The 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod: Welsh Festival of Arts
at the Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California

Jen Delyth

Welsh Artist Jen Delyth

The Celtic tradition has its own ancient roots back into the cultures of the Neolithic and Paleolithic peoples who came before them. It continues to evolve and is - most important to many working today - a Living Tradition.

Artist Jen Delyth is part of this living tradition. She creates original Celtic paintings and illustrations which explore the language of myth and symbol inspired by Celtic folklore and the spirit within nature. Her work is informed by the folk motifs and symbols of the ancient Celts, but woven through her experience and vision as a woman of the twenty-first century.

Born in the Welsh borderlands of the Wye valley, and raised in the industrial heartlands of south Wales, in Port Talbot, and Penllergaer a small village on the edge of the Gower Penninsula, Jen Delyth was surrounded by landscapes that have inspired poets and artists throughout the ages. Her childhood was spent exploring the lovely Welsh hills and stunning coastal beaches and coves with her family. This early connection to the natural world has played an integral role in her development as an artist.

Her first introduction to Celtic mythology was through her mother Mair, who shared the Welsh folk songs and traditions that she had learned as a child, when she was closely connected with the Urdd, the Youth movement that continues to promote Welsh language and culture today. Her father Fred was passionate about literature and journalism as a young man, although he later focused on his interest in psychology. He encouraged Jen to write, and to travel — to learn from experience in addition to developing craft and technique.

Continuing to combine traditional techniques with contemporary digital mediums, and drawing from ancient metaphors while integrating the visual motifs and language of Celtic patterning into original new designs, Jen Delyth finds the symmetry of form and symbol that expresses living archetypes. Her work is stylistically contemporary, iconographic, reflecting spiritual and philosophical roots which embody universal themes that reflect her love of nature and Celtic symbolism.

Jen Delyth’s original Celtic artwork has been widely published and exhibited in North America, back in her native Wales and around Europe. Her work has graced the covers of several books including Celtic Way of Seeing by Frank MacEowen and Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend by Miranda Green. Delyth was also a featured artist in David James’ Celtic Crafts: The Living Tradition and New Visions in Celtic Art. The series of animated films she created for the interactive DVD “Beyond the Ninth Wave” has premiered at music events and workshops, and on television. Her work has been featured in magazines, music and theatre productions, and in festivals and museums across the country. She illustrated the best selling “Celtic Mandala” calendar, journals and greeting cards, and established a successful business - Keltic Designs with her partner Scott, that showcases her textiles, prints and paintings which have been exhibited with solo and group shows internationally.

website: http://www.celticartstudio.com/

Casey Ruic

My name is Casey Ruic. I hail from Astoria, Oregon. I grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio area. I have many interests. I have tried to squeeze as much of it as possible into my art, to chronicle these interesting events, people, characters and histories.

My personal style is to etch my images into a sheet of mat board with an Xacto knife, then I peel away the negative/positive spaces. It's a simple concept, but it's a slow process. It's very unforgiving, but the final effect thrills the heck out of me. I really appreciate your time!

Frankie Babylon

Frankie Babylon resides in the Chatsworth-Canoga Park area of Los Angeles. He draws inspiration from visiting and living near old Manson family stomping grounds and has gained an easy notoriety as the "Serial Killer Cleaver Artist." His artwork explores the evil and odd side of humanity and his chosen medium evokes this murderous brutality to a twisted place of laughter and dark humor. There's a wonderful irony in painting portraits of
madmen on instruments of death which Frankie compounds with journeys into pop culture.

Website: http://www.hyaenagallery.com/frankiebabylon.html

B is for Bendigeidfran
Who laid a bridge
for his weary army to run.
In his last breath the giant fell
Sending the enemy back to Ireland.

John Charles

John Charles is a hard rock Hollywood musician and visual artist with roots in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans and Chicago. His work has been shown at the Congregation Gallery and Hyaena Gallery, and resides in private collections internationally. He has a MBA and spent a decade of his life in management at major Hollywood film studios.

…but who gives a damn about that. John Charles was fed through a system of preachers, teachers, parents and politicians that have taught us all to hate ourselves and obey our owners. When he finally woke up, he was set ablaze in his world of REBELLION AND TRUTH.

