Alde’s Branding & Design Blog

Alina Bradford: How did you start as an artist?

Mary Roberson: I started painting at age 10 after my dad had taken me to a museum in Los Angeles to see an exhibit. Upon seeing the paintings I told my dad that I knew the process by which each artist had done the painting and my dad immediately bought me some art supplies. I was soon commissioned (on behalf of my mom’s generous offer) to paint a mural, a landscape, for our local church. It was my first painting – a 14 foot mural – by the age of 10.

Looking back, I thought nothing of the endeavor and hadn’t a clue why the adults thought it was a big deal. It was as natural as breathing for me. Prior to that mural I had done hundreds of sketches from age 6, mostly during class and fortunately for me none of my teachers suggested that they were creative or for that matter even acknowledged them, but they mostly allowed me to sketch during class time as long as I did my class work, too. The point is, I do believe, had they pointed out my creativity, I wouldn’t have continued sketching. I had a fear that came with my talent, which I’ve spent many years overcoming.

AB: Where is your art shown?

MR: My art is represented by Kneeland Gallery, Ketchum, Idaho.

AB: What is your inspiration?

MR: My inspiration is non-stop. I am inspired by animals and water mostly and 99% of my paintings depict one or the other. I am inspired by knowledge and experimenting with different compositions and techniques and I am inspired by viewing other artists’ works, thus I go to galleries quite often of which I prefer the contemporary look. But I am also inspired by the run-of-the-mill “everybody paints like this” stuff. It inspires me to not paint like that-To be unique, which is in each of us—So perhaps my greatest inspiration is just listening to my heart – yes, that’s it! – I knew I”d eventually get around to it – …

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Daniel Vosovic has come a long way since Project Runway. On March 6, 2008 he unveiled his new line created for the NYLO hotel chain, and in October his book Fashion Inside Out will be released.

Daniel is one of those people that exude creativity… and has a lot to say about creativity. When asked about his creative process he shares some great thoughts:

“Editing is definitely a part of every process, even the beginning phases. I think generally speaking, because I started out as an artist as well, and that’s my training…I think it is really important regardless of the medium to really open yourself up in that beginning phase. You have to say ‘just let the ideas come in,’ especially if you don’t know where they are going to go.

“I think that is something that creative people have innately, or that they may have to train themselves to see, whether it’s with their eyes or their ears or their bodies, and really being aware of everything from textures to colors and shapes and all of these interesting things. And then also having a cut out point, because, let’s be honest, it’s a business, especially in fashion…as much as we’d like to tweak that shirt over and over again you have to stop yourself.

“If you find yourself going to the same place over and over again for inspiration, continue to try something new. It’s going to the same destination and walking a different path because you never know what is going to be new and exciting when you get there.”

To hone the skill of opening yourself up to seeing new things, Daniel suggests artists say to themselves, “Okay for the next month I’m opening myself up and I’m getting out of my comfort zone and I’m really going to see how I react to new things.” And then say okay, “Now we need to edit and now we need to focus again.” Daniel says this is a tricky process because it is easy to become too focused as an artist or a designer.

How does …

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Often we hear that artists are cut from a different mold. Not so with Scott Lance, who for 20 years was entrenched in corporate Silicon Valley and today is a fledgling, self-employed painter/photographer/art instructor. Lance doesn’t speak in guarded tones, nor does he balk at explaining the intricacies of his work. He leaves his ego on the canvas, his soapbox on a shelf and talks passionately about his lifelong devotion.

“I believe art is a very important part of our lives,” Lance says. “Not just because it’s my life’s work. The (students) who come here to learn tell me that this (class) is the most fulfilling part of their week, and they so look forward to it.”

Art is in all of us

Lance takes pride in doing his part to manifest that enthusiasm, not only in his pupils but also in prospective clients. He contends there is an artist or art lover in all of us, stemming from an early childhood fascination for making things come to life with crayons, paper and a vivid imagination.

“If you go into a kindergarten class and ask ‘How many of you are artists?’ every hand goes up,” Lance says. “It is part of our beings. The ability to make a mark of some kind is fundamental to art, whether it’s watercolor, oil, crayon … graffiti, if I dare say. Making a mark is so human.”

