when i met susanne slater in yoga class a couple of years ago, i was instantly drawn to her kind spirit. it was months later, thanks to her humble disposition, that i found out she is a magnificent artist responsible for these beautiful paintings. although her art speaks for itself, i did an interview with her to find out a little more about her life behind the scenes.

Will you tell us a little about yourself and your art?

I started drawing as a child. Anything that I saw in front of me I set about drawing. As an adult I was forced to became practical and pursued a career in nursing. I spent  many years practicing and furthering my education in nursing. Ending with a master’s degree and teaching. Eventually I needed to get back to my artist side and am now fortunate enough to pursue art full-time.

Where do you gather inspiration for your art? What is the creative process like for you?

Inspiration for art is everywhere. It’s about taking notice, being open and allowing everything in. I am very inspired by other artists and feel energized when I go to galleries and museums. I may see a couple walking down the street with a dog, a corner café, interesting shadows or colors combinations. It all gets noticed and may be used immediatly or show up later.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

I paint street scenes and have several local paintings going presently. Little Italy has been a favorite venue lately, as well as Balboa Park.

What are 5 things currently making you happy?

My dogs

My husband

Yoga

Painting

Friends

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Don’t wait until its too late, pursue what you love and are passionate about now.

What is the quality you most admire in a person?

Honesty

Which talent would you most like to possess?

Speak fluent French

you can see more of her imaginative work here.

how adorable are these rosie music prints?

a little bit in love.

found via red velvet

not too long ago, i happened upon and instantly fell in love with the charming artwork of krista smith. bestowing expressive eyes, bountiful hair, darling attire and passionate souls, she captures such incredible depth and emotion, while portraying a sense of innocence in every character. take a look at an interview with the saturated canary and some of her adorable creations.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hello!  My name is Krista.  I have two sweet kids, Niamh (8) and Philly (5), and have been married for almost ten years to my husband Philip.  I stopped working full time in February 2010 and began pursuing my dream of selling artwork and being published.  Right now I’m in the process of sending out manuscripts to publishers and designing new character-based art.  I love to draw, write, run, lift weights, play sports, and most of all hang out with my little guys and hubby.

Will you describe your art?

I’ve been drawing figures since I was a little girl.  My grandmom is an artist, and I started by copying her fashion girls.  Over the years, I developed my own style.  I like to play with the proportions of the face and body…big eyes, pouty lips, lots of hair, and big shoes…There is definitely an element of fun and quirkiness to my artwork; I think it’s a reflection of my spirit.

As an artist, what do you find most challenging about what you do? What do you love most about what you do?

The most challenging part for me is pushing through the days when I get discouraged.   Rejection letters or emails are never fun.  And some days there is no forward progress…so, it is natural to get a little discouraged and start questioning if I’m doing the right thing.  I usually end up in tears wrapped up in hubby’s arms…And he encourages me like no other.  The world seems promising again after a nice talk about set backs and dreams that will surely come true.  Even if I have to be patient!

Thing I love the most—being my own boss.  Hands down.  I like the feeling of being in charge of my own schedule.  It frees up time for my children, and that is something I truly appreciate about being a freelance artist!

Where do you gather inspiration for your art? What is the creative process like for you?

Inspiration comes from every direction…from my own childhood memories, watching my own kids, a song, movies, someone I meet, even a random person I pass by.  It could be a sparkle in someone’s eye that makes me think—I gotta put that on paper.  Sometimes lyrics create a girl for me…sometimes a movie (I love drawing up pretty monsters…I use to watch the black and white monster movies with my dad all the time!)  Life is so beautiful and offers so much to be inspired from, even in the every-day simple things.

Which of your own illustrations are your favorites?

Last year I drew each of my sisters and our best friend as a witch.  There are four of us, and I called them The Sisterhood of Witches.  Each of us has our own personality, and I tried to capture it.  I think they are really cute grouped together as a Halloween decoration!  I also love my zombies, nerds, and a new line of characters I’m working on called Ragamuffins.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

I just sent out a children’s book manuscript.  I am currently working on three more stories, trying to tweak them to the point where I’m completely happy with how they are written.  I hope to send them to publishers by the end of September.  Artwork-wise, I am designing new stamps (and may go completely digital this fall), getting ready to re-open my Etsy store with lots of new artwork, and crafting here and there, tooJ.  I like to create something handmade.

