[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"app-navigation":3,"blog-category-arties-eight":138,"posts-3-10-arties-eight":142},{"tree":4,"leafs":137},[5,30,47,64,77,133],{"uid":6,"label":7,"to":8,"children":9},"MTM0","Custom Frames","/ctg/custom-frames",[10,14,18,22,26],{"uid":11,"label":12,"to":13},"MjI3","Custom Wood Frames","/ctg/custom-frames/wood",{"uid":15,"label":16,"to":17},"MjI2","Custom Metal Frames","/ctg/custom-frames/metal",{"uid":19,"label":20,"to":21},"MjI4","Canvas Floater Frames","/ctg/custom-frames/canvas-floater-frames",{"uid":23,"label":24,"to":25},"MjI5","Stretcher Bars","/ctg/custom-frames/stretcher-bar-frames",{"uid":27,"label":28,"to":29},"MjMw","Frame Samples","/ctg/custom-frames/frame-moulding-samples",{"uid":31,"label":32,"to":33,"children":34},"MjMz","Glass & Acrylic","/ctg/framing-supplies/glass-and-acrylic",[35,39,43],{"uid":36,"label":37,"to":38},"Mjk0","Non-Glare Glass & Acrylic","/ctg/framing-supplies/glass-and-acrylic/non-glare",{"uid":40,"label":41,"to":42},"Mjky","Standard Glass & Acrylic","/ctg/framing-supplies/glass-and-acrylic/standard-glass-acrylic",{"uid":44,"label":45,"to":46},"Mjkz","UV Filter Glass & Acrylic","/ctg/framing-supplies/glass-and-acrylic/uv-filter",{"uid":48,"label":49,"to":50,"children":51},"MjMx","Matboard","/ctg/framing-supplies/mat-board",[52,56,60],{"uid":53,"label":54,"to":55},"MjY0","Custom-Cut Matboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/mat-board/pre-cut-mats",{"uid":57,"label":58,"to":59},"MjM2","Full Sheet Matboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/mat-board/full-sheet-mat-boards",{"uid":61,"label":62,"to":63},"MjM1","Matboard Color Samples","/ctg/framing-supplies/mat-board/mat-board-samples",{"uid":65,"label":66,"to":67,"children":68},"MjMy","Foamboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/foam-board",[69,73],{"uid":70,"label":71,"to":72},"Mjg5","Custom-Cut Foamboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/foam-board/custom-foam-board",{"uid":74,"label":75,"to":76},"MjM3","Full Sheet Foamboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/foam-board/full-sheet-foam-boards",{"uid":78,"label":79,"to":80,"children":81},"MTM1","Framing Supplies","/ctg/framing-supplies",[82,107,120],{"uid":83,"label":84,"to":85,"children":86},"MTM1-group-0","Assembly & Mounting","/ctg/framing-supplies/assembly-and-mounting",[87,91,95,99,103],{"uid":88,"label":89,"to":90},"MjQz","Adhesives & Glue","/ctg/framing-supplies/photo-mounting-supplies/adhesives-glue",{"uid":92,"label":93,"to":94},"MjQy","ATG Tape","/ctg/framing-supplies/photo-mounting-supplies/atg-tape",{"uid":96,"label":97,"to":98},"MjQw","Hinging Tape & Tissue","/ctg/framing-supplies/photo-mounting-supplies/hinging-tape-tissue",{"uid":100,"label":101,"to":102},"MjQx","Photo Corners & Strips","/ctg/framing-supplies/photo-mounting-supplies/photo-corners-strips",{"uid":104,"label":105,"to":106},"MjM0","Picture Frame Spacers","/ctg/framing-supplies/picture-frame-spacers",{"uid":108,"label":109,"to":110,"children":111},"MTM1-group-1","Hanging & Finishing","/ctg/framing-supplies/hanging-and-finishing",[112,116],{"uid":113,"label":114,"to":115},"MjQ0","Hanging Hardware","/ctg/framing-supplies/picture-frame-hanging-supplies",{"uid":117,"label":118,"to":119},"MjQ2","Cleaning Supplies","/ctg/framing-supplies/cleaning-supplies",{"uid":121,"label":122,"to":123,"children":124},"MTM1-group-2","Protection & Storage","/ctg/framing-supplies/protection-and-storage",[125,129],{"uid":126,"label":127,"to":128},"Mjk4","GalleryPouch™ Art Bags","/prod/gallery-pouch",{"uid":130,"label":131,"to":132},"Mjc4","Photo Storage Boxes","/ctg/framing-supplies/backing-and-protection-supplies/clear-bags-and-storage-boxes",{"uid":134,"label":135,"to":136},"Mjgx","Sale","/ctg/picture-frames-discount",{"MjI3":10,"MjI2":14,"MjI4":18,"MjI5":22,"MjMw":26,"Mjk0":35,"Mjky":39,"Mjkz":43,"MjY0":52,"MjM2":56,"MjM1":60,"Mjg5":69,"MjM3":73,"MjQz":87,"MjQy":91,"MjQw":95,"MjQx":99,"MjM0":103,"MjQ0":112,"MjQ2":116,"Mjk4":125,"Mjc4":129,"Mjgx":133},{"id":139,"name":140,"description":141},"dGVybTozMzc=","Artie's Eight","In this series, we'll be spotlighting different artists, designers and photographers each month, digging deep into their creative and artistic processes. Whether you are just starting in your creative journey or a seasoned professional, you'll find inspiration at Artie's Eight.\r\n\r\nWith each interview, we will be asking 8 thought-provoking questions, ranging from their personal motivations to their go-to \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/framing-supplies.html\">framing supplies\u003C/a> like \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/framing-supplies/mat-board.html\">matboard\u003C/a> and favorite \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/picture-frames.html\">frames\u003C/a>. The best part is, the answers will come straight from the artists who have real life experience in the topics.",{"posts":143,"total":266},[144,158,170,182,194,206,218,230,242,254],{"id":145,"title":146,"uri":147,"content":148,"excerpt":149,"date":150,"modified":151,"categories":152,"image":155},"cG9zdDo2Nzk2","Digital Dazzle: Meet Photographer & Printmaker Kate Lowman","/arties-eight/kate-lowman-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>Oh, to be trapped in Paris. While Kate Lowman was traveling in France with her husband, inclement weather forced her indoors. The museums she visited inspired her to create, so off she went with her husband’s camera. That was the start of her photography and printmaking career. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Printmaker First\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Fifteen years later, Kate considers herself a printmaker who happens to use photography to craft her art. The end product may be a single shot, as in “Spring on Broadway” featured above, or a constructed print using multiple photographs and pieces of photos, like we see in “Portraits of a Chair” and “The Cotswold” triptych below.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Spring on Broadway” is a single photo taken in New York City, but Kate heavily applied her Photoshop skills. She says the print size — 43.5”x33” — is important for two reasons: “It contributes to the feeling of having a tree above you, and because the detail of the image design can only be seen when it is large,” Kate explains. She does her own printing on a Canon PRO-4000 wide-format printer.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Chasing Sheep\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The Cotswolds” may look like a straight photo, but it’s actually constructed from about 30 photos and some 150 pieces. “Those poppies and many of the other flowers are carved out of other photographs that were shot in the Cotswolds [in England],” says Kate, who now lives in Springfield, Virginia. “We tromped through many a sheep pasture!” The three photos are framed in Frame Destination’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/nielsen-profile-15.html\">Nielsen #15\u003C/a> in Frosted Silver with no mat; the white we see is extra paper around the print.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/The-Exhibit/The-Exhibit.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_2560,h_2063,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1673198069/blog/The-Exhibit/The-Exhibit.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6796 wp-image-6799\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1673198069\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cem>“Portrait of a Chair” (left) and “The Cotswolds” triptych, as seen in Kate’s recent exhibit at Washington Printmakers Gallery.\u003C/em>\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>See More of Kate’s Work\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On her \u003Ca href=\"https://katelowman.com\">website\u003C/a>, you can explore multiple galleries, from landscapes to geometric abstracts. Kate’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/katelowmanprints/\">Instagram\u003C/a> highlights recent work, including archival and constructed pigment prints. To discover how an early encounter influences Kate today, as well as her favorite tool(s), read my Q&A below. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Kate Lowman…\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I always enjoyed making things, but I became truly serious with photography/printmaking. Some 15 years ago, my husband and I spent a month in Paris. The spring weather was so cold and rainy that we whiled away almost every day in a museum. I finally found myself desperate to make something, so I stole my husband's camera with the intention of using photographs for a collage. Hundreds of tabac and pharmacy signs later, I was faced with the question of what to print, and at what size? I decided that organizing them in a page layout program would at least let me use our 13\"x19\" printer efficiently. Several hours later, I knew I could do the designing digitally on the computer, and I have been learning how to do it better ever since.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>2. How important is it for a photographer to \"connect\" with their subject?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This is really a question about whether you are driven by an internal or external vision. People are different and both answers are valid. For me, art can be a buffer against a world that is often ugly and frightening. We are surrounded by industrial objects and buildings, and beautifully made objects remind us of the best in humanity. For me, printmaking is an internal vision. I capture material with a camera, looking for things I like. With rare exceptions, I do not know what I will actually use or how I will use it — the design process is an internal exploration, but my goal is always to make a beautiful and well-crafted object. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Early on, I met a photographer who encouraged me to get a large-format printer. She looked at my work, which at the time was printed on 13\"x19\" paper. She observed that my work appeared delicate but really was not; it needed to be bigger. And she recounted her own experiences learning to print. I followed her advice and now, years later, I work with a 44\" Canon Pro-4000 printer. The investment in both dollars and learning curve has been high, but it was absolutely the right thing to do.