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"Artist of the month"
Interview with Carolyn Cochrane
Tell us a little about yourself >>>>
I’m a 34 year old gal living with my wonderful husband Frank and adorable little dog Allie. I love spending time with my family, taking pictures, being creative, having fun and working on my Etsy shop.
(click on the images to go to her shop)
When did you first discover your creative talent >>>>
I would have to say I first discovered my creative talent back in elementary school. I remember any art projects I worked on would get extra attention by my teachers and friends. I also remember my parents being amazed that I created certain pieces of art at my young age.
What hobbies do you have other than photography >>>>
I tend to bounce from hobby to hobby and they’re usually all in the artsy realm. I like to dabble in decorating, jewelry making, crocheting, painting and drawing. I haven’t really made much time for any of these hobbies lately though since finding my passion for photography. That’s kind of taken over my life. :)
What do you plan to do in your future >>>>
I really love running my photography business since establishing it in 2011 so I definitely see myself focusing on that in the future. My goal is to create a lot of new work, gain more fans and customers and hopefully become a name in the future that people recognize. I also have dreams of doing a lot of traveling with my husband. I’d love to travel to beautiful places around the country and the world taking pictures. That is a BIG dream of mine.
What’s your favorite subject to shoot>>>>
This is a toughie to answer because I tend to get tired of shooting the same subject over and over again. I love to mix it up to keep myself interested. If I had to choose though, I’d have to say shooting anything at the beach. The ocean, shells, seagulls, I love it!
What/who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to photography >>>>
I honestly feel like my biggest source of inspiration comes from within. I’ve always had a big desire to create art since the time I was a little girl. If I have a few days where I don’t do anything creative, whether it’s shooting new pictures or editing them on the computer, I feel like something’s missing and I don’t quite feel like myself. I get so much pleasure out of creating images, it makes me feel like I’m my most authentic self.
Could you tell us about some of your work >>>>
I create images inspired by my love of nature. I love taking simple subjects like grass, a branch or a weed and creating a beautiful piece of art from it. My main subjects include flowers, nature, the beach, birds and some landscapes.
Do you shoot in Manual mode, Automatic mode, or other >>>>
I shoot all of my images in Aperture Priority.
Do you have any advice for beginning photographers >>>>
My advice to anyone just starting out in photography would be to follow your own eye. Shoot the things that speak to you. If you decide to edit your photos more on the computer like I do, follow your instincts there as well. We all have our own unique styles. Finding your own point of view and voice is such a fun part of photography and will ultimately make you feel the most fulfilled.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why >>>>
I think at this moment in time I’d probably choose to live right by the ocean. I feel so calm when I spend time at the beach listening to the waves. If I could have that feeling all year long, I think I’d be on cloud nine. I could also take all the beach pictures I wanted too! :)
I am happy this month to introduce to you my mother, Camelia. She has always inspired me to be creative and she’s the reason I started photography and got where I’m at today with it.
Interview with Camelia
When & Where were you born >>>> March 19, 1970 in Romania
Tell us a little about yourself >>>> I love working with my hands like in cooking, scrapbooking, crafting, photography, etc. I have a wonderful family; my amazing husband and 2 lovely kids that are growing up too fast.
Describe yourself in 5 words >>>> creative, loving, perfectionist, stubborn, strong
What art media to you like most >>>> scrapbooking
What’s your favorite color to work with >>>> light purple
What is your biggest inspiration >>>> youtube has a lot of videos that inspire me
When did you first discover your creative talent >>>> Eversince I was small I knitted and did a variety of creative things.
Could you tell us about some of your work >>>> I like to get creative with my work using the Cricut machine & photoshop. I like to think outside the box in the items I use in my scrapbooking.
Any influences or anyone you look up to when it comes to art >>>> I look at a variety of blogs, youtube videos and other parts of the web
Share with us something funny that has happened to you recently >>>> I was with my family at Catalina island this past weekend and we took a submarine drive. During the drive the driver pressed a button and the submarine shot out food for the fish and that noise scared me because I was focusing on taking photographs. I almost fell in my seat haha.
