a film or series. I also like playing games of any kind, from computer or card or board games to having fun with my pub quiz team.
--
Marion Bockelmann
http://bockel24.blogspot.com

Our New Member Spotlight

Welcome to another Paper Traders Member Spotlight.

 This month we are shining the light on

Sheryl Rubio

How did you find Paper Traders?
I thank the people that I have traded ATCs with in the past, for leading me to Paper Traders.
I really enjoy Paper Traders! I sometimes get so involved in looking for ideas, color trends
and techniques that I fail to save time for actually making something. Paper Traders gives me (much needed!) focus.

How long have you been a member?
Since March of 2012

Where do you live?
In the Beautiful city of Atlantic Beach, Florida!

How have your surroundings affected your art?
I truly believe that living in a place that has a longer 'summer' season has lightened up the mood, feel and colors of my creations.(I moved to the coast from a large city in another state)
My style has definitely changed in the last few years. I used to do a lot of pen and ink
 pieces that, in the end, took on a 'tattooish' look.

Please share a little about your own art experience.
I have gone from painting in my Grandmother's studio from the time I was old enough to hold a paintbrush - to designing posters, t-shirts and CD covers for bands - to
painting murals in homes and restaurants in Atlanta - to painting large pieces of decorative furniture for interior design stores. One of my creations is in a video
production from a large music festival. It has been fun!

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?
I love doing faux finishes. Acrylics are my favorite to paint with. I have always been a paper addict!
 So now I am into mixed media collage.

What inspires you?
Wow, that one really makes me think! Sometimes I hear some good song lyrics that I can 'literally' see in my head, and I come up with a design. Sometimes my children will say something interesting that I turn into a 'visual'.  Lately I have been working with quotes from famous people and illustrating them - I like to play around with creative lettering techniques. I guess almost anything can get me in a creative mood!

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?
In the fine art world, I have, for many years, been a fan of the Wyeth family. Their New Englad scenery and life depiction has always attracted me.
As far as commercial art, I really like Susan Branch. I WISH I could watercolor just half as well as she!
And I am currently loving Christy Tomlinson, Seth Apter, Pam Carriker and a few other collage artists.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?
I do have my own room, and it's a room full! I have a cabinet for my sewing machine, supplies and fabrics. The closet has my drawing table and supplies in it. I have another large armoire that has
scrapbooking supplies. I have a bazillion rubber stamps! and inks in pretty much every color available. And there'a a corner for jewelry making supplies, beads and tools. My
paper supply is huge! 12 x 12 paper packed in pizza boxes is in a stack approximately 4 feet high. There's bins with drawers that hold glue and templates and markers and crayons...
anyone who enters that room will come out with glitter on them. It's just a fact. That stuff never goes away!

Please share a little about your family and pets...
I have been blessed. I have fabulous parents that gave me years of praise and encouragement to do the things of my dreams. I am lucky enough to have the best, sweetest most kind, considerate and loving man
in the world who shares and backs me in my interests (mostly music), and raised four beautiful daughters that keep our lives together at 'full speed'.The girls are on their own now, so Kyle and I share our beach
home with a lovely 3 year old AmStaff. Her name is Shadow.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I was born and raised in Atlanta. I spent summers (and pretty much every other holiday) with my Grandparents in Florida.
That's where I really got my culture - My Grandmother was a great artist, and musician.
 My best memories are of the two of us doing something artfully productive. Among soooo many other things, she taught me to crochet when I was 8.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
Yep! We are a musical family.
We plan vacations around music festivals. All of the daughters love to go! I started playing classical guitar when I was 12. Years later decided I wanted to play banjo. Between the two of us, Kyle and I have 5 guitars, the banjo and half a room full of amplifiers and other 'stuff' so that we/he (mostly he) can play music loudly!

The girls surf and Kyle likes that too, but I choose stand-up paddleboarding instead. Our outdoor shed looks like a surf shop!
Our home is a very fun place :-D

Member Spotlight on "Fairyrocks"

by Pam C.

Welcome to another Paper Traders Member Spotlight. This month we are shining the light
on Pam Colosimo aka Fairyrocks.

