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THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT:: DAY 22:: ORANGE WILLOW:: WENDY OWENS

{please visit orange willow here}

I wish I could draw like artist 22 Wendy Owens, not only does she take on some of my very favorite subject (fauna), the intricacy of each piece must mean she is extraordinarily patient or able to relax enough to add each carefully placed inked line or dot. Besides the obvious attraction for me being the animals, she has quite the imagination and might I add a bit of cheek. A donkey head placed on a pole dancer body dubbed the Tijuana twist. Now there's flexing some creative chops...The woman is prolific as well, your head will swim when you take a gander at her trove of images.  There's something for everyone, sweet, modern, goth, whatever your style may be, you would be hard-pressed not to find something to your liking in her arsenal.  It was difficult for me to choose which one to showcase, but I am on a bunny high right now and bunnies are cute so I chose this fella with his coy look. You my dear reader if you decide to play along will be able to choose whichever your favorite is in the 8.5" x 11" category (there's 95!)

Wendy Owens has been creating things for as long as she can remember, " I feel like my style is always evolving, as am I as a pers," says Owens.  In 2006 she started selling her work part-time and within 6 months her part time adventure became a full-time one. The majority of her work is inspired by her love of animals, nature, and family. "Having 2 small children and another coming in just 6 short weeks my kids are without a doubt my largest source of inspiration."

Wendy would like you to answer the following question to try to win one of her pretty prints:

What is your deepest source of inspiration for what you create in life?

Please include your favorite print from her shop so when you win we can make sure you get the one you love...As always you have a week to answer.  We will announce the winner on Monday, 03.02.09. Thanks for playing along and thank you Miss Wendy for your contribution!

THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT:: DAY 21:: PINK LOVES BROWN::NICOLE BLACH

{please visit pink loves brown here}

I was a little anxious about posting Artist 21, Nicole Balch of Pink Loves Brown.  I worried that you would cry, 'Miss B. she's not an artist, she's a designer, get your craft straight' BUT what you may not realize is that Nicole INDEED is an artist, that zig zag pattern above--totally hers  AND she used to be a dinosaur muralist and well I adore her and I know the bottom line is you probably would to and so here she is and I am proud that she agreed to be part of this project.  I admire Nicole's natural sense of style in whatever she chooses to wave her magic wand over--house, clothes, sketches, etc. Everything she does is all her and that is something to look up to--find your creative voice and own it.

Pink Loves Brown features the art and craft of Nicole Balch: former face-painter, window-dresser, and dinosaur muralist. In addition to her cards, she adores skirts, books, eyeglasses and chocolate with peanut butter.

She is so humble and I want her to be an even bigger success than she already is so I can say, "I knew her when..." Even very pregnant and with a full client load she agreed to bring you one of her paper suitcase sets (your choice!) she just wants you to answer this question:

Is there anything you wish you were better at?

For the record Nicole wishes she was better at putting on eyeshadow...Winner will be announced Monday, 03.02.09

Thank you Miss Nicole you are always on my bright side!

GOOD GOLLY MISS LOLLY! YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN...

{photo by lolly chops}

Being around all these creative individuals these past few weeks has got me itching to do something creative myself.  My blog friend Lolly Chop always has fun (and easy) projects that are sure to make you feel more creative than you are.  The one above is so easy that I could do it while watching TV which I haven't been able to do since 'Nam and has started to appeal to me more and more.  The butterflies are from recycled catalogs (she even did one from a Pottery Barn catalog-- brill!) which makes it an even better (and saves baby polar bears to boot), It looks chic as all get out and is a perfect present for yourself or a pal.  I give Miss Lolly and A+ on this one. If you would like the details please visit her, you won't be disappointed..

THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT::ARTIST 20::SHE HIT PAUSE STUDIOS::MATT SCHWARTZ

 

{please visit she hit pause studios}

I think I may have hit it out of the park on this offering, no? This is for the edgier collector in our midst.  Artist 20 Matt Schwartz of She hit pause studios is what can only be described as the rock star of the bright side project. Matt  has been using polaroid transfer for the past 5 years to photograph his version of the pin-up girl,vintage props,Coney Island and surfing. Think a girl lying in a field listening to a record player in June. His work has been described as "walking into a dream/memory. He has even been asked if people can move from their current lives into his photos. Matt's work currently has a full page editorial in this month's "Flaunt" Magazine and was featured in "Picture" magazine last month. Matt also runs a world famous Etsy shop as well. This is a rising star and I am so  flip, flappin' jackin' excited  that he is on the roster.  I am convinced that whomever the lucky winner is will be owning something valuable....

