A Rose By Another Other Name... Would still be featured in a zillion photographs and peoms.

Last week I mentioned I was on a bird kick and had created a lot of art featuring the little chirpers. I just realized I have a second recent obsession too...roses.

I have just released 3 new rose prints in my ImageKind gallery. I also have greated several pieces of jewelry featuring this romantic flower.

Though roses have been featured over and over in just about every medium imaginable, we never seem to get tired of their beauty and the romance they represent. At least that's true for us chicks. ;o)

The rose has always been the inspiration for artist, song writers and poets. Maybe because it is so intricate but just simply beautiful too. I guess there is a lot you can say about something that is complex and simple at the same time.

"You love the roses - so do I. I wishThe sky would rain down roses, as they rain from off the shaken bush. Why will it not? Then all the valley would be pink and white and soft to tread on. They would fall as light as feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be like sleeping and like waking, all at once! " ~ Roses by George Eliot

Cool! Free Publicity! I'll take it!

Well this post is about 1 month overdue, but I'm posting it anyway because I am exicted. A fellow ImageKind member emailed to tell me that a daily art review blog called "Art Sweet" featured me as the artist of the day May 26, 2008. What a nice surprise!

Quote: "Today’s featured artist is Lisa Whipkey. Lisa is a wonderful multimedia artist. Her use of color, texture and layering is simply fantastic! My favorites are “Love Grows”, “Opium” and “Venice Vase”. - ArtSweet"

I have been blessed to have my work featured on many blogs in the last couple of years (love that free publicity!) and I have had a few kind art reviews, such as this one from the "Naked Genius", but I am always excited every time I am ego surfing (google myself) and find that someone liked my work enough to give it some special attention. I believe every artists work speaks to someone and we all like that affirmation that someone out there "gets" what we do. So thanks Art Sweet for making my day!

My new favorite folk artist inspires people in more ways than one

Be True
Originally uploaded by Paulette Insall

Modern Folk Art at its finest. That's what I see when I look at the art work of Paulette Insall (http://www.pauletteinsall.com/). I have seen her art on flickr and for sale in her Etsy shop and oogled (is that a word?) over it for more than a moment. I love the simplicity of it at first glance, but then I love it's complexity that becomes apparent the more you look at the work. Maybe I also love it because it is inspiring me to want to paint folk art again. It has been several years since I did anything other than abstract painting and I'm wondering why now because I really enjoy folk art painting even more.

The angel door topper is something I painted for my sister back in 1999. I have not painted anything like that since, but now I think I am ready to give it another try thanks to Paulette's inspiring work.

Paulette not only inspires with her paintings, but she is a Christian artist who is open about her faith and witnesses with her work and websites. She makes wonderful YouTube videos about her art that are backed with contemporary Christian music and I just love it.

I am so glad to have found her on the web!

Please check out her store, blogs & vlogs via her site www.pauletteinsall.com.

Birdies, Birdies Everywhere!

Hi. Hope you are having a 'tweet' day! I know I am. That's because for some unknown reason (maybe its because I wake daily to a gazzilion birds chirping at the feeder in my back yard) I have gone crazy for cute little birds lately and have incorporated them into my living room decor and also created a whole bunch of new jewelry featuring bird illustrations collaged over vintage ephemera. I am pleased to say my fondness for feathered friends must be shared by others because I have had a positive response to the jewelry. On some of the reversible glass pendants I have encased a real feather under the glass which I think is kind of fun! I have not tried this with the soldered pendants yet. I am curious to see how the feather handles the heat of the soldering iron. It's fun trying new things. Have a tweet day yourself!

Introducing our new line of vintage inspired jewelry!!

Hello, Well it has been too long since I have blogged (again I neglect you my poor ol' blog) but I have another good excuse... I have been busy working on a new line of jewelry for TreeBySea.com. Until now we have only carried fine silver jewelry. (http://www.treebysea.etsy.com/).

Just yesterday I launched a second store featuring soldered glass slide pendants, collaged ephemera pendants, and romantic victorian jewelry with swarovski crystals and antique metal.

Please visit the new store on Etsy!! http://www.treebysea2.etsy.com/. Thanks for visiting! Wish me luck!