LET'S FACE IT 2019 - CREATIVE GUIDES
ANGELA KENNEDY
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I live in southern Oregon with my husband and two crazy boys! I work at home as a freelance artist for Penny Black Rubber Stamps and in my spare time I make art! I would say I am a mixed media artist. My favorite mediums are colored pencils over acrylic but I also really love watercolors! I can’t remember a time when I was doing something arty or crafty.
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BARBARA HACK
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Barbara received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drawing and painting after intensive study in Europe and additional training in New York. Since then, she has continued to harness her artistic talents to drive her professional career. Work in portraiture, fashion illustration, and as a courtroom artist have all allowed Barbara to challenge herself with alternative contexts for figurative artistry, and in a variety of mediums, including graphite, pastels, prismacolor and primarily oils. Barbara teaches studio artist’s classes and workshops where her love of art and her desire to create quality art for herself is a wonderful influence on her students.
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CATHRINE EDLINGER-KUNZE
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Born and raised in Germany, Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze moved to the United States in 1994 where she works as a full time artist. She credits her father for inspiring her love for painting. "Sitting side by side with my father, I learned very early what painting meant to me, and it became a special bond to my father and me."
Cathrine devotes most of her time to sketching and painting the figure, explaining "the human face and body always fascinated ne... the body is the perfection of form, movement and nature." Much of the artist's recent subject matter revolves around performers and dancers, recalling the delicacy of Degas' ballerinas and the quietude of Picasso's saltimbanques.
Cathrine has shown her work since 1985 and has exhibited in Germany, Italy and the United States; and counts collectors from Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. She just returned from a one year stay in Sweden to her U.S. home in Albuquerque, NM
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CE DUFF
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
My name is Ce Duff and I am from Dunedin, a vibrantly artistic little city on the south east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. I have loved art from an early age, but abandoned the dream of being an artist in high school. I came back to it for six years between 1997 and 2003, learning to draw and paint from a variety of experienced teachers. It was at this time my love affair with portraiture began. However I allowed self doubt to get the better of me and again put my pencils and paintbrushes away.
Twelve years later a visit to an exhibition reawakened my inner artist and set me off on my current creative journey. At last I’m committed to the art life for the duration. I love to capture the likeness and emotion in a face and explore my passion for vintage in my work. The faces of people captured in a moment in time are always intriguing to me, allowing the viewer to connect with their own story through an image. I enjoy experimenting with all mediums, but currently work mostly in acrylic, mixed media and collage. I’m active in my local art community and love to share in the artistic journey with others.
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ED BOLDERO
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I’m a British/Dutch figurative artist living and working in Los Angeles. My current work predominantly consists of digitally drawn and painted portraits. I also use traditional media, such as charcoal and graphite as well as clay for figurative portrait sculpture.
I was born and grew up in Asia and went to school and university in the UK. I hold a postgraduate degree in character animation from Central Saint Martins, London. I have a background in visual effects and photography and currently work as a lead visual effects artist for a major commercials and advertising post-production house in Los Angeles.
For me, art is a continuing process of improvement and development, further enhanced by studying with and learning from artists whose work and methods influence and inspire me.
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DANIELLE MACK
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Hello, my name is Danielle. I'm a mixed media artist who loves 90’s action movies and shortbread cookies.
The first thing I ever painted was a bouquet of flowers on a piece of construction paper. I skipped in the house and gave it to my mom. I think that was when she saw that I was creative.
I drew and painted very little growing up. It wasn’t until I got older and decided to become an artist.
I went to art school and was trained as a painter. Traditional art was way too serious for me so I after a long break I came across a few paper crafting videos and I was hooked. I then moved on to art journaling and mixed media exploration. Today, my style is illustrative and playful. I mix my style with what I learned from years of experimentation.
Painting women of color is very important to me because it brings me joy to see people of all backgrounds coming together. We fit like a beautiful puzzle. I love to learn new art techniques and share what I’ve learned with others.
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IVY NEWPORT
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Ivy is a published artist, art instructor and creative guide. Her online collection, of artistic workshops, has served thousands of students, internationally, and she prides herself on giving devoted care and support to her student body.
She spent most of her childhood growing up in Sydney, Australia and received private art education from a well-known Australian artist as a young girl of 8 until her family was relocated to America when she was 16. She went on to finish high school in Connecticut and attended the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, receiving her BFA in Illustration.