To put your number in the hat and try to win a 11" x14" print signed by the artist, Matt would like you to try to answer the following:

How do you define for yourself internal peace (piece of mind)?

You have until next week to come up with something so spectacualr to knocks Matt's socks right off.  We will announce the winner next Friday evening, 02.27.09.  All this glory could be yours if you take a second...Remember you still have plenty of time to answer artist 13-19's questions.  Click on the artist link on the upper right hand corner of the Blahg and it will have a link to their work and questions.  Good luck!

I HEART...

{images via paper-source}

I know I am supposed to be on a hiatus from shoving consumerism down your pretty throats but these our so pretty! The price is right and maybe if you bought these it will help stimulate the economy.  I just wish that these chalkboard drawings came with the $14.95 price tag.

THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT:: DAY 19:: IRENE SUCHOCKI

 

{please visit irene suchocki at is photography}

Le sigh...Doesn't this make you want to fall into some Italian or French cinematic dream? When I saw this I let out a little gasp of delight.  Looking for artists for this project for you has been part treasure hunt, part beads of sweat inducing labor of love. You see I am relatively shy (so true) and approaching strangers even for a good cause such as bringing you a bit of personal sunshine has been quite an uphill battle.  I start my emails and then don't finish them.  I go back and try again. After I hit send I realize that there's so many typo's I look as though I wrote it while drunk, that I am illiterate or English is my second (or third or fourth) language.  I hold my breath. I bite my tongue, then I go back to my search and receive an email that reads, 'Why, yes I will share my unique gift with you and yours...' Okay, I am paraphrasing but when it happens and it has happened with nearly EVERY artist I have approached, I am stunned.  I am stunned that these truly unique and gifted individuals don't think twice about sharing with you. 

Someone asked me recently, "What are you getting out of this?'"  'What do you mean I asked?" They seemed perturbed, their question seemed obvious to them . "Money, moola, Benjamin's?" It's super hard to explain to someone why one blogs for the pleasure of it or does something like this project (ask Melissa at Operation Nice), you do it because you can. I am doing this because I happen to feel 'flush' right now. I feel rich and happy.  I have a job and a roof over my head, it may not be my dream job or my dream roof BUT that I have the ability to dream and that's what counts right now to me. I love being able to bring you this project, showcasing these artists and reading ALL of your answers--they have made me laugh and tear up and have made me stop and breathe...I do this for YOU and so have all of the artists...And now back to our regularly scheduled program:

In her own words...

I am a self-taught freelance photographer. I was born in Toronto, Canada but moved to Montreal in 2001, and will be forever grateful to my high school French teacher.

I enjoy experimenting with different styles and techniques, both in-camera and in my digital darkroom. Faithfully capturing a scene is less important to me than finding that little bit of mystery or evoking a certain mood. I like to explore the ethereal, the surreal, the whimsical, the mysterious, and the beautiful. I see myself as a visual poet, creating little poems for the eyes through my photographs.

To win the featured print 'Looking for love'. Via Irene: Here's my question: Joseph Campbell said to "follow your bliss".

What's your bliss?

We will announce the winner next Friday. You can check for your name in the upper right hand corner {bright side project winners} or you can use our handy dandy new search box tool by our lovely friends at Lijit.  FINALLY a decent search box widget!

Thanks Miss Irene we are so thrilled to have your work be part of the project!

THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT:: DAY 18:: RARRAPRESS

I contacted artist 18 because I liked a print she did, it made me laugh out loud when I saw it and then after she agreed to donate it to the project I got worried that it might be too racy for some, I emailed and rudely (well in a nice way) asked for an alternate.  I didn't hear back.  I thought I blew it for you all. Stuck my foot in my mouth...again...Then I go this email from artist 18 Reba Rakstad:

hey sorry Tristan,

i've been a little m.i.a from the internet. i got hit by a semi truck a week ago. it's not as bad as it sounds...

