Today I am so excited to introduce you to Helene Ruiz, an acrylic painter based in the United States. At the age of 57, she is not certain the exact moment she began to use her medium of choice - acrylic paints. She does recall this story tracing back to her childhood:

"My father always taught me to think creatively and he himself was an artist. When I was a kid and wanted colors I extracted colors from comic strips, nature, coffee, teas, etc. My first painting kit was not actually purchased until I was about 11 years old when my father took me to Pearl Paint in Chinatown, Manhattan and bought me watercolors and brushes, of which I still have some of the brushes for memory's sake. I played with them until I discovered oil paint, which I found each time I used it - I would get sick.  Apparently I am allergic to them. So then, when I used acrylic for the first time, I fell in love with them. They were perfect for me! The fact that I paint a lot and live in a small space makes acrylic a perfect match for someone like myself, since they dry so fast." 

Send in the Clowns, © Helene Ruiz

Expired Fool, © Helene Ruiz

Helene is working on a collaborative project with artists all over the world, that I find so very fascinating. This interview will delve into that in detail since it is an event taking place Now.  If you are an artist who wants to participate, find out how by reading on. First, let's get to know Helene Ruiz, the artist, a little better - she assures me there is an entire book's worth of uncharted stories within her...

Would you tell us about your most memorable artworks? 

I have used so many materials... it is actually difficult to say which would be my most memorable pieces. I suppose those are the ones I do to try and show what is unseen. I try to express my take on life and how I perceive life's take on others as well. Anything can trigger me... environment, politics, love, pain, illness, etc

What has been the most unexpected thing that has happened in relation to your creating art? 

Funny, I find this question here, especially now at the end of April 2015. Because just about a month ago, on March 28th, I almost lost my life and was rushed into emergency surgery. I am still recovering and doctors say it could be six months before I actually do recover fully. I have another surgery to go through in June to put me back together again so I can feel human. So, this experience, right now, is the most challenging of all life's events thus far!  Only today have I attempted to begin to sketch out a painting... it will not be easy. I will be forced to do it in small steps, but it will be the first since March 28th. For me, I usually do at least two or more pieces per month, so this has been a long spell of not creating art for me. 

Today I am pleased to introduce to you artist Hemu Aggarwal, Currently at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, with mailing address in San Francisco, California, USA. She creates paintings in acrylic on wood that are in the styles of Abstract or Subjective Expressionism. Hemu began creating art at the age of 15 when she met an art teacher in a new school. Here is how she summarizes her artistic journey:

What do you do once you make a painful decision to end your successful career in a busy place like New York and move away to a quiet island in the Caribbean? You paint.

By education, training, and profession I am a graphic designer Having a Master's degree from New York University and working as creative designer on Madison Avenue for 7 years and then running my own creative design firm for over 25 years, now, retired and live in the Dominican Republic and has started to paint after a time gap of 35 years. Yes, I did designing and illustrative work during my business, but that was totally different in nature. Working under pressure of tight deadlines, the focus was to please clients and to keep commercial appeal in mind. Now it is different. To get a glimpse of my work visit my website.

After running a successful creative design firm in New York, USA, I am now retired and spend as much time possible doing Acrylic paintings, traveling and capturing images around this world. I wish I could lock-up every image I see through my eyes because I feel my glance is not fully capturing what I see. There is so much beauty in this world. 

What things inspire you to create art?

THE DANCING PAIR,
 Copyright Hemu Aggarwal, 2014

It’s hard to explain why I paint or what inspires me. I have a thousand ideas in my head and I am constantly experimenting with different subjects, styles and techniques. I do not know how these ideas come from or from where, they just do. There is so much more out there in the world that I long to explore. Actually, anything and everything around me inspire me and sometimes things that are not around but only appear in my dreams. Sometimes I surprise myself when I am able to transfer these imaginations two-dimensionally.

What are you trying to convey through your art? 

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.   I seek to evoke a positive response in the viewer. The painting should be pleasant to see and should leave a mark in the viewer’s mind. It should be uplifting. It helps me to reduce stress.

Are there other artists who influence you?

I admire many artists but no particular artist or work influences me, at least not consciously.