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I am a focused, detail-driven person. I can spend endless hours on a project. And I love color.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Yes, of course. One good recourse is to go out and take photographs. Acquiring new material gives me new ideas. During covid, with reduced ability to travel, I found that looking through the vast collection of photographs I hadn’t yet used was very helpful. Also, studying artists I like and visiting museums makes me think — it all starts with thinking.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Indispensable tool #1: my computer. Although my final product is indisputably an object, a print on paper, it is a digital birth until the command is sent to the printer. Also, cheating here with a second choice, my metal wall and magnets. No matter how accurate one's monitor screen, the print on paper is always different. The printing phase can be a fairly long process, and much of it involves simply looking at and living with the actual printed image. With time, I can see the piece with fresh eyes. Also, the metal wall allows me to test local variations in color or design. I would never give it up.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I recently joined a co-op gallery, the Washington Printmakers Gallery. In terms of my existing pieces, this has caused me to think seriously about framing and also to consider size anew. The opportunity to do my own show will let me go big, while sharing the walls requires smaller sizes. Reviewing my existing body of work in terms of this new space has been most interesting. Regarding new creative projects, I have been trying to apply some of the design elements found in Japanese prints to botanical photographs. It has pushed me to learn new techniques and promises more for the future.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What \"fad\" gadget do you most regret purchasing?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A paper \"deroller\" intended to remove curl from paper. While not very obvious, it damaged the paper.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_ArtiesEight-KateLowman-ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight-KateLowman-ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1673199224/blog/FD_ArtiesEight-KateLowman-ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight-KateLowman-ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6796 wp-image-6802\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1673199224\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Lat Updated January 9, 2023\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>Oh, to be trapped in Paris. While Kate Lowman was traveling in France with her husband, inclement weather forced her indoors. The museums she visited inspired her to create, so off she went with her husband’s camera. That was the start of her photography and printmaking career.  Printmaker First Fifteen years later, Kate considers herself […]\u003C/p>\n","2023-01-08T11:35:59","2023-01-15T13:43:49",[153],{"name":140,"slug":154},"arties-eight",{"url":156,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FD_ArtiesEight-KateLowman-Hero.jpg","",{"id":159,"title":160,"uri":161,"content":162,"excerpt":163,"date":164,"modified":165,"categories":166,"image":168},"cG9zdDo2Njc3","Irresistibly Unexpected: Meet Fine Artist Luis Peréz","/arties-eight/luis-perez-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>Luis Peréz has a knack for seeing beauty in fleeting moments. Take, for example, “Krilling Me Softly,” shown above. Standing at his sink rinsing shrimp, Luis noticed the setting sun casting a warm glow onto his future dinner. What’s a fine artist to do in such a situation?\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Kitchen Sink Inspiration\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Luis grabbed his 35mm camera and photographed the crustaceans. As he edited the image in Photoshop, he noticed the arcs in the composition. From the photo, Luis rendered “Krilling Me Softly” in transparent watercolor, which in turn prompted a series of social commentary paintings he titled “Privileged Food.” \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Beauty in Imperfection\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Luis is equally inspired by the rust and corrosion found in our transient world. You can see this in his “Fitchett Bros” watercolor below. Repeating the process he used to create “Krilling Me Softly,” Luis kept the composition and palette simple as he paid tribute to an old New York dairy and milk delivery company. He framed the piece in Frame Destination’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/wood-frame-profile-874-black-matte-8411.html\">Wood Frame Profile 874\u003C/a> with \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/sh/uv-non-glare-acrylic-1-10-inch.html\">UV Non-Glare Acrylic\u003C/a> glazing. “The frames have been able to survive heavy handling and transportation,” Luis tells us. “Plus, I like the price.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/Fitchett_Bros/Fitchett_Bros.jpeg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_936,h_717,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1669146075/blog/Fitchett_Bros/Fitchett_Bros.jpeg?_i=AA\" alt=\"Paint buckets\" class=\"wp-post-6677 wp-image-6678\" data-format=\"jpeg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1669146075\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cem>“Fitchett Bros,” a watercolor ode to dairy farmers.\u003C/em>\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>See More of Luis’s Work\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Visit \u003Ca href=\"https://www.luisfineart.com/\">Luis’s website\u003C/a> to discover art in an array of mediums including watercolor, charcoal, color pencil, pastels, and graphite. Many of the galleries on his site have subcategories like animals, people/figures, buildings, and landscapes/stills. (His charcoal figures are striking studies of humans in motion.) To find out which character trait has brought this Baltimore fine artist to “a good place artistically” and the earthy hue he most enjoys working into his art, read my Q&A with Luis below.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Luis Peréz…\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I’ve always drawn. I was surrounded by many wonderful artists and musicians as a child in Colombia, South America. While in high school in the USA, I was asked by friends to draw or design their ideas for a van, car, poster, cards, etc. I considered architecture and engineering, but I saw a book of illustrations by [fantasy artist] Boris Vallejo and I was hooked. Fantasy and sci-fi were my favorite themes at the time. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts, I was a bit lost. Through a friend I got a job at a fashion company. Very short deadlines forced me to draw and color quickly. As a stay-home dad, I couldn't really freelance, so I started to teach adults at my local community center. I honed my drawing and painting skills even more. As I witnessed poor-quality watercolor art at local galleries and in publications, I decided to teach all levels of watercolor painting. Five years ago, I was able to start a career as a fine artist, traveling to many states for juried outdoor art festivals. I now tour presenting two mediums: drawing (charcoal and graphite) and transparent watercolor. I am happy to say that I have been winning awards for drawing and watercolor and have been in a few publications as well. While I could not travel during the pandemic, I was able to create new and more challenging works. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>2\u003C/strong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>. What role do you think the artist plays in society?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Artists have multiple responsibilities in our society. We are responsible for bringing about social change, spotlighting issues where the message must be clear and very efficient. We remind the world of how beautiful the earth and its people truly are. We create perspective through visual essays. We make the world laugh — or at least smile, encouraging others to reminisce and dream. We reassure the world and bring people closer together.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Perseverance. Before I did my first outdoor art festival, I was going through a very hard time personally. I believed that I would never have enough “inventory” to display, let alone to sell. Yet moving forward, regardless of the pace, has taken me to a good place artistically. And with each step I grow in so many ways.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I am a bit of a traditionalist. You can't run a marathon before you conquer walking. I believe in simple discipline, constant practice, and thinking outside the box. The better you can see, the better you will draw, and eventually paint. It's all about the hard work. I don't want to take what I create for granted. I like to bring to the viewer's attention to social issues that we need to resolve. One way I do this is by rendering animals (at times, endangered species) and title them with quotes that complement the image; I also create still-life paintings with titles that challenge the way we think.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I resolve them through doodling, finding inspirational quotes or images, or relaxing by a stream or with a book.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My sense of humor and my personal sense of social justice. Both keep my mind revved up.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I have a few! Still doing a flamenco series and adding to my “Privileged Food” series in large format. I’m starting a storm cloud series in a large format as well.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What is your favorite color to incorporate into your art?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Caput Motuum.