Anne El-Habre, Artist

Today I was looking over some of the details on my own Etsy store, when I clicked on the link to see who had marked my store as one of their favorites.

Nestled, among the other icon's there, I found Anne El-Habre's avatar.  The avatar is a beautiful painting of a woman's face.  (To see it, and you must!, go to Anne's Etsy Store http://www.AnneE.etsy.com)  The avatar just happens to be one of her many works of art, and they are all ohhhh so impressive.  Have a close up and personal look at this master piece and then say that somehow you were not utterly inspired?

"Dryad" is just plan gorgeous!

Okay so enough of the sexy naked guy hugging a tree comments.  On a serious note, Anne is an amazing artist.  I am so impressed by "Eleanor"

I love mythology and Anne's paintings are like your there witnessing the event.  Each Character seems to jump off the page.

 

Eleanor's flowing red hair is completely romantic, next to her alabaster skin.

From Anne's profile on Etsy:  "I was born in Maine.  I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design waaay back in 1989 and got a Degree in Graphic Arts.  Although I liked it then, the computer has taken much of the Art out of it, so I returned to drawing and painting shortly after graduating.

I am primarily self taught, gouache being one of my favorite mediums, though my strength is drawing. I also have a passion for printmaking.

My influences are turn of the Century illustration (Pyle, Wyeth, Booth, Leyendecker) and Victorian and Symbolist painters.
Inspiration comes from many sources, namely folklore, mythology, nature, and the human form." 

 

Just Amazing!! go --- go now and visit Anne's shop on Etsy, I bet you'll  look around a bit when you get there.  Here's the link:

http://www.AnneE.etsy.com

Etsy :: AnneE's Profile

My Brilliant Weblog Award

Here is my list of nominees for the passing of the Brilliant Weblog Award.. Thank you again Jane for nominating me!

I am so greatful for getting this award nomination and happy to pass it on to the seven BLOGGERS below.

I am sorry for my delay in getting this out there, but immediately after I got the award, life threw me a curve ball and I was devasted by the loss of one of my five year old Shar Pei pups.

ShiShi - ShiShi was a doll, a perfect companion and the engergizer bunny in our house. She will be terribly missed. Her death was sudden and shocking. She simply woke up one morning early and 1 hour later she died of a failed heart. Her left ventrical burst and she didn't have a chance to recover from such a horrific event.

I have been devasted, I still go to the door to call her in, I still hear her feet clicking across my hardwood floors and I still see her adorable face in my mind every day. So please forgive my tardniess in passing the torch.

Today I dedicate this little passage and my award to Shishi Sai Lai... my wonderful little Shar Pei.



Directions for Nominees below

1) Put the logo on your blog, logo can be found in the upper left of this blog.

2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4) Add links to those blogs on yours.

5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

So my 7 Nominees are......

Jane at http://www.folkartbycampbelljane.blogspot.com/,

Amy at http://www.amyrehnae.blogspot.com/,

Michael at http://www.michaelorwick.blogspot.com/,

http://www.twistedthicket.blogspot.com/,

http://www.dishfulsofdoodles.blogspot.com/,

http://www.blueheronkate.blogspot.com/

http://www.tadadesigns.blogspot.com/

Amy Rehnae Giles, Collage~ Mixed Media Artist

I could be wrong, but I feel that collage and mixed media artist are often overlooked when it comes to "fine" art. Looking at the beautiful eye catching work of Amy Rehnae Giles, reminds me of the keen sense of color, texture and imagery that a collage or mixed media artist must possess to create works such as these.

There is certainly appeal of a high magnitude present in these works. The colors, though earthy and somewhat muted are pleasing to the senses and romantic. The butterfly at the center of "Fragile Beauty" brings a certain sense of uplifting to the onlooker.

In "Just Be" the colors are of the same hues, but the image takes a seductive turn that reels you in. You can't help but focus on the beautiful girl peeking through the framing collage. A perfect selection of images, shapes and textures that completely compliment one another.

Finally in Amy's artistic expression "Amazing Grace," There is a bit of Yin and Yang going on that captures your curiosity from moment one. I find the image to hold a sense of mystery and hopefulness in equal proportions. I bring it back to Amy's keen sense of color, texture and imagery to have mixed such fine aspects for her imagination into fine art for us to enjoy.

Check out Amy's other works on Etsy:

Here is her link: http://www.amyrehnae.etsy.com

Enjoy!

Etsy :: GarThoma Studio

While making use of the "POUNCE" function on etsy, to browse through the artist's store fronts that have not yet had a sale, I landed on Garthoma.

I have collected woodblock prints in the past, mainly Yoshitoshi, but Garthoma's wood block printing really has special appeal.  Looking at his print of "Wash Day,"  there is a real feel of Americana Folk art.  This print could just as well be an illustration included in a story by Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain).

The woodblock print technique is special artistic skill worth noting.  The wood block is designed so that the areas to show 'white' are cut away with a knife or chisel, leaving the image to show in 'the darker color of the ink or paint.' The block is cut with the grain of the wood.

 

Then ink is applied to the block and pressed firmly and evenly on the paper to produce the print. The picture will print "in reverse" or mirror-image.

So this image of "Between the Rows," as well as the other two prints on this page were carved in the reverse or mirror of the image you see here.

 

Keeping the technique in mind while viewing Garthoma's work brings you to a new appreciation for the effort it takes to create such a wonderful piece of art.

Take a few moments to get a closer look at the work of Garthoma, it is quite incredible - here is the link Etsy :: www.garthoma.etsy.com

BRENDA THOUR, Artist

While viewing a treasury link that I was sent just yesterday, the incredible art of Brenda Thour stopped me dead in my tracks. As it turns out she and I have the Interior Design Team on Etsy in common, as well as a few other things.

The images of wildlife that she paints are so soulful and surprising. I, myself began my artistic efforts from childhood by drawing animals in natural settings. Even though Brenda took up painting only as recently as 1999, she has a very well developed eye, and a very cooperative hand. Look here at her Waxwing. Just amazing!

Another interesting parallel between Brenda Thour and I, beside the fact that we have the same first name, is her choice of birds to render in her painted images. I have a mixed media version of the waxwing in my personal portfolio, as well as a watercolor of a loon. Have a look Brenda's painting of a mother loon sitting on her nest. You can really imagine this view being one you might be seeing in nature, it is such a pure depiction.

From the Artist:

"Hi, my name is Brenda Thour and I love to paint. I have been painting since 1999, when I finally realized my dream and gave painting a go. My first passion is in painting animals, followed by landscapes. I find it very rewarding, fun and thrilling to be able to take a blank canvas and depict Gods' handiwork on it. To create a piece of art that gives someone a feeling of peace is a true blessing."

Take a moment to see the rest of Brenda's listings on Etsy, each and everyone is a delight. Here is her link:

Etsy :: www.Luvs2Paint.etsy.com