Happy weekend! A few days ago, I had the pleasure of hanging a new show (featuring several brand new pieces, pictured below) at Sweet Melissa in downtown Laramie. Although I love having my work in gallery shows, there is nothing quite like a hometown, community show in a local business! Discovering new art in casual settings, such as coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores--and even mattress stores is always a welcomed surprise. Art is EVERYWHERE--sometimes in the most unexpected places, and I love being a part of that conversation between artists and their community! Here's a sneak peek of a few new pieces I have on display at Sweet Melissa! If you happen to be in Laramie over the next two months, be sure to stop by to check out some of my work, while enjoying some DELICIOUS vegetarian/vegan cuisine! Have a wonderful weekend, and don't forget to take some time to enjoy the beauty and wonder around you!
Cheers,
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July's been a quiet, but busy month--full of art teaching, flying, family time, and enjoying the beautiful mountains of Colorado! A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to explore the West Elk Wilderness near Gunnison, CO for a 5-day backpacking trip! Nothing is quite as relaxing as unplugging and spending some time in creation--with nothing to worry about but where to pitch your tent and how to get across the next stream crossing. Although I was away from my studio supplies, I made do with what I had...a pocket knife and sticks! While I don't do this very often (though I might make it more of a habit!), I decided to create something and then leave it to be discovered by the next backpacker. So...somewhere in the West Elk Wilderness lies this little tree-dweller, nestled safely until discovered!
Happy explorations for the rest of July and into August! Cheers, Last weekend I was invited to create a painting LIVE at Outnumbered Gallery in Littleton, Colorado. For many artists, the creation of their art is a very personal and introverted activity, done behind the closed doors of their studio. While the finished products that are seen by the public tell a story of their own, the story of their creation can provide a unique layer of interest to the work. As I was planning for the live painting event, I wanted to create something that would show a variety of painting, drawing, and collage techniques that frequently appear in my work. During the event, I had the opportunity to share my process with a variety of gallery visitors--some of whom were fellow artists! Below is the resulting painting from the evening's event: If you know of anyone who would like to host a live painting event, please let me know! They are a lot of fun and provide a different perspective on a finished work of art!
Have an inspirational rest of your week! Cheers, Have you ever stumbled upon a work of art that left you wondering to yourself "How did the artist do that?" Although we like to make guesses as to how the artist might have made their work, many pieces would be so much better understood if you could just view a time-lapse video of the piece actually being made (which I hope to create in the coming year!). Those of you who frequently visit my facebook page know that I enjoy posting in-progress and completed photos of my most recent works of art! I find that the process of making the piece is just as, if not more interesting than the finished piece. My process of making art is messy. It involves a lot of risk-taking, experimenting, and exploring. Rarely do pieces turn out as I originally imagined them and, although in-progress photos do give you some insight into my process as an artist, they can in no way compare to a live viewing of art being made. Next Friday, June 26th from 6-9pm, I invite you to a very unique event--my first LIVE artmaking event, hosted by Outnumbered Gallery in Littleton, Colorado. For this event, I will be stepping away from the comfort of my studio, to share my creative process, as messy as it may be at times, with the public! I am very excited to be able to have this opportunity, and hope you will join me for a special evening at the art gallery! Hope to see you there!
Cheers, Summer's finally here, and with it, a wide variety of arts festivals! Complete with music, live art-making events, artists booths, and children's booths, these festivals give community members an opportunity to enjoy and support local artists and musicians, often support a charity, AND (my favorite part) meet the artists behind the artwork that you enjoy! While this can also happen at art openings, art festivals provide a sort of relaxed atmosphere where you can browse, talk, and/or buy with as much interaction as you see fit! And, as an added bonus for artists, most festivals do not charge a commission fee, which means that 100% of the profit from any work sold goes directly back to the artist! What's not to love? This summer, I have the opportunity to participate in 4 different art festivals, as well as several other arts events! If you're in the area for one of these festivals or events, be sure to stop in and say hello!
