Guest Blogger: Kim Minichiello- Trademarks, how do they affect artists

"Anticipation" original watercolor by Carrie Waller

Today I have a guest blogger Kim Minichiello.  Kim came to my rescue and explained trademark issues to me after I had a situation occur with a local organization.  I found the information to be so important that I asked her to do a series of blog posts about trademarks and copyrights.  

To see Kim's work visit her blog and website

Recently Carrie had a situation with an organization not accepting a painting of hers into their show because the subject matter was Ball canning jars, and they were concerned about an infringement of trademark.  I can fully understand an art organization, and we as artists, wanting to protect our rights be it with trademarks or copyrights. The decision not to accept Carrie’s painting was based on having incorrect knowledge of trademark infringement.  I posted a comment on Carrie’s blog and we have been conversing about this issue on Facebook in the past few days. Carrie asked me if I would do a guest post regarding trademark and copyright, and I told her I would be happy to!

I’m not an attorney, I’m an artist, and I don’t profess to be an expert on trademarks and copyrights, but I do have some experience and knowledge on the subject matter.  I co- founded a company a few years ago creating digital art for the art licensing market.  Some of the designs that I created were to be mass-produced, utilizing vintage images so, I wanted to be sure that by using them I wouldn’t be infringing on anyone’s trademark or copyright.  At that time, I had an Intellectual Property Attorney, and the information I will be passing on is from my own research that was validated by my attorney and information she passed on to me.  There is also information on the US Government’s Trademark and Patent web site. http://www.uspto.gov and the United States Copyright Office web site, http://www.copyright.gov.

What is a trademark?

A “trademark” is any word, name, or symbol (logo), used by a manufacturer or merchant to identify goods or services, to distinguish them form those of others, and indicate their source.  Trademarks include the “brand” names of the goods, for example, BallTM canning jars, CokeTM and AppleTM.  The reason a company would want to trademark their name is to distinguish their goods and services from others.  The value of the trademark depends on the degree of recognition and goodwill associated with the mark by the buying public.  You would want your customers to recognize your name and mark to identify with what you sell, or a service you provide, as opposed to the goods and services of others, your competitors. 

Trademark law is the branch of law of unfair competition.  It would be unfair for someone else to pass off the same goods or services your company provides, in which you have spent time and money building up your brand to be recognized by the general public.  If a competitor that provides the same goods or service you do is using a similar name or logo, or even if the name sounds the same, there would be confusion between the two brands.  An example of this would be when the Beatles had a problem with Apple (computers) using the Apple name and logo to sell music.  The Beatles had previously trademarked Apple Corp. Ltd. and Apple Records and used an apple as a logo to sell music.  Therefore, they were claiming that Apple had infringed on their mark by using the name “Apple” and using an image of an apple to sell the same goods, music. (I’m happy they worked out an agreement, this was the reason the Beatles’ music wasn’t available on iTunes for a while.)

If a company doesn’t register their mark with the United States Government Patent and Trademark Office your mark can only be protected in the particular geographic region in which you do business, and you would have the burden of proving the extent of that area.  A mark with Federal Registration would extend your area of coverage to the whole country.  If you were to do business countrywide and want to establish your brand to sell certain goods, then it would be wise to Federally Register your mark.   Incidentally, when you see a “TM” next to a name or logo, the company is indicating that that name is trademarked, whether it’s registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or not.    If they follow through and Federally Register the mark, they can then use the “R” with the circle, ®, after the company name or logo.

How do trademarks affect me as an artist?  

Most artists use their names as their brand or logo.  Should an artist trademark their name?  This really isn’t necessary, unless you plan on being the next Andy Warhol.  If you are then it may be worth your time. (There are nine current trademark registrations for him for a wide variety of products.)  Also, if you were to pursue many licensing opportunities to have your art appear on a wide variety of products, like artists Mary Engelbreit, Laurel Burch, or Thomas Kinkade, then yes you should register your name.

