Drawn to Win

Artist, Heidi Willis, encourages us:

Art, at its core, is about feeding hearts and minds. 'Good art' I believe, has an ability to speak to people deeply and personally, sparking an emotional response and connection with its viewers. To connect profoundly with others we must first in some way be able to connect profoundly with ourselves, so first is to listen, to hear, trust then back yourself and your visions in your work. This makes your work authentic and unique, as we all are.

We must then learn to express this language of self through our work with our truest voice. This requires you to have a certain kind of raw honesty and passion about your own self, life and work, and to pursue it with a relentless kind of bravery. This is reflected in your work. In finding our truest voice in our work, we begin to connect to the emotions of our viewers in a very real, inspiring and impactful way, shifting thoughts, feelings and perspectives in its rawness with it.

Remember that a finished painting is but one part of the incredible, greater experience of being an artist, or of bringing art into your life. Behind every painting is a story, an adventure, incredible memories, new knowledge and learning, a rich input of remarkable people, places and discoveries far greater than our work, or even us... It is so much of the richness in life so stay in that perspective at all times. Remember, we all have to start somewhere, every step no matter the outcome is a step forward... there are no real failures in trying! Paint from your core, just enjoy the experience and the rest will come.

Here is a little about Heidi Willis.

Assuming this means a note of recent project or work highlights...

Jacobs Creek Le Petit Rosé artwork on quarter of a million bottles

Archie Rose Limited Edition gin artwork

Ashdene range of homewares release

Birds In Art exhibition, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum, USA

What does Heidi Willis find yummy?

hahaa, I have no time to cook! This is why I acknowledge my Mum, she always checks Ive left the studio for food and bubbles. .

Here is how to connect with Heidi Willis.

https://heidiwillis.com.au

email [email protected]

website https://heidiwillis.com.au/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HeidiWillis.EarthenArtist/

Instagram heidiwillisart.

Artist, Charles Muench, encourages us:

Finding your true passion. Patience vs Instasuccess. Understanding the why of painting as opposed to only the what and how.

Here is a little about Charles Muench.

art professor Maynard Dixon Stewart, moving to the Eastern Sierra 19 years ago, focusing on my journey, not others.

What does Charles Muench find yummy?

Meat from the game I've hunted. Smoked trout caught by my daughter. .

Here is how to connect with Charles Muench.

charlesmuench.com links to IG and FB on website.

email: [email protected] .

Artist, Craig Stover, encourages us:

I already do. Aside from my own studio practices, I run an arts center (www.allenslane.org) where I run a theater, 2 galleries, classes and a summer art camp. I even have a sculpture class for blind and visually-impaired artists. I've helped many artists by counseling them on best practices, giving them insight about the business of art and strategies they should use, giving them exhibition, teaching and lecturing opportunities.

What I try to do is set up artists to succeed moving their artistic visions forward. Knowing each artist is different, I've learned to craft my approach to each one individually to help them as best I can.

Here is a little about Craig Stover.

1. Going to university to study fine arts. 2. Being a studio assistant to internationally-known artist Sam Maitin 3. Taking multiple jobs working within the arts sector

What does Craig Stover find yummy?

I vacation in Maine each year so nothing compares to a great Steak and Lobster meal. I also love a good gnocchi in cream sauce as well as hearty stews and pot pies..

Here is how to connect with Craig Stover.

www.picturemaker.com or instagram.com/stover_studio

Through email but I also use facebook and Instagram on a regular basis.

Artist, Debbie Baxter, encourages us:

1) Use a pencil to draw and a paintbrush to paint and never mix the two up! 2) Listen to your body while you paint its the perfect guide 3) Nature is the greatest teacher

Here is a little about Debbie Baxter.

1) Unusual perspectives 2) Opening the viewpoint 3) Using color to denote instead of line 4) Painting light 5) Finding the magic in the landscape

What does Debbie Baxter find yummy?

Roast rack of lamb with a herbed garlic crust roasted Murasaki sweet potatoes with dijon mustard, tuna fish, butter, chopped chives and sour cream, Brown rice and red lentil dhal with coriander, ginger, and cumin slow-cooked with fresh herbs. Num num! It is winter :).

Here is how to connect with Debbie Baxter.

www.artdkbaxter.com

email - [email protected] or through the website www.artdkbaxter.com.

Cheryl Godfrey encourages us to paint whether you are insecure or not. Your soul has something to say. Trust it, let it speak, and get out of the way. Also sharing with other creative people helps to magnify your creativity. Talk, laugh, get ideas, and gently send your inner critic to bed. Lastly, believe it when people love your art. Believe you are an artist, live like an artist, and one day you will find that you are one.

Connect with Cheryl Godfrey on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/CherylGodfreyHairDesign/

Marie Stephens encourages us to know it's ok to make mistakes. She said, in fact, some of my best discoveries came from what I thought were mistakes! The key to good art, is to simply, begin....creativity is a result of starting. 3. Creating art is great practice for positive self talk, and being in the moment...especially en plein air.

A few pillar moments in Marie art journey.