What other artists influence you?

My grandmom, anything Disney (when I retire, I want to move to FL and be a Disney character:), Nuno Da Costa (a fashion illustrator that I love!), and many other creative people I’ve met through blogging.  There is an amazing number of talented, artsy women in this world; and I love meeting them and sharing their love of creativity!

Outside of illustrating, what other interests/pastimes do you have?

I love to run.  Well, maybe I don’t love it every day…but it has been a good friend to me through the years!  Running de-stresses me, keeps me feeling healthy, and sets a good example for my kids.  I need to do it.  When I miss a day, I feel like my day wasn’t complete.  My next goal is a 50 or 100-mile run.  I have always wanted to try that challenge!  I also like golfing, going to the beach, and hanging out with our families!

What are 5 things currently making you happy?

1.  My new rainboots.  LOL, I got them for $12.50 (on clearance) at Target.  They are so cute!!

2.  Family sporting events.  We took the kids to their first pro football game this week, and it was such a good time.

3.  Battlestar Gallactica!  Phil and I just got into the set of dvd’s, and now we are hooked!

4.  The Help.  Read the book and saw the movie.  Amazing.

5.  Playing golf.  I’m terrible, but I have that one brilliant hole each time that keeps me hoping;).

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Love your job.  Because then it will never feel like work.

What is the quality you most admire in a person?

Compassion.  It will move a person out of their comfort zone to help another in need.  Whether it is just a word or a small gesture, I think it is the most refreshing thing to see—people caring for people.

What do you most value in other people?

Godliness.  The Lord is the center of our family life.  I especially value the godly women in my life—I’ve learned a lot through them about who I am and who I want to be.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Hmmm…Sleeping in, good coffee, playing with kids, doing something active with Phil, (a couple diet cherry cokes thrown in somewhere throughout the day), watching a family movie, and then a yummy dessert!  And it has to be a really warm day.  I don’t like cold weather:).

Which talent would you most like to possess?

I’d love to be a great cook.  And baker.  I lost out on these family genes unfortunately.  Although, I’m a fantastic sampler for all the cooks and bakers I’m related to.  I’ll take home any food they make and try it out:).

the artist

fafi – one of my all-time favorite artists.

mornings at the market never grow old for me. from the freshest, local produce to the handmade art, i always see something i missed the time before. the endless array of color is a little party within itself.

The very lovely and candid Susan Carter Hall was generous enough to take a few moments of her time yesterday and share with me a little about herself in an ingenuous interview. Not only does she create beautiful paintings that have been fascinating me since I first laid eyes on them last year, she lives the bona fide life of an artist. During our discussion, she explains the process of translating artistry to canvas, reveals what brings her unadulterated joy, and divulges a secret aspiration – which involves getting her hands dirty in the kitchen.

Ode to Lascaux

Navy & White

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Mississippi and moved to California after college. I have studied painting in Italy, Mexico, New York, and Los Angeles. Other than that, I dyed my hair black once.  It was either out of creative frustration since I wasn’t painting at the time or the desire to look more like my dog, since “they” always say how owners look like their dogs. Nevertheless, it was a mistake.

When did you first start painting and why?

I started painting when I was a kid. My grandmother, Alma Twente (aka Moremom) was a painter and sculpture. Whenever we were at her house, she had art supplies around and had us drawing and making little clay sculptures. I started taking art more seriously in high school, and then got hooked in college. I knew something had a hold on me around my junior year when I started showing up to an empty art building early on Sunday mornings, obsessing about the light reflections on the bottles in a still-life painting I was working on.

As an artist, what do you find most challenging about what you do? What do you love most about what you do?

The act of being an artist is a challenge in itself. You have no idea about your income, you spend most of your time alone in a dirty studio, and you give 100% of yourself to projects your audience might not respond to. At the same time, the things that are so challenging, I would also, oddly say, are the things I love most about it too. It keeps me on my toes to constantly have to research, problem-solve, and market myself just to make a living. And, I find great fulfillment being in my studio fully immersed in painting, time seems to stand still and even though I am generally alone, I still have my dog to talk to. In regards to the audience not responding, well that’s just a truth you have to accept and learn to try to paint what is the most honest extension of yourself at that time. And, I don’t say that as if I have mastered the key to artistic freedom, I think about my audience all the time.