Where it affected Carrie is when the organization she submitted her work to, to be juried in their show, thought they might be infringing on the Ball company’s trademark by displaying the work, or that Carrie had infringed on the mark by using the Ball jars in her artwork.  Neither case is an infringement of the mark.  Carrie would only be infringing on the Ball’s trademark, if she were to produce canning jars and use the same or very similar logo on the same or similar product as they manufacture.  The Ball trademark in Carrie’s piece is on the jar in her art.  There would be no confusion within the general public that Carrie is selling Ball jars.  She is selling her art with images of Ball Jars.  If the Ball Jar company wanted to use Carrie’s art to help sell their product, then they could license her image to do so, but that’s a whole other topic!

As an artist using a product like the Ball jar in your work, or in Chris Beck’s art, Peeps candy, they are using what is called “fair use” which allows an artist to use a trademarked company’s product in your own art which you can sell. Andy Warhol didn’t violate the Campbell Soup trademark or the Brillo Pad mark in his work either.  This isn’t an issue because Campbell makes and sells food, and Brillo makes soap pads, not original art or art prints.  When a company applies for a trademark they have to list the goods and or services they will be providing with that mark. The Ball Company does not list art or art prints in their goods and services with their registered mark. Therefore, there is no confusion amongst consumers and no infringement.

There is a situation where this could get a little gray.  Say the Ball company listed “mugs” as part of their goods and services registered under their mark, and Carrie were to mass produce and sell mugs with her image of the Ball jars on the mug.  The Ball Company at that point may have an issue with that, but it is still unlikely, there still would be no confusion between Carrie’s brand and what she sells and the Ball Company’s brand and what they sell.  Carrie would have to make and sell a lot of mugs and be making a substantial amount of money for it to be an issue.  If it did become an issue with Ball then they would simply ask Carrie to “cease and desist” selling mugs. 

The bottom line is Carrie is not infringing on Ball’s mark by painting their jars, and the art association would not be infringing on their trademark by accepting and displaying her work in their show. 

Between trademarks and copyrights, it is a copyright that affects artists more.  The next article I will do for Carrie will cover copyright. Stay tuned!

Having A Ball, Again:)

"Having A Ball, Again" 6" x 6" SOLD watercolor by Carrie Waller

I revisited my ball jars again for this commissioned piece.  I had fun saturating the colors even more than in the "Preservation" painting.  These are both from the same reference photo I just played with the color.   I love seeing how many gorgeous colors I can get reflecting and pouring through these vessels.

"Preservation" 14.5" x 20 watercolor by Carrie Waller  available for sale

I've had some recent sales.  So happy to have my art going to happy homes:)

SOLD "Summer Kaleidoscope" watercolor by Carrie Waller

SOLD "Hemingway" watercolor by Carrie Waller

Carrie

Friday Feature Richard Stephens

"Fishing Village" watercolor by Richard Stephens

It's another Friday, hard to believe.  I'm still in the throes of a move but I'm taking a little time out to post this amazing artists work.  Richard came on my radar when we were in the same Watercolor Artists Magazine, this month's edition, June 2013.  Richard posed the creativity challenge for this issue.  He paints fast and loose, the opposite of my style so I was very intrigued. I then read that he resides in Hot Springs and I told my husband I'm going to have to look him up when we visit Hot Springs.  Low and behold, Richard was scheduled to do the demo for the Mid Southern Watercolor Society's May demo.  I was so excited to get to meet him and see him paint.  Watching an artist paint in a completely different style from my own is invigorating to me and makes me want to stretch as an artist and try new and different styles.  So who knows you might see me flinging paint around sometime instead of meticulously painting with "eyelashes" as Richard calls small brushes:)  

To see more of Richard's work visit his website.

"Two Houses" watercolor by Richard Stephens

How did you get your start?  What’s your artist journey so far?

My professional art journey began right after college. Serving in the Army in the early 70’s, my MOS was that of “Illustrator.” After the Army, I went to work for a small advertising agency/design studio in Little Rock, Arkansas. Of course, this was long before the computer and we produced all our designs, layouts and presentation comps by hand. After three years with the agency, I moved back to my hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas and opened Stephens Commercial Art. Forty years later, I still do some graphic design work. About 20 years ago I rediscovered my fickle old friend, watercolor, and fell back in love with her. For the past 15 years or so my focus has been on my painting and developing/promoting my workshops. I truly love to teach, travel, meet fellow artists and share my passion for watercolor with my students.

