Feature FOUNDER Friday - Carmen Torbus - GIVEAWAY

“I am passionate about creating art that encourages connection, validates emotion and nourishes the soul.”

–Carmen Torbus

This week we at TCWAA decided to turn the tables and interview our alliance founder: Carmen Torbus. Carmen is a young, dynamic new artist who feels that art, “fills my emotional bank. When all the things that aren't enjoyable begin to drain me, working in my studio for a few minutes always makes me feel better.” She recommends that new artists “do what comes naturally, artistically. Try new things. Seek other artists to connect with and toss around ideas and have get-togethers.” It is this philosophy that created the blog that you are currently reading.

Carmen enjoys mixed media art, often working on canvas or wood with acrylics and papers. She also enjoys creating encaustics, also known as hot wax paintings. Selling her first commission was a turning point for Carmen, in that it was, “when it really hit me and I felt confident referring to myself as an artist.”

Carmen loves pouring her heart into her work and is particularly proud of her Reach painting, which she also turned into a locket set by collaborating with Polarity.

Leave a comment and you could
win the locket set seen above!

Carmen is giving away a locket set to one of our lucky readers! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Tuesday, June 30th. the winner will be announced on Wednesday, July 1st.

QUICK-FIRE Q & A

Q: If you could only keep 3 art supplies what would they be?
A: Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide Paint, Black India Ink and paper

Q: How would you make art if you were stranded on a deserted island?
A: I would find or make some kind of carving tool to carve inspirational or motivational words into my surroundings... little reminders not to give up hope.

Q: How do you organize your art supplies?
A: That's a joke right? I have supplies everywhere. I think if my studio was neat and tidy I probably wouldn't be able to find anything.

Q: What comforts you?
A: Homemade potato soup, acoustic music, painting with my fingers and when all else fails, chocolate cake always works.

Q: Do you listen to music when you create? If so what kind?
A: I do. I have pretty eclectic taste in music. When I'm in the studio, I have a playlist that has a lot of acoustic, folksy sounding music mixed in with bands like Matchbox 20, Pearl Jam, Maroon 5, and Train; and also some Alanis Morissette, Natasha Beddingfield, Dido, Sara McLachlan, and Feist.

Q: Picasso had a blue period. If you painted in one color family what would it be? Why that color?
A: Hmm, I've always been drawn to fall colors. Golds, orangey-yellows, browns and deep reds, but lately I've had a thing for blue-greens. I'm not sure what it is about these colors. The fall colors are very comforting and soothing - they draw me in and give me a feeling of safety and security. The blue-greens are a little more bold and I think that is in direct correlation to the person I'm becoming. I'm coming out of my shell a little and letting a little more of my light shine. Stepping out of that autumn tinted comfort zone.

Q: What makes you happy? Sad? How does that appear in your art?
A: Big puffy clouds make me happy... always. And the stars. Maybe it's just the sky itself that does it. I could stare at the sky for hours. I love taking pictures of the sky and I love to share them on my blog. My blog is an extension of my art - another way for me to express myself creatively. I often express my emotions through my art and through my words and photos on my blog.

Q: What inspires you?
A: Other artists who are following their dreams really inspire me. Connecting with other women and talking about goals and dreams is another great source of inspiration for me.

Q: Favorite Artist?
A: Bridgette Guerzon Mills

Q: Tea or coffee?
A: Coffee - sweet and creamy!

Q: Cats or dogs?
A: I can't choose. I love them all.

Q: Monet or Warhol?
A: Van Gogh

Q: Trademark art symbol?
A: If you look closely, you will almost always find a scribbled flower on my paintings.

Q: Paint or Pencils?
A: Both! Lately I've been combining the two and I'm loving the results. If I had to choose one, it would be paint.

Q: Salty or sweet?
A: I like them together. Popcorn and M&Ms, Doritos and Hershey's bars, yum!

Q: You’re not in Kansas anymore are you Dorothy, er, I mean Carmen.
A: Ha! No and I don't plan to click my heels any time soon.

Q: What time of day do you like to create?
A: Late at night. My best work is done between 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Q: What is your favorite adjective?
A: Mucho

Q: With a full time job, 2 kids and the TCWAA how do you make time for art?
A: I don't sleep. Actually, I work on art when I can fit it in. I don't have a specific time. Sometimes I paint with my 7-year-old, she has her own little corner in our home studio. I almost always have my sketch book with me and sketch when I can. Most often though, my best artwork is done late at night when it's quiet in the house.

Q: What’s the weirdest thing you ever painted?
A: Does painting my kids faces before a hockey game count? Let's Go Buffalo!

Q: What’s your guilty pleasure?
A: Cinnamon Dolce Lattes and Pumpkin Loaf from Starbucks... and art books and magazines of course.

Carmen's work can be seen
on her blog: Distracted by Design
and her Etsy Shop: Torbus & Company Studios

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We hope to see you all tomorrow
at Carmen's House!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our official Kick Off gathering will be on
Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at 6:00 P.M.
at Carmen's house in Port St. Lucie
email me for the address:
carmen.tcwaa @ gmail.com!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget to leave a comment
to enter Carmen's Giveaway!

___________________________

Article and Interview by Katrina Kniep