After graduating she relocated to Austin, Texas where she was employed to create an implement an elaborate art education program at a local Montessori school. Life then took her to New York City, where she was employed by the Whitney Museum of Art working in the President’s office and assisting both the President and the museum’s Trustees. Finally a move to Portland, Oregon led her into the interior design business as a design assistant. A few years later, she owned and operated her own successful Interior Design Company.
She left this fast paced role to become a mother to her two girls. While at home, Ivy engrossed herself in creative discovery and began to passionately shoot photography and author a blog. These endeavors ultimately led her to the online creative community – teaching both online and in person. Her domestic and international workshops offer rich and expansive creative experiences, with a focus on personal growth and renewal.
Ivy’s artistic message is to guide others to their creativity and nurture those special gifts in each of us. She strongly believes that every soul is creative and finding ways to express that creativity is paramount to joy and healing.
She has been published in several magazines including, Somerset Apprentice, Somerset Digital Studio, and Artful Blogging.
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JOAN MARTIN
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Joan Martin is a Durban Based artist who works predominately in mixed media. She graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a BA (Fine Arts) Hons degree, and was awarded the Martienssen Art Prize in her final year of study. Martin has, since university, taught Visual Arts at various Durban high schools. She is the Senior Art teacher at Reddam House Umhlanga and manages to combine her passion for art and technology in this role.
Since university Martin has won a prize in the National Corobrick Ceramic Competition and been a finalist in both the Sasol New Signatures Competition and the Nivea Start Competition.
In 2009, Martin became a Director at EveryONEcounts, an NGO that raises money and awareness of various human and social issues through the medium of art.
Martin has been actively involved in both local and international group exhibitions(Canada, France, USA). She recently took part in an international installation exhibition in August 2017 called "Moth Migration" in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
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JENNIFER BONNETEAU
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Hi, I'm Jennifer Bonneteau. I'm an artist, teacher and mom living and creating in Murrieta, CA with my family and our dog, Jasper. I believe we were all born with creative gifts and a desire to connect with one another and that art is a conduit for connection and healing. Through my work as an artist and teacher I hope to inspire others to tell their personal stories through their own creative expression.
I began my love affair with expressive painting in 2014. I find the process allows me to both lose and find myself at the same time. I often paint portraits because I feel alive and connected to humanity when I'm attempting to capture the essence of a person in a painting...it's often a spiritual experience for me. My style resonates in the areas of abstract realism and modern Impressionism. I draw inspiration from my faith, friends and family, music and life experiences teaching and traveling.
I feel blessed to be able to share my passion for creativity through my online classes and in-person workshops with people of all ages and abilities including people with anxiety and autism. It's been my privilege to serve on the Advisory Board for Temecula’s local autism organization, Our Nicholas Foundation, and aide in their efforts to provide resources for children and families affected by autism. I recently obtained my ART4Healing certificate so I can help at-risk youth, the autistic community, and people with anxiety and/or chronic illness cope by expressing themselves creatively and profoundly through the expressive painting process. Thank you for your interest and encouragement...xo
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JUNA BIAGIONI
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I’m Juna Biagioni, a mixed media artist & art teacher, and I live with my husband in the beautiful historic heart of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As a little girl I loved being creative, making music, drawing, and writing stories. Later my focus shifted, but a few years ago I rediscovered my creative source and started a new exciting journey into art.
My main focuses are mixed media, art journaling and monoprinting, but currently I mostly paint and draw faces. I try to capture some kind of ‘soul’ in my work – in an unpolished way. Soul can be soft, tender, and beautiful, but also difficult or raw. I hear from people that they are touched by my work, that they sometimes find peace in it, or that they read all kinds of stories in it. That’s what makes me happy.
Art for me is a means to connect with people, to express my own inner worlds. But I also like to leave enough open space for people to see their own stories and meanings in my work. The greatest gift is when people are somehow touched by my art, because it means that the artwork has its own power, separate from me, which is able to move something in another person. That’s just pure magic.
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KAT FEDORA
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Hello, I am Kathryn (Kat) Fedora!
I have been an artist my whole life. Learning to draw was a serious passion of mine when I was growing up and I continue to increase that knowledge everyday. I began painting in college and it quickly became a great love of mine. I worked mostly in oils at the beginning and still enjoy them occasionally.
After receiving a Bachelors in Fine Art I went on the work as a ceramic artist and then a tattoo artist. It was while I was working as a tattooer that I began working in watercolor. It felt very foreign to me at first, but it soon began to click, and I now find it to be the most wonderful and expressive medium I have worked in thus far. I like to combine ink with my watercolors to achieve an “illustrative” look that has come to be my signature style. My subjects vary, but they almost alway include animals and/or images of women. I like to add elements from nature and the greater universe to my paintings as well.