What hobbies do you have other than art >>>> Cooking
What do you plan to do in your future >>>> inspire others with my website, sell a variety of creative items such as bouquets of flowers for weddings, cards for any occasion, photographs and etc
Do you have any advice for beginning artists >>>> Don’t beat yourself down, with practice comes perfection. At the end of the day what matters more is your photos & memories more than the scrapbook itself.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why >>>> Hawaii because it’s a beautiful place where I can picture myself relaxing and enjoying every day.
<<< Examples of your work >>>
This month we have something special, instead of 1 featured artist we have a team! Closer To Love Photography is a husband and wife team {with a new addition} who have an amazing talent for detail, capturing that perfect moment, making their client feel comfortable and much much more.
I met Natalia a long time ago {maybe in 2001} at church and for a while we went our own ways and met again in college during a Beach Volleyball class! It was nice to see her again as she’s full of energy and positive attitude.
As for Sammy, I briefly met him at church around the same time {maybe a little later} than Natalia. At the time he had his own photography business and I was a huge fan. I always loved the feel of the photos with the light implemented in it and certain filters.
When they combined their talents, ideas, beliefs and created Closer to Love Photography I was very excited to see what they’ll come up with. They haven’t let me down! Their work is more beautiful than ever and continuously improving.
Interview with Closer to Love Photography
Interview
When & Where were you born >>>>
Natalia: Sebes, Romania (July 11, 1990)
Sammy: Anaheim, California (August 26, 1985)
Tell us a little about your team >>>>
We are a husband and wife team who love photographing people’s raw emotions. We love capturing people, their relationships, and the love that flows from their hearts. We also design anything and everything: from wedding invitations, CD covers, t-shirts, websites, etc. This Summer we welcomed our first beautiful little girl, Saylah, into the world. She is the best thing that has ever happened to us!
Describe yourself in 5 words >>>>
Simple. Creative. Joyful. Travelers. Believers.
What art media to you like most >>>>
Photography is our first love. We also really admire Videography/Film. We wanted to begin “Closer to Love Videography” earlier this year until we realized how time-consuming it was! Nevertheless, we admire some great Videographers out there and love viewing their work. Our absolute favorites are 4120 (http://4120weddings.com/films/) and Cana Video (http://www.canavp.com/)
What’s your favorite subject to shoot>>>>
Without a doubt, Weddings/LOVE.
What is your biggest inspiration >>>>
Sammy: God above all else inspires us to capture His beauty through people, events, and every day simple things. My beautiful and talented wife inspires me through her constant encouragement, prayers, and ability to see things in me that I never saw before.
When did you first discover your creative talent >>>>
Sammy: I stumbled into Photography 10 years ago while in Europe with my family. I had a simple film camera and somehow ended up being the 15-year old kid who was asked to document our trip. While overseas, both my sisters found Summer love and got married in a few short months. Because I was the one photographing and documenting our Summer trip, I was asked to photograph both their weddings as well… The rest is history! That’s how it all began. After arriving to the states, I continued my pursuit in photography and now I’m incredibly blessed and fortunate to be able to do it as a full-time career.
Could you tell us about some of your work >>>>
We’ve been told by a number of our clients that what caught their eye about our Photography was that we capture real and raw moments, beautifully. We do our best to document the smiles, the tears, the glances, and the joys of every occasion, especially Weddings. Our photographs are timeless, yet we do our best to be current with our editing yet subtle enough that the trueness of the moment lasts a lifetime.
Any influences or anyone you look up to when it comes to designing >>>>
Sammy: Honestly, anything and everything influences us! Whether it’s the pomegranate shade of the sunset sky or a creative font on CD cover, from big to small, we are influenced and inspired by everyday simple things.
Share with us something funny that has happened to you recently >>>>
Sammy: For my birthday last week, my newborn gave me a gift! She peed on my for the first time☺
What hobbies do you have other than photography >>>>
Sammy: Designing, reading, and travelling.
What do you plan to do in your future >>>>
Sammy: As far as Photography, it is our desire to push ourselves creatively and artistically to as far as we can go. We love traveling and hope to be able to travel the world as a family, doing what we absolutely love to do for years to come! It is also our desire to be real and humble in our work and life. To be the best choice for a photographer that anyone could ever ask for. To set the bar high as far as quality, communication with clients, and amazing final results. And most of all, to give God ALL the glory through our photography.