Tell me about your creative process, from the beginning of a work to its completion:

An answer to this question is a difficult one. Each of my works have gone through different processes. In general, however, a concept comes to my mind and I try to apply this image straight to a prepared wood panel (I have rarely used canvas) where I create various textures using all kinds of tools and instruments. I rarely draw a full image, but prefer to work with colors directly. Many times more than one image overlaps and the final result is very different than the initial idea in my mind-this surprises me and if I like it I am happy with it, otherwise I apply gesso all over and start afresh. Some of my paintings have one or more different paintings underneath. Aesthetics are a major consideration in designing each piece. The focus is to create paintings, which have visual beauty, harmony in colors and interesting composition.

What exposure have you had? 

My work has been displayed at: Worldorf Astoria in New York, N.Y.; The Exposure Award at The Louvre Museum in Paris France; The People’s Choice Vox Populi Award in Paris, France; and Costambar, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. In process of granting an international license to print one of my photographs on their products to a company in Belgium.

SIXTY SHADES OF RED,  Copyright Hemu Aggarwal, 2015

What is the most unexpected thing that has happened to you because of your art?

By sheer luck, in 1969 I got a job in New York City with a design firm specializing in record album
designs where I reached the level of senior designer and got the opportunity to design many albums of well known artists like: Tom Jones, Montovani, Englebert Humpernickel, Brotherhood of Man, Frijid Pink, one of the last albums of the Beatles, and a single by John Lennon and Yoko Ono titled ‘Radha Krishna Temple.’ This experience enabled me to start my own company, AQ Graphics Inc. in New York, and I continued in this line of work. I designed many Hip-Hop albums including Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five’s “Message” album, The Sugar Hill Gang, Positive Force, Treacherous Three, Quincy Jones and many others. I also designed a series of Collector’s records of the 50s and 60s in which a few famous artists such as Dionne Warwick, Ritchie Valance, Dion, Del Shannon, and the Everly Brothers were included. I also worked extensively on re-make of the entire Chess Records Catalog which included artists such as:  James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Benny Goodman, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, The O’Jays, Etta James, Charlie Parker, Flamingos, Bobby Womack,  etc.

SIXTY SHADES OF GREY,  Copyright Hemu Aggarwal, 2015

Do you have any regrets in your life as an artist? 

None what-so-ever.

What plans do you have for the future of your art? 

None really, I just want to continue creating new work.

Do you have any advice for artists who are just getting started? 

Do what your heart desires. Be patient. Create fearlessly because fear is one’s worst enemy.

THE GIRL,
 Copyright Hemu Aggarwal, 1975

Share a story from your life that relates to your art.

I was born and grew up in India. Back in the days, higher education in India was looked upon as a ticket to a financially successful future that was important for sons but not for daughters. So boys were expected to go to a school of medicine, engineering, or law. If by any chance my brother had decided to graduate in art, I am sure my parents would have been very upset but were happy with my choice. My interest in the arts was fully supported, encouraged and appreciated by my family. But art was not considered to be a career path and my obsession with art was seen as a hobby – a situation that happily gave me a free hand to do whatever I pleased without interference from the elders.
           
Luckily, I got an admission into one of the finest art schools of the region, Faculty of Fine Arts at M.S. University of Baroda. But my being female, I had an up-hill battle to sign up for commercial (applied) arts department as girls were not expected to go in commercial line.

Along with applied arts I developed liking for photography and early on I started experimenting with many different aspects of it. I shot wide variety of subjects, experimenting with different lenses, with lights and exposures. I spent hours in darkroom perfecting making prints and creating photograms. My work was included in the national exhibition in India and received honorable mention (no prize!).

BIRD OF PARADISE IN PARADISE,  Copyright Hemu Aggarwal, 2015

Is there anything else you would like to share with us? 

Recently I have started to study my new passion which is to create art aligned with Vastu Shastra/Feng Shui: an ancient science with tradition dating back 5000 years (India) and Feng Shui 3000 years (China), Feng means wind and Shui means water. The ancient philosophers knew a lot about the five elements that made the universe. These five elements are: Earth, Water, Fire, Air (wind), and Space. There is an invisible relation between these five elements.