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_ArtiesEight-LuisPerez-ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight-LuisPerez-ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1669223030/blog/FD_ArtiesEight-LuisPerez-ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight-LuisPerez-ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"Luis Perez Fine Artist\" class=\"wp-post-6677 wp-image-6685\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1669223030\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated November 22, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>Luis Peréz has a knack for seeing beauty in fleeting moments. Take, for example, “Krilling Me Softly,” shown above. Standing at his sink rinsing shrimp, Luis noticed the setting sun casting a warm glow onto his future dinner. What’s a fine artist to do in such a situation? Kitchen Sink Inspiration Luis grabbed his 35mm […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-11-28T17:17:09","2022-11-29T15:14:34",[167],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":169,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FD_ArtiesEight-LuisPerez-Hero.jpg",{"id":171,"title":172,"uri":173,"content":174,"excerpt":175,"date":176,"modified":177,"categories":178,"image":180},"cG9zdDo2Njcy","Creativity Rediscovered: Meet Artist & Retired Architect Julie Brown","/arties-eight/julie-brown-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>After practicing architecture for 40 years, Julie Brown wondered if her creativity had been sapped by the business world and by staring at a computer for so long. Instead, she found a new passion: \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/for-professionals/from-realism-to-abstract\">abstract painting\u003C/a>. It’s visual, like architecture. Unlike architecture, it’s more about intuition than precision.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Her Happy Place\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Julie says abstract painting lets her loosen up and relax. On her website, she talks about painting intuitively, with no preconceived notions about the result. This new activity, which has turned into a small business, also positively affects her mood. “I love using bright, happy colors that express the joy and delight I’ve found in painting,” she says.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Born and raised in New Orleans, she is influenced by the architecture, music, and food of the Crescent City. Her primary medium is acrylic paint on paper or canvas, but she also uses graphite, oil pastels, oil crayons, and markers.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For “Wild Orchids” above, Julie began by covering the canvas with multiple colors, including black, which added depth to the final piece. “I let some of the bright colors come through,” Julie tells us. “And a lot of the painting was done by thickly applying paint with a shaper.” \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Framing and Learning\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Her paintings “Abstract Still Life” and “Hummingbird,” pictured in the same snapshot below, are framed in Frame Destination’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/wood-frame-profile-502a.html\">Wood Frame Profile 502\u003C/a> in Natural Wood finish. “I love the Frame Destination website!” Julie says. “It’s so easy to use and over the years I’ve learned a lot of [framing] terminology by using the website.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/JBrown_Arties8_IMG1/JBrown_Arties8_IMG1.jpeg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1920,h_2560,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1669144784/blog/JBrown_Arties8_IMG1/JBrown_Arties8_IMG1.jpeg?_i=AA\" alt=\"Framed Artwork With Glazing\" class=\"wp-post-6672 wp-image-6673\" data-format=\"jpeg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1669144784\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\"Abstract Still Life\" and \"Hummingbird — both framed in Wood Frame Profile 502 in Natural Wood Finish\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>See More of Julie’s Work\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Visit Julie’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.juliebrownart.com/shop-art\">website\u003C/a> to see and shop her original art, prints, collages, and “little paintings.” Customers can choose a favorite image and she’ll imprint it on coasters, phone cases, metal magnets, or acrylic trays. For a glimpse of her most recent artwork, as well as fun photos of her European travels last summer, check out Julie’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/juliebrownartist/\">Instagram\u003C/a>. To discover her secret for busting up creative blocks, check out my Q&A with Julie below.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Julie Brown …\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After my husband passed away 10 years ago, I decided that I wanted to start painting. As an architect, I was always creative, but I hoped that pursuing art would be therapeutic. Not only was it therapeutic, but it opened up a whole new world for me! It wasn't long before painting became my passion and a new small business.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>2\u003C/strong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>. What role do you think the artist plays in society?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To create visual enjoyment for others and to satisfy a deep expressive need within ourselves.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>’\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The formative experience was during my first student show. I found out that the benefactor of the school, an experienced collector, bought my piece! It opened many doors for me and I am eternally grateful for that experience. Best advice was to never criticize your own work; just keep going and paint over it.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I use a lot of color and I always wonder if I use bright colors to make me happy, or am I happy so I paint in bright colors? I think it works both ways! \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I keep photos and Pinterest boards of work I like. I try to see where those palettes or styles lead me.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My most indispensable tool is a big shaper to spread paint on a blank canvas. It’s the thing that gets me started.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I'm working with black backgrounds and saturated colors and also painting abstract landscapes from photographs.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What is your favorite color to incorporate into your art?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Lime green, although I try to mix my own shades and not paint from tubes.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_ArtiesEight-JulieBrown-ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight-JulieBrown-ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1669221997/blog/FD_ArtiesEight-JulieBrown-ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight-JulieBrown-ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"Meet Julie Brown Fine Artist\" class=\"wp-post-6672 wp-image-6681\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1669221997\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cem>Julie standing beside her painting titled “The Preserve,” inspired by a photograph of a golf course she played in Mississippi.\u003C/em>\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated Nov 23, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>After practicing architecture for 40 years, Julie Brown wondered if her creativity had been sapped by the business world and by staring at a computer for so long. Instead, she found a new passion: abstract painting. It’s visual, like architecture. Unlike architecture, it’s more about intuition than precision. Her Happy Place Julie says abstract painting […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-11-28T17:14:07","2022-11-29T15:15:42",[179],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":181,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FD_ArtiesEight-JulieBrown-Hero.jpg",{"id":183,"title":184,"uri":185,"content":186,"excerpt":187,"date":188,"modified":189,"categories":190,"image":192},"cG9zdDo2NDc5","Embracing Impressionism: Meet Fine Artist & Teacher Dena Peterson","/arties-eight/dena-peterson-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>Not every artist would sign up for a six-month stint painting eight to 10 hours a day in a small cubicle in Gdansk, Poland. But for Dena Peterson, it was an honor: She’d been chosen as one of 125 international artists to work on “Loving Vincent,” the world’s first fully painted film. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>From Realism to Impressionism\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Dena has long admired the Dutch Post-Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh. And although she learned to paint in a realistic, representational way, the Iowa-based artist has come to prefer — like Van Gogh — painting what she feels rather than merely what she sees. Her oil painting “Hallowed Ground” (featured above) is a scene from Auvers-sur-Oise, France, where Van Gogh lived at the end of his life and where Dena taught a few years ago. She painted it on a tea towel from the Ravoux Inn, just like the ones Van Gogh used when he ran out of canvas.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_art_648413292/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_art_648413292.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_2000,h_976,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1665006098/blog/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_art_648413292/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_art_648413292.