Q & A

Good day sunshine, welcome.

I've been blogging for a while now but, I haven't really introduced myself or talked about what makes me tick as an artist. So, I thought I would do a Q & A blog so you could get to know me better.

Q ~ Where are you from?
A ~ I grew up in the country on a little hobby farm just outside of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. We had, cats, dogs, chickens and every now and again we would rent our back field out to friends or neighbors for their horses. Since growing up and moving out I have lived many different places and traveled North America quite extensively. Though I feel quite worldly there will always be a little bit of that country girl in me.

Q ~ When did you find your artistic talent?
A ~ I began drawing at the age of 17 when I was pregnant with my first child. I was about to become a single parent and I found it to be very soothing and therapeutic. But, it wasn't until much later in life that I began to take it serious and go to the next level.

Q ~ Where do you get your inspiration?
A ~ I find inspiration all around me; nature, past experiences, and from within the painting itself.

Q ~ What is your creative process like?
A ~ Great question. Though it can vary from day to day, most days look something like this...

Get my but out of bed, grab a coffee & some toast, start doodling to get things going.
I usually listen to music while I work. Once I feel ready, in an artistic frame of mind, I move on to a canvas. If I'm starting something new I begin by putting down some color that appeals to me on that given day. This usually has to do with my mood. I dance, sing, and play with the colors and layers until I begin to see things take shape or some type of form and then I begin to work around that. It may be an idea or a concept OR it could actually be a known figure, a person, animal, or other object.
If for some reason I'm having trouble, artist block, I will go for a walk, meditate, exercise or call a friend... then I get back to the painting.
That's it in a nut shell.

Q ~ Why do you paint?
A ~ Because I can't imagine NOT painting.

Q ~ What do you think is your biggest obstacle?
A ~ Myself. I think fear and my own self doubt is the biggest obstacle to overcome. I'm working on it.

So, that's me, the Who, What, When, Where and Why. I hope to get to know many of you. I will be adding a YouTube channel this year to share more of myself and work. So, keep in touch. Share your URL, blog, twitter, and YouTube with me. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.
Add me on Twitter, PrairieMroz

Express Yourself

When it comes to painting, at least as far as I'm concerned, the most important thing the artist can do is "Express Yourself".  With each stroke of the brush, with each color you choose, hidden words and phrases it's the artists job to express what he/she is feeling so when the piece is viewed that feeling can be felt by those viewing it.

A little bit about my process:

Hidden words~things I believe in.

~ I almost always start a painting by choosing my color palette, it's from that that I draw a good deal of my inspiration. Color speaks to me, I know that may sound strange to you but hey I'm an artist and I'm allowed to be strange. :D I have always loved bright, bold colors, right from the time I was wee little. By choosing the colors first it helps me express myself  by setting the mood and emotion for the piece. I usually work with three complimentary colors and one or two accenting colors.

A collage of words and
phrases convey the over
all feeling.

~ Next I decide my subject, which if you know my work, most often a female. A friend recently asked me why I always paint women... I pondered this for a long while. My answer; there is great strength, wisdom, and emotional integrity in women. Women are the backbone of society. We raise the children with love and teach them to be strong, independent adults who hopefully will go on to contribute something wonderful with the world.  When a child has been failed by their parents, if he parents withhold love and compassion, if the child had not been allowed to express who they are, that child usually grows up to have inner struggles. As adults they must seek out wise friends to guide them, as much as we must seek them out and become their "Angels".

That's what I try to convey with my art. My angels have hidden messages, quotes, and words of love and inspiration.
~ The final part of my process is adding the words, quotes and or phrases to the art. What feelings do I want to express from my painting? What message does my angel want to convey to the viewer? I draw from my own experiences, from friends and from moving stories people have shared with me.

"A Promise to Keep" 12x12
Mixed Media on Canvas

There you have it, that's how things usually go in my studio. But, then there are times when my inner voice guides my hand and before I know it a painting has transpired before my eyes. As was the case with, "A Promise to Keep". The sketch of the woman came to life on the canvas and it was almost as if she told me to choose the colors. Like I said, I'm and artist and weird things transpire with us artisty people. When these things happen I don't argue with my creative muse, at this point I'm just along for the ride and I can't lie.... what a wonderful ride it is.

So, no matter how you choose to express yourself, embrace it, cherish it and share it with those you love and for all the world to see. It's a gift and it's not for you to decide whether it's good enough or not. As a part of you it's perfect and pure and beautiful, when you accept that you and it will blossom into your true and authentic self.
Thank you for listening to my ramblings.
Much Love,
Danine

If you like these paintings please visit my etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/PrairieMrozArt
All featured art on this blog is original work done by Danine Mroz All rights reserved. No copies or reproduction with out the written consent of Ms. Mroz

Be Bold

I have always been BOLD and different, it's just the way I am. My whole life I have swam up stream, cut my own path through the forest and danced to the beat of my own drum. For a long time I thought being BOLD and different meant you were just being strange and weird. It wasn't until much later in my life that I began embracing my differences and realized that those were the things that made me special. So now for me,  being BOLD is about taking chances, trying new things and stepping outside of my comfort zone. It's about living the life you have always dreamed about and not feeling guilty for doing so. When you're BOLD you listen to your heart and intuition to find out who your authentic self really is and then you let her shine through. This is the intent of my latest art journal entries and a whole new venture I've begun.

It is to all the BOLD and fearless women out there who dare to be different and live their authentic lives that I dedicate, "BE BOLD", my new line of art. With strong - BOLD colors, chunky - BOLD shapes, and heart felt phrases that reflect the inner beauty of these strong, vivacious women.
I look forward to sharing them with you.
Hugz,
Danine
Prairie Mroz