Understanding these five natural sources and coordinating with them in harmony can certainly attract positive energy and assure better health. I am convinced that anything we see around us affects our thinking and how we feel.

How should people find you online….

Websites:

• http://hemu-aggarwal.artistwebsites.com  
•  https://hemuaggarwal.wordpress.com 

Twitter: @hemuaggarwal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hemu.aggarwal

Google+: Hemu Ghia-Aggarwal

Email: hyaggarwal@gmail.com

Elizabeth J. White,
 at an art show.

Elizabeth White creates her art at home in Easley, South Carolina.  Working mainly in acrylic, she does not limit herself. White also uses oil, watercolor, pencil, charcoal and other mediums in creating her art. She considers her style as traditional and she also experiments with different forms of art. Her works are sometimes abstract as well as portrait, landscape and fantasy. "I love to paint, and create; I don't want to sound cliche but to me art is me - who I am as a person."  Artworks by White are on display in Greenville, SC at Les Beaux Art, in the village of West Greenville.

Elizabeth White introduces herself:

I have been told my first creation was on mama's pots and pans. I can't say I am from anywhere really; I was born on an airforce base, the middle of three children, so we traveled often.  Creating art from memories is something I love doing. I draw inspiration from the old adage, "The best things in life are free" and they truly are, like a church on the hillside overlooking fields of grain, little children playing with all the wonderment of their first experience of the leaves changing color, a quiet day on a old tire swing by the lake. Many things that inspire me, my granddaughter my family, my country, events, one thing is I always give myself in my art, from something that touches me and warms my heart to something so wonderful that I see and the colors stand out vividly... even from dreams, I love to paint, and in between my paintings I love to sketch; and in all my art I feel I leave something of myself.

The Gathering © Elizabeth J. White

When I first began this blog I made a post about Barb Yate's work in helping shelter animals because I was touched by her benevolent application of art.  Charity work has been a very fulfilling aspect of her life in helping others and having an avenue to give back for what she considers her God-given talent.  Her talent and skill is accentuated with heartfelt inspiration when she creates hand-painted pet portraits and also in her depictions of various animals domestic and wild.  

Kaiser, 2013 © Barb Yates

A self-taught artist, she has been painting since 2007.  She is gifted with the ability to capture some of an animal's personality and imbue it in her painting of them. Barb is mainly focused on using acrylic paints, although she also has worked in graphite, charcoal, watercolors and pastels. She has also produced landscape paintings; however, animals are the stars on her canvas. The art she produces has the unmistakable quality of realism.

How did you get started as an artist?

I turned to art as a way of working through the grief of the tragic loss of my dear husband. Through channeling my energy into painting I have found creating art heals much of my sadness, and also has the positive effect of bringing joy to others.  I feel that painting is what I am meant to do with my life, and I believe that it is what he would want also.

What inspires you to create art?

I love animals, and painting them is my passion. My specialty is painting actual animals from reference photos.  I then compose a portrait as if the animal is posed.  It is my intent to show not just how they are but who they are by reflecting the animal's essence in my paintings. My preference is working one-on-one creating custom pieces.

Twix, 2013 © Barb Yates

What’s your typical painting session and environment like?

I have a small bedroom  that I use for my studio. I've actually built my art table myself. I prefer a table top easel, as I cannot stand for long periods, and find it more workable for me. Typically, I try to limit myself to 4 hrs. per session. Within that time, I take a few breaks. But, to be honest, when I am engrossed in a painting, time gets away from me, and before I know it hours and hours have passed.

What do you hope to achieve with your work?

I want to help people have a piece of art hand-painted with loving care that shows the spirit of their cherished pet.  Photographs capture an image of a moment, and the portrait-painting allows me to really focus on the overall essence and feeling that can be derived from many moments captured on film, all combined into the finished piece.  I hope that my paintings show the truth and embody at least some of the character of the beloved pet.

What unexpected responses have you had to your work as an artist?

Aside from heartfelt thank you cards, the most amazing reaction I have acheived was through some memorial paintings' effect on their recipients.  I have been told that aside from wanting their paintings to help them reconnect with their lost treasured pet they are now able to feel, through my paintings, the animal's presence again. This is what I consider my ultimate goal, to be able to bring that animal's spirit to life in my paintings.

