This months Blogs from Around the World returns to the USA. I have been a follower of Wyanne's work for some time now, ever since I stumbled across one of her You Tube video's demonstrating her amazing paintings, so I was really excited when she agreed to be a part of this. I absolutely adore Wyanne's paintings and her use of resin makes me want to have a go. I hope you enjoy this article and please stop by her blog and website, you wont be disappointed.
Where is home for your and what do you love best about it?
The tranquil and gorgeous Amelia Island, Florida has been my home for the past four years. Prior to that, I lived in the hectic city of Atlanta, GA. I visited the historic Fernandina Beach downtown area on vacation one year, and knew I had to live here. My husband and kids fell in love with it, too. The island has a strong arts community and is breathtakingly gorgeous. It hasn't been over-developed with high-rise buildings and such. The island is only 13 miles long and 4 miles wide. Recently, my husband went back to work in Atlanta full-time. So, I split my time up between Atlanta and the island. It's really nice to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds now.
How long have you been painting and making jewellery?
I started painting and creating jewelry around the age of 13. I was adopted, and had learned that my natural birth mother was an artist. So, I just picked up a paintbrush and started practicing in an effort to be like her. I went on to recieve my batchelor's degree in fine arts from Wesleyan College, with a major in photography.
How has your work changed over the years?
In college, my main focus was fine art photography. After graduating, I worked as a professional photographer in the interior design industry. I didn't enjoy it very much because of the lack of creativity. I opened two art galleries in the Atlanta area and went through a period that I didn't create and simply guided other artists. I gradually started painting again and produced a whimsical series called, Big Divas. They were bold, colorful, simplistic watercolor paintings. After my daughter was born, I started experimenting with acrylics and collage. I began painting whimsical big - eyed girls on canvas and wood with beeswax encaustic finishes. Now, I still paint the big-eyed girls but my interest lies in really pushing myself out of my comfort zone artistically. I am concentrating more on loosening up my painting style, and combining unusual art materials. I want to create works that are emotionally, technically and visually more complex.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Most of my inspiration comes from growing up in the 60's and 70's, my daughter, my own imagination and emotions. When I paint, I usually prefer to work in silence. If I listen to music while I paint, I feel that it influences the work too much.
I have yet to join your Paint Free class though it's on my to do list for this year, how did that come about and what have you learned personally from it?
I hope you do find the time to take it. I feel it's the best class that I've ever done, and I have been amazed at how it has changed so many artist's lives. I developed Paint Free from my own needs and goals as an artist. Over the years, I've learned how to juggle being a mom, full-time career artist and provider for my family. I've had my share of self doubt, comparison and growing pains, just like any artist. I taught myself different ways to manage all of these issues, and decided to document and share them in Paint Free. I have also grown increasingly weary of artists copying other artists. I wanted to show students that their work doesn't need to look like another artist's work to be considered good. I am a big believer that everyone has their own painting style if they will just allow it to come out. I've learned that it doesn't matter if you've never painted in your life, or if you paint everyday with a boatload of techniques.....that a great painting is created from your energy alone.
Do you have any other classes in the pipeline?
Yes, I have a new one opening August 1st called Layers, Passages and Hideaways. We will be working with multiple layers in paintings through paint, acrylic mediums and collage. Also the class will teach expanding paintings with sculptural, three dimensional passages and hideaways in canvas and wood.
What's next for Wyanne?
I will be traveling to teach Paint Free workshops in person. I hope to publish Paint Free as a book, to reach more artists. I recently licensed my artwork to a large global wholesale company in the gift and home accessories industry. "The WyanneCollection" will be released in January, 2012. I'm very excited about it. But, most of all...I want to continue creating paintings that challenge me artistically, emotionally and technically. I feel that I've only just begun to scratch the surface.
Where is home for your and what do you love best about it?The tranquil and gorgeous Amelia Island, Florida has been my home for the past four years. Prior to that, I lived in the hectic city of Atlanta, GA. I visited the historic Fernandina Beach downtown area on vacation one year, and knew I had to live here. My husband and kids fell in love with it, too. The island has a strong arts community and is breathtakingly gorgeous. It hasn't been over-developed with high-rise buildings and such. The island is only 13 miles long and 4 miles wide. Recently, my husband went back to work in Atlanta full-time. So, I split my time up between Atlanta and the island. It's really nice to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds now.
How long have you been painting and making jewellery?
I started painting and creating jewelry around the age of 13. I was adopted, and had learned that my natural birth mother was an artist. So, I just picked up a paintbrush and started practicing in an effort to be like her. I went on to recieve my batchelor's degree in fine arts from Wesleyan College, with a major in photography.
