Welcome to my first Artist Crush Series. Each month, I'll introduce you to an artist who I personally feel embodies the ideology of Living The Art Life™.
I'm starting off with an artist who is also a dear friend. Yvonne Blaire is an amazing artist who inspires me in many ways. She sets her goals and charges after them. Her sweet spirit envelopes you in her presence. I admire how she is able to express that same spirit in her artwork and in the products she has designed.
Now let me introduce you to Yvonne:
How would you describe yourself or your art? I would describe myself as a mixed media artist that works with inks and paints. I love the ability to add depth and dimension to my work with these things. But there is most definitely a paper crafter with in as well.
I am a full-time artist...I just took the big leap. I have been a buyer/manager/designer in the papercrafting world for the last 20 years and I just recently decided that I have to follow my dreams and see about making them come true! I have a line of stamps with Impression Obsession, an Inky Art Journal that is new and different from any other on the market and a new tool called the Journal Buddy.
Do you have professional training as an artist or self-taught? I am definitely self-taught. I love to find out how and why something works. Creative play is one of the most important parts of being an artist for me, it allows me to try new things or ideas spinning around in my head. Do you sell your work? Not yet...wink. Do you exhibit your work outside of your website or blog? Not at the current time. Tell me about your studio setup: My studio is really an expansion of my living area in my house. We have a Florida room on the back of our house...that is where I put my studio so I would not be separated from my family as I am creating. It works out well and makes me keep my studio fairly clean, wink. What is the one thing in your art arsenal that you can't do without? hmmm...I would say that I would not want to be without my Inks and stamps. Please explain your creative process: This one made me chuckle...I don't know that I have a 'creative' process. When I start to create a pick a few things out and lay them in front of me and see where it takes me. I usually never have a specific idea in mind and almost always where ever I thought I might go in a certain project, I end up somewhere totally different. I have learned to just go with it and embrace it. Expand on the concept of how you are Living the Art Life™: Having art in my daily life is a must. It is my therapy. Art for me is an escape to my own little world, I can get lost in it. I have been known to work right through lunch and dinner and look up and realize it's 2:00 in the morning. I think allowing art into your life is essential, whether it is creating on a canvas, papercrafting, cooking or gardening. When you think about it is all a type of art. What is your greatest joy in your art life?
What other things would you like to share with our readers about Living The Art Life™: I would just like everyone to know that they can embrace their inner artists...I never ever thought I would be here Living the Art Life, but I am so grateful that this is where I am right now, following my dreams and being able to do something I love. Living the Art Life for me is freedom. My greatest joy in being able to embrace an art life is being an inspiration to someone else. To see someone who thought they could not be artistic embrace creating is my adrenaline. It energizes me to be a witness to someone embracing the fact that they can be creative.
What is your greatest struggle in your art life? I would say my greatest struggle is self-confidence.
Yvonne is Living The Art Life™. She is creating, designing, producing, teaching...Living The Art Life™. Thank you, Yvonne, for taking the time to answer my questions and share some insight to your Art Life. You can see more of Yvonne's work and follow her at Yvonne Blair. You can also find information there on ordering her Journal Buddy and Inky Art Journals. Make sure to follow her there too.
