This months Interview is with The Arts Site's Artist Of The Moment Shirley Roma Charlton.

Thank you Shirley for taking time out  to talk to us about your art.

Have you always been an artist, when did you first realize art was what you wanted to do?

Yes I have always been an artist.  I started drawing on a big blackboard in my bedroom when I was five years old. I think drawing and painting have been part of my development like learning to read and write. Except I did more drawing than reading and writing!

You are currently living in Brisbane but were born in Malawi, how did you decide to move to Australia?

Even though I was born in Malawi and lived there nearly all my life I was not allowed to work or hold a Malawian passport as I was a "non anthropological Malawian" (i.e. I was not black). My children had no "rights" to remain there or be considered Malawian either.  I wanted a future where my kids could be with me, not have to go to boarding school like I had and to be able to follow their own careers. So with a lot of effort and cost we finally got into Australia in 1992. It was not easy and my Mum died in Malawi six weeks after we got to Brisbane.

Africa seems to be an inspiration for your work, do you get to go back often?

Unfortunately I have only been back twice; once when my Father was very ill and once when my sister whom is still living in Malawi was also sick. But Africa will always be in my blood, especially Malawi.

Did you study art formally or are you self taught?

The only art I studied formally was two diploma courses but that did not teach me things like fine art or even a colour wheel or anything like that, all that is self taught. I also did a graphic art course.

What inspires you to paint and how do you keep  motivated?

My inspiration comes from life. I paint out doors as much as possible and also from life models. I think nature is my best teacher and it is magical to sit all day and paint on location capturing the best light at different times of the day.

It is difficult to be inspired, especially as I teach art full time.  Often the last thing I want to do is pick up a brush and paint for myself!  At the moment my motivation comes from my heart as the proceeds from all my
paintings goes back to Malawi, to the poorest of poor and so it is not about me.

Could you tell us some more about your work?

With my watercolors I always work from light to dark and I like to paint fast and loose. I love to paint water and seascapes.  With my Pastels I love to paint from Models or my children. I love to put the complimentary colors under the skin. For example if the model has blond hair, I will paint green under the skin, light green on the light side of the portrait or figure and darker green on the dark side and then the flesh colors on top. Always working from dark to light.

Which would you say was your preferred medium to work in, and  why?

I prefer to work in watercolors for landscapes and seascapes and flowers because they are transparent and easier to work with outdoors. I prefer pastels for the figure and portrait work.

Which artists have influenced you, and how?

I love John Singer Sargent's watercolors and also a Melbourne artist, Greg Allan. I guess it is their loose style that I love.

How have you handled the business side of being an  artist?
One word: hopeless!

What other interests do you have outside of art?

Helping others, swimming and being with my family.

Where do you see yourself regarding art in the future?

I would love to see myself teaching more workshops all over the world and develop my own work to a higher standard.

And finally, is there any advice you would give to an artist just starting
out?

Paint for yourself and for the love of it and do not paint to please judges or just to get awards but love what you do.  The successful paintings are normally the ones that are painted from the heart, what you know and love. It is no good trying to be like someone else and it shows. Don't paint just to sell. Nature is the best teacher so get out there AND ENJOY.

Shirley Roma Charlton

You can visit Shirley's Profile Page and leave a message.

You can also see more of Shirley's work by visiting her Galleries or by visiting Shirley's Official Website

Art & Politics What's your view?

A photographer has been chosen as the nation's official artist for the coming general election.

Simon Roberts has been commissioned by the Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art to document campaigning activity in the run-up to polling day.

Mr Roberts will be given special access to the campaign trail and his images will join the House of Commons Parliamentary Art Collection.

Does a few photos of politicians trying to grab votes really constitute an art collection?

What's your view?

Source: BBC News

This months Interview is with The Arts Site's Artist Of The Moment June Walker.

Thank you June for taking the time to talk to us about your art.

When did you first realize art was what you wanted to do?

I loved painting and drawing all through primary and secondary school. I remember being thrilled when some of my artwork was framed and exhibited in the school corridors. Like most children I liked to paint from imagination and memory, and not from direct observation.

I would have loved to have gone on to study fine art at University, but I was encouraged to do academic studies (psychology and anthropology). The desire to be an artist burned slowly away in the back of my mind, however, and luckily, I found the time to rekindle my interest and took up painting and drawing again fairly recently.

Did you study art formally or are you self taught?

I studied the anthropology of art, a theoretical social science subject, but apart from that and a couple of practical art correspondence courses, I think it would be fair to say I was self-taught as an artist.

I like to study-copy artwork by artists of the past and I think this helps my practical painting ability to progress. I have made ‘copies’ of work by Cezanne, Goya, and Chagall, amongst others. I enjoy online company of artists in art communities for these exercises.

Could you tell us some more about your work?

I have two distinct ‘styles’ of painting/ drawing.

1. Expressionist use of bold colour (for rainbow paintings of animals and for whimsical works)

2. Naturalism ( for realistic portraits of pets and people)

I suppose my acrylic paintings are the most developed as far as my expressionist style goes. To begin a kaleidoscope work, I use colour freely and boldly, choosing colours I feel like using at that moment, and placing them on the paper in a variety of shapes/patterns. Then I look at the shapes to see if an image or story-line suggest itself and if it does, I begin to develop the figures and objects, using tone to make them more obvious. If nothing suggests itself directly from the patterns, I will draw outlines of figures or animals onto the surface and develop them to make the imagery stand out from the background.

For naturalism, I usually refer to reference material, such as photos I have taken myself, photos from pet portrait customers, or copyright free photos from community websites.

What inspires you to paint and how do you keep motivated?

Looking at the artwork of other artists keeps me inspired. I am motivated by the enjoyment I get from handling art materials. Hoping that my next painting will be ‘my really good one’ also keeps me motivated…a kind of carrot I dangle to keep me going.

Which would you say was your prefered medium to work in, and why?

I like to experiment with all mediums and I haven’t settled on one preferred medium yet.

I like watercolours because I love sable brushes and the feel of watercolour paint. For me, watercolours suggest mood and emotion best. I love the richness of the finished product in oils but I am not as skilled in oils as I would like to be yet. I like acrylics a lot because they are versatile and forgiving and can be used in mixed media works. I like oil pastels because of the bright saturated colours and because I find them fairly easy to work with.

Which artists have influenced you, and how?

Chagall and Picasso for imagination, daring, and story-telling. Redon and Rousseau for magical, poetic, colour combinations. Frida Kahlo for determination against tremendous odds: I particularly love her self portraits with monkeys and other animals.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

Luckily, being interested in painting animals, it was fairly natural to do pet portraits as an arts business.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

For fine art: more in the way of imaginative story-telling works in large sizes.

For pets, I’d like to develop my oil painting technique to produce softer, more realsitic, impressionistic animal portraits.

What other interests do you have outside of painting?

I used to write stories for children but now I only have time to write a few poems every so often. I have over 30 poems previously published in small magazines and it would be good to see them in a book form.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

Follow your heart…which is bit of a cliché…but then you will do work you like and enjoy doing the artwork. Try to do work that truly reflects you and your unique interests, e.g., your world-view, your poetic imagination, your feelings, etc. Put these above technical aspects but at the same time, don’t neglect your technical progress.

Join an art community online for the company and art banter. Also for feedback on your work.

June Walker

You can visit June's Profile Page Here and leave a message.

You can also view more of June's work by visiting her Galleries or by visiting June's Official Website.

Extreme Performance Art - What's Your View?

The BBC reported last week that artist Nasser Azam is set to create art in blizzard conditions and temperatures of below -30C.

In this report they explain that Nasser had planned the trip after he returned from creating art in space.  The artist climbed 23,000 feet in a specially-modified plane to work on the piece while weightless.

A painting he completed in zero gravity sold for $332,500 (£223,000) at auction in New York.

Now Nasser wants to continue, "exploring the creative limits of working in an environment that is unfamiliar," and is setting off to Antarctica.

But when does "Performance Art" become less about the art and more about the performance?

Do the two naturaly sit side by side or can one out way the other?

And is art that is created in such "Extreme" conditions really worth more in terms of money, then say a painting created in an artists studio?

If you have any thought then please comment below.

This months Interview is with The Arts Site's Artist Of The Moment Susan E Bevan

Thank you Susan for taking time out to talk to us about your art.

Let me begin, by saying thank you so much for choosing me, as the “Artist of the Moment” here on The Arts Site!

You currently live in Maryland USA, did you grow up there as well?

You can say, it all kinda started, growing up just outside, and working in the city of Philadelphia, where I often toured historic sites for fun. Then, moving to a place so full of untouched, rural American history, as Cecil County Maryland, along the Susquehanna River, 20+yrs. ago, I have developed a passion, for the beauty only time can give to things.

I went to vo-tech for commercial art in 10th grade, in the early 1970's. After finishing all my schooling, I worked as a commercial artist in Philadelphia.

Back then, computers were kept on a separate floor than the artists offices & were 6' tall with spinning things on the front!! We had no idea how they got our work in there, and we didn’t know we had to care!!! Plus, way back then, we thought there would never be need for an artist to type!!

I left for what I thought would be a few years, to raise my kids &...you all know what happened to the business! So, everything computer I’ve learned since, has been self taught. Most recently web design, and image animation. Though, hands on arts and crafting, for me...is lifetime!

I’ve been a starving artist/ bartender - which I did love too, becoming quite well known in my tri-state area as “magic” the Bartender. Or, “The Magic Bartender”, which has stuck ever since. Other than a few years teaching crafting for Tandy Leather Company, until they closed their store, and teaching/demonstrating/hosting art & craft parties privately now and then, I haven’t been able to do something creative for a living since I had my kids. Just a little here and there but, not enough to pay the bills. It is my dream someday though!!

Even though I’m starting out a bit late, I’m working hard to make that dream come true someday! And, looking to others for example and guidance all the time. I’m sure I don’t have it all figured out just yet, but if determination helps...I think I’m in! You see, I really do love making, well...just about everything! I always have! I would say, in a nut shell... I’m a Artist, Crafter, Scientist, Naturalist, Herbalist, Biker, all-American women who is into: Family, Friends, My Car, Vintage Classic, & Hand Crafted. If not for my greatest & most wondrous & important masterpiece, my family, I swear, I could just create, create, create!

When did you first realize you wanted to take your art further?

I made the decision, if I'm honest my health made me make a decision, about two years ago, to take some time just for Art. At the time, I felt like it was a no brain-er! I mean come on what could be Greater? I had been making, and selling my "Magic Bartender’s Balm" (another story) pretty steady & to take time just for art, was a dream addition!

But, I had forgotten that the struggle to find a style & technique of my own, had never been settled in my heart & soul. After all, the last 20+ yrs were spent raising my four kids, staying married (LOL) & working. Which had left little time to paint. There were always crafts and fun art going on. But there was no soul cleansing, solitary, spirit renewing art. You know, just for me!

But I was quickly reminded you don’t just say…”I’m gonna paint”! Every piece was taking more time to “work through” then the time I was spending with brush in hand. It just wasn’t working…I wasn’t feeling it at all! It was quite disheartening. Because I know I have to do this!

I started joining art communities, visiting blogs, watching videos, and still. My end results were so disappointing to me! And, as I think anyone who creates will say as well, Your own satisfaction is more important in the long run, than anyone's approval. Well…as long as you have food everyday!

So, last Spring, I made a plan. I would devote all my energy, to finding my art! If I’m honest with myself, I didn’t have all the time in the world anymore, age does creep up on us all. And everyday is a gift!

I virtually cut myself off from all outside influences, started with what I love…

the Old, Classic & Timeless. I traveled here & there, I took lots of pics., went to the Art museums, and sketched my ‘lil fingers off. Then set to mixing, blending and experimenting. I threw out everything I was ever told to always do, and to never do.

Could you tell us some more about your work, which would you say was your preferred medium to work in, and why?

I have developed my own unique painting technique. I don't use any Media &/or Medium as your "supposed" to and work mainly with a combo of pastels, charcoals, natural oxide & mica colors, various acrylic mediums & paints on Canvas Board. Resulting in unique depth, texture & color. That I think, compliments the subject matter I choose!

I love to work with all sorts of stuff, finding uses & way to use things that others haven’t considered, rocks my world!

I don’t like “machines” for my art & crafting. Mainly because, they don’t like me! So everything I sew is by hand, etc.. Needle crafts are also, I would say not in my expertise. But, other than the limitations I can sometimes run into w/ that attitude... I’ll try anything once... twice if I like it!

Which artists have influenced you, and how?

I am most interested in the "imperfect". And, keep in mind, I have an Expressionist / Impressionist style - meaning I don't paint perfect replicas, but more my interpretations, although, I think you'll easily recognize the inspiration! I have studied, admired, and enjoyed a long, illustrious list of classic and contemporary artists, both past & present, I find I’m a bit like a “kid in a candy store” when trying to choose a favorite. Each artist I see every day, are always the very best & I’m inspired by them all. But alas, in trying to be “individual” myself, I’ve never pinned it down to just one favorite!

What's life outside of painting, what other interests do you have?

I've been married almost 30 yrs., to my very best friend, who is “Motor Head” thru & thru! He worked for a Harley Davidson Dealership in Pennsylvania for a time, before his current position as a mechanic for the USPS (United States Postal Service). For the past 40yrs., he has bought & sold Harley-Davidson, and Norton Motorcycles, and all types of classic cars & trucks all over the world. and is quite respected in that community for his knowledge & skills, as his hobby.

We have 4 kids, 23-30 yrs old, who have really great “Significant Others”, who I love like my own! There are 5 Grand-kids, 2mnths thru 13yrs. old. And my special babies, “Gizmo’, a Japanese Chin. And “Heaven” a King Charles”, who are rescued dogs, that we adore. And then there’s the only machine that’s ever loved me, a butt kick-in’, bright red, ‘64 Pontiac Le-mans Convertible, that feels like family to me.

How do you feel about art today and the future?

Now, I am so excited everyday to paint. What I will call, a kinda “rural decay”! That state & the place that time has brought things. Found/Discovered! Everything that was, something to someone once! The…Rusty, dusty, overgrown, abandoned…cars trucks trains planes, farms & their equipment. Lighthouses, railroad, factories, rooms &/or their contents, ruins. The things I stumble upon when walking in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes like a walk through a time warp. I think all my Art contains an expressionist vision. I continuously try to depict the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in me! And always include qualities of highly subjective, personal, spontaneous self-expression! No two of my pieces are ever alike! They are my vision alone!

The Results, reactions and requests for more of the same, have set my heart flying! And, being selected “Artist of the Moment” here, on The Arts Site, is an extra sweet “Icing on the Cake”! Thank you so very much!

Susan E. Bevan

aka The Magic Bartender

You can visit Susan's Profile Page Here and leave a message.

You can also view more of Susan's work by visiting her Galleries or by visiting Susan's Official Website

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All you have to do is go to your profile, click 'Click to add a new widget' and then select the Twitter widget from the dropdown menu.

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New Artist of the Moment!

This months Artist of the Moment is Susan E Bevan, you can visit Susan's Profile and Gallery HERE

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The Arts Site Team

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