Is it wrong that this made me laugh?  I loved how nonchalant Reba was about being hit by a semi truck--A SEMI TRUCK! The moral of this tale? Don't assume (you know make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me), the person you emailed or called is not contacting you  because you suck and they hate you but because just maybe they got hit by a semi truck or something....

Reba is kindly donating five of her hand letterpressed (is that redundant?) postcards for the project. Any of them would be perfectly suitable for framing or pinning to your bulletin board or taping to the inside of your locker...

{please visit rarrapress here}

A little about Rarrapress:

my name is rebecca ann rakstad but you can call me reba rar rar.

i began letterpress printing in 2004 under the wings of Audrey Niffenegger at the columbia college chicago center for book and paper arts. after one day of hanging out with type, i realized that i had found my true love! one of my first printing projects was a postcard and since then i have printed over 100 different postcards!

i have a bfa from the school of the art institute of chicago and a mfa from columbia college chicago in book and paper art

i'd eventually like to kick my side job and hangout with a bunch of type all day. i am still working out of the wonderful studio at columbia college and hope to one day find a press and a permanent location to house it. fyi... letterpress is heavy stuff!

Via Reba: My question in honor of my run in with a semi....

What has hit you? it doesn't have to be something horrible, maybe someone hit you with a marshmallow during a food fight or maybe you were hit with a feeling or a sudden urge

OR  via Miss B.

Have you ever had a near death experience that when repeated sounded almost hilarious?

We will announce the winner next Thursday, 02.26.09. I would like to raise my mug to Miss Reba for being hit by a semi, surviving and STILL being able to look on the bright side....Thank you Miss Reba! Thank you to the following for mentioning the project, again I urge you to do so as well because I want these artists to get as much exposure as potentially possible, they rule (and so do you for the mention..)

Thanks to Laura at Quirkolgy!

THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT DAY 17:: BERKLEY ILLUSTRATION::RYAN BERKLEY

Repeat after me, "I will not kill baby polar bears, I will not kill baby polar bears...".  You will often find me shouting, "What are you doing?  You are killing baby polar bears!" throughout the Miss B. manse and even at work.  Why you ask?  Well I saw this amazing movie that I highly recommend called Artic Tale and now when I see appliances plugged in that don't need to be  (yes plugged in appliances even if they are not in use kill baby polar bears) or a rogue light on, that has become my lament. The movie also covers baby walruses, but unless you are familiar with the cuteness of baby walruses (an acquired taste) you may not be as motivated to turn off the lights or un-plug an appliance as you would be if a baby polar bear was involved.  People.

It's no secret 'round these parts how I feel about the animal kingdom. One of my many dreams is to have a miniature animal farm, not for any sort of real farm purpose but just to love 'em.  You will often find animals in my own work--dancing elephants , sparrows that are powder blue instead of brown, happy rhino's, etc.  So naturally when I came upon artist 17, Ryan Berkley of Berkley Illustration's work I was instantly smitten.  Ryan's animals are magic--Polar bears depicted as the chairman of the board (but of course), cheetah's with eye patches (and a very busy social calendar), pretty lady rabbits and so much more. 

{please visit berkley illustration here}

To really get a handle on Ryan's inspiration you might want to glimpse his bio-"I'm a comics inspired gentleman surrounded by toys and Chewbacca masks. I like drawing sharks and animals and creatures and mustaches and superheroes. Sometimes I combine all of them - sometimes they are on their own - it really depends on my mood".

The Berkley Illustration ship is not only commandeered by Ryan, but by his lovely wife Lucy a photographer with her own fine works at Lucy Bird Photo's.  Berkley Illustration is donating one 8" x 10" print to the bright side project, the winner gets to choose their fave (as long as it's not a limited edition).  All you have to do is answer this question:

What is the least interesting thing about you?

