This week in the DP Café
Meet artists Marion Rose and Nancy Medina
A Chat with artist Marion Rose
How would you describe your painting style?
Expressive in many ways
What was your earliest indication that you wanted to be a painter?
When I saw my first "Draw Me" ad from Art Instruction Schools I was 10, and hounded them so bad with submissions that the day I turned 14 they signed me up. Charles Schultz was my teacher/critiquer.
Do you come from a painting family, or did you pick it up on your own?
Seems to have come out of the blue.
What is your favorite movie & why?
Many ... Dances With Wolves, Seabiscuit ... I like real history
.
Favorite book? Why?
My first art books then, and all 2000 of them now.
Favorite type of music? Why?
I like a real variety, usually choosing about 3 totally different artists to play daily. Maybe it depends on what I am painting?
Favorite color? Why?
All of them all open all at once!
For how long have you been painting daily?
For about 10 years now when I was able to let my commercial art business go.
Do you complete a painting every day?
At least a sketch. I have way too many unfinished for some reason ... maybe one of these days I'll finish 100 in 1 day!
What's your typical day like?
Thankful for every minute being able to do what I love most, making my own choices, living my dream, feeling good, creating a new experience every day .....
What have you had the most fun painting?
Anything that has excited me , a new trip, a new idea, fresh reference material .....
How would you like to be remembered?
As happy
What is your favorite room in your house?
My studio .... it's my private dance hall.
If you could have dinner with anyone famous, past or present, who would that be?
I'll have dinner with anyone ... as long as I'm not doing the cooking!
What are you most proud of in your life?
My daughter, and of course I take all the credit for her talent and attitude.
What is one thing about you that few people know?
I really got mad when Reader's Digest used to stick their ad page right on top of the page number index on the front! Someone finally clued them in ......
What are people most surprised to find out about you?
I am very successfully living with cancer.
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
......... there's always more to say ......
If there was a movie made about your life, would it be a comedy or a drama?
I think I would be the cartoon roadrunner outsmarting the wolf.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love the Internet, the chance to be real. We can create our own reality. What an opportunity to share and learn.
See all of Marion Rose's work at: http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/783/Marion-Rose
A Chat with artist Nancy Medina
How would you describe your painting style?
I am so inspired by color, it makes me happy, and it's a joy I love sharing on the canvas.
What was your earliest indication that you wanted to be a painter?
I've had a love of flowers for as long as I can remember. I grew up on a farm in Scurry, Texas. My parents were organic gardeners back in the 70.s, before organic gardening was in style. In our vegetable garden, every fourth or fifth row was planted in sunflowers to attract the insects off the crops. My love for nature began there, standing barefoot and gazing up at the 10 foot tall sunflowers in my parents' garden.
Do you come from a painting family, or did you pick it up on your own?
My grandmother was very artistic with a needle and with thread; she created floral paintings in bright embroidery thread. Her embroidered works hang in my studio and still inspire me today.
What is your favorite movie & why?
My favorite is Holiday, it is a story with lots of happy endings.
Favorite book? Why?
I have about 100 favorite books, and sometimes take a sabbatical from painting so I can spend a few weeks devouring books! My fav genre is sci-fi.
Favorite type of music? Why?
I love all kinds of unpopular music, current favs are Abba and Sarah Brightman.
Favorite color? Why?
Purple, it is a magical color.
For how long have you been painting daily?
Four years.
Do you complete a painting every day?
Almost, I complete about 5 paintings a week on average, some are large, some small. On some days, I complete 3 paintings a day.
What's your typical day like?
5 am - rise and shine and feed the studio assistants
7 am - arrive at the office
Lunch break - work on pug rescue stuff
4 pm - home from day job, feed the puggies and eat dinner
5 pm - throw the ball for the studio director Anniebee 20 times
5:20 pm - STUDIO TIME! *confetti*
11 pm - post the new painting on the blog, wash the brushes, and put the puggies to bed
What have you had the most fun painting?
hmmm, that's a tough one....SUNFLOWERS!!! : )
How would you like to be remembered?
as the crazy little old lady who paints sunflowers and rescues pugs
What is your favorite room in your house?
the art studio
If you could have dinner with anyone famous, past or present, who would that be?
I feel like I am on one of those speed dates.
What are you most proud of in your life?
I am so proud of my mom. She is wonderful.
What is one thing about you that few people know?
That I am the director of the nation's leading medical journal for emergency docs.
What are people most surprised to find out about you?
my great grandmother was a bootlegger who sold whiskey to Al Capone
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
busy
If there was a movie made about your life, would it be a comedy or a drama?
comedy
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I wish the days were longer!!!
See all of Nancy Medina's work at: http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/2003/Nancy-Medina