How did you find Paper Traders?
I was googling around after I finally got high speed internet. I typed in 'Paper Ephemera'
 visited a few sites and then stumbled upon Paper Traders. I haunted the site
 for a few months before making the commitment to join the yahoo group.
I think the first thing I did was trade some real paper ephemera with Beckie.
 I had a look around at the challenges, swaps and artwork. I was hooked.

How long have you been a member?
I think I have been a member for approximately 2 years, give or take a few months.

Where do you live?
I live in Central Alberta, Canada. I am a country dweller and have
to drive about a half an hour to the nearest town and an hour to
 the nearest small city.

How have your surroundings affected your art?
I live in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and can in fact
see them out my kitchen window. I don't draw mountains,
 but nature is a kind of muse for my soul.
I garden through much of our short summers.

I have a lot of time to myself, in fact I am very selfish with my time.
I am one of the very very lucky women who does not have to work
full time any more. My husband supports me
in any endeavor. In fact he always has the right answer
"why yes dear, I can see why you need that"

Please share a little about your own art experience.
I never ever considered myself an artist. I simply play with paper,
glue and paints. I love collage type assemblage. Paper traders is
allowing me to stretch my mind and try a hand at many new things.
By trade I am a memorial stone carver, more about that later.
But, it involves planning and doing graphics for the stones.
I think that, more than anything, made me want to leap from
stone to paper arts.

There are so many real artists and so much fantastic product
that makes it possible for me to put a personal swing on my creations.
 'Debbie Travis' was my first big Paint Star Hero.
 I still use many of her techniques just on a smaller scale.

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?
The first actual big deal painting I did was acrylic on the floor of
our old fixer upper farm house. The kids were little and we were
short on cash. so instead of replacing the carpet
we pulled up, I painted the boards and then did a copy cat mural
 on the floor. I think it was that 'Kolhr ad with the tulips' I love that artwork.
It turned out good enough. I have done trompe l'oeil on at least a
 few walls of every house  we have lived in as well.

I love to make big plans and then see them through to
the finished item. Smaller things I do for paper traders
type ATC's and artsy bits are sometimes a jumping off point
for larger things. I am primarily a scrap booker, because I need
to tell the stories and preserve the memories. I have made
cards, but really don't enjoy them. My hat is off to the card makers.

 I am an accomplished sewer, I have sewn wedding dress and
patched heavy canvas tents, and everything you could imagine
 in between. Having had 4 daughters, I made them all their
 little girl dresses. But, they grow up and now I just mostly
sew art journals or on my scrapbook pages.

I also love to take old items and make them into something else.
Printers tray's, old wood boxes. You name it, if am idea hits me I will alter .

What inspires you?
Inspiration? I love other peoples work. At first,  I feared I would
never have an original idea, but it seems, the more I see, the greater I reach.
I am always inspired by a good poem, story, song and do
frequent interviews with my children and grand children.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?
I love the realism of 'Bev Doolittle' Sephen Lynman's landscapes
Tom Cross for his fantasy fairy work of course. We have a gallery collection
of their numbered prints; da Vinci drawings and sketches.
{can only dream of owning a print of that caliber}
I guess I love any fairy that looks real.

On the flip side, cave paintings and stone symbols fascinate me.
 I think the cave -man gets credit for those.
However I am of the opinion at some point his wife said to him
{in cave language} Look Thagg, if I have to live here for one more
winter with nothing but bare walls to stare at, I am going to
go positively mad!! Put something on that wall would you? And he did.
Ruin stones with markings as well.
That in a nut shell is how I see our human need to have beauty around us.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?
Here again, I do have my own space. I am lucky luck girl.
I currently can be found most days in the farthest room
of our basement. I planned it and my DH did much of the groundwork
so I could have extra plugins.
I did all the finishing my self. It is a light robin egg blue on 2 walls
and a sand on the other 2. I have two nice size windows that let in
a lot of day light. It is my happy place. You can see
photos in detail on my blog.
I have a huge home made work desk top. And enough supplies
that if I was locked in there for years, I would only have to come
out to get food.
{I have a secret stash of extra dark chocolate on hand in the room} 

 
What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche
 for your supplies and art?
This is a hard question for me. We have a large house, my husband works away,
so I just take over where ever I feel like working. Garage, basement wherever.
Depending on what I am working on.
I have a high rate of starting and getting things done.
 I am one of those people that will never have
'nothing to do' I dream big dreams and go to sleep
 planning what I am going to make the next day.
I only purchase items that are on sale. even if it is only 10% off.
I do the research before I buy now. I didn't always and have made
 some pretty bad purchases on a whim.

