An artist's ramblings by Lynne Reichhart: Sep 22, 2009

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

DOUBLE GIVE-AWAY!

This is an exciting undertaking. It is fun giving away someone elses artwork!

Felicia Kramer of AnotherBrightIdea and I met in the VAST Etsy team and have teamed up to do a double give-away. I am giving away one of her wonderful works of art and she is giving away something of mine on her blog.

Let's get to know Felicia a bit better and see some of her wonderful work. This piece is one of my favorites of hers. This is a beautiful digital collage entitled 'Hope for a New Beginning'.

lmr: Hi Felicia! How do you start your morning? – Coffee? Tea? Juice? Smoothie? Other?

Coffee, coffee, coffee

lmr: Please introduce yourself and tell us where we can find your work on-line.

I’m Felicia Kramer. My Etsy shop is http://anotherbrightidea.etsy.com ; my blog is www.feliciakramer.blogspot.com .

lmr: Please tell us a little about your family.

I’m the quintessential middle child – right smack in the middle of nine children.
I am single, no children of my own, but I have a huge extended family and tons of nieces and nephews that I adore. I was born and have lived most of my life in Michigan, except for a few years in San Francisco, still my favorite city.

lmr: Tell me about your etsy shop. You have such lovely and varied items for sale!

I’m celebrating my one-year anniversary with Etsy this month. I have some handmade paper collages, photography, greeting cards and digital prints. I absolutely love doing digital collages and altered photographs, although I don’t think I’ll ever learn everything there is to know about Photoshop. Right now I’m also working on Christmas items – I’ve already posted some wreaths - that’s my favorite holiday.

Robin's Egg Blue Pinecone Wreath

lmr: How long have you been an artist? Are you formally trained or self-taught?

I always wanted to be an artist and I did art and crafts for fun, but I was never encouraged to pursue it seriously. I finally enrolled in college at the ripe old age of 30 and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University. I have never regretted that decision.

lmr: What inspires you? Where do you look – or go – for inspiration?

I’m very much inspired by nature. I have a very small enclosed patio garden which I have crammed with as much as I can fit in that small space, and flowers and natural materials appear in a lot of my art. My garden is also my quiet space. If I need to take time out to refresh and meditate, I’ll sit on my garden bench and just watch the birds at their feeder and the chipmunks chasing each other.

lmr: What part of being an artist is hardest for you, or that you dislike the most?

One thing I didn’t anticipate when I chose to become a full-time artist was the amount of time that must be spent on getting yourself and your work known. I’m not very comfortable selling myself and my art, and would much rather spend all that time creating instead of being in the business of marketing and advertising. But it’s a fact of the artistic life so I do it.

lmr: What do you do when you’re not being an artist? What are your favorite activities?

When I’m not doing my art, thinking about my art, or thinking about doing my art, I enjoy gardening, reading, decorating, spending time with family and friends, and traveling, although I haven’t been able to do much traveling lately.

Halloween ACEO

lmr: Now for my favorite question! Tell us five things that most people – maybe even your family – don’t know about you.

1. I love dark chocolate, raspberries and nuts – alone or in any combination.
2. I hate the phrase “nothing can be done.” (There’s always choices – maybe not ideal, but they’re always there.)
3. When they first appeared, I said the Beatles were just a fad.
4. I’ve been nicknamed “mad dog” – when I get my teeth into something I’m quite stubborn and determined.
5. I left my heart in San Francisco. Really.

LOL - The Beatles would beg to differ! Many thanks to Felicia for patiently answering my questions. NOW for the Give-Away!!!!!!!!

Felicia has graciously given these beautiful cards for anyone to win. To enter just leave a comment here and I will draw the winner next Tuesday 9/29 (only one week away) around noon time.