The art of John Charles has been described as fine art caricatures stained in darkness and edge, portraying the horrific underbelly of good ol' fashion social, political and religious lifestyles. He treats his work with higher regard than his own life to make sure his message is both unmistakably real and completely unyielding. He doesn't ask that you buy his art… instead he asks that you join him and become REBELLION AND TRUTH.

Website: http://rebellionandtruth.com

C is for Coblynau
Who helps the miner find his ore.
But when the cavern shakes
The rocks will slide
Something he will surely ignore.

Gina N. Turcios (rabbit)

Gina N. Turcios, (AKA, Rabbit) was born in the rain forest of Honduras. Her love for the arts was from a young age. Since she could hold a crayon in her hand she started to draw on anything, make anything out of scratch or use the camera to record everything around her. She is part of the Cal Arts & USC Community and found her passion in animation and live action. She is finishing her AA Degree in Animation Production at College of the Canyons and is transferring to California State University, Northridge for her BA in Communications. Currently she is working as the Staff Coordinator and Scout for Monsterpalooza.

Her first gallery group show was 'Necessary Discomforts: an Artistic Tribute to Rozz Williams', on Nov 13th, 2010. She is excited to be part of the West Coast Eisteddfod, Welsh Festival of Arts of 2011. If she is not studying, she is always getting involved in the Arts, Animation, or the Motion Pictures community.

Rabbit Site's:
Event work Web Site:
http://www.rubberroom101.com/monsterpalooza2011/
Gina the Rabbit Blog:
http://ginaturciosrabbitinc.blogspot.com/

Ch is for Arthur a Chei
Who grew up together to play.
The brothers came upon
A sword in a stone
that little Arthur carried away.

Phresha Le Vandalé

Phresha was born in Romania in 1981 with a crayon in her hand. After a childhood of drawing on all the walls around, she relocated to Canada in her youth, spend some time in Toronto and now recently relocated to Vancouver BC. College educated in graphic design & advertising and deeply influenced by graffiti aesthetics, Phresha's style can be described as vibrant, multi-layered, seductive, playful and sometimes scandalous, organic flows with sultry female forms. Phresha has worked with clients such as MTV, Vans Shoes and Style in Progress, and has artwork published in multiple publications such Curvy, DPi Magazine, Semi-Permanenent and Smut. Her art has been featured in numerous galleries on the North American east and west, as well as featured in a documentary "Creative Violation - The rebel art of the Street Stencil" in 2007. Currently Phresha is focusing on gallery shows, commission work and sampling all the delicious sushi down the coast.

Website: www.kittensashimi.com

D is for Dôn
Who raised her sons
To watch over the feuding land.
They battled Llyr’s flock
‘til old and gray
Taking control of their command.

David Richardson

Born September 10, 1981, in Greeley Colorado, raised in Loveland Co, David began drawing and sculpting at a very young age. He was brought up in a home where art was highly accepted and his creative mind had free reign. He began creating creatures of the unknown and unseen while still in elementary school. Then, in high school, he started working in art studios around Loveland where he was immersed in all aspects of sculpture and the lost wax process. Since then, David has been published in Amazing Figure Modeler Magazine, Churn an art magazine, and featured on Keith Wigdor Presents Surrealism Now and has shown in many art exhibits. David's art is featured in both public and private collections throughout the USA, as well as England, Canada, Russia, Hong Kong, and Australia. His sculpture has even been recognized by the great and talented movie director, Guillermo Del Toro. Embracing life-death-rebirth, David's sculptures are very primordial in thought and have very powerful significance. David has dug down into his unconsciousness to unearth deep seeded emotions and thoughts, bringing them to the surface of his reality and giving them life and permanence on earth.

As well as being a sculptor, David is also a master metal worker. He has worked with some of the greatest sculptors of the 21st century. Kent Ullberg, Fritz White, Dan Ostermiller, Dan Glanz, Wayne Salge, and Randy Hand, just to name a few. He has helped sculpt, mold, weld, and chase some of the biggest monuments seen here in America. "Working with and for these artist's has brought me great pride and honor. I have learned so much and owe a great deal of my success to each and everyone of them" David business Creative Metal Works LLC opened in 2005 and is still running full force.

Website: daverichardsonart.com/

Dd is for Y Ddraig Goch
Who chased away his white foe.
But the young Myrddin
found them buried
in a magic pool.

Adrien Burke

Adrien Rain Burke's illustrations and art have appeared in The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Michael's Arts & Crafts, Whispers, Weird Book, Fantasy Book, and The Irish News.

She has designed t- shirts, brochures, posters, flyers, signs. murals, letterheads, invitations, business cards, and certificates. She does human and animal portraits (including miniature), surrealism, fantasy, and mythology in pen and ink, Spectracolor, collage, pastel, pencil, watercolor and acrylic, as well as on the computer.

She has taught Calligraphy and Decorative Furniture Painting techniques at Arroyo Seco for Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Dept. and San Fernando Parks and Recreation, and The Celtic Arts Center in Hollywood.

Her etchings, paintings and drawings have been shown at The Weidman Print Gallery and Cafe Beckett in Hollywood, CA; The Raven Playhouse in North Hollywood; Sharing Dreams in Encino; The Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock, and the La Cañada-Flintridge Library Gallery.

E is for Ellyllon
Who roam the valleys and groves.
Their approach may slow the shepherd
But the sheep go running in droves.

Spinestealer

Spinestealer is a dark and surreal painter, illustrator, and mixed media artist based in Los Angeles. Donning masks and blood, this mad creator likes to imitate their own work for special gallery shows.

Spinestealer's work has been exhibited throughout Northern and Southern California, including group shows in the downtown artwalk, solo shows at Hyaena Gallery and yearly events such as Bats Day.

Heavily influenced by medical mysteries and star-crossed love, the artist manipulates various mediums into small, macabre creations. Each work created with the intention of pulling on the viewer's heartstrings.

F is for Y Forgen
Who lure the travelers by their sins.
Their beauty tis overseen as ye drown
Their legs be slippery fins.

Nicole Josephian

Well, I am a native northern Californian currently residing in the core of its counterpart, the one, the only, the infamous Las Angeles County. At present I am a film student at CalArts majoring in character animation and experimental cinematography; chipping away at the good ole BFA while simultaneously minoring in natural science. Quite the combination, I know, however both significantly influence not only the subject matter of my work but my creative process as well.

Though a logistical thinker with a passionate affinity towards structure, the catalyst behind my obsessive and eclectic collection of scientific methodologies is to apply this framework of theorems to fictitious situations in order to utilize established “fact” to illustrate, even justify, the imaginary. With the age of folklore (once our basis of truths annotating everything from the supernatural to everyday phenomenon) being replaced by the scientific revolution, we find humanity slipping further and further away from its whimsical roots as subatomic particles assume the lead role in the act of enlightenment. I, however, strive to inverse this continuum by employing the derived practicality of modern scientific processes as a constructive tool in establishing credibility of (and within) the existence of illusory worlds; further blurring the line between reality and the imagined while concurrently giving the unconscious a leg to stand on.

When it comes to visually depicting such perceptions they are hardly ever realized in one, all encompassing medium; or by any one entity for that matter. Personal experience has lead me to believe that the most effective and applicable concepts are derived through an evolution of successive interactions and discussion; which is why I more often than not find myself seeking out and participating in collaborative situations. Collaboration, like art itself, is a collection of the whole. I consider film to be the ideal forum given this environment for its ability to fuse all métiers into one cohesive abstraction when need be.

Kelly McCartin

Kelly Bree McCartin is a San Diego based artist currently. She has moved around a lot in her life, residing in places like Washington, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and California. Her mother was her biggest influence - teaching her how to paint and draw at an early age. Since her mother attended art college later in life, Kelly was brought along to sit quietly. Having this early education sparked a passion for creating and imagining. As well as being a painter, Kelly up-cycles furniture and clothing, macrame's, crochet's, and makes jewelry. Constantly searching for new things to create is also her obsession. Kelly holds a bachelor's in fine art from Towson University in Maryland.

Gaabriel Becket

Gaabriel Becket is a mixed media artist in Portland, Oregon, from a family of Pacific NW artists, dancers and musicians. She has been a painter, writer and mixed-media sculptor, is currently studying and working in digital media and exploring the application of mixed media in installation and performance. She is a founder and the graphic designer at americymru.net and runs linguavore.com and StoryForge Studios.

Nicolas Caesar

Nicolas Caesar is founder of the Scary-Art Collective, member of Art, Inc and co-founder of The Mail Art Consortium.