Do you have any advice for beginning artists >>>>
Sammy: Practice, practice, practice! There’s always something new to learn so keep pursuing your talent. Be yourself when you photograph and edit. Don’t compare your work to others. By being yourself, you will stand out from so many. And most importantly, never, ever give up!
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why >>>>
Sammy: Italy! Why? The food is amazing! ;);) And the sceneries are incredible. But we also love the beach, so it would be a tie between an ocean-front house here in California or an Italian home in the vineyards.
<<< Examples of their work >>>
< click on the photos to see them bigger >
August’s featured artist is a person with great talent and a strong heart for God. I met Nathan on a church cruise to Alaska and right away I was able to see what a kind, down-to-earth guy he is. It’s a honor for me to introduce him as the artist of the month for August :]
Interview with Nathan Milas
When & Where were you born >>>> I was born January 8, 1988, in the good ol’ city of Dallas, Texas.
Tell us a little about yourself >>>> Well, my name is Nathan Cornell Milas. My two biggest hobbies are playing music and anything with art. I’ve been a drummer and an artist for many years now, but I chose to study art at the University of North Texas almost last minute. I don’t really know why I chose art over drums because I love them both, but I did. It seems the music part of me comes from my dad’s side of the family, whereas the artistic side comes from my mother’s.
Describe yourself in 5 words >>>> creative, understanding, inspired, caring, observant
What art media to you like most >>>> Oooh this is a tough question because if you look at my work it’s all so different. Hmmm… If I was to paint, I would definitely choose oils over anything else. However, when it comes to drawing I prefer working with pen because of the challenge of not being allowed to erase is ever-present.
What’s your favorite color to work with >>>>
>>>> White; whether it’s zinc white or titanium white (it matters: zinc is a little more on the yellow side and not as bright, and titanium is brighter but dulls the color it’s mixed with).
What is your biggest inspiration >>>> My biggest inspiration happens to be nature itself. I am amazed every time I take the time to notice the immense variety of color surrounding me just walking around. From the wonderful shades of green found on one single tree, to the gradient shading– if I may– of blue to a pale yellow in the sky near sunset. I love seeing all of this color and it amazes me when I sit outside or take a walk or jog, that God created all of this for us to enjoy. It’s so cool!
When did you first discover your creative talent >>>> I would have to say first grade. We were sitting in class, everyone focusing on their coloring sheets in quietness. HA! I even remember what we were coloring! We were all coloring a cookie that was walking and waving a “hello”, smiling back at whoever was looking at him. I managed to color inside the lines and I was so proud that I went to my teacher and presented my wonderful work of art to her. Just then a girl came up to her and showed our teacher her colored cookie as well. The teacher stood up and announced, “Class, I want to show you an example of a great coloring job, and one that needs to be done again.” I felt bad for a moment as that girl walked back to her desk with her head down and her scribbled cookie sheet in her fist.
Could you tell us about some of your work >>>> My work for the longest time has varied because I still consider myself a young artist discovering what drives me, what I’m passionate about, and what mediums I enjoy working with. However, I find myself slowing going into two different styles and content matter of which I am choosing to explore. On the one hand, because I love color so much I have a few paintings I’ve done and am working on currently that involve a lot of color. Sometimes these paintings look like something found in the oceans like sea corral, and other times they look like caves. When I paint these I literally get lost in the painting forgetting to eat or sleep or anything else. I literally feel like I’m swimming in color or carving into it. I love it! Then I have another side that’s more figurative. This work has to deal more with memory, whether it’s my own or other’s memories that have been suppressed or even remembered. Sometimes this deals with identity, however, and how these memories make up who the person is today. So, this involves a little more depth to it that I am definitely interested in exploring and investigating.
Any influences or anyone you look up to when it comes to art >>>>Oh so many influences I look up to, but to list a few: Richard Schmid, David Kassan, Casey Baugh, Jeremy Lipking, Quang Ho, Rothko, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Rauchenberg, Kara Walker, Kehinde Wiley, Vernon Fischer, and so many more!
