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Lord Toph ~ Articles in the Cellar
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Jul14

Lord Toph ~ Articles in the Cellar...

posted by Cynthia Kahn

I have to begin with saying… creativity is my life.  For better or worse, I’ve chosen this path, not because it is what I want to do or be.  It simply is what I am: a creator.  You see, I’m driven to do it at my highest peaks of inspiration, as well as my lowest slumps of depression.  Perhaps I would go so far as saying creativity has saved my life, and it has even forged me into the person that I am today: driven. Art, Music, and Literature are my muses, candidly I might add. They are my lovers and have been for many years.  I can confide in them when there is no one else to trust or talk to.  I can express in depth to them my deepest, innermost intimate thoughts.  And because I listen and pay close attention to them, they have given me my greatest accomplishments in life.  These loves have been inspirations for my newly developed art style called Empathicism, to my stories being brought to book form, to all of my songs and, lastly, to my latest album Articles in the Cellar. This collection of music is a summary of influences, crises and turning points of my life.  I grew up in the South listening to a smorgasbord of music that my parents or older brothers would play. That music inspired the sound for this particular album.  I decided on a more vintage sound, because I truly feel much of the music from the 60’s and 70’s still resonates with so many people today, even the people who didn’t grow up in this era.  The horns, the strings, the rhythm guitars and the raw, realness of the voice unadulterated by modern tricks of technology… These are the...

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Cynthia Kahn ~ Make Your Art Your Own
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Feb10

Cynthia Kahn ~ Make Your Art Your Own

posted by Cynthia Kahn

After I shared Libby Baker Sweiger’s post about her inspired painting, I knew that it was time to write about my own adventures in painting. I have painted my entire life. Even as a business major in college, I took art classes. I continued taking adult education ink, watercolors, acrylics and mixed media classes even after graduation.  When I don’t paint for long periods, I feel a hole where that creative outlet resides. It is important to understand and respect the techniques of your craft. For painters, it’s how to mix colors, the relationship between colors, the use of light and dark to create perspective and brush strokes. To be a great artist, you need to learn the craft, understand the basics and practice and internalize those techniques. To be a ground-breaking artist, you need to transcend those techniques and transform the craft. Make your art your own.   I never liked the chemical smell that goes with traditional oil painting. I tried acrylics, but they dried too quickly. Then, I learned about water soluble oils and my painting transformed. I love painting wet-on-wet, adding more paint while the paint is still wet instead of waiting for the under-painting to dry. I stopped taking lessons and began painting using my own techniques. The results were amazing. I finally felt like a real artist, someone who adds to the craft rather than mimics it. I even started to take my painting to the next level. I wanted my paintings to be more tactile. I wanted to feel the painting as I created it, so I began painting with cloth. I’d first paint a picture with oils, because that is how I interpret the subject matter. Then, I’d go to Good Will and buy clothes or sheets or table cloths with the colors and textures that I want to include in my painting. I buy a board at Home Depot, some caulk and cut-and-paste my cloth painting into reality. I’ve never seen anyone create cloth paintings in quite the same way. I feel fabulous! So, how do you get your art seen by the public? You go out and ask. I’ve displayed my work at many coffee houses. Starbucks is a great place to start. One time, my cloth paintings were displayed at Starbucks and, when I went to pick them up, one of the baristas said, “I brought my daughter in to see your work, because it is so unique.” My heart soared. I also received a call from a property management firm asking if I wanted to display my art in one of their office buildings, so that show led to another show. You may not be able to get your work into big name galleries as an unknown artist, but there are many galleries that cater to lesser-known artists. I found a gallery in Northwest Portland that only allows artwork with recycled materials, which was perfect for my cloth paintings. If you want to get into the big name galleries and art festivals, then talk to those who have already been accepted and ask them how they got in. You probably have to know someone or you have to get your artwork photographed by the right photographer. Do your research, before you spend money on application fees. How to you get to know the right people? Join a local artist society and become active in their group. Get critiqued by those who judge and decide who gets admitted into the shows. However, if you paint to become famous, you are missing the point. Paint because you love to paint. Create because it drives you and calls you to action. Don’t let anyone dissuade you from pursuing what you believe is best for you and your art. Make your art your own. Cynthia Kahn, Founder of Amused Now     @Amused_Now Facebook Google+ YouTube            ...

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Libby Baker Sweiger ~ When I Paint
  • Painters
Jan28

Libby Baker Sweiger ~ When I Paint...

posted by Cynthia Kahn

Many people remember the Oscar winning film, Chariots of Fire based on the life of Eric Liddell, missionary and athlete who competed and won in the 1924 Paris Olympics. In a famous line, he said of his running, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” As a person of faith and creativity, I have searched all my life for the one creative passion that truly makes me feel that way. When Chariots of Fire came out in 1981, my passion was screenwriting. When Chariots of Fire won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1982, I cried I was so moved that a movie so close to my heart would win. I never sold my own screenplay, but I continued my writing for many years, adding blogging and I have two books in the works. A part of my most passionate creativity had been long neglected. Since I was a young child, it has always been art: drawing, watercolor and ink. I was accepted as an art major at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1971. Personal issues kept me from attending college at that time. I attended college 10 years later, after being in the business world. My interests were dominated by writing and speech. My major was communications. I doodled my way through every business meeting and every college class, but the writing bug had me then and I was determined to hone those skills, which I did for the next 30+ years. In the summer of 2013, a friend introduced me to acrylics on a super fun weekend and art once again had my heart! That gal is a fellow artist and believer, Heather Jeanette Siebens of Believe2ShineDesigns....

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