First Duck, 2013 © Barb Yates

Do you have any advice that you wish to share with the art community?

Watermark everything you put online because artists can never have too much protection. It has been my experience that there is a general lack of knowledge about copyright laws and its application to art in particular. This has resulted in my recently trying to educate and help people comprehend how copyright works and why it is important. For any emerging artists, I would like to offer the advice to make sure you always protect your work. If an artist is going to allow reproduction or sharing of their work my strong suggestion is that they do it in a written agreement in order to protect all parties concerned for any misinterpretations of the agreement.  Especially with internet marketing you will want to be very careful, although a valued asset to any artist at the same time it presents extreme opportunities for art-theft.  

What plans do you have for the future of your art?

My goal has always been to offer to my pet portraits' recipients to be able to truly connect with the animal's spirit through my painting.  Whether that animal is still with us here on earth or passed to be able to look at the painting and not just see the animal but to feel it will be my ongoing and ever-expanding goal. So to be able to offer this emotional connection with my art is my ongoing goal as an artist. Also I strive to never stop learning how to apply my technique and skill to better achieve my goal.

Dust Bath, 2013 © Barb Yates

How do you promote your art both on and off the internet?

I am currently represented by the Illinois State Museums Artisan Shop, where 5 original paintings of mine are on exhibit in Whittington, IL at nearby Rend Lake.  There has also been press exposure on the local and national level.

There are a few different ways to read about and see pictures of my art and even works in progress online. 

Barb's links  -

• Learn more on the artist's main page : Barb Yate's Pet Portraits
• Find art prints available from  Fine Art America

all images © Barb Yates

Michael Auger

Michael Auger (last name pronounced: O-'zhA / rhymes with okay) is a freelance artist based in the Washington DC area. His offbeat acrylic paintings are unapologetically bold, colorful, and fun. They feature an assortment of animals, crazy characters, mythical monsters and more and appeal to the young at heart.  

How long have you considered yourself an artist? 

I have considered myself an artist my entire life.  From a very early age I filled my bedroom walls with drawings and created picture books using the back sides of my father's government reports.  

What things inspire you to create art? 

I am inspired most from the dreaming world. My dreams provide an unlimited, fantastic and strange supply of source material.

What are you trying to convey through your art? What does it mean to you? 

I believe that the true test of art is how successfully it makes you feel something. It can be any emotion and I appreciate all different types of art.  My goal is to make people happy.  I enjoy creating paintings of an assortment of characters that are usually quite offbeat and make you want to smile or sometimes even laugh. After a long day it's nice to come home and look up and there, framed nicely on the wall, is a silly looking cartoon animal that looks just about as frazzled as you have been.  The message I try to convey is that you aren't alone. We are all in this together.  Smile and enjoy life. 

Tell me about influences, if any: 

I am most influenced by my wife who is both my biggest fan and toughest critic. I am also inspired by many amazing artists who I am sure have all had some level of sway in my sub-conscious. Some of my favorites include Matt Groening, Jim Henson, John Kricfalusi, Ronald Searle, Ralph Steadman, plus many more.

Tell me about your creative process, from the beginning of a work to its completion: 

I often have strange dreams full of vivid color and this has a major influence on my artwork. I fill up sketchbooks full of stream-of consciousness doodles and then at a later time I will go through and decide which of these sketches I'd like to develop further into paintings.  Then, I'll sketch some more and transfer to canvas or board. Finally, I decide on a color palette and paint until my wife tells me to stop.  

Do you have any advice for emerging artists? 

My advice is to practice as often as you're able. Experiment with different techniques and develop a diverse portfolio. Then focus on what you enjoy the most. It is very important to never sell yourself short. Research the appropriate rates to charge for your work and be cautious not to be taken advantage of. 

How do you promote your art both on and off the internet? 

Word of mouth is the best form of promotion.  I try to tell everyone I meet about my latest adventures in art and try to participate in lots of events to keep in the eye of the public. Online I promote myself through my website and various social media platforms.   


How to follow Michael Auger online… 

• Website  
• Twitter   
• Facebook page   
• Google+  
• Artist Blog  

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