Perhaps an interesting aside: For the past year I have been producing editorial cartoons for our local newspaper. I call them “typetoons,” as I mainly use typography to make my political or social statements. I try to find an interesting “twist” to the wording or even an individual letter that might change or enhance the concept. My first love was cartooning and I have done a lot of it professionally, but I am really enjoying the challenge of using my graphic design background in an unexpected context.

Where were you born?

I was born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I am the youngest of three sons. Our parents were both schoolteachers. Perhaps that’s why I have such a love for teaching.

"St Johns" watercolor by Richard Stephens

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

At risk of sounding corny, I could not be any place any better than where I am … my hometown of Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. Our beautiful city was gently placed in a valley surrounded by lakes and mountains. It has a colorful history and of course, the thermal waters that are the namesake of the city. 

Author John Villani ranked Hot Springs 4th in the 2005 edition of The 100 Best Art Towns in America because of the wonderful architecture, an internationally recognized classical music festival and one of the top documentary film festivals in the country. More than 300 artists live and work here: a very high percentage for a small community in the South. We are also the home of one of the longest running “Poetry Nights’ in the country and have observed our First Friday Gallery Walk continually for over 30 years … never missing a night!

I could go on and on, but I would rather folks visit and discover this hidden treasure that is Hot Springs … my hometown.

"Steve Suter" watercolor by Richard Stephens

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

I’m not sure I have a favorite. At one time I did a lot of architectural/urban scenes, but I also love faces, figures and landscapes. I will often combine all in my paintings … an architectural scene with figures and organic elements of landscape to complement the man-made structures. When I started teaching workshops, I realized that flowers were a very popular subject for many of my students. I had never painted flowers, but quickly learned and now really enjoy the spontaneity and looseness the subject offers.

I have been part of a weekly life drawing group for over 30 years. To me the figure is the most difficult of subjects. Those few drawings/paintings that really “work” are very satisfying and rewarding. I have painted a lot of musicians over the years. Perhaps as a way to participate in the music … as I have absolutely no musical ability. Though I don’t do a lot of traditional still life paintings, I do enjoy their challenge of design and technique.

Let me say, I probably draw more than I paint. I love to draw. Good drawing is the skeleton of any good painting. I don’t know any really accomplished watercolorist that doesn’t draw well.

"Willie" watercolor by Richard Stephens

Could you talk about your painting techniques?

“Don’t try to make it happen, let it happen.”  That pretty much sums up my painting technique.  I realize that is an oversimplification, but it is the mindset I try to keep. The water, brush, paper and pigment can do some wonderful things together if I, the artist, will keep my involvement to a minimum. The important time for me to do “my thing” is before I put pigment to paper. Working out the design and composition of the elements through value sketches, simplification of the subject and shapes, determining the values to ensure there will be areas of high contrast. Basically paying attention to the Elements and Principals of Design.

In terms of actual painting technique I try to create loose, juicy and spontaneous watercolors. To do so I must be willing to take chances, to mess up and learn from the experience without being discouraged. I use the word ”PLAY” a lot in my workshops. I have finally reached the point of going into my studio to have fun and not worry too much about the end result. When I can keep that attitude the end results are often just fine!

I paint very quickly, seldom spending more than an hour on any painting from full sheets on down. I mainly use large mop brushes and paint on an angle to let gravity help the water/pigment mix naturally on the paper. I try to paint from large to small, light to dark while consciously trying to alternate warms and cools. I keep “tricks and gimmicks” to a minimum, but usually include some scraping and discrete splattering. A spray bottle is an important tool for me … helping the paint to run and mix, changing values and adding mystery and atmosphere to the painting.

I think, like most painters, my technique is always changing, morphing into something different. We try new materials, a new brush or unique colors. But there is one very important constant: that is design. I strongly feel that good design will go a long way to make up for average or maturing technique. But great technique WILL NOT make up for poor design.