Please share a little about your family and pets...
Currently in house, I have 2 late teen daughters. We share our house with 2 cats,
1 large dog, 1 snake, and many dust bunnies.
Out of home, I have 2 grown daughters
and 5 grand children. . Outside we have one mini pony, one mini donkey
and a mini hiney which is the mix of the aforementioned two.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood,
 where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I grew up not far from where I live now. However I have traveled
with my husband and called home to many provinces in Canada
even if it was only for a few months at a time. I come from a time
when indoor plumbing was something the neighbors had.
I think I was 12 when we finally got indoor facilities.
I have an appreciation for creature comforts.

My first artistic love was a huge thick coloring book and a
large box of crayons. I packed it everywhere with me.
It was my favorite toy. I know why now. I wasn't much of a color-er,
but that didn't stop me trying. When I was in grade 4 art class the teacher
drug me to the back of the class to look at the mountains,
and point out how my purple triangular peeks with white tops,
looked nothing like the real mountains....she was right of course.
Ah, well I am almost over it, and I still don't draw mountains. LOL

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
I read I usually have 4 or more bed time novels going at once.
During the day I will read any thing that tells the story of mankind,
archaeology, things like that.
I write down the family stories and my fondest memories current and childhood.
I do love to tell a good story, and one day I may write a book. 

I love to travel to any where hot.
I am working on a full size 'Playhouse' renovation.
You can also read about that on my blog : fairyrocks.blogspot.com

I garden, scrapbook, sew, paint , building type construction, drywall,
I can do basic plumbing, pour cement, refinish furniture,
make memorial stones for cemetery's. I have a link to my 'Romancing the Stones'
blog on the sidebar of my Fairy Rocks and Things Blog
I have collected literally tons of rocks. Some of them I have been
packing with me since I was 8 years old.


Why Fairyrocks?
When I first started learning how to make memorial stones
I opened a small store. I needed a business name to register.
So, I called my self "Fairy Rocks and Things"
I just liked the name so much I kept it for everything and eventually
dropped the things off the end. I run under the pseudonym mostly
because I am a fairly private person and would
rather build a character for my creative outlets with that name.
It helps me keep my personal life private.
I know, sounds a little hokey, but it works for me.
And its fun.

March's Member Spotlight

This month our member spotlight is

shining on one of our newer members

Sandy Insley aka PUFF

Ribbon doll by PUFF

How did you find Paper Traders?

 I was looking for a very active group since I have just retired.

How long have you been a member?

About 6 months.

Where do you live?

I am moving to Arizona next week (March 13) from Ohio.

How have your surroundings affected your art?

Oh, very much so. I live in the country and love nature so this reflects in some of my work.

Please share a little about your own art experience.

I started out stamping because of my grandmother-in-law and then I tried pottery,stained glass, then ATC's and collage. Now I do so many different mediums that I am truly a mixed media artist.

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres? I really love to solder and I love making jewelry. ATC's are a real challenge because of the size. But my favorite thing to do is to take a box of whatever and try to create something wonderful from these pieces. As I go, I will add a few items that will make it all go together.

What inspires you?

Anything can be an inspiration. Sometimes a book or just something I notice in my day or looking at someone else’s work turns on my brain and off I go. Some times my muse is restless so I watch TV and that can set her off.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?

I admire a lot of the Impressionists for the flow and softness of their colors. Of today’s new mixed media artists, there are so many I admire and each for a different small thing, that I could not list them all.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?

I have an area where all my things are stored in relative organization. I go get what I want and work at the kitchen table so that I can watch TV and be near my husband and my dog, Sable. Sable likes to pick up anything I drop on the floor and it is a game with us for me to get it back. She also helps clean up any glitter or jewels, usually with her nose.