Share with us something funny that has happened to you recently >>>> Well…. This may not be funny, but I kind of thought so in a crappy way. I had a terrible sunburn from 4th of July weekend, a nasty cold, and a breakout of poison ivy all at the same time.
What hobbies do you have other than art >>>> Other than art I enjoy drumming, some piano, a little guitar. Playin sports, whether its vollyball or football, etc., it’s all good.
What do you plan to do in your future >>>>Honestly, I have no idea what will come in my future. I graduate from UNT with my BFA in December of 2011 and I have a few things lined up that I would like to do, but I’m not entirely sure what I will be doing. I guess we’ll see.
Do you have any advice for beginning artists >>>> Explooooooore! Try different mediums, different surfaces to work on, different styles, different techniques. There’s so much out there to choose from, try it all! However, what I also mean by “explore” is to truly try it all but in depth. Do more than just one artwork in a specific medium or on a particular surface or what not. Do a series so you build up a collection and really understand why you enjoy to work in a specific style or with a particular medium rather than something else.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why >>>>Though I haven’t been, Switzerland or Norway would probably be where I’d like to go. It’s cooler up there, lush colors of blue skies, and green grass sprinkled with colorful homes in the distance, along with mountains in the background… I think I would probably feel like I’m living in Super Mario’s world.
<<< Examples of his work >>>
< click on the photos to see them bigger >
I’m excited to share Daniel Lupastean with you guys, he’s a talented photographer with expertise in nature photography and with a heart for God. It was an accident that we started talking but I believe everything happens for a reason and this was such a case because I was left in awe of his work and inspired of his talent.
Interview with Daniel Lupastean
When & Where were you born >>>> Born 2/26/84 in Radauti, Romania
Tell us a little about yourself >>>> 2nd youngest child out of 5 kids. Always seeking to explore and discover new land….LOL I currently work in the healthcare field, looking to pursue my Nursing degree (my PLAN 
if photography doesn’t set sail. I can eat just about anything put to my mouth and don’t even gain a pound…..eat your heart out Jenny Craig!
Describe yourself in 5 words >>>> Adventurous, Organic, Hippie, Christian, Boy
What art media to you like most >>>> Digital Photography
What’s your favorite subjects to photograph >>>> My favorite subject(s) to shoot would be Wildlife Nature. Simply because you get what is given to you at that moment. Nothing but a God created nature wildlife creature :)
What is your biggest inspiration >>>> My biggest inspiration is to simply make people smile at photography I take and to appreciate what God has created in the world around us humans.
When did you first discover your creative talent >>>> Growing up as a teenage youth boy, I was always the kid with the camcorder & camera in my hand. Whatever adventurous trip we ventured on, I was always filming or photographing our footsteps as we journeyed this foreign land called America. Then in the year of 2008, I decided to start taking photography seriously and somehow managed start taking this passion of mine into the Digital world of Photography.
Could you tell us about some of your work >>>> When I started to get serious into Photography, I started to shoot just about everything my lens could capture. But a wise friend of mine told me to stick to one area of photography and truly gain a full grasp of an area of interests and perfect that area in Photography. So most of my work will consist of Wildlife Nature and Portraits of people.
Any influences or anyone you look up to when it comes to photography >>>> When it comes to getting influenced about something, I mainly like to go to Barnes and Noble and read up on the latest new Photography magazines to get inspiration on new tips/tricks about Photography and to simply just admired other Photographers images.
Share with us something funny that has happened to you recently >>>> Nothing recent, but I once mistakenly walked into a women’s restroom, only to find myself a few seconds staring a women’s high heels next to me……LOL
What hobbies do you have other than art >>>> If I am not photographing, I am outdoors enjoy the Great Pacific Northwest hiking trails and scenic surroundings.
What do you plan to do in your future >>>>TRAVEL,PHOTOGRAPH, PREACH THE WORD
Do you have any advice for beginning artists >>>> My best advice for newbies is this……….This world is full of information that can be reached by your very own finger tips….use these tools to gain knowledge into helping your achieve your dreams and never give into your failures. I always get asked, “Where did you learn all this Photography skill?” My simple answer to that question, “I taught myself :)
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why >>>> A place where I would never get bored of exploring it’s land and photographing it’s inhabits…….is there such a place?
