Artist Profile: Eileen Sirica Cardillo Joy to the Word Art By Heike Hellmann-Brown The power of the written word combined with the artistry of calligraphy has always fascinated Eileen Sirica Cardillo. In a world filled with negative messages, scripture, quotes, or inspirational sayings can lift our spirits and encourage and motivate us, she says. Cardillo grew up in Washington, D.C.s political circle and attended a Catholic girls school. She studied graphic design at the American University, but when computer-generated images took over the market, her knowledge was considered antiquated. She turned to painting childrens murals and used her interest in typography and calligraphy to design custom invitations. In 2012, Cardillo merged her artistic talents. After a challenging personal year, I woke up one day with the phrase, Joy to the Word, stuck in my mind, Cardillo explains. She bought canvases and paint and got to work. It was a true gift from God, a blessing that not only turned my life around at age 50 but also has enabled me to impact others. From a simple inspirational word to a Bible quote, Cardillo decorates canvases in up to 12 layers to create unique inscriptions for various occasions. The fact that my art is touching a persons life is a privilege and a blessing. Her Whimsy Collection for a Cure supports CURE Childhood Cancer for continued awareness and research in eradicating childhood cancer, about which Cardillo is particularly passionate. Inspired by the impact of her calligraphic art, she founded Caring Canvases in 2013 with the goal of painting it forward. Through her ministry, Cardillo organizes painting parties where the inscribed pieces are donated to a cause. Recipients include nonprofits, assisted living facilities, ministries, schools and charities. Now I can involve more people, and more people can benefit from our canvas messages. In the year since inception, we have donated 500 canvases yet its not the quantity that counts, but the number of hearts we have touched, she says. And while I cannot cure diseases, I am very grateful that my work may bring some measure of comfort or joy to an individual in need. Caring Canvases first anniversary celebration was dedicated to honoring Cardillos father. My father was a man of great faith, character and integrity. Having come from humble means, through education and hard work he rose above poverty and became a federal judge, Cardillo explains. In this spirit we donated our canvases to Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School, which provides an excellent education for students of limited means in hopes to encourage those teenagers to pursue their dreams. In addition to her late father, Eileen Sirica Cardillo cites a late friend as an ongoing inspiration for her endeavors. Even in her last days my dear friend showed grace and strength, always caring about others first. One of my most popular canvases is paying a quiet, ongoing tribute to her with her favorite quote: You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. JoyToTheWordArt.com
Artist Profile: Phoebe Maze Mysticism and Symbolism Conveyed in Clay By Heike Hellmann-Brown Clay artist Phoebe Maze has always been intrigued by stories that formed the foundation of societies, such as Adam and Eve, Noah, by religious symbolisms, fantasy and mythology. As an army brat, I lived in Germany during my childhood. Many values and educational lessons in this society were conveyed through the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. As a young girl I was fascinated by those stories. Phoebes mother, a painter, inspired Phoebe to explore her artistic potential. I have always been an artist in a certain sense I just did not know how to express it, explains Maze, who majored in art. I enjoyed learning about the creative process and tried different outlets. Painting eventually led me to clay, because I always wanted to reach into the paint and rearrange it. Maze has worked in clay since the late 80s. In the beginning she used models to make life-size busts or small figures, but her interest changed to animals, mythology, and architecture. Sometimes I have a path in mind, certain ideas that I want to bring to fruition. But, often I let the clay tell me what to do, and I become lost in the creative process, Maze says. Interestingly, its often the cut-off scraps that define the piece by becoming an intricate part of the decoration. Maze also experiments with metal inclusions or glass pieces that bear the element of surprise, because she can never really tell if they melt or retain their original form. Today, Mazes 3D-work, either as clay sculptures or dioramas, is often inspired by her frequent travels to far countries, from Middle America to Europe and the Far East. I take guided tours, but afterward I explore the country on my own, says Maze, who recently visited Nepal. Her travels to Asia inspired a collection of temples. The locals create small outdoor temples to commemorate hikers who died climbing Mt. Everest. I also became fascinated with the eye symbol, which is used as a talisman in several cultures. Buddha will protect you and avoid evil, but, at the same time, he will watch you. Her work also explores the image of the heart as a symbol in different cultures and incorporates images of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors into architectural framework. In her spare time, Maze enjoys renovating old houses. Currently, I oversee the renovation of a 1909 farmhouse in Waleska that I intend to bring back to its original beauty. Her interest in architecture also influences her clay pieces, for instance, by giving functional boxes an architectural flair. Maze and her late husband owned Maze Studio, a gallery in Atlanta. Now, she displays her work during exhibits and was a featured artist at the High Museums Artist Studio Tour. Maze is on the board of directors of the Cherokee Arts Center and was a judge at Cherokee Arts Festival and Riverfest. She is also a past president of the Georgia Clay Council.