He and his work have been featured on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, KVIE PBS Sacramento, Livewire, The Bay Area's KOFY Tv20 - Creepy KOFY Movie Time, Cleveland's The Ghoul show and the film Scream 4.

Nicolas Caesar was the art curator for Scream 4

Placed #4 in Hyaena Gallery's Hand Turkey Contest

His web comic Mosquito and Spider was accepted into the Cartoon Museum in San Francisco

He has supported such charities as CODA, PBS, My Sisters House, The Bay Area Peddlers, The American Heart Association, ASPCA, The United Way and more!

He is the curator for Bank of the West in Castro Valley

His work is in private collections in France, The Netherlands, Norway, Kenya, Japan, The United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, Australia and throughout the United States.

website: http://scary-art.com/

Lorin Morgan-Richards

Lorin Morgan-Richards, of Amish and Welsh descent, is a Los Angeles based author and illustrator of dark humor handmade books, composer of storytelling, and blogger of Welsh arts.

In 2009, Richards released his first book 'Simon Snootle and OTHER small stories' under his small press, A Raven Above Press. 'A Boy Born from Mold and Other Delectable Morsels' and 'A Little Hard to Swallow:1334' was released in 2010.

In 2011, 'A Boy Born from Mold and Other Delectable Morsels' (read by Jason Shepherd) was released as an audiobook, reaching #46 in the top 100 I-tunes downloads.

Lorin Morgan-Richards is also the LA event coordinator for the 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod: Welsh Festival of Arts.

Website: www.lorinrichards.com

Rick Dienzo Blanco

Rick “Dienzo” Blanco is a Los Angeles area artist whose collection of dark little characters are meant to intrigue, entice and perhaps cause a bit of anxiety. While his experience in commercial art as an award-winning designer spans over 20 years, his love of fine art has existed since he was old enough to hold a pencil. His most recent style is greatly influenced by his work for Disney, Mattel and most recently, Cartoon Network. In this role, he serves as senior creative director of product development and collaborates with internal partners and licensees to oversee the development of toys, video games, sporting goods and more based on the network’s original properties.

In creating his art, Dienzo sees the technical aspect as, “taking the world of cartoon like characters and rendering them in the traditional medium of acrylic on canvas. From a content perspective, it’s drawing from the influence of pop-culture elements and experiences as a kid like watching The Munsters and The Addams Family or visiting the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland.

“I’ve always been inspired by the darker side of life,” says Dienzo. Here it’s the juxtaposition of “cute and cuddly” with something slightly subversive or sinister that makes these characters and vignettes accessible. “The timing is also right as more and more artists are bridging the gap between fine art and merchandise. They now understand the value of approaching their art as a brand and managing new opportunities from that point of view.” Dienzo has begun developing licensed product based on his art. “The real beauty of this genre is that the imagery can live on the shelves of specialty retailers like Hot Topic or Urban Outfitters as readily as on the walls of a gallery.”

Dienzo received his bachelor’s degree in graphic design and an executive MBA from Loyola Marymount University. Having established a body of work and a client base with Cuban themed neo-expressionism under the name of “Rick Blanco,” the pseudonym “Dienzo” was chosen to differentiate his new paintings from the existing style. It is a hybrid of his sons’ names (Diego & Lorenzo) and is meant to preserve the wide-eyed naiveté of childhood while creating a legacy for his own sons. He resides with his wife and boys near Pasadena, California.

Meiling Chen

Meiling Chen is a young and talented artist born in Taiwan. She began her pursuit of education and studied abroad to California at age of 15. Her talent was soon discovered and work of art was often posted in local and school newspaper. She is grateful to have met her first inspiring artist, Claudia Posvar, her high school teacher. Meiling was encouraged to enter many small art shows to gain recognition. Posvar boosts her spirit and devotion to art. Later, she received her BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. She began her career in Graphic Design/ Illustrator shortly after graduation. Meiling Chen currently work as an Advertising Graphic Designer with a team of creative artists. She is also a freelance Illustrator in her spare time. Her collection of art is being exhibited in galleries at Los Angeles. She is now living in Chino Hills with her cat Elvis. She is planning to challenge herself by writing and illustrating children's books in the near future.

Eversince I can remember, I had my grandmother by my side. She often takes nap on the couch, and being the only child, I would pick up a stack of paper and begin "torturing" it! I enjoy drawing and cutting paper dolls and I would build a world around the character I created. As I grow older, and before I realize what magic I can do with paper, coloring pencil, I gave the paper doll beautiful clothes and everything anything i can think of. I must admit, I am a pretty lonely child, but with paper and some coloring, it did justice! I always believe every painting is a piece of artist's life, a way and a gift he or she shows her feeling toward this world. My work is often rich in texture and portray contents of child like image. I often show
my frustration and sadness towards life in my paintings. It could be a news events that bothers me, a believe, or emotion towards my personal life experience. "My goal in art is to get past literal conscious thought and try to let my uninhibited subconscious mind make my art." by Mark Ryden. I am inspired by artist as such that paint with their strong instinct. It's exciting for me to look at the paintings and explore what's in an artist eye. For instance, the beautiful design of Gustav Klimt, breathetaking paintings of Caravaggio and John Singer Sargent, Saturday Evening Post of Norman Rockwell, or delighted poem and images of Shel Silverstein, the list goes on....I believe this bitter sweet life of mine is beautiful. I'm trying to take my time and make my art beautiful and truthful to my feeling. I wish one day I could breath life into my paintings.

Website: http://meiichen.blogspot.com

Nichola Hope

Born Cardiff 1975
http://www.nicholahope.com

Nichola has been creating drawings for the Welsh National Opera since late 2005. Working directly from life, within the hubbub and flurry of live rehearsal. WNO hold a large collection of these drawings in their private collection.The drawings of the Welsh National Opera are a
rich, visual documentation of the opera company's history.

Along with twin sister, Sarah Hope, she has exhibited extensively. Her works have been selected for Wales Portrait 1 and II, Welsh Artist of the Year and RCA. She has worked on international drawing projects with organisations such as Monte Carlo Opera, Melbourne Opera, Tasmanian Storytelling Festival and No Fit State Circus. Her three-dimensional drawings were highly commended at Oriel Davies'RE:Drawing show and her works have featured in a number of publications.

The artist's studio is based in Cardiff where she creates drawings and paintings for portrait and illustration work.

Read the exclusive interview! http://americymru.net/profiles/blogs/2011-west-coast-eisteddfod-1

Chris Mann

Chris Mann is a self-taught painter working mainly in oil and acrylic. His paintings are inspired by human sensuality and popular culture. He has sold his work through The Tom of Finland Foundation, World of Wonder, and has had work featured in such publications as The Globe, Bizarre Magazine, TMZ.com, and Dangerous Minds. Chris's work has also been presented in New York Magazine's art show benefit and on NBC News. His celebrity nudes were the inspiration for the controversial Golden Gals Gone Wild show in Hollywood, California and Miami, Florida. Chris's work can be found in private art collections around the World. He currently lives in Southern California.

Andrea Gutierrez

Andrea Gutierrez loves to draw. She loves animals. She loves stars. She loves victorian houses. She loves contemplative children with secrets behind their lips. She also likes the occasional child with a bird head.

She has worked in oils and acrylics, but loves inks best. When the pens are dry, she dabbles in hand-made doll-work.

She has conceptualized and created artwork for a few bands, locally AND abroad, for use on album covers and merchandise, and does not ceased to be thrilled by this.

She has done Logo Design and spot illustration work with Aeolidia, as well as designing stationery, business cards, T-shirts for anyone that wants them.

Her work has a home in private collections in Canada, England, France, Australia and New Zealand.

Website: http://mylittlebighead.com

Calan Ree

Calan Ree is the creator of the alternative comic GingerDead and Friends which often mixes illustration with haiku.  Her comic has appeared in Seattle’s The Stranger, The Studio Review and Color Ink Book. The GingerDead characters can be found on Calan’s independent line of Greeting Cards found online and at gallery stores and eclectic boutiques.  She has also worked as a digital fashion designer independently and for corporations within the virtual world of Second Life and has also worked designing ads, logos and illustrations as a freelance graphic designer.

In the last few years, Calan decided to spend less time on the computer and more time getting her hands dirty.  She used her stylized character design to create a line of jewelry where each piece is hand illustrated via pen and ink on clay.  This work led her to explore a childhood passion for clay.  Today Calan is obsessed with art dolls which she sculpts with stone clay and found objects.  Her art dolls are already being collected across the United States and some examples of her dolls can be found in galleries like FL Craftsmen and boutiques such as HighStreet.

Calan’s work can be found on her website calanree.com and her comic GingerDead and Friends is in it’s 4th year, updating most Wednesdays at GingerDead.com.

Kimberly Wlassak

Southern California artist, Kimberly Wlassak, grew up in a home surrounded by art. Inspired by dreams and nightmares, Johnny Appleseed skies, crayons and The Ozarks, she fell naturally into a life of whimsy and surrealism.

At the age of 10, Kimberly's story "The King of Cream Cheese Island" along with her illustrations, was published in the book "I'll Build My Friend...A Marble Mountain". It was at this time that she knew, for her, art was forever.

Although Kimberly has a fondness for all forms of art, it is the art of watercolor/collage that is her true passion. Bringing these two elements together has allowed her to create colorful and unexpected worlds. Worlds full of twists and turns, dreams and nightmares and dark whimsy.

Along with creating comes running an art business. Kimberly owns, operates and is the all around Princess of "Gerushia's New World".

Kimberly is currently preparing for a 3 person show entitled "Connected Spaces" at The Riverside Arts Project. She is also in the process of illustrating a children's book about Opossums.

It was at a young age that Kimberly was introduced to mythology in general, and Welsh mythology specifically. She was fascinated by the stories of The Mabinogion and has been passionate about Wales and all things Welsh for many years. It is truly an honor for her to participate in the 2011 West Coast Eisteddfod: Welsh Festival of Arts.

Website: http://gerushiasnewworld.blogspot.com/ and Facebook Art Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerushias-New-World-the-art-of-kimberly-wlassak/117701628259882

Sarah Hope

Sarah Hope
Born Cardiff 1975
Website : www.sarahhope.com

Resident artist at the Welsh National Opera since 2005, Sarah works alongside Nichola Hope to create drawing and paintings directly from life, during rehearsal and performances. Sarah has worked on many performances including Carmen, Tosca, The Magic Flute and Falstaff.

Sarah has an interest in sight size drawing technique, training the eye through working from casts. She has studied this approach in the UK and at the Lack Atelier in Minnesota, USA.

Elements of theatricality link the works of Nichola Hope and Sarah Hope. In the works, theatricality comes from the subject through the use of composition, gesture, costume and props. Masquerade costume and performance all become elements of identity. On another level, the artist engages with the role of performer through the means in which the figure is represented in an imaginary space.

Read the exclusive interview! http://americymru.net/profiles/blogs/2011-west-coast-eisteddfod-1

Jo Mazelis

Jo Mazelis is a writer and visual artist who was born and raised in Swansea, Wales. For over a decade she worked as a graphic designer, illustrator and photographer in London. Since returning to Swansea she has published two collections of short stories, Diving Girls (Parthian, 2002) and Circle Games (Parthian, 2005). Her award winning stories have also been published in various anthologies and magazines and broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Diving Girls was shortlisted for Welsh Book of the Year and Commonwealth Best First Book.
She has shown her paintings, photographs and prints at a number of places including Camerawork, London, The Pontardawe Arts Centre, The Dylan Thomas Centre and The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.
She recently completed her first novel and is currently a Fellow of The Royal Literary Fund at Swansea University.

Rochelle Shelly Rosenkild

“A friend once called me a living, breathing contradiction,” says Rochelle with a hint of pride. “I do recognize the truth in that statement, which is probably why it’s so difficult for me to label or categorize my art. However, there are some things which do not waiver. Nature always inspires me, as do the magical, mystical elements of life...real or imagined!”

Rochelle’s interests in art are varied, as she enjoys creating through watercolors, acrylics, computer manipulated art, photography, sculpture, assemblage and much more. Although the subject matter is diverse, a common thread runs through her work. She hopes to inspire the viewer… whether that be through whimsy, or deep, raw honesty. One series she is known for is entitled “The Solar Goddess” in which celestial beings, women of all shapes and forms comprise the sun faces and moons in her work. Her goal with this series has been to encourage the idea of “Letting your inner light shine.”

From realistic animal portraits to whimsical, cartoon - like critters; from sexy mermaids and celestial goddesses, to spiritual angels and the innocence of a child’s eyes, there is something intangible that can be recognized in all of her creations. Yet, there may always be a surprise to anticipate ahead.