JUNE 11: Art Design & Dine at Paramount Cafe in Cheyenne, WY! JUNE 13-14: Roxborough Fair in Roxborough, CO! JUNE 19: Paint Party at Abundance in Laramie, WY! JUNE 26: Art Opening from 6-9pm at Outnumbered Art Gallery in Littleton, CO JUNE 27: Aurora Arts Festival in Aurora, CO! AUGUST 1: Paint Party at Abundance in Laramie, WY! AUGUST 14-15: 17th Street Arts Festival in Cheyenne, WY! AUGUST 28-29: Laramie Festival of the Arts in Laramie, WY! Hope to see you this summer! Cheers, This morning I was invited to participate in this year's Aurora Arts Festival (June 27th from 10-8pm). The theme for this year's festival focuses on Recycling and Upcycling, which I felt was a perfect fit for my style of work! Mixed media art often reuses materials in new ways (one of the many reasons I love working in this style!). As many of you already know, much of my work uses text from old book pages to create the texture and meaning behind (quite literally) my compositions. In addition to reusing old book pages, I create colors and textures with magazine pages, as well as other materials such as pieces of wood and old puzzle pieces. The piece above was my first experiment with puzzle pieces. Last week, I finished up another painting using old puzzle pieces for texture: Using recycled materials in my art work not only adds some interesting texture and meaning to my work, but it also adds excitement and adventure to my creative process! It's always challenging to think about a new material and figure out how to best work with it to create a piece of artwork. If you've never tried making something NEW using something OLD, give it a shot! It's a great brain workout and leaves you with warm and fuzzy feelings, having given something a new purpose! Got an old picture frame? Try taking out the photos and painting and drawing on the cardboard backing! Add paint to the frame, and POOF! Instant framed artwork. Another perk to using recycled materials to create artwork is that your supplies are very cheap--and in many cases, FREE! What about the cost of your art supplies (paint, drawing materials), you ask? While there are some materials that might be easier to buy (i.e. paints, pens), you can also find some fun new art supplies OUTSIDE! Here are two different pieces I created using red dirt and charcoal that I gathered during hiking trips: The uses for recycled and re-purposed materials are way too numerous to cover in one post. In the end, it all comes down to experimenting and being open to new materials. Sure, some materials won't do what you're wanting them to do, but those can be the most treasured moments--often resulting in something surprising and new! So, get out there and try making something NEW using something OLD! It's a lot of fun!
Have a wonderful and inspirational weekend! Cheers, Last night, I hung 20+ of my paintings in the gallery space at Everyday Joe's in Fort Collins! I first discovered this space last summer, and thought that my artwork would be the perfect fit for the space. If you are going to be in Fort Collins this month, be sure to stop by to view my work, relax, and enjoy a great cup of coffee! This show also features the first appearance of my newest piece, "Beyond the Last Fir" (which I'll talk more about in a future post! Have a wonderful weekend, and remember to take some time to appreciate the art around you!
Cheers, "I'll have a small cappuccino... and a side of art!" Coffee shops not only provide a relaxed environment for conversation and studying, but many also contain hidden professional and unique gallery spaces. The relaxed environment allows visitors the opportunity to get to know works of local artists without any pressure to buy--while also enjoying conversation and a good cuppa joe. What could be better? This Friday, I will be heading to Everyday Joe's in Fort Collins to hang a new show, featuring 20+ pieces--including several new paintings. Last summer I came across the beautiful gallery space in Everyday Joe's, and am thrilled to have the opportunity to show my work in this space. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to hang shows in 4 Wyoming coffee shops--all of which have been positive experiences! Next time you are in a coffee shop, be sure to take a moment to check out the artwork on the walls. And, if you do find yourself drawn to a specific piece of art of the style of art that you see, don't be afraid to contact the artist! Most would be more than willing to meet with you to talk more about their work. One of the best things about hanging my work in a public place, such as a coffee shop, is the connections that I have made with the local art enthusiasts!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Till next weekend, Last week I had the opportunity to head off to my family's cabin for a little peace and relaxation--complete with a visit from herd of 20+ deer! The herd came over to visit the salt lick, and then ended up bedding down for over 2 hours on the side of the cabin. It was so peaceful watching them--and resting WITH them! On a completely unrelated topic--but still an important part of relaxation: My husband and I LOVE pancakes--they are our Saturday morning tradition! So, we decided to do a little experimenting while we were at the cabin, and came up with some new pancake flavors! I give you: Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Matcha, and Coffee! (The best were the Peanut Butter and Matcha--which is a green tea!) And, of course, no vacation would be complete without a little art! Inspired by the recent beginning of Spring, I decided to create a story in a moonlit flower garden. Below is a process shot from the painting (which is near completion!): As new growth appears, and the days begin to grow warmer--and longer, be sure to take some time to enjoy the beauty around you! Unplug and breath in that fantastic smell of fresh rain and fresh flowers! Go for a walk and be PRESENT--enjoying the sites and sounds around you! May your spring be filled with inspiration!
