Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Josh Pincus


Despite the fact that I have been drawing since I was four years old and have worked steadily as an artist (in many capacities) for thirty years, I still can be considered a late bloomer.

When I was a kid, I was drawing constantly. I drew on every spare piece of paper I could lay my hands on. While other kids where outside playing football or riding bikes, I was inside scribbling away - much to the chagrin of my older and athletic brother. After I graduated from high school, I attended a small art school in Philadelphia with my eyes set on a career in the field of illustration. I actively pursued my dream, because, frankly, I couldn't do anything else. Lucky for me, I was pretty good and I was always eager to learn new techniques. However, after several jobs working for and getting direction from non-artists, I became discouraged. I no longer created for my enjoyment. I equated "art" with "work" and I sure didn't want to work when I wasn't getting paid for it.

When I was in my 40s, a younger co-worker practically scolded me for abandoning what he called "my artistic responsibility." He insisted that I purchase a sketchbook and begin my return to drawing immediately. Then, I was introduced to this thing called "blogging." I immediately drove back into drawing and writing and combining the two to create the skewed vision of the world that has become my website Josh Pincus is Crying.
Now in it's seventh year, my blog is an unusual combination of illustrated stories from my youth, biographies of unsung dead celebrities and examples of my slightly morbid sense of humor.

I also contribute to several other blogs, along with active participation on Twitter and now Facebook. 

Not bad for a guy in his 50s (who thinks he's still a kid).


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Donna Keller

 I think it’s safe to say that if I bloom any more, I might become a blooming idiot.
                                            And you know what? I think I’d like that!


I sprouted a love for writing humor in my 30’s when I returned to school. I immediately learned that I     couldn’t be serious when it came time to write an essay. From there, I created and wrote a newsletter for family and friends named Smiles For Miles. It was mailed out one to four times a year for seven years.

At 49, I further blossomed when I moved into a neighborhood located a block away from a quilt shop. I took a rail fence quilt class and quickly learned that I did not have the patience to make large quilts. In addition, I didn’t want to use patterns so I moved on to making art quilts.

Art quilting soon led to reading art blogs and art magazines, and what’s a girl to do with all that inspiration, information, and eye candy but join in on the fun so I added mixed media, painting, and more recently, art journaling to my late blooming joy! I also discovered online art classes. Through it all, I gradually developed a passion for creating art as well as writing humor.

I love the joy of creating colorful and whimsical art that, I hope, makes people smile. They certainly make me smile when I create them!


I embarked on blogging in February 2008, and I currently write three blogs:

As you’d expect, this blog is where I yak it up about my art, and anything else that strikes my fancy.

http://mumbojumbojournal.blogspot.com 
I write about my humorous observances of every day life.

This blog is a spinoff of the above-mentioned newsletter. 
We recently bought an RV so I share our RV travel adventures there, too.

I can’t believe it but I was 60 on Valentine’s Day! I think it’s safe to say that if I bloom any more, I might become a blooming idiot (tee-hee) and you know what? I think I’d like that!



Monday, February 18, 2013

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Indigene Theresa Gaskin


I love being a late bloomer because it says to the world that “blooming” is always available to each and every person and your blooming comes at the right time for you, and it’s the blooming that matters, not the timing of it!

In December 2000, my best friend gave me a beautiful coffee table art book on Van Gogh for Christmas. As I looked through that beautiful book on Christmas day and many days after that, my passion for bold and vivid art came alive again. That year my depression was at its worst and at the root of it was this feeling of being totally unfulfilled and that time was running out for discovering what I truly wanted to do. That book was my constant companion during that holiday season and as each day went by, the intensity increased until January 1, 2001, I turned 42 years old. I felt compelled to reawaken that love and fascination I had with art as a child.

It was as if a fire had ignited within me, so I went out and bought some art supplies and I have never looked back! 

I created everyday for the first nine months in 2001, participated in my first group exhibit and the following year had my first solo exhibit!
Creating art changed my focus, my mental health and fueled a passion that continues to grow after twelve years!



My passion is creating faces of women surrounded by vivid color. 

I usually created my faces in graphite and in the last two years I have been incorporating handmade paper, fabric and text into my mixed media paintings! My identity as a woman and an artist are intrinsically connected. I love exploring feminine myths, symbolism, spirituality and archetypal concepts. I try to express all these diverse interests by creating mixed media pieces of cultural diverse women in a concept I like to describe as the Universal Woman. My “created women” tell a story through their expressions and the color that surround them. It starts off with my story, but continues as the viewer adds their own thoughts and feelings to the piece as they view it, becoming a story for all of us.

BLOG:           http://www.indigeneart.com
SHOP:            http://www.etsy.com/shop/IndigeneArtForms 
FACEBOOK:  http://www.facebook.com/indigeneart
TWITTER:     http://twitter.com/Indigene1
Websitehttp://indigeneart.com
"Illuminating the black and white of life in vivid color"

For Original Art, Greeting Cards and Art Tiles 
Contact Indigene directly at: indigene@indigeneart.com 





Monday, February 11, 2013

reminder

 
Come back Wednesday.  This is a fire you will NOT want to put out.
 
 

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

it's called a hic-cup


It's called a 
It really saddens me to say this has happened to this ever so inspiring site.  Every week I have pure joy in discovering and introducing another creative Late Bloomer. Each story with it's own twist and turns, leaving it's mark of encouragement for others.  Not to mention the amazing creative people unveiled.  I have seen friendships developed and support offered and it makes my heart smile..

When I started this blog, click here to read the story, I felt I was being guided to it.   I still feel that way,  I believe with every fiber in my being that this interruption will be short lived.  I know I can't do it alone, I need your help.  I am asking that you help me spread the word that I'm looking for more creative Late Bloomers to share their story.  If you want to help here are a few suggestions *share this blog on your blog, Facebook, twitter, or wherever.  *You can give me the contact info of someone you think fits the description of a creative Late Bloomer and I will contact them or *give them my email address smileee001@gmail.com and have them contact me for more info.

 According to Wikepedia:  
a late blooming adult is a person who does not discover their talents until later than normally expected.


Thank You for being YOU and all that you do!