Thank you
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KARSTEN COTY-SCHOLL
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
My name is Karsten Coty-Scholl. I am enraptured with portraiture. My work thus far has been inspired heavily by pop culture icons. Although, most recently has taken a turn of new inspirations for wholly original compositions and works to come.
The many days of stubbornly pushing through my very first pieces, led me to something that intrigued me beyond end. The process of capturing the smallest amount of character with a portrait gave me an entirely brand new drive. I don’t just look to paint features of the face, its all for the unending search of character.
My work has been shown in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. Having taken part in group shows, as well as exhibiting portrait shows in the Osoyoos Art Gallery in 2015 and in 2018. Coupled with a number of high profile commissions, my journey only feels to have just started.
My love for voluptuous layers of oil paint makes it my primary medium of choice. I praise its regal hues and butter-like consistency. My latest obsession is charcoal. I find the immediacy and malleability of the medium wholly fascinating. However, I do not limit myself by medium, instead finding many uses for acrylic, pastel and graphite as well in mixed media works.
My style is varied, although a mainstay that can be seen in all of my work is an uncompromising focus for confident brushwork and creating surrealistic colour palettes. No matter the medium my mark making is constantly deliberate. Always moving forward, every mark being made in the focus of building towards the next. Often my process of painting has been described as sculptural.
I hope that you can gain something from my unique processes for your own artistic journey ahead!
And most importantly, let's have fun!
Thank you so much.
Karsten
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KATE THOMPSON
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
My work as a fiber artist working with fabric and fiber to create abstract 3-dimensional forms was my focus for many years. I started painting full time in 2009 focusing on portrait/figure work painting in acrylics, watercolors and mixed media. Fractured Angels is the continuous thread throughout my work. My art parallels my spiritual journey and I identify with the flawed, cracked and fractured human yearning for peace and fulfillment. The older I get the stronger the pull to explore and express this theme in my work.
Along the way I discovered I loved teaching. I find the creative process so incredibly interesting. My energy lies in that process and to share that with others has been the most fulfilling role of my life. The spiritual nature of the creative process is something that I think about a lot. The idea of constant practicing of my craft along with allowing myself to let go in moments of creating is the key to authentic art.
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KELLYE FOWLKES
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Hello! Let me start by saying how thankful and flattered I am to be included in this talented group of artists. Thank you so much, Kara, for considering/choosing me to show my art process.
Short story long, I did not go to school for art. I took a few art classes while in school for Interior Design, and really enjoyed the challenges in those classes. I threw Interior Design out the window, but the art lessons and the interest in those classes stuck with me.
The artist eye does run in my family. My maternal grandfather was a painter, my paternal grandmother, both of my aunts are artists, and my mother, Cindy, created pastel portraits. She encouraged me to try portraits, but I have a hard head and didn't think I had the talent for that. Brilliant idea! Great decision, Kellye!
Like my mother, I started dabbling with art (portraits) a little late in life. When my son was 2 (2009), I started working with graphite. I drew a portrait of my son and husband for my husband's birthday. It wasn't perfect, but it did look like both of them. That's really where it all started. My husband and son essentially began my art career! 🙂 Thanks, Guys!
I was diagnosed with MS in February 2010. My mom also had MS, and had been diagnosed when I was a baby. I saw, first hand, how MS effected her, and us. But it was lucky for me to have a "partner in MS". Someone to chat with when I had a hard time with the diagnosis. She was my sounding board, and my shoulder to cry on. Someone to really understand what I was going through. To tell you the truth, I forget half the time I even have MS. My symptoms are very minute and sporadic. I'm definitely one of the lucky ones. Thank goodness!
In 2011, my mother, my best friend, confidant, and fellow artist passed away from terminal cancer....2 months after my husband and I were married. Art took a backseat until I could get my head on straight. After a year or so, I got a fire underneath me and really wanted to get my life back in order. I guess that was my mom's strength pushing through. I like to think that anyway.
I opened my Etsy shop "Portraits by Kellye" shortly after my mother passed. I specialized in charcoal portraits. After a few years of the same medium, I felt I needed evolving. That's when I found Let's Face It!!
