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Tag: #ArtistoftheDay

AOTD: Kellee Mayfield

No 7 completed in residence at Chateau d'Orquevaux by Kellee Mayfield!
No 7 (oil on canvas) completed in residence at Chateau d’Orquevaux by Kellee Mayfield

“What are you doing this weekend?” Kellee Mayfield

I am having a tough day, not horrible, not life-altering, just tough.  My mind is elsewhere, and I’m kinda wishing my body were too.  Because it is a quiet day in the studio (code for I’m too tired & unmotivated to work), I decided to do a little paperwork, jot down some notes about some ideas that I can’t shake & scroll through Instagram hoping not to lose a half a day.  

I came across today’s Artist of the Day, Kellee Mayfield‘s Insta feed, and almost every post that I clicked said, “What are you doing this weekend?”.  I found somewhere else to be, Chateau d’Orquevaux, a French artist residency, to be precise.  Mayfield spent some time there in the Fall and completed this series of work that transported me.  There’s a food to her Insta feed with which many AAAD will appreciate as well.  So, consider this my invitation to share… what are YOU doing this week?

While I always want to visit an artist’s website, I am sending you to her Insta feed @deltamoxie to give you the same glimpse that gave me the boost my weekend needed. 

Thanks to AAAD Artist of the Day, Kellee Mayfield for the trip to Chateau d’Orquevaux!

ARTIST of the DAY: Alice Wellinger

The Envelope by AAAD Artist of the Day Alice Wellington!
“The Envelope” (acrylic on canvas, 40cm x 40cm) by Alice Wellington

“Kunst ist schön, macht aber viel Arbeit” Karl Valentin

“Art is beautiful, but it does a lot of work.” — Karl Valentin

I was on a flight from Chicago to Atlanta recently when the pilot announced it was going to be a very bumpy ride.  I’m not a bad flyer, but it doesn’t stop me from white-knuckling the armrest everytime we drop a few feet.  But sharing my flight was a 3-year-old girl, traveling with her father, all full of energy & curiousity.  Everytime we would hit turbulence and drop a little, she would giggle & laugh & hold her stomach.  For me, turbulence is a chance I’m going to die, for her, it is a stomach drop in the elevator or over the top hill of a rollercoaster.  I will never experience airplane turbulence the same way.  Perspective.

When asked (frequently BTW) about my favorite artist or style of art, my immediate reaction is to reject being backed into a corner by that sort of reductivism, but eventually my answer boils down to “perspective”.  I want to be shown a different way to see, feel or be with something in the world, or not in the world as the case may be.  I’ll take irony, sarcasm, absurdism, realism, surrealism or any other work that makes me better, or worse, for the experience. The wit of Austrian-based artist & illustrator, Alice Wellinger, today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, drew me in immediately.  Take the time to click any of the links in this feature to explore more of her work.  “Beneath her editorial work she develops her personal art, which is surreal,ironic, dealing with the troubles of daily life and childhood memories.” You won’t be dissapointed.

Gain a new perspective with the work of today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, Alice Wellinger!

ARTIST of the DAY: Sophia Gunkel

"Breathe" (mixed media on canvas) by AAAD Artist of the Day, painter Sophia Gunkel
“Breathe” (mixed media on canvas) by AAAD Artist of the Day, painter Sophia Gunkel

“Freedom, that’s what I feel when I paint…
the freedom to explore the unknown parts of myself & our perplexing world as I see & experience it.”
Sophia Gunkel

Why do you create?  Do you have a physical response, or is the reaction solely an emotional or cerebal experience?  I have the tendency to drag my feet when I should be in the studio –somedays for a lack of purpose or an unclear direction or fear of failure.  But, I have learned how to put on foot in front of the other and get to IN the studio.  I resoundingly feel the same way every time I get there and paint.  Freedom.  Every time. The work of today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, Sophia Gunkel, speaks to me and it seems we share that same sense of freedom.  Please explore more of Sophia’s work.  (And check out her Facebook feed for time lapse video!)

Find a sense of freedom with the work of today’s
AAAD Artist of the Day, painter Sophia Gunkel!

ARTIST of the DAY: Gabrielle Shannon

"Copper Storm 1" (acrylic on canvas) by AAAD Artist of the Day, painter Gabrielle Shannon
“Copper Storm 1” (acrylic on canvas) by AAAD Artist of the Day, painter Gabrielle Shannon

“. . . the brain mirrors the expanse of the entire cosmos… and beyond. Each moment is unique. Each moment is identical.” Gabrielle Shannon

For most of my life I felt I had a good handle on people as a species –essentially good & well-intentioned but deeply flawed.  But the past few years have opened my eyes to my own bias & rocked my faith in good intentions.  The work of today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, Gabrielle Shannon, reminds me that the world is bigger than ourselves, bigger than our experience.  Check our her full statement!

Investigate the patterns of change with
AAAD Artist of the Day, painter Gabrielle Shannon!

ARTIST of the DAY: Elizabeth White

"Migration", a site-specific installation of concrete life-cast leaves, by Elizabeth White
“Migration”, a site-specific installation of concrete life-cast leaves, by Elizabeth White

“In view of the current economic disasters, political conditions, military actions & climate or earth changes I see immigration as the new normal.  What may be them today is us tomorrow.” — Elizabeth White

Many people spend a lifetime without ever having to consider the need to emigrate from their homeland.  Many others spend their lives learning what it means to always be an immigrant, never feeling quite at home.  And then there are others, never quite at home regardless of where they are.  When I saw the “Migration” installation by today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, Elizabeth White, I marveled at the simple symbolism of leaves separated from their roots.  It is precisely how many of us feel, like leaves strewn about, seemingly at random.  Disconnected.