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?

The more you buy the bigger the niche. I have a ton of stuff and I mean a ton. I could open my own store. Now that we are packing to move and my husband has seen how much there is maybe he will let me have a room all to myself for a studio. In our last house he shared his gun reloading stuff with me and I think that he took over so much of my space. I moved my stuff to the garage as my storage and summer studio.

Please share a little about your family and pets.

 I am married to a guy that I decided to keep around for 20 years so far. We have a black Labrador Retriever Black Sable Rockhound. My husband raises fish as a living and I just retired. Sable collects rocks and loves to play but getting petted is her favorite thing, even more than food. Now that I am retired I have more time to do art and read and watch nature; my favorite three things, maybe not in that order. It is strange not to have to go to work everyday and you get mixed up with the day, date and time. I find myself doing projects very late at night more often than any other time. I just turned 50 so retirement is really great at this age.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.

I grew up in a small town in Ohio where football was everything. I went on to college at Ohio State University. I loved college and I did start out working within my field then I moved to another job within another field. I was a glutton for punishment and have 3 Bachelor Degrees. I changed jobs a lot but finally settled as a Color Chemist and this really spurned me on in my art work. I really have no formal training in art, I just do what the voices tell me. ( you all are jealous 'cause the voices only talk to me - LOL)

Do you have any other hobbies or interests? 

I have tons of hobbies. Outside of mixed media stuff, I do stained and fused glass and some pottery. I absolutely love, love, love to read and read 3-5 books a week. I love nature so watching nature is a big part of my time, especially birds. I like to ride my bike although there are not as many places to ride as I'd like and I really love to play with my dog as much as I can.

Oh yeah, sometimes I like to hang with my hubby. Actually we like to travel as much as we can. Especially to places near the beach where it is warm. I guess that is all I can tell you now. I love art and to express myself and sometimes you can tell my mood by my art because it can be dark and haunting and other times bright and funny. 

We hope you enjoyed this member spotlight.  

Member Spotlight Time!

From time to time at Paper Traders

we like to spotlight one of our members,

so that we can all get to know each other  better.

Today, our Member Spotlight is shining on

Jo Murray

How did you find Paper Traders?
I had joined several ATC trading sites, but they had limited membership and I seemed to be always trading with the same people, so I searched the web for a larger group. Paper Traders is enormous and also has various challenges that appeal to me.

How long have you been a member?
Only since July last year (2012)

Where do you live?
I’m a fortunate resident on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is, as the name implies, usually sunny and has beautiful beaches that go on forever.

How have your surroundings affected your art?
After moving from Sydney 12 years ago my palette has become more colourful, and sunny. I often use the colours of the sea, and plenty of yellow for the sunshine. I used to make pottery more often than paintings, but have recently given it up so that I can spend more time at the easel.

Please share a little about your own art experience.
As a very late starter (almost 40) I had to catch up quickly so spent seven years at college doing Visual Arts, Studio Ceramics, and Glaze Technology. The pottery was intended to pay for art materials as it is easier to sell pots than paintings, and I wasn’t up to prize-winning standard for years. Since coming to Queensland my painting has brought me more regular awards, and sales, so I felt free to give up making pots.

What are some of your favourite techniques or genres?
I LOVE mixed media, and am moving towards more abstract work. Collage has become a big part of my creative life.

What inspires you?
Good art, of any kind, is inspiring. I am an avid collector of art books, both on technique and individual artists. The more you look, the more you learn. Gallery visits are fairly regular, particularly if I can get a few ‘arty’ friends together for a gallery crawl.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and

what especially appeals to you about this?
It depends on what sort of art I’m doing at the time. Overall one has to be inspired by Picasso whose work was groundbreaking for its time, and still has relevance in today’s art scene. Currently the expressive paintings of Barbara Rae (http://www.barbararae.com/ ), a British artist, are whirling around in my mind. My collage hero is Steve Specht (http://monkeybrain-collagist.blogspot.com.au/ ). For mixed media…friend and local artist Noela Mills (http://wabisabiart.blogspot.com.au/) has an enormous range of skills, from jewellery, to making art books. I admire artists who are true to themselves and don’t slavishly follow trends but are trendsetters themselves.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?
I have my own workroom; it’s too messy to be called a studio. It is simply the area below the house. Our house is on a slope and the back is quite high, and bricked in. I guess the previous owners used it for storage. My husband put in a concrete floor, and sink, and added windows and lights, so that I have a well lit work area. Sometimes I am working on several projects, in different mediums, at once. Collage makes the biggest mess of all.

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?
Network! Visit local galleries often and tell the owners about your work. Enter any art competition you can. Just get your work out there! Some of my friends have open studios every so often, and have had a great response…and many sales. As for art supplies, do your research on the net. There are many discounts around, and loyalty cards.

Please share a little about your family and pets...
My only family, and pet, is my husband Richard. I adore him. He’s cuddly and cute, easy to take care of (tho’ a little difficult to train, but perseverance pays off), and loves me unconditionally.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, 

and when your creativity began.
I was born in a small town in country NSW, before the days of drugs, and violence. We had a carefree existence, roaming free around the countryside. I left there to go nursing, but found that I was not emotionally suited to be around the sick and dying. I tried lots of jobs, settling on office work, a fairly dreary way to spend the days. I moved to Papua New Guinea in my twenties, where I met my husband. After we moved back to Sydney he was studying at night for his job so I decided I should do something too. I went to a community school at night and thus began my artistic career. I soon realised that I needed to know a lot more, so I began a seven year commitment to college. Now I’m obsessed by art.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
Many…. photography, making beaded jewelery, reading, surfing the net. If only the days were longer.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know our Paper Traders member, Jo Murray.
We invite you to check out her blog at: http://jomurray-art.blogspot.com.au/

Member Spotlight - Beth Pollock

How did you find Paper Traders?
I hate to admit it but I discovered Paper Traders totally by accident one of those many days of just blog hopping.

How long have you been a member? 
I have been a member for 2 years.

Where do you live?
I live in rural New England in a small town called Harrisville in New Hampshire (USA).

How have your surroundings affected your art?
I live in the woods in an old converted barn that is 100+ years old. I am surrounded by peacefulness and calm and tons of wildlife. It is as if the 21st century doesn't even exist and I love it. This environment has contributed to my art in my photography... I can just run out the door and there are a myriad of wildflowers to take pictures of (well, only in the summer, of course - otherwise there is usually just lots of the white stuff! LOL). It has contributed to my nature writing since where I live is so rich with nothing but nature! In general, my studio looks out into the woods from two different sides - just serenity everywhere one looks. Of course you have to be one that loves this kind of setting - in the wild, removed from the modern hustle-and-bustle and, of course, I am one of those people.

Please share a little about your own art experience.
My art experience began early on in grade school where I became interested in drawing. In college, I took studio art classes in design, photography, calligraphy, drafting, pottery, and color theory. Then came the "real world" and work which was in no way related to art. After getting married, I became interested in fiber arts and took many, many quilting classes and amassed an enormous fabric collection, LOL!! Time meandered on, divorce occured, and I fell away from art completely for quite a few years. When I remarried, my new hubby took an interest in making me happy and art began reappearing; and in 2009 when I became permanently unemployed due to illness, I discoverd art on the internet and have not looked back since! I have taken mixed media classes with Suzi Blu, Christy Tomlinson, Monica Zuniga, Tam at Willowing, Effy at Wild Precious Studio, and so many more. I recently discovered handmade cards and am now on four different and wonderful design teams and having a blast. To sum things up, I would say both my art training and art are quite eclectic. There is no right or wrong way to approach art and the learning of... just have fun doing it and the rest will take care of itself.

Do you have a blog or photo site?
My blog is http://elisabetpollock.blogspot.com/ and is called Mossberry Cottage.

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?
My favorite genres are mixed media collage, mixed media acrylic painting and of course making handmade cards.

What inspires you?
That is a difficult one to answer but if hard pressed for something I would have to say color inspires me. I get excited when I see beautiful color combinations and the rest grows from there.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?
Not having studied art formally I don't know a lot of "famous" artists names but of course one is Georgia O'Keeffe with her amazing talent at taking a few shapes and colors and turning them into something beautiful. Two present-day artists whom I love and have taken many classes with and learned most of what I know are Moni Zuniga of Hands and Heart, and Tam of Willowing. These two ladies work and teaching styles have just spoken to me and made everything make sense... if you know what I mean?!

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?
I have turned the extra bedroom in our house into my studio - it is only 9'x10' but after redoing it over and over again this past summer and I finally got a layout that works. Perhaps what added to its functionality is that I realized some things about how I need to work - everything must be in sight otherwise I simply forget I have it and it never gets used. In order to accomplish this without making it look chaotic I lined all my walls with the plastic bins you can get at places like Walmart and they all sit on top of wooden crates as the base. The crates are my bookcases and this brings the plastic bins up to window sill level. It works fabulously, was inexpensive and looks pretty wonderful as well. I have a whole page on my blog of my studio remake that everyone is welcome to browse.

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?
Figure out what is important to you in organizing things - do you like coordinated furniture to store things out of sight? are you the comfortable messy type? or are you in the middle where you need to see your stuff but you also must have some semblance of order? Understanding how you work will help you immensely in setting up your studio space.

Please share a little about your family and pets.
My family consists of my DH who puts up with my art supply spending habit and spending most of my time in my studio! He critiques my work upon request and even makes suggestions! My pet is Raphael my loving adorable brown tiger kitty. I have a basket on my studio work desk where he can be close to me but still allowing me to work on my art... I call him my little Lancelot - he is just the sweetest kitty on the planet!

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I was born in Georgia and grew up in Chicago and New York City. I am an only child and have been on my own since I was unusually young... long story - bad choice on parents shall we say.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
Ahhh, now you have hit on a nerve... my problem is I am interested in everything. I get bored easily and am constantly trying new things. Currently I am working on trying to settle down into just a couple of mediums but there is just so much out there to learn today I find it quite difficult to sit still. I mean who said one has to be a specialist and focus on just one medium in order to accomplish some level of competence? :D

Member Spotlight - Nancy Slaby

How did you find Paper Traders?

Yahoo has a group search function, and I searched for “mixed media”.  If I find that I am not participating as a member of one group I will search for another option.  I am currently involved in three groups, one specifically for cards, one for ATC’s and Paper Traders.  I enjoy them all, the members are helpful, and the swaps are interesting and fun.

How long have you been a member?

I have been with Paper Traders March, 2011

Where do you live?

My home is in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Two Rivers is a city of 13,000 located north of Milwaukee right on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

How have your surroundings affected your art?

Having the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter affects my art.  I love the changes of the seasons, and love working with the coloring changes, in conjunction with the season colors.  Autumn gold’s, reds, rich dark oranges and deep greens, are probably my favorites.  But when spring rolls around, I change direction and find a new love of pastels, subtle colors, and glitzy Easter colors.  Winter brings out my cool blues, stark whites, purples, which is a welcome contrast to the colors of Christmas.  Summer brings yellows, orange, bright blues and greens.  What is not to love about the changes of the seasons?

Please share a little about your own art experience.

As much as I wish I would have had formal art training, my career has been working with technology and numbers.  My father was an avid crafter, and my mother was in the background working on various hand embroidery projects.  I suspect I got my love of art from these beginnings.  Over the years, I have always been creative, working in quilting, sewing, ceramics, embroidery, and other projects.  My paper art background started when a friend invited me to a Stamping Up party about 15 years ago, maybe even 20 years ago now.  I do remember her telling me on the way to the party….”be careful, this is an addiction”.  How correct she was!

One of the most valuable sources of my humble art background was an online eight week collage course.  The class included collage design but also was an overview of design elements and principals.  I cannot say how this directly helped my art; I just know that it did.  My collage skills improved and after that class I was not afraid to experiment and the items that I was not happy with, shrank to be just a few.   Unfortunately this class is no longer taught and the instructor has moved on, as I would love to revisit the experience.

Do you have a blog or photo site?