"May Flowers" watercolor by Richard Stephens

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

Besides the usual variation of the primaries, I do have some colors that are an important part of my palette. Quinacridone Gold seems to find a place in all my paintings. I love its intensity and transparency. I usually use Alizarin Crimson and Winsor Blue to make my darks, leaning toward the warm or cool as needed. Turquoise is often an unexpected addition to my paintings. Seldom as an actual local color, I will use turquoise to enliven an unexciting area in a painting. The same can be said for a bright orange or a pumpkin color. I am also very candid about the fact I always have a tube of White Gouache handy. I will use it to reclaim tiny highlights or even to mix with transparent colors if it will help “save” the painting. I consider myself more of a value painter than colorist. If I get the values right the colors will work. I do try to always be thinking warm/cool - light/dark during my painting process.

Do you have a favorite artist?  Who has been your biggest inspiration?

There are so many American watercolorists I admire. I would have to name Andrew Wyeth, Winslow Homer, John Pike, Edgar Whitney, Charles Reid, Frank Webb, Don Andrews, Carla O’Connor, Fred Graff, Dean Mitchell, Stan Miller, Thomas Schaller, Iain Stewart and many, many others. Tony Couch has produced some of the best instructional material for beginning watercolorists I’ve seen. He is a great “designer” of paintings.

Internationally, I love the work of John Singer Sargent, Alvaro Castagnet, Joseph Zbukvic, Robert Wade, Eugen Chisnicean, and Dave Taylor, plus too many others to name.

I truly think my students are my biggest inspiration and motivation. They keep me learning, wanting to grow and get better, both at painting and teaching. I don’t want to get stale and predictable. I challenge them, they challenge me.

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

That’s an easy one. I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to spend my entire life and career as an artist in a small (but special) town in Arkansas. I have made a living doing what I love, being my own boss and basically being in control of how I spend every day. That is my crowning achievement!

A minor achievement would be a certain amount of recognition for my work by my fellow artists through awards and publication. A not so minor reward is in knowing I helped start a few of my students on a serious path with watercolor. And then there is always the paintings themselves. We all have a few that will always be special for various reasons. I have either kept those paintings or given then to close friends, so I get to visit them once in a while … the paintings and the friends.

One of Richard's "Typetoons"

What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

1. That I am granted the health (eyesight) to continue painting for years to come.
2. That my workshops take me to locations and people that I find educational, fun and challenging.
3. I have never had a painting accepted into an AWS or NWS Show. That would be nice.
4. I would love for my “Typetoons” to be syndicated.
5. Read number 1 again!

"Eureka Springs Chef" watercolor by Richard Stephens

What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

In my opinion, this word “talent” is greatly overused. When I was a very young kid I loved to draw. So I drew a lot, a whole lot actually. I drew all the time, so said my parents. It was fun; I loved it … so I drew even more. Other kids were doing other things, music, drama, dance, sports (I did that too), academics, working on cars … whatever. Well, by the time I was in junior high, I was “the artist”, the “talented one.” Years later I realized I didn’t have any special talent; I had just worked at it more, much more, than the other kids. They had worked at, and became good at, what they loved and enjoyed. 

So my advice is recognize that THE TALENT IS HAVING THE PASSION. Without that, go do something else you care about, something you enjoy. Becoming a good artist is about working, working, and then working some more at it. There are no shortcuts. You can’t learn it by reading about it, by watching DVDs or live demos, by taking workshops, or by creating the perfect studio space and having the best of supplies and materials.  You get good by doing it, by working hard at it, by failing and making tons of mistakes and by learning from those mistakes, then trying again. That’s how you become “talented”!

"Fountain of Light" watercolor by Richard Stephens

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

Years ago I took a workshop from Alvaro Castagnet and stood right at his side as he produced about 10 plein air demos. That opportunity had a great influence on my work. Now that influence is a much quieter part of my painting voice … but it’s still there. 

On about the fourth day, Castagnet took me aside, looked me straight in the eye and said, “Richard, you can be as good as you want to be at watercolor. But it has to be totally important to you and you must be committed to the work required. It’s up to you.” Then he walked away.

Well, to say the least, that was pretty powerful advice!

Richard and I

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Twisty Combination

Your dream vacation spot?

Australia

Book or movie?

Book

Favorite author?

James Lee Burke

Favorite movie?

Of late, Lincoln

Romance or comedy?

Comedy, with a dash of Romance

Favorite dessert?

Ice Cream…really any flavor

Night owl or morning person?