Cheers, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" is a common question asked of students from the time they are able to tie their shoes, to college-age and beyond! Students, from a very young age, are led to believe that they can do ANYTHING, be ANYTHING they want if they are willing to work for it. And that right there, is the key word---WORK. Having your dream job is a lot of work--and takes risks, which can be incredibly scary. The high school guidance counselor often forgets to mention that part. BUT, if you truly want to do something, you will take those risks, and work through the difficult times. Last weekend I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people at the "Zonta Ladies Night" fundraiser event in Cheyenne, Wyoming. One woman in particular told me that she was gathering information (business cards, brochures, etc) from all of the artists' booths to share with her daughter. Her daughter, she explained, was a very talented artist, but wasn't sure she wanted to pursue art in college, as it didn't seem like it would amount to a real job. In our conversation, I mentioned that I was not only an artist, but also an art teacher--which didn't seem to go over well. She laughed as she explained that her daughter thinks that being a teacher is something that artists have to do in order to make a living... and she doesn't want to become a teacher. She has a point. There are a lot of artists who resort to teaching as a way of bringing home the bacon, since selling artwork is not a very consistent means of income. While I do teach full-time, and having that steady income DOES make me feel more financially stable, that is not WHY I teach. Teaching is EXHAUSTING. I'll be the first to admit that. After a full day of teaching, the thought of going home and trying to work on my studio art is not always appealing. However, teaching is also incredibly energizing! When I'm not creating my own art, I am sharing my gifts with others AND becoming inspired by their work at the same time! My elementary art students are some of the most creative little artists I know---and that is because they are not afraid to dive into a new project and see where their creative journey takes them. In last week's post, I wrote of the importance of displaying your artwork for others to see. Just as showing your work to others is important, SHARING your expertise and love for art with others is just as important. In addition to teaching art full-time, I also teach two monthly painting workshops to the community--focusing on the processes that I use to create some of my paintings. Why do I do this? Because I feel that openly sharing my techniques with the community not only forms a good relationship between myself and community members, but also brings people closer to understanding my work! Art is a form of investigation, and recreating a painting forces the artist to get up close and personal with the artwork--increasing their knowledge of, and connection to the piece. So, am I an artist, or am I a teacher? I like to call myself an artist educator, because not only am I an artist, but I'm also educating FUTURE artists! The most wonderful thing about being an artist is that it is one of those jobs that naturally fits with almost anything else. Can you be a prolific artist AND a pharmacist/doctor/lawyer/manager/accountant/etc? Absolutely! Find a way to weave everything together---make those connections between your various occupations, and you'll find inspiration in all that you do!
Have a wonderfully inspiring weekend! Cheers, |
AuthorWelcome to the whimsical world of Tara Pappas' mixed media art! Thank you for stopping by to view samples of my work and read a little about my adventures as an artist. I am always looking for new ways to connect and grow as an artist, so would love to hear from you if you have any questions or interests in a particular piece. I hope that my work brings you inspiration and joy! Archives
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