What is your sign :o)?
I am a
warm-hearted, loving but sometimes stubborn and determined Taurus.
When is your first recollection of wanting to be an
artist?
I don't
think I ever wanted to be an artist I just was. I have been doing
something artistic for as long as I can remember. When I was young, I
would hold on to my weekly $1.00 allowance until Saturday, when we would go
into town to shop. I then would immediately go to the 5 and 10 to get a
paint by number set (Oh goodness, my age is showing). I would have
it all painted before the weekend was over and eagerly awaited for the next
Saturday to roll around.
What types of media have you worked in?
I love
drawing with pencils, blending colors with oil chalks, dabbling in water colors
and I love working with fabrics. I even had a phase where I could not get
enough of Plaster of Paris figurines, wall hangings, and ceramics. I also
have done paper Mache, decoupage, some leather tooling, and of course my new
love, altered art (I can also knit a mean sweater!).
When
did mixed media start to interest you (this question if you didn't start off in
mixed media)
Well, as
most of you know, Rande Hanson is my big sister. I have been watching her
do mixed media for years and, in my opinion, her work is absolutely
beautiful. Looking at her inspirational works of art, and with her urging
to give it a try, I decided to just jump in one day and go for it. The
rest is history.
What is it about mixed media that calls to you?
Just
that, its mixed media. You can let your imagination run wild. There
are no rules. One can create without the worry of boundaries...and there
is no such thing as a mistake. What's not to like?
What are your muses?
I can't
really say that I have any one muse. I could be anywhere doing anything
and all of sudden an idea just pops into my head and I run with it.
Sometimes I will just have one item that I really, really like and then will
work a project around it. At times, I will see beauty in things where
most people would not and turn it into a piece of art. So if I had to
choose, I would have to say my muses would be anything that is beautiful in my
life, which in turn, can be expressed through my art and shared with everyone.
If you're in an artistic slump what pulls you out of it
fastest?
Admiring
other artists work. There are so many talented artists that create the
most beautiful pieces, how can one not be inspired?
Who are your favorite artists?
Again,
being relatively new to this, I have yet to discover all the different and
wonderful artists that are available. However, I do have a very favorite
book, "Vintage Collage for Scrapbooking", that I picked up on a whim
and just love all the ideas and inspiration that it offers. The author is
Jill Haglund and I just love her vintage art ideas. It was her book, as a
matter of fact, that I got the ideal of the wire form for my paper dolls.
I plan on getting many more of her books in the near future to keep my
inspiration going.
What is your favorite TV program?
Oh my, I
can't just pick one but, I guess, I can't name them all either. At the
top of my list I would have to say, CSI Miami, Law and Order, ER, and for a
little comedy, Two and Half Men.
What is your dream vacation?
Well, in
my dream I would be on a warm beach with my toes dipped in the most beautiful
clear blue water, working on my best tan ever (without burning or fear of
cancer). In that same dream I would also be about 24, a size two and look
great in a swim suit. AHHHH but then it is just a dream vacation now
isn't it...lol
What five items must you have on your art table?
My Tacky
glue, Tim Holtz Scissors (they are the best!), a Distressed Ink pad,
metallic pens and of course PAPER!
What color will we see in every one of your pieces? I love earth tones so I
love working with browns and golds, but I do try to slip a little something in
that is red. Red is my favorite color and it so bold, vibrant and a very
happy color.
What is your favorite piece?
Because I
love Christmas so much, and it involves my favorite color red, I would have to
go with any of my holiday projects. Two stand out for me. My
Christmas Doll that I made for the holidays this year, using a beautiful
Paperwhimsy image, and I also finished a Christmas Altered Paper Bag Book
(started in 06) as well. I just love both of these projects and they both
can be seen on my Flickr page.
What plans do you have in your art future?
I love
being creative, but lets face it, I can't keep everything I make and my friends
and family will only tolerate so much of my art. I would love to
eventually find my special niche, whether it be just ATC's, collages, or paper
dolls, become very good at it and sell a piece or two. If I am able to
accomplish this then I will consider my art as a success. It is a
wonderful feeling to know that another person can see your vision and is joyful
to have it as their own. What a great way to share the beauty that I see
in everyday life.
What favorite recipe would you like to share with us
(preferably a dessert :o)?
My husband and I are always fighting our weight and
therefore look for great recipes
that won't pack on the pounds. We both love Apple Cobbler and
Weight Watchers®
has a great recipe.
This recipe serves 4 (and is only 4 points per serving
for you fellow Weight Watchers®).
4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon
juice
¼ cup low-fat buttermilk
2 tablespoons sugar
¾ c reduced-fat buttermilk baking mix
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
1. Preheat the oven to 350° F; spray a 1-quart baking dish
with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the apples, 1
tablespoon of the sugar and the lemon
juice; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and Simmer,
stirring constantly, until the apples
are soft, about 5 minutes. Pour into the baking dish.
3. In a small bowl, combine the baking mix,
buttermilk, the remaining tablespoon of
sugar and the cardamom; stir until smooth. With a spoon; drop
the batter over the
fruit. Bake until browned, 20-25 minutes. Serve Warm.