“My art is an invitation into my own little world, into my alternate reality which is always evolving and full of variety. Ah, yes, the spice of life! I keep things spicy by portraying a multitude of different subjects in my work. Fairies, mermaids, landscapes, wildlife, florals, tasteful nudes and redheads galore...you never know what I might come up with next!”

As an artist for over 20 years, she has created a line of rubber stamps for scrapbooking, window displays for the Humboldt State University Natural History Museum, illustrations for children's books and various other publications, logos for businesses, and several murals for the local public school system, the San Bernardino County Museum, as well as in private homes. She has been active in her small community by volunteering to coordinate the annual Fine Art Show, as well as the local craft fair each year . She also coordinated the annual Family Art Night at the local Magnet for the Arts Elementary School.

“I love to encourage people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of confidence to express their creativity. So often, we put ourselves down and compare ourselves to others because sharing our art is such a vulnerable feeling. It is like baring one’s soul. But, in sharing we can connect with others in ways we may never have imagined,” says Rochelle.

Rochelle received a B.A. in Journalism from Humbodlt State University California where she also minored in art and environmental ethics. Her artwork can be found in many online venues by searching, “Shell-Rose Creations.”

Website: http://shellrosecreations.blogspot.com/

Michele Witchipoo

Michele Witchipoo is a cartoonist/illustrator/artist based in New York City. Growing up, she lived on a diet of Alternative music, art, films, and classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons. That, along with living among the mean streets of Queens, have greatly influenced her style.

Mediums of choice vary. Currently she works with pen, ink, watercolor, and acrylic.

Michele started out by self-publishing her own comics locally. She's been published by MTV Press and The Brooklyn Rail website.

When Michele is not busy with various projects, she likes to find the essence from within.

Website: http://www.witchesbrewpress.net/

Xavier Lopez Jr.

The streets of Seattle at midnight are an amazing place, teeming with artists roaming the urban landscape. In Seattle, every artist worth paying any attention to is born with wheatpaste, spray paint and a brush in hand. Home to such artistic luminaries as Ego, Ryan Henry Ward and Weirdo—Seattle has an incredible art scene that has been growing exponentially over the past several years. In the thick of it is Xavier Lopez Jr. “Cool,” “Urban,” “Goth,” “Kawaii,” “Pop Surrealist” or whatever definition you might want to come up with, Lopez’ artistic style crosses over many boundaries and unsettles them all. Most recently, Lopez’ work has been described as “gleefully disturbing,” a cross between very old Fleischer cartoons and their animated nightmares, giving us a glimpse into the disquieting world that we all invent for ourselves before we have a chance to make sense of the universe and its vast contradictions.

Within Lopez’ world there are many landscapes: caves, a vast ocean, snowscapes, living trees, and always the sense that one has crossed over into the deep end. “I want viewers of my work to feel as they do just before going over the cliff at Splash Mountain, or to feel the way they did as a child when they found out that Bambi’s mother was about to die. That moment of extreme consciousness, when everything is so precious and one realizes something very important—which is different for everybody, and which according to Kierkegaard you cannot realize fully and take with you, because to do so would lead to madness.”

It is this madness that one can see in the wild-eyed stare that is such a part of Xavier Lopez’ work and permeates the insane smile that sets it apart and draws so many to it, while scaring the hell out of many others. “That smile,” he adds, “that is the void, that is the power-punch that tells the viewer that there is something else going on here.” It is the smile of the Muse and the multi-armed skeleton and it is the darkness behind the Kawaii. Xavier Lopez’ work is not just cute, there is a darkness to it that is as vast as this thing called life and as complex as its obverse. His dreamscapes are filled with pain and wonder, innocence and perversity, but mostly a sense of fun that keeps drawing more and more viewers to play in the “Deep End” of his imagination.

Continually, growing and evolving, fans of his work never know what to expect from the artist. “I love testing myself, teasing and trying new things, most recently I have been doing a lot of Murals in the Seattle Area with a group of very talented, young artists and I have begun plans to work on a not-so children’s book and even a cartoon based on the Muse and her adventures. This is an amazing time in which it feels as though anything is possible and an artist just needs to put his mind and his imagination into motion to see it through.”