Whoot me?

Thank you so much Richard:)

Norman Rockwell and Eureka Springs

artist Norman Rockwell

Over Memorial Day weekend we traveled to Bentonville, AR and Eureka Springs.  It was the last weekend for the Norman Rockwell at the Crystal Bridges Museum.  I'm so glad we went it was an amazing exhibit.  unfortunately they didn't allow pictures to be taken but I snuck a couple.  The above picture is not particularly a fav of mine but I wanted to point out that there were a hand full of oil paintings under glass.  I encountered this at the National Gallery as well.  The watercolor artist in me just wanted to share that oil paintings don't last forever and do have to be protected some times.  

The exhibit was large and they had  ipads you could borrow with headphones to listen to commentary by one of his sons and some of the models in his paintings.  It was terrific to hear the stories behind the paintings.  Norman Rockwell painted every day and only took Thanksgiving and Christmas off and sometimes snuck into the studio on those days.  

Looking forward to the Georgia O'Keefe, Alfred Stieglitz exhibit in November.

Below I'm sharing some of my favorite paintings from the museum.  It's a beautiful museum and highly encourage you to visit.

"The Lantern Bearers" artist Maxfield Parrish 

"Capri Girl" artist John Singer Sargent

"Summer Day" artist Frank Weston Benson

"Summertime" artist Mary Cassatt

The boys inside Crystal Bridges

Eureka Springs

The historic loop in Eureka Springs

All over Eureka Springs were areas where the springs run through.  They were gorgeous areas.

A caterpillar

The boys:)

See you Friday

Carrie

"Blue Skies", Show acceptance and there is a first for everything!

"Blue Skies" 6" x 9" watercolor by Carrie Waller

Here is the last of my rainbow bottle series "Blue Skies".  The last one for a while.  I have the coolest idea for a painting, and it will be my next painting after I finish moving!  Trust me I would much rather be painting.  Doing a self move is painful folks.  I have gained a huge respect for movers and am more than grateful to my amazing mother-in-law for putting on her Super Mom cape and saving the day.  She  came in and packed a majority of our house while watching our rug rats so that we could load and unload stuff at the new house.  Our saving grace is that we are only moving up the street.  The life of the military, we can now check of DITY (Do It Yourself) move off our list--well we will be able to check it off next week, I'll let you know if we survive:)

"Reminiscence" watercolor by Carrie Waller accepted into the 43rd Mid Southern Watercolor Society's  Exhibit.

I also got word that my painting "Reminiscence" has been accepted into the 43rd Mid Southern Watercolor Society's exhibit.  I had a first experience with this show.  The show coordinator called me to let me know the only reason she didn't accept "Anticipation" is because of trademark issues.  I'm assuming that is a legit concern but since that painting has been published in Watercolor Artist, Splash 14, and a different Ball jar painting was accepted into NWS's show I was a little surprised.  So one more thing to think about.  She also didn't accept another artist's painting with Coca Cola bottles (not mine).  I'd love to hear your thoughts on that.  I think it would be extremely difficult to eliminate all trademarked items from still life paintings.

"Anticipation" my painting rejected for trademark issues

Carrie

Friday Feature: Suzanne Lago Arthur

"Conner on Summer Break" oil by Suzanne Lago Arthur

Today's Friday Feature is Suzanne Lago Arthur.  Her work is gorgeous and inspiring.  I met her through facebook.  I love that I have been introduced to so many artists through social media.  

Suzanne is a contemporary realist painter who earned a BFA with honors at the Corcoran College of Art + Design and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University. Her subject matter includes still life, landscape, and conceptual figurative work as well as portrait commissions. She has exhibited to critical acclaim in both the United States and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC, The Museum of the Americas, Washington DC, EuroAmerica Galleries, SoHo, NYC, and The United States Special Interests Section, Havana, Cuba. Suzanne is a member of the Portrait Society of America, Oil Painters of America and is in the copyist program at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.

To see more of her works visit her website/blog.

How did you get your start?  What’s your artist journey so far?

As as child I drew and painted often. When I was in middle school I found out about local artist Tina Blondell and began taking private classes with her. Ultimately I went on to get a BFA from the Corcoran College of Art + Design located in Washington DC and studied with some wonderful, modern inclined artists including William Christenberry, William Newman, Janis Goodman and Franklin White.

