Blog | Annie Mason

Annie Mason
- 3 min read

New feature MEET THE ARTIST

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Michelle Brenmark

Wisconsin, USA

Who are you, and what is your background?

My name is Michelle Brenmark, a.k.a. One Artsy Momma. I'm happily married to my best friend of 28 years, Ed. We have twin teenagers, Eddie and Catie, plus two dogs, Indy and Junior.

I'm a breast cancer survivor (5 years cancer-free) and a self-taught artist.

I've been creating art since I was a child. While I took a long hiatus from creating once I became a momma, I eventually jumped back into it; it was in 2012 that I decided to try digital art for the first time. I saved up for a

Mactop laptop, a Wacom tablet, and this

fantastic software called ArtRage.

I taught myself how to create digitally, and I opened up my very first

Product on Demand (POD) store:

Zazzle store One Artsy Momma

What is your favorite medium?

In 2019, I stopped creating digitally and started using the real deal. I first started with watercolor paints and, lately, colored pencils. I am seriously considering trying out acrylic paint. I am going to experiment with this technique called paint pouring. I can't wait to try it out. It looks so fun, but it will be messy.

My favorite medium would be colored pencils, which is kind of surprising because when I first started using them, I didn't enjoy the process. It's a slow way to create art because of the many layers of color you need to put down onto your paper and the color blending process.

What do you enjoy creating?

My favorite subjects, hands-down, are owls. They are so majestic and adorable.

(click the photo to see this image on a ceramic tile from Zazzle)

When I found digital art in 2012, my main subjects were ladybugs. This is my very first ladybug painting.

(click the photo to see this image on a Poster at Zazzle) -->

Then I started my Wildlife Series: pieces of animals with a ladybug visiting them on their noses or beaks. This panda bear was the very first created for the series.

(Click on the photo to see this image on a Throw Pillow from Zazzle)

What food, drink, or song inspires you?

Music is another form of art. I always have music playing while I'm creating. I love a variety of music genres, from classic rock to jazz. My favorites are The Beatles, Led Zepplin, Wings, Sir Paul McCartney, and Vince Guaraldi. Lately, I have to hit the repeat mode on my favorite song from Wings, "Goodnight Tonight." (YouTube)

I LOVE that song!

Professionally, what is your goal?

I plan to write and illustrate my first children's book within six months. I would like to create more art pieces, as well.

What is your best advice for someone wanting to start as an artist?

I would say don't put your eggs in too many baskets. If you plan to sell your art online via product-on-demand websites, choose a couple of sites. I made the mistake of joining a half dozen sites when I first started my art, and it was too much stress and a huge hassle to load my art to each site. It was way too time-consuming. Just start with one or two. I highly recommend Zazzle.com. They have high-quality products and superb customer service.

Thank you, Michelle. I'm happy you are Annie Mason's first "Meet the Artist" series post. I hope the readers enjoyed this as much as I did.

Visit Michelle's website to see more of her art and blog: One Artsy Momma

Stores:

Social Media:

Portfolio

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Annie Mason
- 3 min read

CREATE. Why?

It is fascinating to watch the many web pages, platforms, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, and other internet places where artists share their creativity. When the pandemic hit in early March 2020, I experienced mixed emotions: What will I do? How will this affect my family and me? Whoa...I'll have much more time in my studio.

As the weeks went on, however, I would go into my art studio and find that I would wander around, pick up brushes, find something needing to be moved around, and end up doing nothing. The rest of the day was spent with family needs. I often check into Facebook groups (mostly art-related), especially when a notification catches my attention. Two Facebook groups that I belong to, All Animal Watercolors and Women Artists & their Art

I found it fascinating that so many were experiencing a lack of motivation or inspiration, which I was feeling.

Not much had changed. Start and stop. My creative juices were dried up like rotten tomatoes.

Soon, I let whatever was going to happen happen. Personal family issues had taken a lot of attention, and I knew this was another factor in my lack of inspiration and creative momentum.

Where does creativity come from? Why?

Sometimes, it comes from the natural progression of events: Over the last several years, I have set aside the illustrations I did for a book authored by Dr. Bertice Berry. I know how incredibly busy she is...and I am very patient. We both share a "right time, right place" mentality. So this book is going to happen. Why not get it back on its course? I was unhappy with some of the pages...and over the years, I had honed my painting skills, and my confidence had grown. I went through and revised all 24 pages of illustrations to my satisfaction. This book is back on track and will be a real success.

My dearest friend called upon me to paint the canvas seat on a Director's chair for her grandson. I {sighed} because I worried the course canvas fabric and watercolor would not work on this project. I would be using acrylics (not my favorite choice). The design that my friend wanted was a "baseball theme" to match his bedroom décor. I love baseball (Go, Nats!), so this was good.

It turned out that doing something with paint that is not the norm and having the joy of making this for my dearest friend (who lost her husband not long ago) brought "creativity" back into my heart.

Is that where it lies?

CREATE. "Keep Creating Like No One's

Watching."

Creativity is fluid. It sits just below the skin. It simmers and perks while not brewed before its time.

It's spontaneous and cognitive; it's deliberate, yet emotional. But mostly, it's unexpected and unanticipated.

Why? Why not! We are all creative in many ways; Maybe no one's watching. Maybe someone is watching over us.

Addendum:

Flash forward to 2024. I have a new art studio in our new home. It's a pleasure to be on the ground level and not have to navigate two flights of stairs. My bones say, "Thank you."

I still question CREATIVITY. It's elusive, to be sure. Maybe that's the goal of every artist. The desire to forge new routes and make free and unique associations between ideas, concepts, emotions, memories, symbols, imaginative forms, objects, and words that can be developed into the most fulfilling and original artworks.

Since the original post from 2019, my portfolio has jumped to over 300 works. My style has changed. See A change of pace and style.

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