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6479 wp-image-6484\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1665006098\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\"Hallowed Ground\"\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Peace and Tranquility\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For her oil painting titled “Solitude” (below), Dena says, “I focused on the lone sailboat not just for compositional reasons…but because it gives me peace and tranquility every time I look at it.” For framing, she chose our \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/wood-frame-profile-526.html\">Wood Frame Profile 526\u003C/a>, with a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/mat/papermat-wc-4ply.html\">Papermat WC 4-Ply Mat Board\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/sh/non-glare-acrylic-1-10-inch.html\">Non-Glare Acrylic\u003C/a>. “The frames are affordable and professional-looking,” Dena says.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/1641925682_1/1641925682_1.jpeg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_640,h_550,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1665003076/blog/1641925682_1/1641925682_1.jpeg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6479 wp-image-6480\" data-format=\"jpeg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1665003076\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>“Solitude” \u003Cem>framed in \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/wood-frame-profile-526.html\">Wood Frame Profile 526\u003C/a>.\u003C/em>\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\u003C/div>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>See More of Dena’s Work\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On Dena’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.denapaints.com\">website\u003C/a>, you’ll find an array of paintings, from plein air to portrait, still life to studio landscape. She also wrote a wonderfully detailed \u003Ca href=\"https://www.denapaints.com/blog/154318/helping-out-a-student\">blog post \u003C/a>on what it was like to work on \u003Ca href=\"http://lovingvincent.com\">“Loving Vincent.”\u003C/a> Cruise over to Dena’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/denapaints/\">Instagram\u003C/a> page to see day-in-the-life reports, like the time she spied one of her paintings on a billboard (1/10/22 post). To discover her most indispensable tools and how she embraced (and later re-embraced) painting, see my Q&A with Dena below.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Dena Peterson …\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I have loved art and painting since I was a child. After receiving a Master’s in Counseling Psychology, and raising three kids, I returned more seriously to pursue my first love — art. I enrolled in workshops with renowned artists and studied art education.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>2\u003C/strong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>. What role do you think the artist plays in society?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I believe that artists help us to see possibilities, to see the world creatively and differently. It’s especially important for children’s developing minds to learn to think in new ways. All of the arts play an important role in this, and in raising good citizens of the world.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>’\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The most informative experience for me was being selected as one of the artists to paint for the film \u003Ca href=\"http://lovingvincent.com\">“Loving Vincent”\u003C/a> in 2016. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 2018. I realized that even at the age of 54, I could learn new skills and accomplish something so unique. If I hadn’t taken the risk to go to Gdansk, Poland, it never would have happened. It opened many doors for me and I am eternally grateful for that experience!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My work reflects my love of nature and color. I consider myself to be very intuitive and above all, human. That’s why I like seeing “humanity” in paintings. And why I’m not a fan of photo realism. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I think everyone gets them! It’s all a part of the creative process. For me, it’s usually because I am putting too much pressure on myself to “perform.” The best way to overcome it, for me, has been to take on an attitude of play and experimentation in my studio, without expectations for certain results. Trying new mediums helps, too. And it’s okay to just take a break sometimes!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My most indispensable tools have to be my art books. I enjoy looking at the work of other artists who inspire me. And it’s not about copying them. It’s about seeing work that takes risks that I’ve been afraid to take, or handles artistic problems in new ways. Also, going to art museums! Seeing work in person is very important to me.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My new goal in my studio these days is to take nature and make it more abstracted and expressive. I was trained in a very representational way. Nothing wrong with this, but I am looking for something more in my work these past few years. Like Van Gogh, I want to paint what I feel much more than what I see. It’s harder than it sounds!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What is your favorite color to incorporate into your art?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I’ve always loved blues. Lately, Turquoise Blue has found its way onto my usually limited palette.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1665006060/blog/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6479 wp-image-6483\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1665006060\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated October 5, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>Not every artist would sign up for a six-month stint painting eight to 10 hours a day in a small cubicle in Gdansk, Poland. But for Dena Peterson, it was an honor: She’d been chosen as one of 125 international artists to work on “Loving Vincent,” the world’s first fully painted film.  From Realism to […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-10-05T16:45:34","2022-10-06T12:58:05",[191],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":193,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FD_ArtiesEight-DenaPeterson_Hero.jpg",{"id":195,"title":196,"uri":197,"content":198,"excerpt":199,"date":200,"modified":201,"categories":202,"image":204},"cG9zdDo2NDI2","Roaming the World: Meet Fine Art Photographer Paul Cassidy","/arties-eight/paul-cassidy-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>From California to Canada and Iceland to Italy: The world is an oyster to Paul Cassidy, who travels for his fine art photography as often as possible. In fact, his passion for photography — which started as a teenager but was put on hold by career and family — helps dictate where he roams. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Global Vision\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Gastown Alley,” featured above, was taken while Paul was on a Canadian road trip with a friend he met while working in Abu Dhabi, UAE. “Everyone who visits Gastown [Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood] takes a photograph of the ‘Steam Clock’ and misses the raw beauty of the Alleys,” Paul says. For this photo, he used a Canon EOS R mirrorless camera with a Canon “walkabout” lens. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Environmental Perspective\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Paul’s Pasadena, California, location and his environmental engineer background collude to inspire his work, especially his nature photography. He shot “2019 Super Bloom,” shown below, at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. “I used a slow shutter speed to capture the poppies blowing in a stiff breeze,” recalls Paul. At home, all his photos are framed in black. “2019 Super Bloom” hangs in his wife’s home office and is framed in \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/wood-frame-profile-506b.html\">Nielsen Profile 506B\u003C/a> from Frame Destination. Our Nielsen Profiles \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/nielsen-profile-11.html\">11\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/nielsen-profile-12.html\">12\u003C/a>, and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/frame/nielsen-profile-97.html\">97\u003C/a> are also among Paul’s favorites.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_ArtiesEight-PaulCassidy_art/FD_ArtiesEight-PaulCassidy_art.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_948,h_800,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1664310223/blog/FD_ArtiesEight-PaulCassidy_art/FD_ArtiesEight-PaulCassidy_art.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6426 wp-image-6427\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1664310223\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\"2019 Super Bloom\"\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>See More of Paul’s Work\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The best spot to view more of Paul’s fine art photography is on his \u003Ca href=\"https://lyntel.com\">website\u003C/a>. While you’ll see galleries grouped by geographic location, you’ll also discover Paul’s take on calla lilies, red crowned parrots, orange zinnias, quail, and cityscapes. To learn about his latest photography trips and how he fights FOMO (fear of missing out — on a shot), the Q&A below tells all. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Paul Cassidy …\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A general interest in photography as a teenager was curbed by my profession as an environmental design engineer and raising a family. Now with more time on my hands, I aspire to be a fine art photographer. I combine world travel with photography, which influences destinations and activities.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>2. How important is it for a photographer to \"connect\" with their subject?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As a photographer, I attempt to catch a moment in a scene either by just being there or by seeing and capturing the scene in a unique way.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>’\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Take a photograph every day.