"La Natalie" oil by Suzanne Lago Arthur

Where were you born?

Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. But I should mention that my parents are Cuban and lived in Puerto Rico briefly when they were first married. 

If you could live anywhere where would you live?

My husband and I both grew up in the Washington DC area and this is still very much home to us. However, lately I have had an itch to live abroad for a year or so in a European city.  Madrid, Paris--either one would do nicely. 

What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?

Portraits! Because of the human connection and also because it is one of the most challenging subjects. Anyone who has a done a portrait before knows that getting the features of a person off by even a fraction will result in a totally different likeness. I find that aspect fascinating especially considering there are not many variations in our genetic code as far as DNA is concerned. I have had my client's get emotional upon seeing my finished portraits of their children. To me there is no bigger reward.

Could you talk about your painting techniques?  

I paint in oil (although I will also work on occasion in watercolor) and often paint on a toned middle grey canvas or panel. It helps me judge accurate color & value relationships. Then I block in my subject matter in burnt umber if I am working from life or if I am working from a photograph I will grid out my under drawing in pastel pencil. Personally I never project and trace out my drawing because I feel like I would be cheating myself on the challenge of drawing it out. Drawing is a lot of muscle memory and learning how to see accurately. If you don't use it, you lose it. And this is the part where it gets interesting. At the Corcoran I was taught a more modern approach to painting of working up the entire canvas at the same time, taking it from more generalized applications of paint to the more detailed stages. However, after having taken some classes and workshops with modern day master realists such as Robert Liberace, Daniel Sprick and Dan Thompson, I began to notice that they would often work up one specific area to almost a full finish and then move on to the next area. This is especially applicable if you are trying to work alla prima meaning wet on wet and in one session. My recent work has been done in a similar style of painting. But I also use and love the look of scumbling wet paint over dry. Kurt Schwarz, an Instructor I once had referred to scumbling as "the other side of the coin" to wet in wet painting--meaning it is an essential component to dynamic painting. I completely agree.

"Will" by Suzanne Lago Arthur

Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?

I really love the Williamsburg brand of hand made oil paints (Williamsburg--are you listening? If so, holler back at your girl!) for their texture and colors. For instance, their Egyptian Purple (Dioxazine) has a beautiful pearly luminosity to it. And I had an "aha" moment recently when I switched to using their Zinc Buff white because it is a nice warm white which works really well in flesh tone highlights--almost straight from the tube! For warm flesh tones I like Cad Red, Yellow Ocher and Burnt Sienna as a base mix. For cooler, extra fair flesh tones I like Naples Yellow, Alizarin Crimson (or Rose Madder ) and Burnt Umber. You can also alter any of the above by adding varying amounts of White, Dioxazine Purple, Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine Blue or Chromium Oxide Green. 

Do you have a favorite artist?  Who has been your biggest inspiration?

Man, I have so many! The list would start with Velazquez, Rembrandt, Sargent, Andrew Wyeth and Antonio Lopez Garcia but recently my eye has been drawn to what I would call a more "edgy" style of contemporary realism such as Alex Kanevsky, Jeremy Mann and Eve Mansdorf. It is their paint application that really rings with me. I see my own brush work headed in a similar direction. 

"Sunset Unfurled" oil by Suzanne Lago Arthur

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

Most recently I was a finalist in the Art Renewal Center's 2011/2012 International Salon  and won third place honors in the regional portrait competition, "Expressions" at Artspace Herndon which was juried by Palden Hamilton. I have exhibited in several museums including the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Museum of the Americas, both in Washington DC. In 2000 I had a special opportunity to visit Havana, Cuba to see my painting hanging in an exhibition of Cuban American painters as part of the Art in Embassies program with the US State Department. My brother (who accompanied me on the trip) and I were the personal guests of Ambassador Vicki Huddleston and stayed at her residence. During our trip we saw both the houses where our parents grew up and our family mausoleum in Cementerio Colón which is an above ground Unesco protected cemetery.  Emotionally that trip was like a pilgrimage for me, illuminating where I came from. Because of that show I appeared in articles in the New York Times and the Miami Herald. I am still very grateful for having had the opportunity.