How has your work changed over the years?In college, my main focus was fine art photography. After graduating, I worked as a professional photographer in the interior design industry. I didn't enjoy it very much because of the lack of creativity. I opened two art galleries in the Atlanta area and went through a period that I didn't create and simply guided other artists. I gradually started painting again and produced a whimsical series called, Big Divas. They were bold, colorful, simplistic watercolor paintings. After my daughter was born, I started experimenting with acrylics and collage. I began painting whimsical big - eyed girls on canvas and wood with beeswax encaustic finishes. Now, I still paint the big-eyed girls but my interest lies in really pushing myself out of my comfort zone artistically. I am concentrating more on loosening up my painting style, and combining unusual art materials. I want to create works that are emotionally, technically and visually more complex.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Most of my inspiration comes from growing up in the 60's and 70's, my daughter, my own imagination and emotions. When I paint, I usually prefer to work in silence. If I listen to music while I paint, I feel that it influences the work too much.
I loved your 'Post Wolf' picture which was more daring than some of your other work, how did that idea originate?
Post Wolf began (as most of my paintings do) from simply playing with couple of colors of paint and allowing them to flow and intermingle across the paper on their own. After they dried, I studied and found different images within them, like leaves, flowers and part of a figure. Then, I let my imagination run wild and composed the rest of the painting. As I do this, certain feelings and emotions from events in my life start to make their way into the painting, but I try to keep them from being a literal translation. I don't want to bombard the viewer with my feelings or thoughts, but give them enough that they can relate on some level to the painting. I try not to talk about my personal meaning within the painting, because it would take away from someone else's story. It's more important to me for the viewer to be moved in their own personal way from the work, than it is to tell my story behind it.
What medium, tool or equipment couldn't you be without?
I would have to say acrylic paints, because they are so versatile.
What artist(s) dead or alive inspire you?
Andy Warhol, Picasso, Matisse, Rex Ray, Alexandra Nechita, Nicholas Simmons, and so many more. But, I try to be careful and not look at other artists work too much. I believe, as artists, we are natural sponges. Whether we realize it or not, we see things and file them away in our brains. When we least expect it, those things make their way back into our work in some form or another.
How long does it take to put your amazing videos together?
About as long as it takes to paint the painting! I enjoy the chronicle of my work, but each time I'm slaving over the computer doing video editing...I think to myself...I could be painting instead. Then the video is uploaded, and people leave the kindest, most inspiring comments...and I forget just how hard it was.
Post Wolf began (as most of my paintings do) from simply playing with couple of colors of paint and allowing them to flow and intermingle across the paper on their own. After they dried, I studied and found different images within them, like leaves, flowers and part of a figure. Then, I let my imagination run wild and composed the rest of the painting. As I do this, certain feelings and emotions from events in my life start to make their way into the painting, but I try to keep them from being a literal translation. I don't want to bombard the viewer with my feelings or thoughts, but give them enough that they can relate on some level to the painting. I try not to talk about my personal meaning within the painting, because it would take away from someone else's story. It's more important to me for the viewer to be moved in their own personal way from the work, than it is to tell my story behind it.
What medium, tool or equipment couldn't you be without?I would have to say acrylic paints, because they are so versatile.
What artist(s) dead or alive inspire you?
Andy Warhol, Picasso, Matisse, Rex Ray, Alexandra Nechita, Nicholas Simmons, and so many more. But, I try to be careful and not look at other artists work too much. I believe, as artists, we are natural sponges. Whether we realize it or not, we see things and file them away in our brains. When we least expect it, those things make their way back into our work in some form or another.
How long does it take to put your amazing videos together?
About as long as it takes to paint the painting! I enjoy the chronicle of my work, but each time I'm slaving over the computer doing video editing...I think to myself...I could be painting instead. Then the video is uploaded, and people leave the kindest, most inspiring comments...and I forget just how hard it was.
I have yet to join your Paint Free class though it's on my to do list for this year, how did that come about and what have you learned personally from it?I hope you do find the time to take it. I feel it's the best class that I've ever done, and I have been amazed at how it has changed so many artist's lives. I developed Paint Free from my own needs and goals as an artist. Over the years, I've learned how to juggle being a mom, full-time career artist and provider for my family. I've had my share of self doubt, comparison and growing pains, just like any artist. I taught myself different ways to manage all of these issues, and decided to document and share them in Paint Free. I have also grown increasingly weary of artists copying other artists. I wanted to show students that their work doesn't need to look like another artist's work to be considered good. I am a big believer that everyone has their own painting style if they will just allow it to come out. I've learned that it doesn't matter if you've never painted in your life, or if you paint everyday with a boatload of techniques.....that a great painting is created from your energy alone.
Do you have any other classes in the pipeline?
Yes, I have a new one opening August 1st called Layers, Passages and Hideaways. We will be working with multiple layers in paintings through paint, acrylic mediums and collage. Also the class will teach expanding paintings with sculptural, three dimensional passages and hideaways in canvas and wood.
What's next for Wyanne?
I will be traveling to teach Paint Free workshops in person. I hope to publish Paint Free as a book, to reach more artists. I recently licensed my artwork to a large global wholesale company in the gift and home accessories industry. "The WyanneCollection" will be released in January, 2012. I'm very excited about it. But, most of all...I want to continue creating paintings that challenge me artistically, emotionally and technically. I feel that I've only just begun to scratch the surface.
You can find links to Wyanne below:
