Creative Thresholds

by  Zoë Boston

Artist: Zoë Boston

HER NAME IS ZOË BOSTON.

Zoë is an artist in almost every sense of the word.   She has been drawing for as long as she can remember, but did not begin painting until she returned to the West Coast.  Born in Los Angeles and raised in Upstate NY, she now resides in the Oakland Bay area.

Zoë’s inspirations come from God, life, love, music, and everything in between.  She is dedicated to being true to herself, which in-turn, transforms her work into passion on canvas.

“My goal has never been to be different. Most humans are trying to be different, and, as a result, most are actually quite the same. My goal is to be myself, andjust being myself already makes me different. There will never, in all of creation, and throughout time, be anyone like me or you again, so be yourself and love who you are!

As far as what I do, what you see on canvas, I’m calling it art to simplify the means of my expression. These pieces were birthed from the passions of life, living freely, being myself, and loving who I truly am. I use acrylic on canvas to express myself, and I continue to grow with each new piece.

You are not just witnessing art, but pieces of my life’s journey. I look forward to being able to share it with you!”

Website: ZOEBOSTONART.COM

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theycallmezb/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZoeBostonArt/

Email: Zoebostonart@gmail.com

You can find more of Zoë’s work at the following locations.

Abrams Claghorn Gallery
1251 Solano Ave
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 526-9558
http://abramsclaghorn.com/

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza
5801 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 655-6385
www.zacharys.com

In addition, Zoe’s work has been featured on the cover of, and included in, the December 2016 publication of TrapXArt magazine, Volume 2.

by James Bentley

James Bentley is a Canadian artist who lives and works on the small island L’Île-Perrot, just off Montreal, Québec. He studied and began his career as a freelance illustrator; a practice which gave him a great love for drawing. Anchored in figuration, he now works mainly with acrylic on canvas and acrylic & pastel on paper. Bentley’s current body of work is focused on the ocean, portraits and figure studies. He is always on the search to paint in an inventive open manner.

Website: http://www.jamesbentley.com/index.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.bentley.79677

by Hilde Goossens

Artist: Hilde Goossens

I paint characters in waiting rooms or transit zones, and scenes of waiting crowds. My goal is
to paint an impression that insinuates and suggests rather than defines, so the viewer has
the task to search and decide for himself what he or she sees.

My preferred material is acrylic paint, and I really enjoy the process of mixing colors. The
typical process is to dilute my paint with water and add (a) drop(s) of black Chinese ink
rendering toned-down and mostly transparent colors. In my work, I am well aware of the
opaque/transparent properties of the colors, and I use them smartly. However, I have a
strong preference for transparent paint as it gives the opportunity to add many layers and
suggest even more.

Because I love to experiment, I often add collage and photography to my work, but the result
of these experiments always ends as a painting. When I use photography under my paint, it
makes these artworks more realistic, but realism is not what I’m looking for, simplification
and a step towards abstraction is what I’m looking for. When I’m painting, I’m envisioning
that I’m watching a moment of scene with my eyes almost closed so I can remove details but
still capture the essence of the scene and its characters.

by Petra Lea

Waterfall

Silence Again

Enchanted Forest

The Ascent

Substratum

Still Life With Glass

Blind Ambition

Sight Unseen

Artist: Petra Lea

I am a professional artist based in the UK at The Electric Picture House Artists Cooperative. I exhibit throughout the UK and USA including New York, London and Oxford. My artworks are housed in collections in the UK and USA. I have also had my artwork published in magazines, including Rapsodia Independent Literary Review based in Italy and Capitol No in Switzerland.

I am a member of Collagistes Collective, an international group of collage artists. I am represented by The August Agency in New York and the Artbank in China.

I participate in an average of ten exhibitions per year, these include group and solo exhibitions.

Weblinks:

http://lelu-designs.mysupadupa.com/

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/petraleaart/

https://www.instagram.com/petralea_art/

https://twitter.com/PetraLeaArt

by Thomas Donaldson

Artist: Thomas Donaldson

Thomas is an English figurative painter and Lecturer based in Asia. He received his Master’s degree from Newcastle University in 2000 and since then has taken part in numerous exhibitions globally. His visceral works depict the portrait/nude which has been a traditional subject within the history of painting, which is easily recognizable and has been painted over and over again. This familiarity with the subject and the ideal of beauty in an increasingly over photo-shopped media allows Thomas to develop the process of painting through abstraction, mark making and impasto and at the end of the process still have something that remains familiar although imperfect and slightly awkward.

Website: http://www.thomasdonaldson.biz

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/thomas.donaldson.art

Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/thomasdonaldsonart/

Twitter       https://twitter.com/thomasdonaldson

Pinterest     https://www.pinterest.com/thomasdonaldson/

Tumblr       http://thomasdonaldsonart.tumblr.com/

by Margaret Lipsey

Coco

Holidays

Spring Dance

The Blues

Tools

Birds

Diversity

Imagination

Aspirations of Unanimity

Grey Area

Catching Waves

Changes in Soil

Rain

The Journey

Artist: Margaret Lipsey

My practice began in starts and stops. In the winter of 2000 while attending culinary school, I decided one day to purchase acrylic paints, brushes, and canvases and see what happened. I played in the medium for a month or so before moving onto another creative outlet. Being a chef for the following 15 years didn’t leave much time for a hobby but acrylics would sneak back in for a couple weeks at a time throughout that period.

I began exploring two divergent paths in the summer of 2015. On one I found grace and strength; women demanding to be seen, giving pause to those who passed. They have power beyond the canvas. they delve into our being and reflect what we want to see in ourselves. This path is inspiring as an artist. These women are apart from me but they influence who I am. They take me to the realm of realistic fantasy; beyond my normal but not outside of my reach.

The other path is much more reflective. The abstracts are pieces of myself coming out into the world. These are an intuitive release that I only come to recognize upon completion of the work. My abstract pieces allow me to travel deeper into my beliefs and my thoughts. One canvas is composed of a hundred thoughts thereby becoming a novel to be read and reread. They are as varied as my thoughts but collections slowly reveal themselves the longer I participate in their creation. I see these paintings as true reflections of who I am as an artist; a constant balancing game between light and dark, heavy intentional strokes and arbitrary spots, there is movement and action.

The deeper my practice the more I realize that those two paths reference and connect in ways I could not have seen. The freedom of exploring creativity only connects me more soundly to my path of self awareness and the two paths converge to both broaden and concentrate my work.

I began to sell professionally in the fall of 2015 and painting became my full time vocation in the summer of 2016.

My studio is in my home in Saint Lambert, Quebec.

by Jenny Schultz

Four years ago I was living a great life as an artist, mom, wife and fun, energetic friend. My art was just gaining ground and was featured in several galleries across the southeast. My painting style was happy, bright and colorful. Then I was diagnosed with late stage, neurological Lyme disease.

Joyous creation was essential to my psyche pre-illness, and work would really just evolve on my easel. The action of painting and interacting with the canvas and mediums truly made me happy. Angst did not figure into my work. I just never experienced it. This showed in the end result.

I could no longer feel those joyful emotions after the illnesses took hold. The ease of creation was lost to me. My actual vision and depth perception had changed. Hand tremors made the actual movement of representational painting difficult. I could no longer see or feel or experience the synergy that was once there.

My Lyme Doctor is located in New York, which gave me the opportunity to finally visit the various museums that I had always dreamed about. I would schedule time after each appointment to sit and soak in the work of the art masters.

I became obsessed with the mid century modernists. Pollack, de Kooning, Hoffman, Klein, Krasner, Freud, and Klee all spoke to me. I understood what they were saying but try as I might, I couldn’t make the jump from my happy, Impressionism to a dialogue via abstraction.

Finally, after four years of healing, I was able to start that conversation with my art. I understood what I needed to say. After four years of fighting to get my brain back, I sure had a lot to say. I began, slowly, to rebuild my life and my art career, with the help of many doctors, friends and two amazing gallery owners.

I actually write about my journey onto my canvas. I write about love and frustrations and the joy of being alive. I then use paint to communicate more, either over or under my words. I sand and scrape and carve, depending on the emotions and thoughts that are trying to reach the canvas. Some days the creation comes easily and I feel the past peek through a bit. Other days, more frequently than not, the bacteria in my body take charge and I have to wait for the healing to happen again.

Artist: Jenny Schultz

Website: http://jennyschultz.com/

Email: jennyschultz1121@gmail.com

by María Álvarez

Artist: María Álvarez

Madrid-based oil and acrylic painter. Born in Vigo, María began to study drawing and painting at the age of 7 in the studio of the renowned painter Mingos Teixeira. There, she inherited the passion for color and contemplation. While developing her painting skills, she also took music and piano lessons through several years. When she turned 18, María moved to Madrid to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree both in Audiovisual and Applied Creativity Studies. This experience expanded her concept of image and opened her the door to other forms of art such as film, photography and graphic design.

Her art is based on mental passages and richness of color, through nature, wildlife and sometimes abstract scenes, where you can find the inspiration of the Impressionist and landscaper painters.

Website: www.mariaalvarezestevez.com

Instagram: @maria_alvarez_e

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariaalvarezeart/