Artist Spotlight : BookPourri

I'm really enjoying this new theme for my writing. It's actually a lot of fun to try new perfume scents. This week we're going to be looking at another etsy shop called BookPourri.

I ordered two different sample styles from BookPourri. I'm going to be telling you about both today. Each one has its benefits, and each has a unique look.

The first style of sample I ordered from the shop came in a lovely silver packet. You get your choice of 6 scents to test this way. These are ideal for travel use, and I believe they are small enough they could be stored in travel luggage easily. In the photo below you can see an example of one of my packets on the left. What I hadn't thought through when ordering the foil samples, was that they're a single use sample. Which for one person testing it for a day is good, but I've been trying to make sure I can share some of my testing experience with my friends, so this just wasn't enough.

The scents I selected in my first order were: Fairy Godmother, Loki, Time Lord, Poisoned Apple, Siren's Song, and Mr Darcy. By joining their VIP club, I also received a sample of Elizabeth Bennet. As you can tell each sample is based on a character or part of a story. They each are unique, and while some may share a scent note or two, they're very diverse.

I will admit to having selected Fairy Godmother based on the name rather than the note list. A choice I may not repeat in the future. Mainly because it ended up being way too floral for me. But I wanted to try it regardless because it would have been a humorous conversation to have with someone. Loki did turn out to be a bit more masculine than I expected, but the tonka bean note sold it for me.

So the positive with this sample size, is that it is ideal for travel. It is also a good idea for using as a gift for a shower or a special event if you find a scent that you like. It makes it so your attendees won't have to commit to the scent, and the labels are absolutely charming. Also great for keeping in your purse for a fresh start if you're not sure about carrying a larger bottle.

Now the example on the right, is the perfume oil imp. These impressed me immensely because they arrived individually packaged like miniature works of art. I enjoyed getting to see each one in this presentation style. Imps are easier to test with multiple people, because there is more of the scent inside, and it also enables you to test it on multiple days, or to wear it a few times to see how it agrees with you. I was also impressed that each imp I received has a different colored top. Which is a new experience for me.

These were my second order, in which I ordered some of the same scents, but a different one as well. You get 5 samples at this level, and I have to say I'm tempted to order some in this style to put into gift baskets for the bazaar at my moms church. I ordered Loki, Butterbeer, Poisoned Apple, Siren's Song, and Alice in Wonderland in this format. Impressed with the packaging I've already squirreled away Loki to hide in my boyfriends holiday stocking.

All in all I've had a positive experience with my purchases from this shop. Everything shipped in a swift manner, and arrived packaged in a manner appropriate for the contents. I'm looking forward to future purchases, because they're developing a breakfast scent that I'm already hoping to get. Yeah... I really like food scents. You'll probably notice that as these perfume testing posts continue into the future.

This shop even has a perfume sample club! You can sign up to receive a free perfume sample in the mail. www.tinyurl.com/bookpourriclub This is a good way to get into their email update list, because there is always something new. Hand lotions are one of the newest additions, and I am quite excited about them. They're also developing some new scents based on the Lord of the Rings books, I'm excited about those.

Artist Spotlight : Skin Like Butter

So I've been trying some new things. Specifically I've become curious about different oil perfumes. I have been slow to gain traction as far as purchases, but not too long ago, I did a mass purchase or samples from a variety of shops, and since I haven't been writing about much, I thought I would do a spotlight or two based on my purchases.

So the first purchase I want to share was from an etsy shop called Skin Like Butter. In fact most of the purchases I will be sharing in the near future come from etsy. Skin Like Butter offers both retail and wholesale bath and body products. These include (but are not limited to) a variety of body lotions, scrubs, body washes, bath salts, and various perfume oils.

I'm not really very good at girl stuff, but a good friend of mine introduced me to the concept of perfume imps. They are smaller testing tubes of perfumes or perfume oils that enable you to try something without being committed to a whole bottle. Some perfume oils get very expensive fast. But the pricing in this shop is reasonable in my opinion. A bottle of oil perfume goes a very long way easily. But I went with a sample set.

So first things first, when a shop has 138 different scents (and probably more in the near future) to pick from, it can seem very daunting to pick a small number to order samples of. So, with that in mind I selected their pick 25 option. This allowed me to pick around 1/5th of their library to test, which has been a daunting task.

I will be honest I haven't even gotten half way through the scents I selected, but I am so far enjoying the process of wearing different ones to find some that I like enough to get in a full size. You can find the list of scents I selected at the bottom of this post in a list, with a few notes next to the scents I have thoughts on already.

Each imp is labeled individually, making it easy to know what scent you're looking at. It also helps to give you an idea what the perfume in the tester may smell like. But yeah, I've been having some fun testing perfumes and looking for a scent that I can add to my daily life that people will be able to relate to me. But I know that it's a process. My Grandmother liked rose perfume, while my Aunt wore White Diamonds. It's all a matter of preference, but a scent can leave behind memories so, there's that.

I may or may not update the scent list below with reactions to others as I try them, but for now these are the scents I'm currently testing from Skin Like Butter. I have a couple so far that I'm thinking to order larger bottles of, hopefully before they leave the collection.

Have you ordered from them before? Do you have a favorite scent? Let me know, because this is a fun learning experience.

Honey
White Pumpkin- absolutely adore this scent. This was the first one from the batch I tested for a day. 
Peppermint
Caramel Apple - very sweet, but not in a bad way.
Passion Fruit
Waffle Cone - this one got a great reaction from others. Again, a sweet scent.
Raspberry Vanilla
Milk
Watermelon
Marshmallow
Tobacco
Grapefruit Sorbet- this one turned out to not be one for me. But I know someone that may like it.
Lemon Cupcake
Chocolate Mint
Pina Colada
Pumpkin
Peppercorn & Port
Black Currant Cassis
Red Currant
Banana Walnut Cake
Lime Sorbet
Sugar
Orange Vannila
Acai Berry
Suede

Artist Spotlight : Salad Days Pins

Today I'm going to tell you about a pin designer! I know that it's been a while since I did an artist spotlight, and I apologize if you've been missing them. But I do have a lot of health issues I have been dealing with. But this isn't about me, it's about an artist!

I first ran into Salad Days pins pieces on etsy and instagram. Where I found their unique interpretations of characters from literature and art amazing. I love how much detail they manage to pack into each of their designs without making it seem over the top.

The pins that I have in my collection currently from this maker though are the sephora inspired pins. the picture above doesn't do the pins any justice though.

Each pin features a double tie pin clasp on the back, as well as a raised shop signature. These details make the pins more likely to stay put, as well as easy to identify as her work. The backer card features all the contact information on the back in case you purchased the pin for gifting, and they are gorgeous.

People who do a lot of makeup testing would enjoy this specific set, or perhaps even people that do makeup or hair for a living. The tiny details are something that can add depth to an outfit.

Personally I am hoping to get some of the goddess pins in the not too distant future though. If you'e curious about them check them out on etsy. The pins are absolutely stunning and you won't regret taking a few minutes to explore the various history and art inspired pieces available in their shop.

I know this is a shorter spotlight, but I just wanted to share it with you. Hope you're having a great week, and I look forward to sharing more fun things with you in the near future.

Artist Spotlight : Michelle Mclean

Artists are each unique, providing a very useful thing to our society. It provokes thought as well as provides visually pleasing elements to our lives. Today we're going to be looking at some of the work of Michelle Mclean, and I want you to think about how people can help artists to create. Michelle currently has an account on Patreon where you can see more of her work, as well as help support her dream of working in the art field.

Michelle Mclean has been cultivating her artistic skills since she was in eighth grade. When she first started, she felt that her pieces weren't very good. A fact that she willingly stated in a phrase that many artists and creators are likely to understand. Michelle said "It kind of sucked when I started not gonna lie. The reason it sucked though was because I wasn't drawing the way my brain could work it. I use geometry to get the basic shapes an what not on the paper then I soften the edges to make it look more like the picture I am going for and less like a mess."

She took something she enjoyed, and has been working on it since, creating a unique feel that has an appeal for a variety of reasons. She has come to love making or drawing anything. Stretching her creative wings into writing as well, but she still likes drawing a lot. 

Michelle has also explored her talents by serving her church as the art director for Vacation Bible School. She held the office for three years, until she turned it over to a relative that she believes is more qualified as they went to college for it.

When she was asked what the most difficult part of a project was, she had another familiar answer, which offers solidarity for the artistic types. The hardest part for any project, she believes is the ability to keep the gumption together to complete what she starts. Sometimes money can be an issue when it comes to a project, but more often than not it can be frustration of the piece not quite meeting her standards. When she gets too frustrated she often will walk away from the piece, and come back at another time when she's decided how to fix it, or give up on it and start from the beginning. She has several vignettes.

I asked her about her most recent project, and she said that it was a self portrait. She wanted to do this because it's her belief that she sees herself differently than other people see her. She chose to draw it in a semi realistic style, and was pleased with the way that it turned out.

I asked her what she felt the best advice would be to offer an aspiring artist. And she offered a rather interesting response.

"You are both your own best friend and own worst enemy. As I learned when I went to a workshop for a thing called nanowrimo which is an abbreviated way of saying national writing month. Lock your inner editor in a closet in your mind and let them kick scream holler and yell all they want but don't give in to them. If it is doing something like drawing or if it is writing either way you are your own harshest critic therefore if you are passionate remember there are some people who can literally throw paint on a canvas or in some cases even other things and sell it as art so if they can make a mess and sell it for 1 mil you can make your art and sell it too."

I really think that Michelle has a developing talent that many people might enjoy watching.  The image to the left, is one of my favorites from the portfolio she shared with me. I love the light lines, and the flow of the body works well. Plus I have a very soft spot for anime animal people of late. I don't know why, I just do.

If you're interested in seeing what other types of art Michelle Mclean has to offer you can join her feed on Patreon. Remember that every artist that uses Patreon is creating for their fanbase, as well as for the love of their art. They're looking for your input and support. Plus they enjoy the challenges patrons offer at time.

Artist Spotlight : Delaney Shadow

Artists are often interested in a variety of art forms, we've seen this in the works of the various artists we've spotlighted. This week we're spotlighting Delaney Shadow who has a unique way of expressing herself through art and enjoys creating pieces in ways we haven't seen previously. You can see images of some of her work and life on her instagram account. A number of Delaney's available works and gallery are also available on her website, http://shadowsofmylife.weebly.com/.

Delaney Shadow has been crafting and creating so long she can't remember what the first one she enjoyed was. But what she does remember is discovering the joy creation brings, and the love of learning new skills. She's dabbled in woodworking, knitting, jewelry design, cross stitch, as well as a variety of other creative talents.

Available on Website

She has been nurturing her painting talent lately, creating some gorgeous pieces and accepting
challenges to help develop her strengths. It helps her to show things that interest her, and express various aspects of her daily life and past.

Her tea cup painted on glass is a piece I can relate to when it comes to reflecting on my past. It reminds me of the time the girlfriends and I attended tea time with the Queen. The dainty flowers are darling and reminiscent of the detailings many people are acquainted with when it comes to tea time.

I actually have one of Delaney's glass paintings so I can tell you that the work really is unique. I have a black beetle on a blue background. The brush strokes are strong, giving the paint a chance to shine as texture on the glass. You can backlight the piece, to see a unique glow, or you can hang it using the attached hook on the back.

Available Via Etsy

Delaney has a variety of talents that she explores to create beautiful useful things. One soaps. of those things she creates soap. She makes it in a variety of colors and scents, each uniquely handcrafted.

They're one of her favorite things to make, and she's been crafting them for over five years. Currently she has created 12 different types of soaps. She developed her own recipe which lets her create the soaps her way. The soap you see to the left is one that she developed that is safe for dogs and children.

Available on Website

Delaney's work is available not only through her website, but also through various shops she's associated with on etsy. I believe we've mentioned at least one of her etsy sites earlier. She works with a couple other artists and they offer a variety of different goods. Shadowpaws Goods, Devilish Darling Goods, and Shadowcreation Design.

She creates various pieces using resin and other things. To the right you can see one of the charms she made reworking an old key. Upcycling is a very fun thing, and these pieces make great accessories for loved ones, or even pets. Her resin works are interesting, catching nature in resin to preserve it for enjoyment over time. Delaney enjoys encasing bugs and flowers in the resin as the results are all unique in the end.

Canvas Painting available through Website

Delaney's paintings isn't limited to just on glass panels. She also creates on canvas. Her canvas works are charming and offer another chance to see her brush work on another medium.

When asked where she finds ideas for her work, Delaney had a great response. She believes that your life history can be a wealth of inspiration. Delaney has found that what she's gone through, and the different evens in her life has given her reasons to create and she loves it.

Her advice for aspiring artists is to not give up. Don't let the problems of the world drag you away from what you love. Instead let it help you be more creative. Find a way to do what you enjoy using what you have access to.


Create things to help inspire other people and brighten their days. But create because you enjoy it.

Thank you for joining us for today's artist spotlight! Remember you can see more of Delaney Shadows work updates on her instagram account. If you're interested in a piece, maybe something unique to add to your personal collection you can contact her through her website: http://shadowsofmylife.weebly.com/. Or if you enjoy exploring etsy, there are three different shops that carry examples of her handiwork. Shadowpaws Goods, Devilish Darling Goods, and Shadowcreation Design. Explore and I hope you find something you enjoy.

Artist Spotlight : Wanou Et Moi

Today is a great day, it's friday and we've made the acquaintance of another amazing artist, Leili of Wanou Et Moi. Wanou Et Moi is her shop for which she creates a variety of handmade hair decorations of varying types. She has an etsy shop, a delightful facebook page, and a very lively instagram account where you can see a variety of examples of her work.

Leili is the artist behind Wanou Et Moi. As an artist, she feels she's been creating as long as she can remember. She's dabbled in a number of handicrafts before landing on the ones she offers in her shop. She's enjoyed various art styles ranging from cartoon to photorealism. She's made stuffed animals and backpacks. It's of her opinion that there's no such thing as knowing too much about various skills.

Every artist is motivated or inspired to create differently. Leili was motivated to create her shop by love. Her shop shares the family nickname they had for her brother, Wanou. She originally had helped her boyfriend with dreads and beads, but after she lost her brother in a motorcycle accident she was looking for something to give her purpose. The shop helped to motivate her, helping inspire her to keep going and avoid being lazy. Over time she expanded her creations, making new things and friends. Leili knows her brother would have wanted to see her succeed, and that's what she's aiming to do.

Twisties available on Etsy

There's a wide variety of types of hairstyles to be achieved using the beads and twisties available in the Wanou et Moi shop. These are unique and offer people chances to update their looks, or add a little unique flare to their style. Sometimes conventional everyday ties and clips aren't tough enough to live up to the expectations of their job. These are created with the expectation that they'll do just that.

To the left you see items they call Twisties. I think they're neat because they can be utilized to accent hair that is dreaded, or just normal hair. They can be used to pull things together, or just add a splash of color. Depending on the color and placement, they inspire your imagination.

Bead Sets Available on Etsy

There's a number of different types of products that Leili creates for her shop. A number of them she offers as personalizable pieces. To the right you see an example of this, the bead sets.

Bead sets can be used in a number of ways. You can use one to add a little spice, or add them all to have a truly unique look. These are amazing for all hair types, and the sky's the limit when it comes to how you can use them.

Wanou et Moi truly has a keen sense for personalization, and she is willing to hear your ideas. Not only that, she'll use your ideas to help you see them come to fruition. So if you have an idea for a hair bead, and you can't find it, ask and you may just well see it come to life.

TwistyLock with Gem available on Etsy

This unique piece to the left is called a TwistyLock. As someone with long hair that goes through what seems like dozens of hair ties a month, this is a refreshing alternative to a hairstick. Don't get me wrong I love my hair sticks, but sometimes you need something different to hold your hair up.

This unique hair tie does just that. It curls around your hairstyle locking it into place. Unlike the hair ties which often require looping and tugging, this is gentler on your hair.  It can be curled around your bun holding it neatly in place. It can also be used to hold dreadlocks back neatly, without getting tangled in your hair. I hate when a hair tie gets stuck in my hair ripping out bits.

Tree of Life available on Etsy

The products all have unique names. I was curious about that and Leili gave me an honest fun answer. In her opinion calling things springs or spirals wasn't as much fun as giving them names. Twisties sounds a lot more fun than spirals. She also gives each bead type a name, making them easier to identify when browsing through her creations. It really does. It also gives them unique names that people can remember.

As I have a habit of asking some artists, I asked Leili what sort of advice she'd offer to any aspiring designers. Similar to what some have stated before, she advises aspiring artists to never give up. Leili believes that if you feel a spark, you should help it become a flame and then use that flame to start wildfire. She also believes that unless your work is going to hurt other people, there's no reason not to create. Art doesn't really have limits or rules unless you try to hold back yourself.

Wanou et Moi is open because she found something she enjoys and loves to create. She recommends that new artists do that. Create because they love to do so, not because it's a job. Art work should never feel like a job, and if it does take a break and set it down. It's supposed to be enjoyable.

Probably the most refreshing piece of advice that Leili of Wanou at Moi offered though, is that you have the right to stand up for yourself. You are an artist, and sometimes people will go out of their way to put you down, you don't have to put up with this. You create because it brings you enjoyment, and you should never have to let go of the happiness your work brings to you.

Thank you for joining us today to enjoy Wanou at Moi's amazing pieces! Please feel free to explore their Etsy shop,  their instagram account, and join them on Facebook. The body of work available is always changing and evolving adding new pieces, and offering new ideas for adding new details to your everyday life. And remember! If you like something they've created, but maybe want to see a slight change (maybe you want a different color) they might be able to help you with that!

Artist Spotlight : Tina T. Ames

Today I'm excited to share an artist who actually creates and interacts in the communities locally. When I say local, I mean local to me, in Western New York.  Her name is Tina T. Ames. She has a wonderful website that you can explore to learn more about both her and her talents, www.tinatames.com. But if you're already motivated by the end of the spotlight to purchase you can see her available works in her etsy shop TinaTompkinsAmes.

Print Available on Etsy

Every artist gets their inspiration from a variety of locations. Their motivations to create vary as well. Tina T. Ames had always been an artist, but she had an experience that left her unable to pursue photography in the manner she had been. It also kept her away from her corporate job as a director in a hospital system.

Not one to let circumstances keep her from creating, she began exploring her talents by doodling images with markers on paper, quickly finding the results were inspiring not only herself, but to others as well. She developed her work further, choosing to pursue art instead of returning to the more structured job.

Tina T. Ames has used her skills in a variety of ways over the years.  Not only are a number of her pieces are available as art prints and cards, she also leads classes and workshops to help teach others various skills. Her website has a list of various classes and events that she's involved with. One class that she leads results in a hand designed silk scarf. I find the variety of skills and talents she's willing to share with others both encouraging as well as commendable. After all, not everyone is cut out to be a teacher.

Mandala Oracle Deck available on Etsy

Her artwork isn't only available as basic prints though. She also offers 4 different oracle decks currently. The artwork varies, but the messages are wonderful, offering inspiration and positive energy to daily life. Decks like this can be useful for various things, whether you want to pass them out to add inspiration to someone else's life. or to use them as oracles.

Personally I find the Mandala Oracle Deck to be gorgeous. It has a variety of images that you can either share, use as the intended oracle, or frame.

Print available on Etsy

Many of her art pieces are inspired by moments in her life, helping her to create art that many people can understand. Pieces like the sunflower you see to the left of this text, are inspiring.

But why are they inspiring? They make it easier to express things that people may hesitate to say or feel, simply because expressing things honestly can be difficult. But the simple straightforward lines of text accompanying the bold cheerful artwork give people something pleasant to think about, as well as something bright and cheerful to view.

The simplistic folk art nature to the line work, as well as the bold color choices offer something different from the work of other artists we've seen. You'll notice the seeming lack of the color black in her images, a lack of outlines. It makes ya wonder how it's done. But it also makes you want to do some yourself. Which she's made possible,  coloring books of her art available.

Available on Etsy

There's a great variety of pieces on her etsy page, and the same can be said of the blog posts on her website. Her topics vary focusing on simple living, her artwork, and instruction.  There's a variety of useful information that she's willing to share, and all you need to do is look. Recently she posted a recipe for macaroni and cheese that looks divine!

To the right though, I've added the image of one of her pieces that I feel as though I needed to post it. It's a frog mandala. I love the roots and the reaching tendrils. It reminds me of the tree of life frequently used in art. This piece is amazing in how much detail there is. It was originally created as one of the cards in her Mandala Card Deck.

These are only some examples of her work and talents though. I recommend exploring her various sites, and if you're local make sure to look at the events she'll be at. You never know what sort of inspiration her pieces may be able to add to your life.

Remember to look at her website and Etsy shops for further information and inspiration.

www.tinatames.com

etsy shop TinaTompkinsAmes

Artist Spotlight : Clark Farm NH

Today we're going to be taking our artist spotlight in a new direction that some of you might argue isn't an artistic field at all. But I'd like to help you look outside the box and look at Clark Farm NH. Clark Farm creates unique handmade goats milk soaps. You can take a look through their products at their website www.clarkfarmnh.com, or check out their facebook page Clark Farm Handcrafted Goat Milk Soap.

 

Soap itself is something that can be overlooked. It's used daily by many people. It's just part of routine. But handmade soaps often have features that mass production. Natural products, that lack fake colors, often have unique colors and shades not always present in other soaps. They often have unique textures as each soap maker uses different recipes. Unique miniature art pieces that are incorporated by the customers into their lives.

Clark Farm offers a number of rotating scents to appeal to different people. I think I counted about 10 or more currently listed on their website, but I think there was more available through the etsy shop. I find this impressive considering the fact that they're a small family run business. Having a large variety of options available is both time consuming and difficult to make space for (at least in my experience).I can't imagine how divine bath time in their home is though.

Now unlike some of the other artists we've spotlighted, Clark Farm is a family run business creating handmade items for use in everyday life. I got to talk to Kristen who is in charge of creation and asked her some of the questions I like to use to pick an artist's mind. This also helped me to better understand how they came to create soap.

I'm always curious as to what inspires people to develop various skills, and in this case they found inspiration in their everyday life. There's a case of rosecea in their household, and the serum a friend recommended as a treatment option was $52 an ounce, which was expensive and for continual use impractical. Another friend offered them some goat milk soap, which they found to have both positive results and a positive appeal. So having found a product that worked well for the problem, they tweaked the formula to get the qualities they wanted.

They also found that the goats milk soap helped their son, Cole. He liked the soap and it helped to clear up his eczema. Cole enjoys helping create the soaps. It soon became a family project as her other son, Tyler, who has cerebral palsy and autism, enjoys the creation process as well. As a family they enjoy  exploring scents that can offer beneficial properties, such as calming anxiety, for other people, who may not be able to afford the pricey items in the all-natural stores.

Clark Farm soaps are inspired by the people they're made for. They listen to what people are asking for, and why they are asking for it. They've found that the natural options that are available instead of continuing to use commercially made soap products is appealing to consumers. Consumers are finding that many natural soaps offer benefits through their use beyond just getting you clean, just as they themselves found the soap beneficial.

Some of the beneficial qualities of goats milk include lactic acid which helps to break down skin cells, aiding in the natural process of shedding old cells as new ones are formed. Goat milk contains many vitamins and nutrients useful to keeping healthy skin, including zinc, alpha hydroxy acid and amino acid, as well as vitamin A, B, C and E. This has been proven useful over time, because they have found they are using fewer moisturizers since using the goats milk soap regularly.

Advice from artists is something I think is inspiring and helpful to people hoping to create things themselves. Which is why I frequently remind myself to ask about advice. So when I asked Kristen of Clark Farm what her advice would be to someone who was interested in trying to create similar products would be, I was interested to find out what she thought.

Her strongest response is that aspiring soap makers should just do it. She believes that it's super easy, and with so many internet resources to offer help and advice they shouldn't feel intimidated. She's found that if you don't like what you make, you can always donate the soap.

Clark Farm has found that they are able to donate soap in 1 oz pieces to local homeless shelters. Kristen said that People often don't realize that homeless people need more than just food. So Clark Farm does this regularly. It makes them feel good to give back to the less fortunate. They also donate some of their profits to a worthy cause. This was something very important to her son Cole, who is just 11 years old. They donate 10% of their profits to the Barnstead Parent Teacher Organization.

As my usual questions aren't necessarily applicable to soap, I did ask Kristen what her favorite piece is that they make. Her favorite piece is the lilac soap. It reminds her of spring, making her feel happy, and is an unexpected scent that to her experience isn't frequently found in soap.

I really enjoyed getting to interact with Kristen, who is clearly quite knowledgeable and happy to hear ideas and enjoys educating others about how useful their products can be. You can purchase their products directly through their website, or through their etsy shop. You will find a variety of products in their shop, with unique colors and scents to appeal to many types of people. Perfect for home use or gift giving.

Artist Spotlight : Silly Panda's Artblog

While we've recently had the pleasure of seeing a variety of types of art featured in our spotlight, this week we're moving back to the more recognized art medium of hand drawn art by exploring art created by Silly Panda's Artblog. You can see more of her work on facebook or on instagram, @sillypanda3991, or on deviantart.

Many people recognize hand drawings as art. And many of them recognize that there are a number of different styles of art that are created by hand drawing. Humans have been drawing since the beginning of time, and the talent has only developed complexity as time marched on. Children frequently start out with the basic stick figure artwork, and progress overtime. Some get better, finding that art is a field that they enjoy. While some decide art isn't a field for them.


The artist behind Silly Panda's Artblog is Brenda Long. She draws a variety of different cartoon like characters and styles, although she admits on her facebook page that she doesn't enjoy drawing buildings or cars. You can't really blame her for that. Every artist has their specialities. She enjoys the anime style chibi's and other cartoon like creatures. She also finds nature as an art detail appealing.

The image you see on the right is actually one of her newer pieces that she's called Princess Ai. Personally I think this cute drawing shows off a practiced hand at drawing the ruffles and folds necessary to create the lovely dress the character wears here. I also find the coloring choices to be light and refreshing. Some people who create anime images color them very dark, and the more pastel shades are refreshing to see.



She does on occasion darken up her palette choices, as you can see here in her Aiyumi piece. There are darker colors utilized, yes but they're not darkened to a point that it distracts the viewer from her line work.

What I find interesting about her pieces is that even though they can be viewed by some as being simplistic(chibi's are often simplified versions of a character), they still have details giving them depth. You see their shoes, and in this case there's a tiny flower tucked into the bow of Ayumi's obi.

She really seems to have a good handle on a variety of kimono details, which she makes good use of in a number of her drawings. The different sleeve lengths as well as the skirt pleats are nice to see. I know that there's plenty of art to see, but sometimes it's nice to enjoy the small details that aren't always pointed out.

But let's not limit our examination to simply what the characters wear. There are other important details in her work that help give them character. Princess Sakura(to the right) has a wonderful expression. She looks to be irritated, or like she is giving someone a piece of her mind.

Why is this something notable? Expressions are something important to people. They help to give context to speech, a companion to tone, which is important to human communication. This is what we understand, poses, facial expressions help create visuals that we can interpret.

Some emotions are easier to express through art than others, so I think it's amusing that this piece can be interpreted with more than one. But art is created often to help an artist express an idea or an emotion. Yet at other times pieces may be created in response to something that the artist enjoys.


Which is what the fourth piece we're sharing with you exemplifies. The piece to the left is a fan art piece showing characters from The Last Unicorn. Many artists like to create pieces inspired by characters that they like. This is one of Brenda Long's favorite pieces that she's done, even though she feels that it is incomplete. So who knows in the future we may see another version by her.

Yet that shouldn't be the end, because this piece is interesting. Not only is this one of her favorite pieces so far, this is an example of where she draws her inspiration from. As an artist she was drawn to the anime style, the characters and music of the pieces inspiring her. A diligent artist, she'll sometimes spend hours planning out her piece in the hopes of getting the results that she can see in her mind. This determination to meet her own expectations is admirable.

When Brenda Long, the artist behind Silly Panda's Artblog, was asked what her advice would be to someone who is hoping to create pieces similar to her own, she responded in a manner similar to some of the other artists we have spotlighted. It's her belief that practice makes perfect, so one shouldn't give up easily. After all, every talent needs to be cultivated.

Well, thank you for joining us for this artist spotlight! Remember you can check out Silly Panda's Artblog on facebook , instagram @sillypanda3991, as well as on deviantart. Feel free to contact her about commissions, as we've been learning, artists love the challenge!

Artist Spotlight : Hada Pixie Designs

Every artist has the ability to delve into a variety of fields, exploring creative realms is not a crime after all. Some of them find that they enjoy more than one type of art field. Hada Pixie is one of these artists. She has a start on etsy, after having done modeling, and working as a photographer as well, you can access and view a variety of examples of her work on her website. But today we're going to be focusing on checking out her jewelry designs.

 Many people often take their talents for granted. They utilize them off and on, creating pieces for themselves and their friends, not always thinking past those initial stages. Hada Pixie had been making pieces to accent her own look, as well as those of the people in her life for years. But Hada Pixie opened her etsy shop in 2015, after her boyfriend offered her the serious suggestion of sharing her work with others.

Brimstone Rosary available on Etsy

So what kind of pieces does she make? Well she has a variety of styles on her etsy, but the best way to explain some of them is the rosary style. This is a format in which a pattern is created that can be used in meditation, prayer, or relaxation exercises.

To the left is an example that is called Brimstone. It actually features a symbol that in alchemy is called brimstone or sulphur. It is also referred to as the satanic cross. This is a symbol that some people may not have seen before, or might find rare to find.  She offers it with both red and yellow choices for the howlite skull beads as well, meaning you can select a more personal looking piece.

Tantric Black Flame Rosary available on Etsy

Her Tantric Black Flame rosary is also unique. It's a  limited edition piece which she made utilizing pendants from Venus Aeon. She's only making 25 of these. Venus Aeon is a production label associated with underground music, much of which is associated with darker underground music, some of which has occult themes. I was intrigued by the symbol, and the way they defined it made it even more interesting.

Their website states :

This Venus Aeon logo pendant represents the Tantric Black Flame. The two 'V' shapes represent Male and Female principles much like the Hindu Shiva and Shakti. The Black Flame is seen within the 'V' shapes and is the Creative Principle or dynamic 'seed'. This represents the Promethean Flame as well as the Resurrected Gods (always the son of the God and Goddess) of ancient mythology. This can also be seen as creative spark of the Universe or Consciousness and has also been represented as a "Luciferian Principle" by some. In this context Venus is both the Queen of Heaven and the Morningstar. The Aeon is the new aeon beginning December 22nd, 2012 when the Mayan long count ended its cycle.