Where do you gather inspiration for your art? What is the creative process like for you?

I am inspired by writers, religion, philosophy, myths, space, science, architecture, nature, and fashion.  I am also very inspired by other artists and musicians. I am inspired by relationships – relationships of objects in space, relationships of light and dark, texture relationships, the relationship of urgency and stillness – Cubism really.  I like the idea that in Cubism – you aren’t quite sure where objects exist in space – reality is not spelled out for you – therefore you have to accept – at least for that brief moment – a new model.  Things are not as they appear. And, I think this idea relates back to my interest in religion and science. There are no simple explanations. There is not one way to exist in space. There is not one explanation.

As for my current process, I tend to begin a painting with a certain outcome in mind. This quickly falls apart. I make a lot of marks in an effort to establish this first intention. I am generally unsuccessful. I put the painting away for a day, month, or years.  Time passes. I work on other pieces. I probably have about 25 pieces in various stages of development. I gain new perspectives, have some life experiences, see some art that inspires me, and possibly access the information I need so that when I see the aforementioned painting sitting in the corner of my studio weeks/months later – I see something new, something I couldn’t see before – color, line, etc – and I am drawn back into the painting.  I might only be able to work on it for a week, then I might need to put it away again b/c I don’t quite understand what to do next. So I work on another.  And this goes on and on – this rotation of pieces. Now the paintings are teaching me – in their own time – revealing new relationships, new approaches, new outcomes – and they are always more interesting than the first idea I came up with.

What is your favorite piece of work that you have painted?

Any work in which I was fully immersed and not trying to control the painting, where the painting took over and time stood still, then I am happy with that piece.  I don’t think I have one in particular; they have all been unique experiences.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

I am currently trying to finish a large painting to hang at a downtown loft in the next 3 days for an event.  I am also collaborating with a company on illustrations for a children’s book and franchise. And, I just finished a few pieces that will be featured on an upcoming Bravo TV show.

What other painters/artists influence you?

Off the top of my head….

Past - R. B. Kitaj. Joan Mitchell. Cezanne. Robert Motherwell. Picasso.

Current – Tom Wudl. Summer Wheat. Kati Heck. Neo Rauch. Hockney.

Outside of painting, what other interests/pastimes do you have?

I have a lot of friends who are musicians, so I enjoy going to hear live music in LA.  I also like to hike – we have so many great hikes in LA, but I typically go up to Bronson Canyon where you end up above and behind the HOLLYWOOD sign. And it is a must that I run on a regular basis – it just clears my head and gets the cobwebs out.

What are 5 things currently making you happy?

1. An article on Jeff Bridges in Esquire I just read made me happy.  He talked about overcoming fear, the creative process, and letting creativity “rip” through you.  It was very inspiring.

2. Every time I look at my dog, Aida, I am instantly happy.

3. Bridesmaids, the movie made me laugh so hard yesterday, and laughing makes me happy.

4. Dancing to Vaud and the Villians makes me happy.

5. Hmmm, seeing other people succeed and happy – makes me happy.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Oh, and my mentor, Tom Wudl, advised me to please learn how to cook. And, I am getting around to that.

Red Light, Limelight

4th Dimension and Teacups

Untitled Journey

Aida

Do Something, Then Do Something To That

Cave

quote by louise erdrich

art by red velvet

art by caia koopman

art by curly girl design

 i just recently discovered kate lightfoot’s artwork and instantly fell in love with her lovely idea of the big-eyed, quirky girl image.

i bought this while in austin last week. the poem painted so many little smiles all over my heart when i read it. brian andreas, the artist, turns words into lovely works of art. you can find more of his inspiring creations at story people.

crab and jellyfish sittin in a tree

all in

the things we carry

i have just recently discovered these paintings (here) by casey o’connell. i adore her style, as well as her ability to portray such deep emotion through body language and facial expressions. absolutely impressive.

there is something so incredibly adorable

and inspiring about this drawing. fafi

i was given this bracelet as a gift and it has become my favorite piece of jewelry. 

corine grant designs