Artist Statement:
As an artist I understand that duplicating work to represent a style has some merit. However, my signature style is the process itself. I always seem to take each project to the next level using what I learned from the previous session. I’ll sometimes start by copying the idea, and then I allow it to become its own entity.”
As an artist to attain success, I believe it is thru failure. This truly makes me try new and different methods. My style allows me to be very creative; this is the most exciting part, to know that I will always be able to create something new.
“Always create freely,and thrive on rejection.”
Artist Information:
Stepping outside the standard artist-gallery business model, Ricki Mountain has an eclectic style, and has gained a reputation as a prolific creative resource.
She often uses elements of mid-century modern design, photography ,traditional and digital techniques in conjunction with each other.
Mountain is regularly commissioned to create custom paintings, prints, and interior accents for retail and commercial clients.
Her artwork has been shown nationally and is in Private and corporate collections in both the United States and Europe.
]]>That time in Australia lead me to the Middle East, and for a month and a half I struggled and found myself with a people I had never before paid attention to. I shyly photographed smiling children and pained mothers in refugee camps, and discovered the person I once knew was now the one suffering alongside a people long oppressed. That time abroad radically shaped my life, my perspective, my politics, my relationships and my art.
Afterwords, I landed back in the Pacific Northwest and poked my head into things, one of which being a photography school in Hawaii.
Now there’s a good story to how I ended up in Hawaii, but we’ll suffice it to say I flew there on a one-way ticket, without being accepted into the school, with little resources and no plan B. Some may question that particular choice I made, but there was this thing inside of me growing, something we might call a desire to bring excellence to God’s Kingdom. I decided the school in Hawaii was where I could go to help me attain that.
And, long story aside, I was accepted into the school.
That tossed me into a twelve week full-on photography course, covering everything from basic technique, to critique, to use of color. We studied various photographic genres and ventured into studio work and lighting. Six hours a day, all about photography.
From Hawaii I moved to New Orleans to volunteer with disaster relief work. Six months later I surprisingly found myself back in Washington, amongst the endearing embrace of muddy hills and rainy days that these spring months graciously provide.
As far as art and photography go however, I think the writer CS Lewis in his book The Great Divorce says it best: “Light itself was your first love: you loved paint only as a means of telling about light.”
website: www.kaarins.com
]]>My travels as a child through Asia (India and Nepal) and later with my husband in West Africa and then with all four of us to Mexico and Central America have all influenced my color and pattern sense as I observed the Folk arts, crafts and architecture of these countries.
I worked for many years in public schools mostly with kids in kindergarten, I have my elementary teaching degree in Multicultural Education from the University of Massachusetts. As a teacher I would integrate the arts into classroom themes and realized the importance of good illustration as a teaching tool. In reading to my class I was exposed to hundreds of children’s picturebooks. I have always loved the way words and pictures go together visually and appreciate when it is done well. I have also studied illustration in a local college taking classes in computer arts, illustration, design and oil painting.
My work is bold, joyful,vibrant and colorful. Gouache, water color, pen and ink and Collage are my favorite mediums. . I have used collage for many book covers and educational illustrations. For years I have also been making personalized handmade books and 3D collages in the form of crowns for special occasions.
Much of my work could be used in journal covers, book covers, packaging, toys, character design, games, stationery, greeting cards, posters, fabric design, murals and wallpaper.
What I love about illustration is that it is like solving a puzzle for me and I love puzzles. Having a limited amount of space and having to make the subject matter understandable and beautiful presents the challenge that I crave. Doing the research for a piece gives me an excuse to learn something new and try out new styles. Deadlines and direction in general keep me motivated.
I have a studio in my home. I also do carpentry with my husband’s business and matting and framing for another small local business. We have a huge vegetable garden around the house that we built and raised our kids in. We spend winters in Costa Rica fixing up our place there and soaking in the tropical colors and natural beauty.
Listing of illustrations for books, shows, magazines;
Many local shows in the Amherst/Northampton Massachusetts area.
Eight book covers for Interlink Publishing Company
John Sheldon’s “Possum in the Kitchen” music show at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst Mass.
Reading rainbow illustrations for stories told by Eshu Bumpus
Cricket Magazine
Hartcourt Achieve
Zaner-Bloser Publishing
Sundance Publishing
McGraw Hill Wright Group
Personalized crown for Kurt Vonnegut’s 80th Birthday
Stamp designs for the Massachusetts State Park system
]]>Amy is a multidisciplinary artist that has trouble keeping track of all her obsessions and ideas. She has co-owned and designed for a small jewelry company, helped her brother make sock puppets, painted entire shows in a week, made books with mixed CDs for friends and still found enough time to make herself a new skirt before going out on the town. The busier the better. Answers are found in actions.
If you have any queries or just want to shout out, you can reach Amy at moonshineandmayhem@gmail.com
]]>website: zbryant.com
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