Friday Art Feature – Memory Howell

Happy Friday to all my friends.  I hope you’ve had a beautiful week and this is the start of a wonderful weekend.  After a little hiccup last week, I’m happy to be back on track this week with the Friday Art Feature.

This week’s Featured Artist is

First of all, thank you for that lovely comment.  In answer to your question,  when I was young I did draw many other things. But now I only draw the Fae it seems. For once you start to draw Fairies and they allow you into their world, you learn quickly that these lovely little creatures can be quite jealous at times. If I try to sketch something else it seems mysterious things start to happen on my desk.  My brushes will be missing, paint will spill, and coffee rings and smudges will soon be on my sketch. The Fairies are all so anxious to be drawn and brought to life that they become quite ornery if I take time out to draw anything else.. I have learned to put a stop to such antics by reminding them that if they aren’t good, I just might draw them with four thumbs or three ears or such.

Nature seems to play the largest part in the ideas I use to draw my fairy friends, perhaps finding a curled leaf on the ground gives me an idea to shape a fairies garment in the way the leaf curls, and mushrooms, twigs, and trees, all bring a thought to the imagination that makes you want to hurry inside and grab your sketch book.  I often think of drawing a fairy a certain way and then it seems my pencil is being lead another direction as if the fairy is letting me know how she should be drawn.  Even the grain in a wood door can show an image that cause your imagination to create a picture of the Fae.

Absolutely, so happy to share a story with you.  My stories are very short, some are funny, some are sad, and some have a moral to follow, and some are written to hopefully uplift someone’s day with a message they might need to hear.

One of my Fairy stories  on my Fairies of Memory Facebook Page:

No I have never illustrated my art, although I’d love to.  I have wrote about a few paintings though, one that comes to mind is a painting called Lithia and Larkin. I think you can find it  on my web page.

Oh yes…I would soooooooo love to illustrate a book with my paintings and stories, but haven’t had the opportunity to do that yet. It would be a wonderful thing to leave to my grand daughters to be remembered by.

Hmmm… words of wisdom..I think I would tell them don’t be afraid to use your own style even if everyone is doing something else. It’s sometimes a really good thing to be different.  Don’t give up on your art and get discouraged.  If you could have seen my first fairy you would really laugh, what a pitiful sight that little fae was. Practice, practice, practice and your art will get better and better. Since I use watercolors I would advise on that media, to get the best you can afford and really good poundage cold press paper. I use Holbein watercolors and at least 140 lb. paper. Remember to surround yourself with positive thoughts and positive people to encourage you as you draw.

When I’m not drawing , I like to read a lot, listen to my music, sculpt, journal, decorate, dance, be with friends and family, face book, Pinterest , and….have a great Mojito or two.  After all when those fairies are in your life, you absolutely need a mojito to get thru the day.

Want to see more of Memory’s art or visit her stores?