Friday Art Feature – Monika Ptok-Byard

For as long as I could remember I’ve always wanted to be an Artist, it’s such a huge part of me and makes me so happy, I truly love my job! 

Hmmm, I would say a Paleontologist, I LOVE dinosaurs and digging for things.

I would like to dabble in trying to paint dinosaurs in the future perhaps, maybe the best of both worlds?

You do quite a few art shows, faery festivals and cons.  How did you get started doing them?  Do you have any coming up in the near future? 

I honestly don’t remember how I started doing them, it’s been so long ago it feels like I just magically got there.  I do however remember my first show. It was an art festival and I had some pretty bad scans of my work made into prints and they were hung up with hemp and clothing pegs, I knew nothing of high quality scans and prints back then as the internet wasn’t as big so it was a huge learning curve for me. I was thrilled to have people buying my work and supporting me! I got hooked! After that I think it’s just by other fellow artists, vendors and customers telling me about shows, I’m willing to try everything, it’s fun.

I just finished doing a Faery show this passed weekend but I have one more to do this year which will be a Medieval Festival then its off to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy and paint while I can. I’m very much looking forward to the future with my little guy next year at the shows!

I loved reading Fables as a kid and I love Faeries so you put them together and you get Faebyl, it’s also been my online name for years and it just stuck.

I LOVE painting faces, ever since I was little I loved doing portraits. I want to give my subjects a soul. I love eyes and the emotions and stories they tell.

I have never used stock photos until recently, I think it was  Enchanted Visions that got me started out. Of all of my works I have 4 from stock photos, I’m sure there will be more because they are amazing to use. 

Most paintings are done from my head and then using myself in mirrors to get anatomy right, though all the practice I got from doing so many portraits of friends and family when I was young helps.

Right now I work in a room in my house, it looks out to a large pond and forest, it’s gorgeous! I have 4 huge windows which give me a ton of natural light and a bunch of artwork from friends to inspire me. Unfortunately I’m only there for another month as we are moving into the city. I will have a studio there and  just as much inspiration, I’m very excited for the future!

That’s a hard one because all of my artist friends inspire me, they are all so talented!!

If I were to look back as a kid, it would be Albrecht Dürer I adore his work! I got to see my favorite painting from him last year! that was amazing!. I also love Gustav Klimt and of course Brian Froud.

Camping! love camping and hiking, just being outside. 

Cooking and veggie gardening. I also found a love for making my own skin and body care items.

Want to see more of Monika’s art, visit her store or follow her?

Faebyl Art Website:  http://www.faebylart.com 

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Faebyl-Art-Artwork-by-Monika-Ptok-Byard/158877114133669 

Etsy Store:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Faebyl 

Blog:  http://www.faebylart.blogspot.com/