Which gives the piece more depth. many people enjoy adding layers of symbolism to their wardrobe. Sometimes it's worth learning what a symbol means, because not only can it mean something to the person who wears it, it can mean something very different to people observing them. With the Tantric Black Flame pieces, she also offers customization just in case you wanted something a little different.

Sulfur Necklace available on Etsy

Unlike the Brimstone piece, Sulphur actually features a piece of sulphur stone. It features a wire wrapped pendant by Exotic Goddess Designs. I feel that this piece, as well as the Tantric Black Flame, are wonderful examples of Hada Pixies ability to work well with others. She uses her design choices, which combined with her networking skill becomes the ability to create something new and unique.

This piece isn't a rosary, but would be excellent if you like to layer pieces. As someone who loves to have more than one thing on at any given time. The black beads make it a piece that is flexible with what you can pair with it, and the yellow howlite pop in their bright yellow set to match and compliment the wire wrapped sulphur. Great for both male and female wear.

Vampyre Rosary available on Etsy

The last piece we're going to look at today is one of my favorites. I was honestly torn between showing you this one, and the Isis piece. But given the heated climate currently, we're going with the safer of the two. This rosary is called Vampyre. If you know much about symbolism, I'm sure you'll find the pendant drop as interesting as I do.

Why do I find it interesting? It looks very similar to an ankh. The ornate detailing makes it a wonderful example of a piece you can wear for fun, or in a more formal setting. Many of us, get attached to our jewelry in one way or another. So knowing what your pieces can mean to other people can be important.

This piece though was made to accompany a book. The book has the same name, Vampyre, and is by Ted Carter. This makes it unique in that it has more than one purpose. Sort of like all the Harry Potter merchandise people collect. Meaning is created by the consumer. Which is awesome.

I asked Hada Pixie a few questions that I have a habit of asking different artists. It's fun to see what they're answers are. Hada Pixie had a marvelous answer when I asked her what helps to inspire her pieces. She said that she likes to create pieces that she would be willing to wear herself, as well as to work with customers to create custom pieces. To me this is a sign of dedication to her work. She knows it's good, and she's willing to work with others to create pieces that they will wear and cherish.

As to what she would recommend to anyone interested in exploring jewelry design, she recommends that they have fun. But Hada followed that up with the honest addition, that you shouldn't quit your day job. This is realistic because it's not an easy field to get into, and while it is a lot of fun to create things for yourself and others, there may not necessarily be enough happening to keep you busy on a day to day basis. So I suppose it means to do it as long as it makes you happy, but don't make it your sole purpose.

If your interest has been sparked but you're not sure about any of the pieces seen here today, please head on over to etsy to peruse Hada Pixie Designs other offerings. You can also explore her photo shoots through her website. Remember if there's something you're interested in personalizing Hada Pixie is willing to work with you. Artists often love the challenge. Especially if it means their work will be loved.

Artist Spotlight : Mahikol Torres

In recent weeks we've looked at a variety of different types of art. Including graphic design, watercolor, and jewelry design. But this spotlight is going to be looking at photography. Our photographer of interest today is Mahikol Torres. Who has an interesting photographic gallery of self portraits. His instagram also shows some of his work.

When I first browsed his galleries there were a couple of images that struck me as interesting. Partially because of the depth as well as the content. This meant that it was a little complicated when it came to selecting pieces to share with you here. But I found that some of the same ones that piqued my interest had some interesting stories.

Probably one of the most impressive images to me was this one to the left. He calls it Oberon. I was impressed and curious about how it was done. I first assumed it had been done using blacklight reactive makeup, or maybe a photoshop. But I later found out that it was just glitter that refracted creating that effect. In fact, when I asked the photographer about what his favorite image was, it was this one. His response was very thorough, and it added more character to the image by providing background.

He personally feels drawn to the Oberon photo. He classifies it as one of those pictures where he wasn't sure if it would look good. Because there was no way to know how it would turn out beforehand. He feels that it came out as great as it did, because he rolled with his idea. He's also fond of this image because it's a record of makeup that he wore in a play. This gives the image emotional value. Mahikol also believes that the dark background really pulled his face away from all recognizable objects leaving you to wonder where he is or who he is. Some people have told him it makes him look like an alien or spaceman.

That's one of the fun things about photography though. Like all forms of art it can be interpreted differently by different people. When I saw this picture, the first impression was that it was a look at having trouble getting  the camera to capture what you see in your mind. Which to my eyes seems to be a valid idea. But I had to giggle when Mahikol said it actually is a play on the idea of shooting oneself.

Playing with ideas and being creative when you're taking photographs can be difficult. Partially because traditional photography restricts the elements available. Yes there are tricks that can be utilized to make silly pictures, but they don't always work the same way.

The trick of the picture to the left is the camera angle, and the play of light. By using a candle there's a lot of the image left in darkness, so the true location is unknown. At least, that's my opinion. I think it's a lot of fun to try and figure out what motivates people to explore their art. I asked Mahikol about this, and he had a very interesting answer.