Xavier Lopez’ work can be found at various art galleries in the Seattle area, including the Short Stop Café, Echo Echo Gallery in the Greenwood Collective and the Twilight Collective, as well as on many murals, posters and prints. He is also the author of a blog that covers the Alternative to Alternative Art Scene in Seattle for the online “zombie newspaper,” the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Rhys Jones

Rhys Jones is a Swansea based visual artist, photographer and writer. He became an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society (ARPS) in 2010 and holds a Master of Arts Degree in Photography: Contemporary Dialogues from Swansea Metropolitan University, University of Wales, United Kingdom. Rhys also holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Latin, Greek, Philosophy and Ancient History from the University of London. He became a Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society (LRPS) in 2003.

Rhys has exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions in Wales, England, the USA and in Sweden. In 2009 he had an image selected for the 157th Open Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol

Rhys is currently working to develop a PhD proposal to research into ways in which photography, art and design can assist health professionals in the testing, diagnosis and treatment of conditions on the autism spectrum and analyze how and if artistic interventions can prove/disprove and provide evidence to augment research carried out on  the genetic processes observed in research on patients who have been diagnosed with a condition on the autism spectrum and also on those who have not been so diagnosed.

Liam O'Connor

Liam O'Connor's work displays a technical finesse that is, at once, seductive, energetic and revealing. In simple terms, Liam is a portrait painter, but as with the best portrait painters, these are not mere representations of people, but studies that capture something more elusive. Through his work, Liam acknowledges that at one time, portrait painters were at the cutting edge of technical developments in art, utilising the 'new' technologies of the day in their pursuit of perfection. He approaches the development of his work in a similarly up-to-date manner, investigating the work he finds so inspiring by recreating them using technologies current to our times. Primarily, he returns to oil paint for his finished works but with a slightly shifted perspective and awareness of how the oil paint is functioning for him. This is also reflected in the broader practice in which he is engaged; the eye of the painter and his skill for manipulating a medium, translating portraits in to video works. Liam's relationship with the history of portraiture is honest and clear in his work, but this is work which is searching for a new relationship with the world, a relationship that is as relevant to this day and age as it ever has been.

Jeremy Cross

I am the Bastard artist.
I call my work "Bastard Art" because I am unschooled in any traditional sense. No art classes, college,..blah blah blah. So I dont really feel like my work has a lineage, a heritage, or anything that resembles a trained method. I have always felt abandoned by most of the traditional schools. I just create, because I dont know how not to. I learn from my peers and those i admire. Constantly trying to evolve.

My work has been described as "Raw, folk art, pop, low-brow, impressionistic-figurative, sacrilegious, dark, melancholy, funny, shit,..." I think all of those are as accurate as the next.

I have been showing my work for the past 10 years or so, first in coffee shops and small galleries, then When Hyaena gallery opened in 2005 in Burbank, it really started to drive. Hyaena was the first real catalyst in making me take this shit seriously. Since then I have shown my paintings, pyrography and mixed media work in dozens of locations all over the country, mostly sticking close to home here in Los Angeles. I have had 6 solo exhibitions and have participated in probably 40 group shows through the years.

Curating is also a big passion mine. I started the Congregation Gallery in Hollywood (formerly "art core" - now curated by Cam Rackam) and have curated a few random shows in other locations. I am always trying to find ways to help promote my fellow artists. No matter where we are, I feel like we have a duty to each other in this community to keep the momentum up.

I have a simple philosophy really - love what you do. Spread the word. Keep people enthralled.

"Art is a virus. Infect Everyone"

Website: www.bastardart.com

Jason Shepherd

I’m From Swansea in South West Wales. It’s a great place for an Artist to live as the Gower Peninsula is on my Doorstep (nearly) and it has some of the most beautiful scenery in the U.K.

I mostly paint the scenery of the Gower Peninsula. I try to capture my childhood memories of exploring the Gower with my family through the use of strong colours, vivid textures and bold lines.

I studied Ceramics at University. Working in three dimensions has really helped me to bring a strong spatial awareness to my paintings. I have been teaching Fine Art for over 10 years now at various Day centres, Nursing homes and Colleges right around the Swansea area.

If people want to view my paintings and hear my thoughts on Painting the Gower Peninsula they can go to my Artist Blog: www.gowerartist.blogspot.com

Y is for Ysbrydion
Who haunts the midnight hour.
Their moaning lasts
Until the relatives change
The uncompromising dower.