I signed up for Let's Face It 2017, and couldn't be more satisfied with what I learned. It was exactly what I needed in my life. The teachers, and the other artists participating in the class, couldn't have been more encouraging during the year of lessons. I'm so thankful to have found this group of like-minded individuals. Where have you guys been all my life? I'm gradually becoming what I was born to do. It's about time! Mother knows best! As usual.
As you can see, I have had some obstacles in my life, but haven't we all? What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?
All of that aside, I love to laugh, listen to music, sing loudly everywhere, draw/paint (of course), and hang out with my awesome family. I'm very thankful for all that I have and fortunate for relatively good health.
I'm super excited and extremely flattered to be asked to be a guest teacher in Let's Face It 2019!
Thanks for joining me!
Now, let's get to arting!
LEARN MORE ABOUT KELLYE HERE:
LEO-VINH BEAUVOIS
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I am a french and mostly self taught artist, living and working surounded by nature in a village in south of France. There, I find peace and inspiration.
As a lot of artist, I've always enjoyed drawing and creating things with my own hands. I used to cut, draw, write... I even remember i used to collect craft books i would buy with money from my birthday. I would sit in silence at my desk and start making a project.
When I was a teenager, I was homeschooled with my 3 siblings and we travelled a lot. I would go to some of my parent's friend/artist studio or study in a night class once a week. I developped a strong love for art and would wander in museums as much as I could.
But, it is true that as I became a young mum, I slowly tamed my need to create. I involved myself completely in motherwood, while studying english and turism with correspondance course. I wanted to get a very earthly job. I was a “blocked” artist. And When i decided to get back to it, it had been a long recovery. I regained faith in my abilities, slowly, after severals experiences as an illustrator or a handbag or fabric dolls (that 's why I use so much fabric in my painting) designer. At last in 2010, I embraced painting again, diving deep.
When I am not working and experimenting in my studio on paintings for my personal or group shows in France or sometimes in the US, I participate to other projects.
Right now, I am a member of 2 online artist collectives. I also work as an illustrator, right now I work for some projects for a book, a tarot deck and a family board game.
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LEE ANNE WASHBURN
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
My name is Lee Anne Washburn and I live in the Columbus, Ohio, area with my husband and 3 cats (or self-proclaimed studio assistants).
I am a self-taught artist and sewer who also needle felts and crochets. I love playing with almost all mediums but I especially love watercolors and mixed media. I am completely fascinated with drawing and painting faces and my style tends to fall somewhere between whimsy and realism.
Art is my way of expressing myself and also a way for me to relax by getting lost in a painting.
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LUCY COOKE
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Hi, I’m Lucy!
My dad gave me that nickname many years ago, when I was just a little girl. I LOVED art as a kid, drawing, and even painting whenever I could.
Yet, when I became an adult, I hardly spent any time on my art making. I was creative throughout my life though, spending time writing poetry, short stories (and longer ones), learning photography, and even developing my own film and prints. Decades later, art found me again. At a time when I really needed it!
Since 2006, art has been a part of my daily life. I started out slowly, making small ATCs, or Artist Trading Cards. Collage was my art medium of choice at that time. I quickly moved on to larger collages, mixed media, and assemblage. I used found vintage items mixed with new finds, to make interesting art. Or I would repurpose something that was discarded, to create something new and different. I also loved the challenge of making digital art.
Around 2008, I was taking an online painting class, and decided I really wanted to pursue my love of painting with acrylics. Since then, my favorite thing to do is sit in front of my easel and paint! My subject of choice, is portrait painting. I LOVE faces! But every once in a while, you will find me painting sunflowers, waterlilies, or even hummingbirds.
Besides painting portraits, as often as I can, you will find me sketching faces, in graphite or ink. And I am a constant student of art, learning from artists of the past, as well as contemporary artists. I love trying new techniques and pushing my art to the next level. This art journey has been a wonderful one!
I am so excited to make art with you!
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MELINDA COOTSONA
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Melinda Cootsona is a figurative painter in Northern California. Greatly influenced by the Bay Area artistic tradition, her paintings focus on the strength of the female figure. The paintings are created with layers of oil paint, applied and then scraped away revealing figures that fill the canvas in varying poses of contemplation or reflection in abstracted surroundings. Whether in a soft or harsh surrounding, the strength of the female figure is primary.
Melinda has been included in exhibitions at the Bakersfield Museum of Art and the Triton Museum in California, The San Francisco Art Market, The Coos Bay Museum of Art in Oregon, and Art Basel Miami, as well as many group and solo shows throughout the U.S.