What are five things you would like to happen in your life in the next five years? Dream big here:)

Easy! I already got those figured out. 1. Become a finalist in the PSoA's International Competition, 2. Be a finalist in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's Outwin Boochever competition. 3. Paint the portrait of a member of Congress, 4. Collaborate with my writer husband to illustrate one of the many children's book manuscripts he's written, 5). Gain gallery representation for my own work with a major gallery (or two or three).

"Independence Day" oil by Suzanne Lago Arthur

What is your advice for other artists who are just getting started in their career?

Stay humble and do not lose your drive to improve. Becoming an accomplished artist is a life long pursuit and requires getting acquainted with your weaknesses so that you can make them your strengths over time. And here is the rub--the more you know, the more you realize you still have a lot to learn. Seek improvement in any way you can by reading, following blogs, taking classes, workshops and of course painting! 

Also, you can build a career under the most demanding schedules so don't let anyone or anything deter you. I have built my career one hour at a time while my son slept as a toddler or these days while he is in half day kindergarten. In fact, I believe in that "one hour at a time" philosophy so much I may request to put it on my tombstone.

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

Recently I received the following advice about entering competitions. Try and try again! My good friend Elizabeth Floyd clued me in that often these organizations expect you to enter again and again until they feel you have proven yourself worthy of the commendation through years of solid work. It totally opened my eyes to some competitions I had sworn off because I didn't get in the first time! Also, my friend and mentor Jonathan Linton pointed out to me that certain organizations lean towards a certain aesthetic. For instance, The Oil Painters of America seem to lean towards a more brushy, painterly approach in their selections. If you are a photorealist with little or no apparent brushwork, you may not even register on their radar and it doesn't even mean your work isn't any good! Study the work of those that do win these competitions to help you figure out why you are not placing and perhaps give you a goal to work towards next year.

Suzanne's work as a National Gallery Copyist

SPEED ROUND!

Chocolate or vanilla?

French Vanilla! Yum-O! My Dad growing up made the best French Vanilla Ice Cream I have ever tasted. To this day it reminds me of my childhood.

Your dream vacation spot?

St. John USVI. My parent's honeymooned there in Caneel Bay and have taken us on family vacations there many times. When I need to go to my "happy place" in my mind, it is usually on a beach in St. John.

Book or movie?

Books. I read constantly--especially with my Kindle app on my IPad.

Favorite author?

I read a lot of dry art books for business so when I am reading for pleasure it is purely fiction. I like a lot of paranormal fiction authors such as Jeaniene Frost and Karen Marie Moning. What can I say? Vampires, faeries and shifters make me happy.

Favorite movie?

I don't think I have one! Probably whatever I have seen recently. I just saw the new Star Trek movie and highly recommend it.

Romance or comedy?

Romance, every time.

Favorite dessert?

Cheesecake. Mmmm.

Night owl or morning person?

Definitely not a morning person.  My son when he first began really talking knew to ask me in the morning, "Mama, more coffee?".  We still laugh at that.  Is there another option between night owl and morning person? How about afternoon person? I really don't "wake up" completely until close to lunch and am definitely asleep on the couch by 10 PM. Wow--did I just admit that out loud? I am quite the party animal apparently!

Thank you so much Suzanne!  

Carrie

Memorial Day

"Love Letters" original watercolor by Carrie Waller.  Painted during Brian's most recent deployment to Afghanistan.  The photo was taken as Brian was leaving for Afghanistan.  Included are letters that he wrote to the boys.

In honor of Memorial Day and everyone currently serving or has served in the past, I thought I would share all of the military inspired paintings that I have painted.  My hubby is active duty now and so is his brother.  So our family is very aware of the sacrifices that are made by anyone that has served.  Fortunately we have been spared the ultimate sacrifice, but my heart goes out to those families.   So thank you to all that are serving or that have served.  My husband and I have a long line of service members.  My Dad, Brian's Dad, and several Grandfathers.  Enjoy your Memorial Day and the Freedom provided by the Armed Services.

"Elephant Walk" original watercolor by Carrie Waller. 

"Shoo Shoo Baby" original watercolor by Carrie Waller