Lance, 53, would love nothing more than to help rekindle a flame that, for some, hasn’t burned in decades. For this reason, the door to his humble gallery/studio in Gilroy, Calif. – the gateway to his life’s work, if you will – remains open, as does his approach to his work.

“With me, there’s no distinction between forms,” says Lance, who one moment could be working with oils and canvas and the next with a digital camera and printer. “Part of that comes from being a graphic designer for 20 years.

“Take a look around, and you’ll see right away, like da Vinci, there’s a lack of divisions,” he continued. “Many people don’t realize that Leonardo did …

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Helena, Montana has been named “The Best Small Arts Town in America.” One visit will make any visitor understand Helena’s strong connection with the art world.

Holter Museum of Art

Opened in 1987, The Holter Museum of Art is noted as having “the very best in regional fine arts and crafts.” Visitors won’t be disappointed with this fine arts gallery. The Holter features contemporary and traditional art, pottery, textiles and more from local and regional artists. New art shows open every six weeks, so the collection is always fresh. Its permanent collection contains over 1,000 pieces.

Contact (406) 442-6400 for more information.

Archie Bray Foundation

The Archie Bray Foundation is a world famous location for those interested in pottery and sculpting. The foundation was founded in 1951 in the Western Clay Manufacturing Company’s brick factory. Today Archie Bray boasts galleries, workshops, a ceramic studio, and residencies for aspiring and professional artists, alike.

Artists who have never dabbled in the clay arts will still find the Archie Bray grounds fascinating. Beautiful, unusual sculptures grace the grounds. Visitors can also tour the old brick factory and view the impressive glass coated building-sized kilns.

Contact (406) 443-3502 for more information.

Ghost Art Gallery

The Ghost Art Gallery is a charming southwestern and wildlife art gallery featuring a variety of art forms, such as sculpture, paintings, and “practical” art (bowls, cups, jewelry) from more than 80 Montana artists.

Established in 1974, the gallery is located in a building once used as a 1920’s brothel owned by the infamous Dorothy “Big Dorothy” Baker, adding to the galleries interest. The name, Ghost Art Gallery, comes from the collection of ghost town art the gallery displayed in its early years.

Contact 406-443-4536 for more information.

Western Rendezvous of Art

Held for four days in August, The Western Rendezvous of Art is a meeting of more than 60 of the best artists in the nation. The Rendezvous features a chance to view fine art, meet the artists, and sample Montana barbeque. The event also includes a Quick Draw, the Last Chance Art Sale, and the Gala Awards Banquet.…

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Dave Watson (who trained at Derby University) had worked hard to perfect his photography. His work was excellent, but financial success – as with many artists – did not automatically follow.

Sometimes adversity is a “cloud with a silver lining”. It was bizarre experience during a heart attack that finally propelled him into a successful professional artistic career – and also helped him to change his artistic medium.

Spirit of Kirill Sokolov?

One of the things that Dave remembers on the night of his heart attack was a very unusual visitor. He vividly remembers his deceased friend, Kirill Sokolov (a highly rated Russian artist who had died some years previously), coming to visit him and transforming his photographs into paintings.

The following two nights he had further weird – but wonderful – experiences. On the second night, all night long he saw colours. It seemed as if he were being taught all about the colours in nature “… the undercolour of a wave, my girlfriend’s eyes, leaves and flowers. It was really intense”.

On the third night his dreams were all about perspective. It seemed that now he was able to view a scene as a painter rather than a photographer.

The Recuperation

Morag Eaton, Dave’s partner in life and also a successful artist, decided that he needed to be distracted during the time of his recuperation. She came home one day and presented him with a set of acrylic paints –t a medium that he had not worked with before.

For the first day or two Dave experimented and played with them and then an amazing thing happened. “Almost immediately I seemed to take to it like a duck to water” Dave later commented. Since then he has been painting prolifically and has staged, along with Morag Eaton, successful exhibitions. Dave was thrilled, but also slightly appalled that his paintings were selling like hot cakes while his photographs had been previously ignored.

Kirills’s Influences

Whenever Dave is stuck he simply thinks back to the three nights when he received his master class in painting and he finds the …

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