No, I do not have a blog or photo site.  My group work is usually posted in the group photo albums.  I do however scan and store photo files of all my work.  Several years ago I purchased a high resolution scanner.  The scanning of art, and working with Photoshop, keeps me busy.  I confess that I have tried about three times to start a blog, but have always failed to commit to keeping it up to date.  So I opt to keep my photos mostly unpublished.

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres?

This is a tough question as my techniques change.  I love to try new things or create new things.  One of my favorite “tools” is a set of metallic rubs.  I use them quite a bit for backgrounds, highlighting, framing, etc.  I love to alter just anything, and often buy the insides of things just to have the “outsides”.  I think most of us are guilty of this. I have a vast stack of used books and magazines either purchased at second hand book stores or the Goodwill stores I love to work with the images in the books, or use the papers for backgrounds.  My matte medium and acrylic colors are two of my must haves, as well as a variety of sanding blocks.

What inspires you?

I may have covered this in the question about my surroundings and location, having the four defined seasons and the colors that work with the seasons.  I am also inspired by the Yahoo groups and what other artists have successfully tried.  I appreciate the artists that share their experiences, always a plus trait of the members of a Yahoo group.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?

My favorite pastime is visiting museums on the Internet.  I do not really have a favorite artist, but I use my computer to “see” and research works of art.  Does anyone realize the value of this medium?  To be able to find paintings, sculptures, old master collections, at a click of the mouse is a treasure.  I have “been” to the Louvre and have “seen” the Mona Lisa, I have been to Milan and have “visited” the Last Supper by Da vinci.   The Smithsonian is another of my favorites.  Some sites now offer high resolution options and you can actually zoom and see brush strokes.  This does not make me an expert in art, but it gives me satisfaction to be able to look at works, as I know I will never physically be able to visit these places.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?

My work room is in our home lower floor.  During the winter I move my supplies to the upstairs living room to be comfortable and warm.  I have a very nice work area, with lots of room, and organized and structured.  I get very I get frustrated when things are out of place and I cannot put my finger on just that one thing.  I enjoy working with my array of tools and substrates, coloring tools, and images, embellishments and items to alter.  There are many things that are fun while doing artwork, but most of all I enjoy the peace and quiet and especially the satisfaction of completing a piece that I enjoy, and will be enjoyed.

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?

Doing artwork is not fun if you have to look for something when you are trying to create.  I have many favorite tools, too numerous to mention.  Try to stay organized.  Even if it means setting aside a half an hour to clean up and put away.  I have a favorite matte medium and that is and has always been Plaid Royal Coat finish.  (No I do not own stock in the company,J)  I do have a handy tip that I stumbled upon several years ago.  We always receive some thick mail order catalogs.  I use these as a work surface.  When a page is dirty or sticky, rip the one page and discard, a fresh page is instantly available. 

Please share a little about your family and pets.

My home family consists of my husband and two sweet dogs, Chance and Lucky.  They are our babies, and I fear the time when we will have to get along without them.  We have been married since 1965, and my hubby puts up with my hobbies, and I do the same for him.  We do not share the same hobby types so as “Martha” would say, “It’s a Good Thing” that we can pretend interest with each other’s passions and give the other the room to be free to enjoy each hobby.  We have three adult sons, and three wonderful daughters-in-law.  Each family has given us two grandchildren, six total, four girls and two young men.  The oldest girl is 21, and the youngest boy is in 7^th grade.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.

My creativity comes from my father.  I think I shared that earlier.  I grew up in a small, very small town. The population of the town was 177 and I lived there until I was 18.  I had eight brothers and sisters, and because there were so many, we were always responsible for our own free time.  We created things to do, be it games, explorations, or working with art. I consider myself fortunate to have grown in this environment and my sisters and brothers are pure treasures. We were all fortunate to grow together in love with creative and fun days.

Do you have any other hobbies or interests?

My second favorite hobby is reading.  I love to read books, and am currently making my way through interesting classics.  My favorite book is East of Eden, by Steinbeck, but I also loved, The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  I also have many favorite books of my time, too numerous to mention.

A final thought

Thank you to the Paper Traders group for the honor of being chosen as Artist of the Month for Nov/2011.  There are such wonderful artists in this group; I am privileged to be considered a member.