Party Day 2~ Artist Highlight and Giveaway: Head on the Wall

The Spring Break party kicked off quite nicely yesterday!  Thanks for joining in if you stopped by! 

In case you missed Part 1 of 3 check it out here.  

Today I have the privilege of introducing another wonderful local (to me) artist.  Cynthia from Head on the Wall has fun and funky scarves and beautiful paintings in her shop.  Today, she is gracing us with her wise words, offering a discount to her shop and hosting a giveaway of anything $40 or under from her shop. SO GENEROUS!!

Some of my favorites from her shop: 

Sardonyx Tie-Dye Scarf

 Eat Clean Tee 

Chicago Nude Giclee Print

Hey Cynthia! Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your art.
First off I would like to say thank you for featuring me in the artist section of your blog. I have really enjoyed reading the past posts and seeing what other people are doing out there.
I am a painter and graphic designer living in Knoxville. I am drawn to the images and lifestyle of popular culture and its icons. People like Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein inspire me. I believe that what makes these people and their objects so popular is their ability to communicate boundless information, efficiently, quickly and repetitively. I have a theory that as individuals we say everything we intend to say about ourselves in the first 3 seconds we meet a new person. We do this with the outline of our silhouette. The things that create this outline is our hairstyle, the clothing and accessories we wear, our posture, and gestures among others.

Besides the beautiful paintings and scarves you have in your Etsy store, what else do you like to do?
I love to screen print, and design logos, business collateral, posters, menus, etc. for clients. I also like to paint murals. Last summer I painted a bicycle billboard for Veg-A-Rama vegetarian restaurant. I also designed their menus when they opened. Recently I held my first workshop, so I am adding teaching to my list. At the workshop we tie dyed scarves and clothing items, shirts and paints. We had a blast! Outside of art I enjoy cooking and being with my family.  I have 2 nieces and 3 nephews they are crazy and I dig it! Three of them live here and they are 3yrs., 4yrs., and 6yrs., old. My other niece (11yrs.) and nephew (15yrs.) are in Chicago. I hope to go visit them in the summer.

I also enjoy hanging out with friends at the pub, and going to see live music is always a good time. Being outside, walking, riding my bike is a great way to spend my afternoon, and in the spring and summer I like to garden at the studio. It usually consists of herbs like, basil, sage, thyme, and parsley and tomatoes. Last year I grew an amazing garden and so much stunning basil (it must have been the soil) that it inspired me to paint the oil painting on canvas that’s currently for sale in my etsy store. It’s was also recently selected for a ”Treasury” this month on Etsy.com.

What first drew you to art, especially painting?
I have been drawing or creating things for as long as I remember. When I was about 8 or 9 yrs. I had my mom requesting catalogs for Parson’s School of Design in New York. I wanted to attend the school for fashion design. I remember crocheting dresses for my barbie dolls. In grade school I was always involved in art classes. I went to college at Belmont in Nashville, initially going for music business. In my sophomore year, I took an art class in Knoxville at Pellissippi State and my instructor, pulled me aside and convinced me that I should be pursuing fine art. Painting just came naturally... the smell of the oil and turpentine was intoxicating. When I am painting, I “zen out.” By that I mean that I am truly in the moment. The only other thing I do that I can compare it to is going on a long bike ride. I am never more aware of myself and my surroundings as when I am participating in these activities.

What inspires you?
People, color, faces and things! I find that after all things said and done I am inspired by a late night in my studio with the perfect music, the The Velvet Underground and the best of David Bowie for example, coffee brewing around the corner in the kitchen and the sound of colors swirling through my head. Color is the music of my soul. Anytime, anywhere, I am inspired by what I see and how I see it. Inspiration happens all the time. The question is more, when can I act on my inspiration!

What advice would you give to aspiring artists and Etsy shop owners?
Be diligent with your shop. When I first started I didn’t really have a focus. Last November I redid my shop and am looking forward to having my first sale. In the past month, I have really participated in the events on the community page on etsy. The symposium at the beginning of February helped immensely. Since then I have created my own blog found here. and I am not only reaching out to the online community, but with in my local community as well. I am really starting to have fun with my shop. It all of a sudden doesn’t feel like work.  Etsy continues to impress me with the amount of information that is available on their site for free.

Where else can we find you?
I am present on facebook under my name and Head on the Wall Productions, on twitter here, on my portfolio site here and of course on my blog here.

In honor of highlighting local, east Tennessee artists, Cynthia is hosting a giveaway here at A Girl and Her Scout! She will be giving away any item of a $40 value or less from her store.

The winner will be chosen (via a random assorter) on May 1st. Just in time for Mother’s Day! So be sure to get in your entries by then!

To enter, head over to her Etsy Store, HeadOnTheWall, and leave a comment here about your favorite item(s). Additional entries for: 1) becoming a first time follower of A Girl and Her Scout 2) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your blog 3) Posting this giveaway with a link to my blog on your facebook and/or twitter 4) “Hearting” or adding HeadOnTheWall to your “Favorites” on Etsy and/or 5) making a purchase out of her store (one entry for every purchase). 
Be sure to leave a new comment for each additional entry!

In addition, until Mothers Day Cynthia will be offering a 30% discount to all A Girl and Her Scout readers! YAY!!! Just use key word “girlandherscout" at check out to receive your discount.

Thanks again Cynthia and happy crafting readers!