Ryan was worried that it might sound negative but I think it's a perfectly positive question, does anyone know why? If you do maybe there's a little extra somethin' somethin' in it for you.  Please leave your answers below with your favorite print choice in the comments.  Remember you need to add your fave print or you are not qualified to play (darn rules!)  we will announce a winner next Wednesday 02.25.09, please look for your name in the upper right hand corner sidebar under 'the bright side project winners'.

Thank you Ryan & Lucy!!! Good luck!!!! AND don't kill any baby polar bears while I am not looking...

For those of you that are new to the bright side project you still have plenty of time to visit artists 11-16. Each artist has asked a question and all you need to do is answer it in the comments below each artists post to try to win, isn't that exciting?

Artist 11: Wren & Chicakdeee::Ez Pudewa

Choosing winner Thursday, 02.19.09

Artist 12:: Everthing is better with a Parrott:: Sarah Parrott

choosing winner Friday, 02.20.09

Artist 13:: Roll & Tumble Press:: Christie & Caleb

Choosing winner Friday, 02.20.09

Artist 14:: Made by Girl::Jennifer Ramos

Choosing winner Monday, 02.23.09

Artist 15::Blissful images:: Traci French

Choosing winner Tuesday, 02.24.09

Artist 16::Jess Gonacha

Choosing winner Tuesday, 02.24.09

THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT:: DAY 16:: JESS GONACHA

{please visit jess gonacha}

When I found a couple of hand printed Gocco prints from artist 16--Jess Gonacha I knew that I wanted them for the project, they are perfectly in line with the idea of making someone's day brighter, the colors, the typography, the statements they are just what the bright side doctor ordered.  BUT Miss Jess was not content with just little ditties of her prints, she went and made a larger digital version of one of the prints (re-creating the happy surprises you get in a hand print) and I was not above begging to be able to present it to you.  Luckily Jess Gonacha is as sweet as the rich sweetness (ganache) her surname reminds me of and agreed.

Jess Gonacha is a freelance artist and pattern designer in Atlanta, Georgia. a passionate maker of things, from paintings and gocco prints to patterns for surface design applications and illustrations. "Color makes my world go round, and my work revolves around combining colors in interesting ways" says Gonacha.  You can see more of her impressive work and learn more about her in several places, her site, her blog and her flickr it's so worth the clicking, artist 16 is a very busy lil' lady...

The question to answer to take home these great prints is:

What is the most embarrassing thing you or you've seen somebody do in public? (tripping over a curb and falling down flat? pants tearing? there's got to be something!)

We will announce the winner of the print next Tuesday 02.24.09.  Please check for your name under the 'Bright Side Winners' in the upper right hand side bar, email me immediately with your address and I will make sure a little bit of sunshine is sent your way stat.

Thank you Miss Jess! AND of course I can not forget to neglect the following pretties for the mention:

Mrs. French you rock!

Ship of two, great blog name, no?

THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT:: DAY 15:: TRACI FRENCH:: BLISSFUL IMAGES

{please visit blissful images}

It only seems fitting that we would launch Monday with artist 15, the lovely Mrs. French--Traci French that is.  If those of you have been sleeping under a blog rock and don't know about Traci's 'I heart Monday's' list please, please go visit her now, you won't be disappointed...Traci has been a passionate supporter of indie artists and designers and even added a nice little list love for artist 4 Miss Jacqleen Bleu.  This is why it makes me so happy to be able to sing here praises here today.  I am so enamored with Traci's work for the simple fact that these images like her shop name confers are well--blissful. Delicate, happy captures. 

In her own words:

"I have a compulsion for taking photographs. I am drawn to the beauty in the everyday...I love how the mundane can be transformed into the extraordinary by pushing the button on a camera. I also enjoy transforming these images into different things by manipulating color, adding light or texture".

Traci will be giving away two of her lovely 8"x10"'s, so yes that means we have TWO potential winners! Please answer the question below and also note which print is your favorite:

Name a simple act of kindness that someone has bestowed upon you recently.

We will announce the winner next Tuesday, just check in on the upper right hand side bar under, 'Bright side winners', your name could be added soon...

Thank you Miss Traci and thank you for not thinking that I was a stalker...Thank you as well to Iva Y. for mentioning the project...AND a HUUUGE thank you to Artist 14 Jennifer Ramos for mentioning on her world famous Made by girl blog!