Cootsona received her BA from the California College of the Arts. Her work can be found in collections in the United States, Europe, Australia, and China.
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MARINA TEDING van BERKHOUT
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Hello my creative friends! I am a Dutch artist living in the South of France with my three teenage children, my husband and our lovely Golden Retriever Tessa.
I have always been creative as a child but it was only later in life that I started to draw and paint. First in watercolors and then in oils. When I discovered Cold Wax Medium, which I mix into my oils, I was hooked! I love to give a mysterious, dreamy feeling to my paintings and Cold Wax Medium allows me to create this effect. It makes beautiful textured backgrounds and it gives me the freedom to explore and experiment, by not only using oil paint but also pigments, pastels and oil sticks.
I am absolutely obsessed by painting Faces and Figures, they are by far my favorite subjects! When I paint my figures, whether it is a portrait or a full body, I disconnect them from their real world by representing them in a soft and ethereal way which leaves room for the viewer to make up its own story. I am looking forward to support you on your artistic journey!
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MURIEL STEGERS
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Hello Gorgeous, My name is Muriel Stegers and I am a Mixed Media Artist from The Netherlands. I am a very intuitive, no planning kind of painter. I love to go with the flow and see where the painting will take me. I know now, after several years that the painting always paints itself.
If only I can let go enough of what is expected of me. Learning to trust that the paint is there where it is supposed to be! I take my time and love to work long hours on my paintings. I specialize in painting faces, it is what turns my creative energy on and having the opportunity to use all these different mediums makes it like heaven for me. Teaching my students to believe in them self and finding that space that holds silence for them is whats most important to me. Teaching them to be able to let go and find the magic that is hidden inside is my main goal. Finding that ease of self-acceptance is where fireworks light of and stars shine bright.
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MYSTELE
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Shhh!!! I have a creative, little secret. I am enamored with the creative process!! Smitten. Bewitched. Transfixed. Painting after painting, I am mesmerized by the artistic excursions that begin with the simple, elemental building blocks we call "marks". The simple act of making a mark, whether with line, color, or collage, helps shine a light on what captivates our hearts and minds, giving voice to our stories. I just can't get enough!!
I abstract my subjects from what may seem like an unruly, dissonant mess of marks, color and texture, but, to me, it's the most fantastic playground of imagination and sight. And for someone like me who never expected to be an artist, these playgrounds are always my Wonder Works. My prayer is that the art that comes out of my life will renew your sense of Wonder in the midst of a world that has so many dark places.
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ROBERT KELLEY
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I am Rob Kelley and I am a fine artist/illustrator with a focus on portraiture! I live in Stockton, California, and am a single dad to three children. I studied graphic design at UC Davis and then went on to study illustration at Academy of Art in San Francisco. Although I have had an extensive education in art, I abandoned art for most of my adult life. That changed, 4 years ago, when my life hit a dramatic shift. At this time, I began looking at why I was in a constant state of low-level unhappiness and discovered that I had abandoned my true and authentic self. I knew that the one thing I needed that had been missing was art! Since then, I have adopted a sink or swim mentality!
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SUZANNE MUNROE
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I love exploring all media and styles of art. I am particularly drawn to portraits. I am focusing on drawing, collaging or painting a portrait and then translating that design onto fabric. I incorporate my portrait s into my fiber art work in 3 ways:
I will either paint directly on fabric, photograph and then print one of my painted portraits onto fabric,
or create the portrait out of pieces of fabric. My hope is to pull the viewer into my pieces by capturing an emotion, causing a subsequent desire to feel, or wonder more about the piece.
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SABRA AWLAD ISSA
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
I’m Sabra, a self-taught portrait artist from the Netherlands. I was always interested in drawing but never chose to dedicate myself. Instead I built a business in application design and development. I tried to find ways to balance my need for creativity with all the rest that comes with running a business. But after 15 years I found that it was almost impossible to do. I was always longing for art and became frustrated that my business needed all my time and energy, leaving me drained and very unhappy.
Two years ago my son asked me, “should I do things that make me unhappy?”. As I was formulating an answer in my head, I thought to myself, “what am I doing?”. I can tell my son every out-of-the-box answer I know, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t act on it and be an example. A few months later I quit everything and started painting every day. I’ve never been more driven and content.
I paint humans. Often I wonder if maybe I should try painting something else. Or add some object or symbol. But then I end up painting another face. It took a while but I’ve accepted that that is what I do. It still amazes me every time, how much a face can say. I love learning in the online community and sharing my own experiences with different materials.