<<< Examples of his work >>>
< click on the photos to see them bigger >
Yara Almouradi has been a friend of mine since elementary school and our friendship grew stronger in college while taking the same architectural classes. I have always admired her talent in art whether it was in painting, drawing, designing, and the way her mind works. She is that girl that knows everything about life and the one people go to if they need to talk. I truly appreciate her friendship {LOVE YOU YARA!} and now I am proud to present her as the first in my Featured Artist category!
Interview with Yara Almouradi
When & Where were you born >>>> Damascus, Syria 1990
Tell us a little about yourself >>>> I like to think of myself as a creative person who enjoys many things in life and tries to share those experiences and feelings through art. I am currently into realism, not only to portray the control that I am learning, but also to try and have the viewer of my art feel the same way I felt when I saw whatever it is that I have recreated through art, because life is art.
Describe yourself in 5 words >>>> creative, silly, easy-going, sarcastic, observant.
What art media to you like most >>>> oil painting & graphite renderring. I just began using color pencil, & I gotta say, it is growing on me!
What’s your favorite color to work with >>>> Hmmmm, tough question. I pretty much use all of the colors that I have, but I tend to like the warmer colors more: orange, brown, red, yellow–all the different hues tend to blend together a lot better and smoother than the cooler palette.
What is your biggest inspiration >>>> Anything that catches my interest,really. I enjoy artistic challenges so I try to keep my inspiration sources open.
When did you first discover your creative talent >>>> I have always had a creative side of me, I used to paint when I was 4 years old! Granted, they weren’t master pieces, but it was still fun to pick up the paint brush and just make designs and draw!
Could you tell us about some of your work >>>> I began drawing cartoons and anime characters, creating my own and such; then I after I thought that I have succeeded in that aspect, I moved on to still life rendering. After I developed a good sense of perspective, I decided that I should try to sketch realistic figures. I would use my cartoon/anime background to draw random people, then I moved on to drawing my friends. Whenever I would get frusturated with my lack of realistic human drawing ability, I would render a sketch of an animal then go back to humans. After I got a steady style going, I then began to take actual art classes–however, taking art classes didn’t begin until I started college. During college, I took painting classes as well and exposed myself to that aspect of art. I usually fully render a piece, then paint it on canvas or wood.
Any influences or anyone you look up to when it comes to designing >>>> I try to let anything and everything influence my art. Since I have yet to discover something that I really like to do, I am pretty much willing to try anything in the art world. After I experience it, I can say whether or not I enjoy it. I like to have a reference when I am drawing/painting something since I am still in a learning stage and I am still striving to create realisic pieces. Since photography is a hobby of mine, and I am inspired by many things, I usually like to take several photos of something that intrigues me, so I can recreate it later.
Share with us something funny that has happened to you recently >>>> I was searching for my hair clip for approximately half an hour. Feeling overly frusturated, I asked my sister to assist me in finding the clip. Together, we searched the entire house several times for about 45 minutes without avial. For you see, this was my only clip that ACTUALLY held up my hair!! Feeling defeated, I began to run my fingers through my hair, only to notice that it was not down…..my clip had been in my hair the ENTIRE time and neither me nor my sister noticed!!!!!!
What hobbies do you have other than art >>>> I enjoy photography, music (guitar), creating films, reading/writing
What do you plan to do in your future >>>> I am currently an art student at CSUF with a drawing/painting concentration. I plan on becoming an art professor at a college/university and host galleries on the side.
Do you have any advice for beginning artists >>>> Try every media you can get your hands on. Don’t limit yourself to paper & canvas–wooden panels, tree bark, skateboards, fabric, glass, plastic, trash cans–anything can be your ‘canvas’!!! Don’t let anyone tell you that you are a bad artist either. Sure, everyone can improve, but do not allow others to take away your passion for art. Don’t be afraid to ask someone for advice on how to improve your art–you never know what is out there until you go searching.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why >>>> Hmmmm, another tough question!!!! I would love to travel to many different places in this world, see the people, see the different ways they approach art, THEN I can give you an honest answer as to where I would want to be.
<<< Examples of your work >>>
< click on the photos to see them bigger >
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