Investigate more work from AAAD
Artist of the Day
, Elizabeth White.

ARTIST of the DAY: Terri Lloyd

"Aquarius: Eccentric Altruism" and "Aquarius: Aloof Rebellion" by Terri Lloyd
“Aquarius: Eccentric Altruism” and “Aquarius: Aloof Rebellion” by Terri Lloyd

“I don’t put a lot of stock into such things personally…”
Terri Lloyd

I’m a Gemini.  My husband is a Virgo, and my son is Leo.  My mother is an Aquarius while my father is a Capricorn, like his mother Emma.  My great aunt Magdalene was a Cancer. She read our horoscopes to us at the breakfast table just after riotously laughing at the B.C. comic strip — the comic & predictive located on the same page.  I could always find myself in the predictions for every sign.  It was either childhood narcissism or an early indicator an eventual empathetic nature.  Regardless, I never put much faith in the accuracy of astrological signs, but I know many, many people try very hard to fulfill expectations that make us appear inculpable in our own journey.  

Today’s AAAD Artist of the Day Terri Lloyd, has completed a series, As Above, So Below that revolves around the signs of the zodiac.  The third sentence of the press release began, “I’d don’t put a lot of stock in such things personally”.  It seems perfectly in line with that dark wit & humor for which her work is known.  I love this series so much.  I appreciate that she incorporates mudras as a sort of universal language, and just like my childhood, I could identify with every sign more than the last.  It was hard for me to choose an image to feature.  I finally chose Aquarius because it suited my perspective today.  But they are all fantastic.  Please take the time to pass an eye over each one.

FYI, all of the links to Lloyd’s work, on this page, will lead you to her Hatchfund campaign for As Above, So Below.”  This campaign will allow Terri to print & frame all 26 large-scale images to show at the StARTup Art Fair in 2018.  You don’t have to donate to look at or appreciate the images (click on updates), but every $5 helps another artist fund her opportunity.  You’ve been there, just steps away from grabbing what you want. Here’s your opportunity to help her grab just such an opportunity, and it offers rewards to boot.  She has to get to 50% funding in just a few days; after that, she has a benefactor with matching funds.  I encourage you to put yourself in her shoes & lend a hand.

Check out the full series from AAAD Artist of the Day, Terri Lloyd.

 

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ARTIST of the DAY: Jenn Ashton

"Distraction" (acrylic on paper) by Jenn Ashton
“Distraction” (acrylic on paper) by Jenn Ashton

“I want my paintings to find the naive child & deep down belly laugh that lives inside every person . . .” Jenn Ashton

I have picked up the paintbrush again for the first time in many years in preparation for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I had forgotten how physically taxing & the nature of focus that it requires of me. As a result, my work tends to be very serious. I have such respect for artists that bring forth joy on canvas and paper.  Today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, Jenn Ashton aspires to find the belly laugh.  Today, on this day, in this week, month & year, in this decade, I find painting with joy & laughter is among the most noble of pursuits. Thanks, Jenn.

Put a smile on your face & a swell in your heart
with the work of
AAAD Artist of the Day Jenn Ashton!

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Artist of the Day: Sima Schloss

by Artist of the Day Sima Schloss
transparencies (mixed media) by Sima Schloss

“Perhaps we never know someone until we see them
in love, despair or in danger.”
Sima Schloss

At times I feel my life is laid bare before the world.  Because I don’t have faith in the existence of privacy and an excessive desire to control my surroundings, I have beaten everyone to the punch. I have revealed almost everything to be known about me.  Those few crumbs I have kept for myself are dark corners best left unexamined by most. But if Sima Schloss, today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, is right about love, despair & danger, I have nowhere to hide.  I am oddly relieved.  What are you not trying to hide?

Reveal more of the work of AAAD Artist of the Day Sima Schloss!

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ARTIST of the DAY: Soteris Sam Roussi

"We All Had Lightening Rods" & "Nero Could Turn on a Dime" by Soteris Sam Roussi
“We All Had Lightening Rods” & “Nero Could Turn on a Dime” by Soteris Sam Roussi

“I have limitless problems to resolve and discoveries unimagined to uncover.” Soteris Sam Roussi

Inspiration is a stranger to the one not its own.  For some it’s divine.  For some it’s academic.  For some it’s nagging & persistent.  For me, it is fleeting, absent sometimes, for months.  Then, inspiration comes bounding back in multiples faster than I can create.  But today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, Soteris Sam Roussi, has limitless problems to resolve.  Someone once told me to use my anxiety as fuel; that isn’t unlike inspiration as a problem to be solved.  I like it.

 

Discover more of AAAD Artist of the Day Soteris Sam Roussi‘s work!

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ARTIST of the DAY: Kristen Brown

Dissonant Frequencies (chalk pastel) by Kristen Brown!
Dissonant Frequencies (chalk pastel) by Kristen Brown

“I am interested in the idea of recollection & how time & moments can feel distorted if one fails to grab hold of any memory landmark.” Kristen Brown

My grandmother lived with Alzheimer’s; her mother lived with Alzheimer’s.  Every lost memory scares the wits out of me. Logically, I know that wasting my lucid years worrying about a feared eventuality of non-lucidity is just the most stupid waste of a lifetime, but some days it gets the better of me.  The work of today’s AAAD Artist of the Day, Kristen Brown, brought me to tears.  It is that blurred perception of reality, that soft focus of memories just out of reach that she captures so well.  Thanks for the perspective.

Investigate the drawings, paintings & photographs of Artist of the Day, Kristen Brown!

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