Mahikol was a theater major in high school, and realized the productions needed better marketing. So he picked up a camera and started taking photos. He realized that he enjoyed taking them, and was surprised at the positive reactions people had. This experience inspired him to look into courses and tips that have helped him to build up his photographic skill sets.

While doing this he became interested in a skill building exercise that recommended taking self portraits, removing the need for other models. Mahikol has found it to be an enjoyable way to explore photography. He doesn't have to worry about the model getting bored as he takes his time and works out the details of an image. As he's gotten more comfortable with this his interest in character creation, fueled by his time as an actor, has given him inspiration to work with makeup and get more creative in his photos.

So that leads us to one of the most important questions that I ask people. A question that I lovee to ask artists is what they would recommend to someone interested in attempting their own hand in their field. Mahikol, like the others had a positive response:

For anyone interested in exploring this, the best advice I have is to just do it. I spent so much time at first worrying about perfection. Everything had to look great. I had to know everything about the lighting and my camera before I would dare try it, but as I mentioned, some really great shots came from experimentation. 

Have fun with it! Really, go crazy! Try out new things! Use anything you can find! And don't worry if you don't "have a space" to shoot. Tons of my photos were captured in a bathroom, with the lights off. The black background allowed me to really disconnect from any recognizable objects and make it more about the character, me. 

This is a great way for an artist to get to know themselves and really find a sense of style. And these photos also make great profile pictures!

If you've enjoyed what you've seen here, please head on over to his online gallery to see more of his work self portraits: Mahikol Torres: Self Portraits. His instagram is also available as a place to view his work and see some recent pieces that may not be in the gallery yet. I know they were mentioned earlier, but it doesn't hurt to remind you. Have fun exploring!

Artist Spotlight : Koalarazorclock

Today we're going to be looking at some wonderful watercolors done by Erica who makes them available through her etsy shop koalarazorclock. Watercolor happens to be one of the types of painting I love to look at, but have no knack for personally. A fact I accept happily, because it doesn't stop me from appreciating the works of others.

Realistic Watercolor, Lovebirds

So first off, these sweet little birds caught my eye when I was browsing through Erica's work on etsy. They're bright and warm, with a blush of color under their beaks.

You can find a variety of different animals on her etsy page, as she does commission paintings of pets. As well as has options to do watercolor interpretations of your favorite family photos. This is a rather unique offering in my opinion. I've never seen it before, and I personally see the offer as a rather refreshing one. After all people tend to love art that pertains to themselves.

Over the Garden Wall Print

Of course I have to mention the Over the Garden Wall images. They're cute and fun and while I may not be well versed in how the show works, her watercolors catch the heart of what I do know about the show.

Her piece captures the characters youth, while also letting the viewer wonder what he's discussing. I'd like to think he might be disagreeing with his half brother Gregory over something silly.

I also have to point out the little details. Note the houses in the background with the lights on, and the dainty leaves on the tree branch that goes across a half moon. All these details add charm to the piece. (click the link beneath the image to see it on etsy)

Dog Art - Over The Garden Wall

Another piece reminiscent of characters from over the garden wall. She made this one after being inspired by an unnamed wolf character in the show.

This one is also multi purpose though, for those of you that may want to decorate a child's room with fairy tale like images. After all, a wolf with the quote "You Have Beautiful Eyes!" Sure makes me think about Little Red Riding Hood.

Custom Animal Print : Animals in Clothing 

I can't show off her pieces without mentioning this adorable as well as classically charming option. Many people laugh at the idea of dressing their pets up in clothing, often because the task itself isn't an easy one. After all pets aren't really shaped for real apparel.

But that's where these adorable paintings come in. You can have your pet painted into clothing. That's right! Your pet painted into an adorable outfit, an image to add whimsy to your home or office, while still keeping the focus on your pet.





I asked Erica what her favorite subjects were to paint. She responded: "My favorite subjects are people, I like trying to capture something about them. I also like doing animals for the same reason, I think they have just as much personality most of the time."

You can really tell this is true when you look through the pieces that she has displayed as both available and as examples in her etsy shop. She takes good care to keep her pictures true to their source, while still giving them a loving touch of her own flare.

When asked where she found the inspiration to create her paintings she had a wonderful answer.

I'm inspired by seeing other people's artwork, and since I work in a museum that's easy to come by. Richmond also has a lot of murals, which I love. Even when I don't like them I find it inspiring to see someone's vision just in my day to day life on a building I happen to be passing. They're popping up all over so it's lovely to run across a new one, or to know that your errand will take you by one of your favorites.

One of the last questions I asked is one that I feel is very important. When it comes to newer artists it's always nice to have advice from someone who has done pieces that may inspire them. I asked her what advice she has for aspiring artists.

My best advice would just be to practice without judging your work. The more you do anything the more you'll learn and get better, but if you think you suck or are no good you'll become discouraged and won't give yourself the opportunity to improve. So just keep going, try to analyze what you like and don't like about what you've done and what other people have done without passing judgement on yourself. Its not necessary to be the best and no matter how good you ever get there will be people better, and people who don't like your stuff.

If you were interested in seeing more of her work, or maybe even commissioning a piece of your own, please check out her etsy shop koalarazorclock (Just click on the name and it will take you right on over). She's a sweetheart to communicate with, and she has a beautiful collection of available pieces, all you need to do is look.