1. When a child told me, "You're like a real artist!" it was then that I really started to believe it.

2. My first art gallery showing

3.my first solo exhibition at a local gallery

4. The first time I painted in public

5. When I discovered how exhilarating it is to be able to paint while your husband is driving you cross country!

For an ArtStorefront website click here :

https://www.artstorefronts.com/?partner_id=295675373

Connect with Marie here:

https://www.mariestephensart.com

https://www.facebook.com/MarieStephensArt/

https://www.instagram.com/mariestephensart/

Lauren Anderson encourages us to understand rejection is part of the journey and it makes us stronger if we allow it to. She says, learn how to be an entrepreneur - we can't just sit around waiting for the world to discover our work, we have to put ourselves out there again and again. Also, celebrate the wins no matter how big or small.

Important moments in Lauren's artistic journey:

Attending a landscape painting masterclass in Civita Castellana with Israel Hershberg, Yael Scalia, and the Jerusalem Studio School (2013) - this is perhaps the most pivotal experience in my painting career for so many reasons; receiving an Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant (2015) - creating my first full body of work and establishing a studio practice; working with my mentor, Marianne Mitchell, through all the tough questions like "why am I painting anyway?" and "why should my paintings matter to anyone but me?" and "what's missing?" (2019-now) - I'm figuring out what my voice is and I'm learning to accept it.

Checkout, the Art Students League of Denver, Marianne Mitchell, Services: Squarespace, Blick Art Materials, Hobby Lobby custom framing.

laurenandersonfineart.com

You can email Lauren at [email protected]

Connect with her on:

facebook.com/laurenanderson71292

instagram.com/laurenanderson_fineart/

Lauren Anderson encourages us to understand rejection is part of the journey and it makes us stronger if we allow it to. She says, learn how to be an entrepreneur - we can't just sit around waiting for the world to discover our work, we have to put ourselves out there again and again. Also celebrate the wins no matter how big or small.

Important moments in Lauren's artistic journey:

Attending a landscape painting masterclass in Civita Castellana with Israel Hershberg, Yael Scalia, and the Jerusalem Studio School (2013) - this is perhaps the most pivotal experience in my painting career for so many reasons; receiving an Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant (2015) - creating my first full body of work and establishing a studio practice; working with my mentor, Marianne Mitchell, through all the tough questions like "why am I painting anyway?" and "why should my paintings matter to anyone but me?" and "what's missing?" (2019-now) - I'm figuring out what my voice is and I'm learning to accept it.

Checkout, the Art Students League of Denver, Marianne Mitchell, Services: Squarespace, Blick Art Materials, Hobby Lobby custom framing.

laurenandersonfineart.com

You can email Lauren at [email protected]

Connect with her on:

facebook.com/laurenanderson71292

instagram.com/laurenanderson_fineart

Mary Luttrell encourages us to keep immersing yourself in art. Everyone says, “I know what I like,” but your tastes can change radically, the more art you study and expose yourself to. You can learn things this way that you can’t even articulate. But you’ll just start using them, unconsciously.

My dad is a very well known painter. He thinks all artists steal from each other, and I agree. And it’s okay. But take that thing and fool around with it... make it your own. You have something utterly unique to offer the world. Let it shine through and become what it wants to be.

Never let someone convince you to stop trying, (as I did, for years). Whether or not the world ever recognizes you for the results, you get to commune with the Creator every time you pick up a brush. That in itself is priceless.

Her background story is ...

1. As I said, I see being creative as God coming through me. I’ll take credit for working at it and trying to learn, but not for any talent I may have.

2 My career as a graphic artist taught me that design is critical. A gorgeously painted image that’s poorly designed will fail. I’ve discovered that good design can elevate a mediocre painting and make a decent one pretty great.

3. Shitty paintings are necessary. We’ve all gotta do them! The disappointment of face-planting while trying to communicate something has taught me more than popping out successful pieces (which, at my stage, often feels accidental.) Making art is hard. It’s painful and it’s glorious, and we need both experiences.

4. Just as the Trinity is all about relationships, so is a good painting. That negative space and dark value to this positive, lighter valued one. That hard edge to this soft one, right next to it. When a painting works, it’s usually because the elements are successfully relating to each other.

5. When I just copy something, I’m offering the world nothing new. As a conduit for creativity, my deepest essence is what gives my work its life. But it’s NOT my identity, or self concept. I have to get those the heck out of the way! When “Mary” is almost not even there, then God can come through, and something spectacular happens. For me, THAT’S where all the joy is.

You can email Mary Luttrell at mary.luttrell (at) yahoo.com

Kelsy says it so beautifully ... "I want to make the kind of sculptures that look right at you and make you feel like you’re naked and can’t hide from their judgement. I want to make sculptures that are more beautiful than real people. I want to make sculptures that are fighting for their values, sculptures with dramatic conflicts. I want to bring beauty to moments in life that you might ignore or glance past. I want to point out the good things in life and make them so glaringly loud and beautiful that you can’t ignore them. I want to make sculptures that make people feel that anything is possible to them. I want to make every shape and line hold a purpose and be integrated to the whole idea and emotion of the piece. I want to capture that awe I felt when I was a child and believed humans were capable of anything. "

Check her work out at kelsylandin.com

For tutorial videos on sculpture patreon.com/kelsylandin

Follower her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. @kelsy.landin