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I like to travel and I like to design. Being a more dedicated photographer has provided me with the opportunity to more carefully design the activities undertaken at each destination, which ensures we get the best out of each visit and also makes room for leisure and relaxation. When I was an environmental engineer, I designed control systems that help industrial facilities clean the water we drink and protect the environment from improperly treated wastewater (sewage). I’ve found that many engineers and hunters turn to photography — environmental engineers probably more so — as we continually look at our landscapes. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Creative blocks occur all the time. I plant my feet at a scene, convinced that I have chosen the best location and that I would “lose the shot” if I moved. This is both true and false at the same time. I try to adopt the perspective that I am losing multiple opportunities by staying put, instead of losing just one opportunity by moving. That’s how I persuade myself to move, seek alternatives, and break the creative block.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Adobe Creative Cloud apps are my most valuable tool.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>At the moment I am planning trips to photograph wildlife at national wildlife refuges in California during winter months to focus on migratory birds. Next year, I plan to travel to Italy with photographer Serge Ramelli. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What \"fad\" gadget do you most regret purchasing?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Haven’t purchased any fad gadgets, unless you count tether tools — I never use them.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Arties8Blog_PaulCassidy_ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog_PaulCassidy_ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1664311012/blog/FD-Arties8Blog_PaulCassidy_ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog_PaulCassidy_ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6426 wp-image-6429\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1664311012\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated September 28, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>From California to Canada and Iceland to Italy: The world is an oyster to Paul Cassidy, who travels for his fine art photography as often as possible. In fact, his passion for photography — which started as a teenager but was put on hold by career and family — helps dictate where he roams.  Global […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-09-27T15:38:27","2022-09-29T11:15:33",[203],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":205,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/FD-Arties8Blog_PaulCassidy_Hero.jpg",{"id":207,"title":208,"uri":209,"content":210,"excerpt":211,"date":212,"modified":213,"categories":214,"image":216},"cG9zdDo2MjIx","Celebrating Man’s Best Friend: Meet Painter Michael Vistia","/arties-eight/michael-vistia-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>Plenty of folks would call themselves “dog people.” But not everyone turns their affection into a career that artfully celebrates man’s best friend. Florida artist Michael Vistia has done just that with his bright, joyful depictions of his customers’ furry companions. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Bow Wow\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Michael’s mediums of choice are oil paint, automotive metal flake, and resin. He donated the vibrant work above, “Happy Lab,” to \u003Cstrong>Southeastern Guide Dogs\u003C/strong>, which raises, trains, and gives away elite guide dogs to serve people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges. His “Bailey Grace” (below) is a custom portrait for a family who owns six basset hounds.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Paw Prints and Canvases\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Michael creates custom-painted canvases and prints up to 36\"x46\". Commissions can be even larger. Michael depends on Frame Destination for the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/ctg/custom-frames/stretcher-bar-frames.html\">stretcher bar frames\u003C/a> as well as mats and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/c/protective-crystal-clear-bags.html\">Crystal Clear Bags\u003C/a> for certain art shows. \"All my framing needs have been ordered through Frame Destination for many, many years now because I do not have to be concerned about what I will receive,\" says Michael. Fun fact: his work has been featured on TV by the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, National Geographic, and Fox Sports.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/basset_bailey_grace_blue/basset_bailey_grace_blue.png\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_626,h_782,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443222/blog/basset_bailey_grace_blue/basset_bailey_grace_blue.png?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6221 wp-image-6223\" data-format=\"png\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443222\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>Bailey Grace\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>See More of Michael’s Work\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Discover canine creations galore (and a few cats, too) at \u003Ca href=\"http://MichaelVistia.com\">\u003Cstrong>MichaelVistia.com\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>. If you’d like to catch his work at a gallery or festival, visit his \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/michaelvistia/\">\u003Cstrong>Instagram\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>. Wonder how he got started in his craft during his Midwest childhood and what he does about creative blocks? Those things and more are revealed in my Q&A below. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Michael Vistia…\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As a boy of 9 years old, my first experience with dogs was with Sammy, a West Highland Terrier, who showed me that between two beings it only takes one to make a relationship work. I noticed that no matter my own mood, Sammy’s only response was love. This was tremendously impressive, and eventually led to my own evolution inward, thinking that if we could all achieve what dogs are expressing naturally as unconditional love, what a beautiful world it would be! From that point on, my heart was opened and I decided to paint my first canvas of Sammy. This led to creating a life of celebrating our deep connection with dogs through my work as a painter.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>2\u003C/strong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>. What role do you think the artist plays in society?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To distract attention away from any challenging experiences that result in a negative effect and to redirect or realign that energy to the positive. Success in all aspects of life only comes from a positive state of being. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To let go of fear, ego, and belief. To remain positive, especially in the face of challenge. To allow the world to be as it is (the things you cannot change) and to be the example of positive possibility, rippling out to anyone who can use it.  \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>By never forgetting the innocent inner child who wishes to play and become helpful to others.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I stop forcing the moment and decide to do something completely unrelated that brings me joy. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A healthy, clean, clear state of being in which all tools can thrive. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The idea is always the same: to bring smiles and inspiration to more and more people.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What is your favorite color to incorporate into your art?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Many colors are my favorite within their specific frame of reference.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Arties8Blog_MVistia-ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog_MVistia-ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443220/blog/FD-Arties8Blog_MVistia-ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog_MVistia-ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6221 wp-image-6225\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443220\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated August 18, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>Plenty of folks would call themselves “dog people.” But not everyone turns their affection into a career that artfully celebrates man’s best friend. Florida artist Michael Vistia has done just that with his bright, joyful depictions of his customers’ furry companions.  Bow Wow Michael’s mediums of choice are oil paint, automotive metal flake, and resin. […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-08-18T11:01:10","2022-09-22T10:21:48",[215],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":217,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FD-Arties8Blog_MVistia-Hero.jpg",{"id":219,"title":220,"uri":221,"content":222,"excerpt":223,"date":224,"modified":225,"categories":226,"image":228},"cG9zdDo2MDU4","News, Justice & Whimsy: Meet Fine Art Photographer Rene Crystal","/arties-eight/rene-crystal-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>Newsrooms and courtrooms are not obvious sources for colorful, playfully titled fine art photography. And yet, Rene Crystal can trace her present career back to both. In my Q&A with Rene below, she shares how her father’s job as a photographer for a New Jersey newspaper lit a fire in her soul for the art and science of photography, while her own job as a criminal court reporter taught her that we all see things differently.