Category Archives: Art/Photography

Jan-Ai Day Three: An Interview with Rachael Direnna

Let me start today’s Jan-Ai Scholarship Drive post by apologizing both to the blog readers and the artists who agreed to participate in this week’s event. Blog problems earlier in the week followed by a Wednesday storm-related power outage have conspired to derail the plans I had for this week. Things seem to be in order now and so we are soldiering on. And thankfully the parts of this week I have been most excited about continue today: the interviews!

[As a reminder to those who may not know what the Jan-Ai Scholarship drive is all about, I refer you to this week’s opening post.]

You may remember the work of artist Rachael Direnna from her Friday Favorites feature back in April. Her sculptures are so unique and resonate so strongly with the part of me that enjoys nature, loves trees, etc. that I immediately asked her at that time if I might conduct a future interview with her. She graciously agreed.

Based on a statement in her answer to the first question, I am including some photographs that Rachael Direnna has taken as well as images of her creations. Although she has many photos on her Flickr site, I chose ones that either through her own manipulation or through happy accidents are very striking to me.

With no further ado, I give you Rachael Direnna:

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Jan-Ai Day Two: An Interview with Jennifer Gordon


(Words and Pictures)

The Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund Drive week continues with an interview with recently featured Etsy Week artist Jennifer Gordon. In email conversations with Ms. Gordon I discovered that she was even more of a kindred spirit than her creations indicated and I promise you that you are going to enjoy this interview.

If you have not read yesterday’s post detailing what this week, and the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund Drive is, please step away for a moment and read this.

And now, on with the interview:

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Secrets of Rusty Things ~Michael deMeng


(cover image, featuring Donaji sculpture)

Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art ~Michael deMeng

-May 2007
-128 pages, North Light Books
-5/5 stars

Today dear readers, you are doubly blessed in that you get not only a book review of a fantastic art/mythology book, but you get art as well!!! I realized early on that there was no way that I could do justice to a review of Secrets of Rusty Things without including images, so I pulled out the trusty digital camera last night and snapped a few pictures of my copy of the book.

The creator is Michael deMeng and in this gorgeous volume he combines his love of creating found object art with his passion for ancient cultural folklore and mythology to create a book that is part how-to, part biography, part art appreciation, and part storytelling. It is an amazing book. You would do well to quit reading this review and order it immediately.

But in case you aren’t convinced…

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Etsy Week: Day Four


(She Held the Future in Her Hand)

And better late than never (Friday proved to be a FUUUULLLLL workday!) the final day of the very first (but not the last) Etsy Week is upon us. It is indeed Etsy Week: Day Four.

For the uninitiated (who are you people?!?!?!) Feel free to visit:

Etsy Week: Day One
Etsy Week: Day Two
Etsy Week: Day Three

We finish up this tour of a mere pittance of my Etsy Favorite Sellers (several more will be featured in the upcoming Fashion as Art Week!) with a couple more exciting shops.

The first artist on today’s tour is Liz Conway. Her etsy shop, Blue Gypsy, features originals and prints of her collage and painted art.

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Etsy Week: Day Three

It is Day Three of Etsy Week and I have two more artists who occupy spaces on my list of favorite etsy sellers to share with you today.

But first, for those of you who may not have been around for the past few days and are wondering what an ‘Etsy Week’ is, please check out the following posts:

Etsy Week: Day One
Etsy Week: Day Two

You will want to check out both of those posts because doing so, and commenting, will get you in the running for an end of the week prize pack. More importantly you will discover the work of some wonderfully creative artists.

Let’s get started for today, shall we?

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