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>From Dandelions to Dentists\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Dandee’s Done” above, is a great example of Rene’s vivid view of the everyday. “I am always amazed at what lies beneath our feet,” she says. A quick tour through her website reveals that she enjoys naming her art as much as creating it. A couple examples: “When My Dentist Dreams” (an eye-popping candy abstract) and “This Morning’s Survivors” (portrait of a near-empty cereal bowl).\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Perfectly Pouched\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When you’re as prolific as Rene, you need a system for protecting your art. “I use Frame Destination’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/gallerypouch.html\">Gallery Pouches™\u003C/a> to store and transport all my work,” Rene says. “They have proven to be indispensable.” Her “Bridge to a New Season,” shown below, is resting atop the Gallery Pouch she stores it in. Rene took this photo at a park near her home in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. In post, she layered and masked out different areas to create the image. “It’s sometimes time-consuming, but always a surprise in the end product,” Rene says.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal_Art1/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal_Art1.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1200,h_817,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443235/blog/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal_Art1/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal_Art1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6058 wp-image-6059\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443235\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cem>“Bridge to a New Season” \u003C/em>\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>See More of Rene’s Work \u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The photography on \u003Ca href=\"https://rene-crystal.pixels.com\">Rene’s website\u003C/a> is grouped into \u003Ca href=\"https://rene-crystal.pixels.com/galleries.html\">collections\u003C/a>, from Abstracts to Autumn, Bikes to Boats, Whiskers to Windows. She even offers one-of-a-kind \u003Ca href=\"https://rene-crystal.pixels.com/shop/throw+pillows\">home decor\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://rene-crystal.pixels.com/shop/tshirts\">apparel\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://rene-crystal.pixels.com/shop/tshirts\">iPhone cases\u003C/a>, and \u003Ca href=\"https://rene-crystal.pixels.com/shop/yoga+mats\">yoga mats\u003C/a> featuring her images. Rene’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/imagesbyrcrystal/\">Instagram\u003C/a> is updated frequently with recent work. And if you want to dig a little deeper into Rene’s early start in photography including her dad’s poignant advice, check out the Q&A below. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Rene Crystal …\u003C/strong>\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Hypo [a chemical used in darkrooms] clearly ran through my veins while I was \"developing\" inside my Mom. My father was a news photographer for the \u003Cem>Newark Evening News\u003C/em> from the 1950s to the 1970s. He often took me with him to the Art Department of the paper to watch his photos develop. It was magic to my eyes and and this girl was hooked. Dad handed me my first camera, a good old Kodak Brownie Box. What he said to me sticks with me to this day: \"Remember, it's not the camera — it's the photographer.\" Fast forward decades through a 25-year career in the courtroom as a criminal court reporter—that often-invisible person taking down the verbatim testimony of witnesses during a trial. After retiring, I went back to my very first passion: looking through the lens and capturing the moving and still life all around me.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>2. How important is it for a photographer to \"connect\" with their subject?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I believe the onlooker of my work, or for any piece of art, can tell whether the photographer has connected with his/her work. Is it important? Oh, yes, but that connection, at least in my opinion, is something that is innate to each individual. I can only hope that is conveyed in my photos.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>’\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Keep snapping that shutter. It only takes one out of 1000 photos to be an award winner or to be loved by someone viewing it.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As they say, ”One picture is worth a thousand words.” So I would have to leave that to those viewing my work to say how it reflects my personality. My mind definitely doesn't dwell in unhappy or dark places.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I put the camera down and walk away, for a day, a week, or even just a few hours. I just know when it's time to continue.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My mind.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I work in post editing photos just about every day, so it's a new project every day!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What \"fad\" gadget do you most regret purchasing?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Haven't purchased any fad gadgets.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal-ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal-ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443233/blog/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal-ByLine/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal-ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-6058 wp-image-6060\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443233\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated July 14, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>Newsrooms and courtrooms are not obvious sources for colorful, playfully titled fine art photography. And yet, Rene Crystal can trace her present career back to both. In my Q&A with Rene below, she shares how her father’s job as a photographer for a New Jersey newspaper lit a fire in her soul for the art […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-07-14T11:54:52","2022-09-22T10:22:11",[227],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":229,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/FD_ArtiesEight_ReneCrystal-Hero.jpg",{"id":231,"title":232,"uri":233,"content":234,"excerpt":235,"date":236,"modified":237,"categories":238,"image":240},"cG9zdDo1OTc1","Fine Art in the Wild West: Meet Fine Artist Lorrie Beck","/arties-eight/lorrie-beck-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>Raised in Dallas riding horses and painting side-by-side with her mother, Lorrie Beck has never outgrown her love for art and equestrianship — much to her collectors’ delight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Journey to Fine Art\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Lorrie earned a Bachelor’s in Fine Art from Baylor University and an MBA from the University of Colorado, then gained experience in commercial art. But the corporate world couldn’t contain her. She began promoting herself as a “western pencil artist,” blending her fondness of art, horses, and the great outdoors. These days, living amid the natural beauty of Colorado Springs, Colorado, her mediums include pastels, oils, and sometimes acrylics. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>“Trout Lake” and “Water Tank”\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For the studio-created oil painting “Trout Lake” (shown above), Lorrie did several plein air studies of the lake, located near Telluride, Colorado. “Using my small paintings for color reference and photos of the scene, I joyously put this painting together,” she says.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Lorrie was visiting a Texas ranch on a girls getaway when she spied the mare and filly depicted in “Water Tank” (shown below). “As much as I enjoy working from life, horses won’t stand still for you long enough,” Lorrie tells us. So she created the pencil drawing from photos, then framed it in a custom 13”x17” \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/wood-frame-profile-529.html\">Wood Frame Profile 529\u003C/a> from Frame Destination. “This is a very well-made and pretty frame,” she says. “It is simple yet elegant. I also used the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/uv-non-glare-acrylic-1-10-inch.html\">Acrylic UV-Filter/Non-Glare\u003C/a> [glazing]. It’s awesome … well priced, custom cut, and always shipped quickly.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/LorrieBeck-WaterTank/LorrieBeck-WaterTank.jpeg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_2016,h_1512,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443291/blog/LorrieBeck-WaterTank/LorrieBeck-WaterTank.jpeg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-5975 wp-image-5976\" data-format=\"jpeg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443291\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\"Water Tank\"\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>See More of Lorrie’s Work\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>You can explore more art at \u003Ca href=\"https://www.lorriebeck.com\">LorrieBeck.com\u003C/a>. Visit Lorrie’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lorriewbeck/\">Instagram\u003C/a> page for fun glimpses into her “tiny paintings” as well as her dog Sally’s abstract impressionism (see 3/5/2022 post). My Q&A with Lorrie reveals her favorite artistic tool and what she does to open up her work when it feels a little “tight.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Lorrie Beck…\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My mother is a top abstract painter and I grew up painting along side of her in her studio. While she did huge non-representational art, I did small studies and closeups of animals, mostly horses. I received a degree in fine art and intended to go into illustration, but I found it unfulfilling. After taking a workshop from an incredible pencil artist, I knew I had found my passion. I did exclusively pencil early in my career, but have branched out to pastels, oils, and occasionally acrylics. I live in Colorado where the scenery is just gorgeous, and have become an avid plein air painter. I've taken a number of workshops over the years from artists I admire, and still take them on occasion when I'm feeling the need for a new perspective. In the last couple of years I have begun teaching as a way to give back — a few private students and one workshop so far.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>2\u003C/strong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>. What role do you think the artist plays in society?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Art is an international language. No matter where you are from, what language you speak, what your education level is, art transcends all levels of society and culture. It can represent beauty, pain, courage, an idea, an event, or just be a mass of design and color. It elicits emotion for the artist as well as the viewer. Personally, I strive for my art to bring beauty and stop a moment in time. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Marketing is not my strong suit, but one of those necessities of the business if my goal is to sell. I had a very successful artist convey this to me in one simple sentence: \"You can't sell it if it's under the bed.” And so I have made a presence for myself on social media, advertised in national magazines, participated in juried events, conducted demos for art groups, etc. It's been a learning process for sure and I've become more comfortable in that part of the job.  \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I incorporate what I love into my work. I have had at least one horse for most of my life, so you'll see a lot of equestrian themes in my art. Because I also love the mountains and nature, plein air as well as studio landscape painting is a big part of my work. I'm not one for depicting disturbing scenes, but rather beauty and interesting compositions. If I've painted it or drawn it, it means I've seen it and/or experienced it.  \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I think I've been doing this too long to really get blocked. If I have a deadline or a commission, I just get going on it. I guess my problem will be that my work will start to feel a little tight since I do mostly realism. When this happens, I get a giant canvas and some acrylic paint and channel my Mom in her studio from my childhood and just start indiscriminately putting paint on canvas with my largest brush. I have found that I really do enjoy abstract painting quite a lot! \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My biggest \"aha\" moment in drawing and painting was discovering the importance of value. It can be a lot harder to figure out than you think. In fact, often times if my painting or drawing isn't working, it's that my value is off. I have a red transparent filter that I will hold up to my artwork that will help me see my values. The filter helps me to observe my scene when I’m working in the field, or I can view my photo reference with it and compare it to my artwork. It's really helpful. In fact, when I teach, the first thing I do is give each student one of these filters. I bought some clear red sheets and mounted them in little precut mats to hand out.  \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003Cbr>\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I actually received a commission for a HUGE painting. It's 4 feet x 7.5 feet. It has involved stretching a canvas, something I had never done before. My Mom was going to come for the Christmas holiday and show me how to do it, but with COVID, the trip was canceled. I got all the supplies, watched a YouTube video, and managed to get it done.  It's not rocket science, but there are some finer points that must be adhered to to make the canvas look okay. I'm about 90 percent done with the painting and the client loves it! I'll hopefully get it to her in the next couple of months. My client lives in another state, which I visit a couple of times a year by car, so I'll take the canvas off the stretcher bars, roll it up, pack it in the car, and reassemble it when I get to her hometown. It has been such a fun project that I ordered more large stretcher bars and canvas to do a piece for a short term rental that I own. It should really spice up the room! I've already done some thumbnail sketches and can't wait to start!\u003Cbr>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What is your favorite color to incorporate into your art?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My favorite color, and the one I use the most in my work, is Ultramarine Blue Deep. Love, love, love that color! You can use it to mix just about anything.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Arties8Blog_LBeck_ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog_LBeck_ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443287/blog/FD-Arties8Blog_LBeck_ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog_LBeck_ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-5975 wp-image-5979\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443287\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp> \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated June 22, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>Raised in Dallas riding horses and painting side-by-side with her mother, Lorrie Beck has never outgrown her love for art and equestrianship — much to her collectors’ delight. Journey to Fine Art Lorrie earned a Bachelor’s in Fine Art from Baylor University and an MBA from the University of Colorado, then gained experience in commercial […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-06-22T13:53:37","2022-09-22T10:24:09",[239],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":241,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FD-Arties8Blog_LBeck_Hero.jpg",{"id":243,"title":244,"uri":245,"content":246,"excerpt":247,"date":248,"modified":249,"categories":250,"image":252},"cG9zdDo1OTAy","Peaceful Meanderings: Meet Fine Art Painter Emmeline Craig","/arties-eight/emmeline-craig-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>\"Sea Meadow.\" \"Promise of Rain.\" \"Sanctuary.\" \"Hush.\" Emmeline Craig titles her works simply and accurately. This fine art painter from France — who now lives in California’s Marin County — creates with the intention of bringing peace and well-being to those who view her art.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Watercolor Wonders\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Watercolor and water-mixable oils are her mediums of choice, and through them Emmeline (pronounced EMM-uh-lynn, rhymes with Evelyn) hopes to invoke a retreat from our hectic world. In “Smooth Emergence,” a water-mixable oil on deep canvas (shown above), she balances shadow and light while infusing the piece with radiant positive energy.  \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Setting the Mind Free\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Throughout the body of her work, you can see Emmeline’s skill at painting scenes where your mind can freely roam. Her watercolor “Clear Day” (shown below) is framed in our \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/metal-profile-11.html\">Metal Profile 11 Frame Kit in Frosted Black (Anodized)\u003C/a>. “This particular metal frame by Frame Destination is slick, solid, and easy to assemble — perfect for framing my minimalist works,” Emmeline tells us. She adds her appreciation for the \"totally reliable and beautiful finish. The quality is worth the price.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/A_clear_day_watercolor.Emmeline_Craig/A_clear_day_watercolor.Emmeline_Craig.jpeg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_706,h_687,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443346/blog/A_clear_day_watercolor.Emmeline_Craig/A_clear_day_watercolor.Emmeline_Craig.jpeg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-5902 wp-image-5904\" data-format=\"jpeg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443346\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cfigcaption>\"Clear Day\"\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>See More of Emmeline’s Work\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Take a tour of Emmeline’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.emmelinecraig.com\">website\u003C/a> to enjoy more of her paintings, to hire her as a coach, or to shop the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.emmelinecraig.com/product/art-coffee-table-book/\">Book of Bliss\u003C/a>, a coffee table book of her art paired with prose. Check out her \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/craigemmeline/\">Instagram\u003C/a> for time-lapse photography of Emmeline in action and short videos where she encourages us on topics like focusing and slowing down. (Prepare to be charmed by her French accent!) Keep reading to learn more about Emmeline’s take on an artist’s role in society and her first glimpse of being in “the zone.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Emmeline Craig…\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I always loved to draw, paint, craft stuff. But I really got serious about painting around 1990 with my first solo exhibition in the South of France. I was doing watercolors at the time and that was my favorite medium for many years. I actually got to experiment with water-mixable oils much later on, in 2009 or so, when I wanted to paint larger pieces. I used to exhibit mostly solo, in casual venues such as coffee shops and restaurants. In 2012 I took a leap of faith and created my own art gallery.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>2\u003C/strong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>. What role do you think the artist plays in society?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I am convinced that art is a profound means of expressing all that is unbearably beautiful, ineffable, unspeakable, wondrous, or unfathomable. Art helps us humans cope with our mortality, and all that we can't pragmatically approach. Above all, an artist is a channel of expression taking in all that is, and offering her own version of what comes through. An artist has also something special that is invaluable: a worldwide license to mingle with any societal group, any gender, and any language, without having to conform to their specificity. As such, we can be messengers, ambassadors, defenders, revealers, catalysts — and become part of profound paradigm changes in our own unique ways.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As a very young child I had the privilege to sit in my neighbor's studio and cuddle his dog while he stood at his easel painting away. I guess it gave me the notion I could create my own world in that intangible space I would later call \"the zone.” \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what way does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For many years I have been orienting my life toward being in a state of peace, and to deliberately cultivate emotional balance and mental clarity. Inner spaciousness, so to speak. To paint vast and serene scenes is the reflection and the cultivation of that inner space. It's like a visual meditation that I get to share with the world.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I would not say that I have creative blocks, but I do have periods of active execution and periods of what I call “percolating,” when I don't paint, per se, on any canvas, but when I’m being nurtured for future work.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A quiet, comfortable, organized, personal space — full of light and open time.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After running my own art gallery for eight years, I’m transitioning to showing my work essentially online. So that is currently what I work on the most. Other than that I have a large piece in the making, on canvas, that has been on my mind for a few years.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What is your favorite paint color name?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ultramarine blue.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Arties8Blog_EmmelineCraig_ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog_EmmelineCraig_ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1269,h_662,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443345/blog/FD-Arties8Blog_EmmelineCraig_ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog_EmmelineCraig_ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-5902 wp-image-5906\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443345\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp> \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated May 16, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>“Sea Meadow.” “Promise of Rain.” “Sanctuary.” “Hush.” Emmeline Craig titles her works simply and accurately. This fine art painter from France — who now lives in California’s Marin County — creates with the intention of bringing peace and well-being to those who view her art. Watercolor Wonders Watercolor and water-mixable oils are her mediums of […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-05-16T15:06:02","2022-09-22T10:25:44",[251],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":253,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/FD-Arties8Blog_EmmelineCraig_Hero.jpg",{"id":255,"title":256,"uri":257,"content":258,"excerpt":259,"date":260,"modified":261,"categories":262,"image":264},"cG9zdDo1NzE4","All In Good Light: Meet Fine Art Photographer Raj Manickam","/arties-eight/raj-manickam-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>Observation and curiosity can be a powerful combination. Raj Manickam employs both virtues regularly in the mountains of Colorado, where he captures the beauty of nature and humanity with his camera—“all in good light,” as his website’s URL proclaims.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Image Meets Prose\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the Photo Essays section of his website, Raj reveals the stories behind his images. One that particularly caught our eye here at Frame Destination was “Juniper’s Last Gasp.” \u003Ca href=\"https://allingoodlight.com/essays/\">The essay\u003C/a> chronicles how a dead juniper that Raj had driven past “haunted” him until he returned to photograph it. Two weeks later, he took photos while touring a waste-processing center. The third piece of the puzzle was discovering the “in-camera overlay” function on his Nikon D850. Voila, “Juniper’s Last Gasp” was born. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Photo Meets Frame\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Juniper’s Last Gasp” was part of Colorado’s juried exhibition, Art of the State 2022, earlier this year. Raj tells us that he frames his work using Frame Destination’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/wood-frame-profile-876-black-matte-9440.html\">Wood Frame Profile 876\u003C/a> in black, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/papermat-wc-4ply.html\">Papermat WC-4Ply\u003C/a>, and\u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/anti-reflective-water-white-artglass-ar70.html\"> Anti-Reflective Water White Art Glass AR70\u003C/a>. “I love the products from Frame Destination working in sync with my art photographs,” Raj says. “They work hand-in-hand for a fine art finish at exhibits.” \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>See More of Raj’s Work \u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>You can see a wide range of images on Raj’s website, \u003Ca href=\"https://allingoodlight.com\">All in Good Light\u003C/a>, where along with \u003Ca href=\"http://allingoodlight.com/essays/\">Photo Essays\u003C/a>, you’ll find galleries for \u003Ca href=\"https://allingoodlight.com/abstract/\">Abstract\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://allingoodlight.com/art/\">Art Photography\u003C/a>, and \u003Ca href=\"https://allingoodlight.com/street/\">Street Photography.\u003C/a> There’s also a cool section showcasing his use of \u003Ca href=\"https://express.adobe.com/page/7L9ZpAf9t7ZOW/\">ICM\u003C/a>, intentional camera movement. If you visit Pueblo, Colorado, between now and May 21, you can catch a show by Photo Pensato, a collective Raj belongs to, at \u003Ca href=\"https://www.sdc-arts.org/king-gallery\">Sangre De Cristo Arts Center\u003C/a>. And my Q&A below divulges how Raj got started, his most indispensable tools, and how his Eastern heritage pairs well with 20 years of Western perspective.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Raj Manickam …\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For years, I have noticed the kinds of images others might let pass without a second glance. About six years ago, I acquired my first digital camera. I started taking photography classes at the local college to hone my technical skills. Since then, images no longer escape my lens. I capture everything from sudden moments to everyday occurrences and translate them into fine, yet relatable, art. I strive to shine a light on the reality of human experience through composition and honest storytelling. I am using my Eastern culture’s rich language and over two decades of Western point-of-view to draw in my viewers and tell a uniquely framed story. All in good light!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>2. How important is it for a photographer to \"connect\" with their subject?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My photos range in subject from the environment to human interest depiction. These images are often partnered with essays that tell even more of the narratives. I like to discover the engagement between the image and the story. Fundamentals of fine art, abstract, storytelling, and deep awareness emerge in a variety of my images.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Shoot always and never leave home without my camera.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>My photography starts with the art of observation. The act of observation comes from paying attention to one’s environment. I’m using that element of the witness consciously. My photos are my voice first. After it leaves my lens and shows up on a screen or paper, it becomes, or may then be, someone else’s voice and interpretation. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I carry my cameras most of the time — with me or in my car. With photography, I sometimes plan, and at times, I wander. Often I saunter in the wrong direction. I am drawn to places where I am mostly in quietude, even among people.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I embrace awareness and observation as an art. And I use CC Express (formerly Adobe Spark) as a creative outlet to write my photo stories. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I’m currently involved in an exhibit with a collective. Several of us are doing a show at \u003Ca href=\"https://www.sdc-arts.org/king-gallery\">Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley at Edwards, Colorado\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>8. What \"fad\" gadget do you most regret purchasing?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>An intelligent camera assistant [device that determines camera settings for you].  \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Arties8Blog-RajManickam_ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog-RajManickam_ByLine.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1024,h_534,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443458/blog/FD-Arties8Blog-RajManickam_ByLine/FD-Arties8Blog-RajManickam_ByLine.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-5718 wp-image-5721\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443458\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp> \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated March 23, 2022\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>Observation and curiosity can be a powerful combination. Raj Manickam employs both virtues regularly in the mountains of Colorado, where he captures the beauty of nature and humanity with his camera—“all in good light,” as his website’s URL proclaims. Image Meets Prose In the Photo Essays section of his website, Raj reveals the stories behind […]\u003C/p>\n","2022-03-23T12:11:24","2022-03-28T15:20:03",[263],{"name":140,"slug":154},{"url":265,"label":157},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FD-Arties8Blog-RajManickam_Hero.jpg",65]