Artist Profile: Shanon Schneider Finding Work-Life Balance By Heike Hellmann-Brown As practice administrator of three busy OB/GYN offices in the Atlanta area, Shanon Schneiders life is filled with stress and responsibility. She cherishes the quiet time she can spend at her easel. Creating art is the exact opposite of my demanding day job, Schneider says. I work in a high-paced setting, and art lets me unwind. Painting is so unstructured. When I paint, time flies by. Its introspective, almost surreal. Maybe that is why I prefer a more impressionistic approach. While I usually start my works with an idea of my color palette, at that point I am not sure where I will end up. The process is very evolutionary, without a tangible reference, but rather from the interaction of paint on canvas and the emotion that occurs within the creative process. Apart from colorful impressionistic landscapes, Schneiders work is comprised of figurative works, contemporary still-lifes, and cubism-inspired pieces. I enjoy changing up creations, she explains. Landscapes are a subject matter that especially connects with me as an artist. They are designed to take me and viewers to a physical space of serenity and calm. Born in Florida with a dad who was in the Air Force, Schneider spent most of her childhood in Syracuse, N.Y. Even as a young child she was very interested in art. My dad was a good draftsman himself, but he never cultivated it, she says, noting that he was an inspiration. Although she took art classes at university, she majored in biology, worked as a systems administrator in the medical field, and focused on raising her three sons. It was after her move to Georgia in 2002 that Schneider made room for painting in her life again. She began taking classes and workshops. In 2007, she opened Two Doors Art, a co-op art studio and gallery with a group of local artists, which later transitioned into Synergy Fine Art Gallery in Roswell, where she has her studio and is displaying her work. I work up to 60 hours a week in an office setting, but as soon as I enter Synergy, art has priority, Schneider says. I paint on site, manage (along with Synergys co-owner, Barbara Rush) the other artists within our gallery, and am very involved in the Roswell art scene. For a long time the art community here was fragmented. Now, along with the other local galleries, we have re-established and re-energized the Roswell Art District. Interaction is key to Shanon Schneiders approach as an artist. Everybody, no matter who and what you are, should have some part of your life that is creative, she says. Creativity is so rewarding. It provides us with peace and enjoyment. As an artist, I am creating something that has not existed before, and now it brings pleasure to someone else. This is the most fulfilling feeling. ShanonSchneider.com
Artist Profile: Thomas Fountain Back to the Roots of Country Music By Heike Hellmann-Brown Singer/songwriter Thomas Fountain is setting out to leave an impact on todays country music. While his band is playing venues all across the South and Midwest, Fountain strives for much more than being a great performer; as a well-rounded artist he wants to steer country music back to its origins. Country music has gotten away from what it is about. Its not just the natural evolvement of a music genre, Fountain explains. The music I grew up with is different from the songs they played in the 1950s. Yet, todays country music is solely market-driven, full of effects, and geared toward a younger crowd. Its more about a singers image than the actual song. To me, country music should be honest, meaningful. It should tell a story people can relate to. Ironically, music was not part of Fountains upbringing, although his family is very supportive of his career. I began writing songs after I graduated from high school, and it took a lot of courage to actually perform for the first time, the Ball Ground native notes. At age 20, Fountain founded his first cover band, 53 West. He later got out of music and focused on sports. He has coached basketball and baseball at Woodstock Middle School, and currently is a PE teacher at Mill Creek Middle School. In 2012, Fountain began to miss music. I jumped back in, but this time I wanted to do it my way: write songs from the heart, share genuine experiences, and connect with my audience on a personal level, he says. Drawing inspiration from the tunes of the 1980s and 1990s when country music artists were great vocalists, great writers, and great musicians, Fountain looked for musicians who shared his vision. Today, the Thomas Fountain Band is comprised of acclaimed musicians who have played in the Grand Ole Opry, the Super Bowl, and the CMAs. Fountain has taken his songwriting skills to Nashville, where he contracts for independent publisher Out-Write Music. While he has quickly garnered attention in the industry, he follows the advice of veteran musicians to establish a local fan base first. In Nashville, you are one-in-a-million. Record studios are more inclined to scout concerts and back a seasoned performer than to launch a newcomers career. However, Fountain is on track to rising to stardom, having been named as 2014 Male Georgia Country Music Artist of the Year and Overall Artist of the Year. He has toured six states, performed live on TV, and released his first EP that showcases his versatility. His single, Float, is played on 94.9 The Bull, the sixth-largest station in the nation. How does Fountain handle his growing popularity? I used to be known around the county as a basketball coach. Now, people stop me at a gas station to tell me how much the lyrics of Daddys Old Billfold have touched them, he says. This genuine connection that I can make with my audience is what drives me. ThomasFountain.com
Book Review: Written in My Own Hearts Blood Diana Gabaldons new book continues the saga of Claire Randall. By Catherine Groves In what we now know as a classic novel, Diana Gabaldons Outlander tells the story of Claire Randall. Claire, an English ex-combat nurse, one day walks through a stone circle while in the Scottish Highlands in 1946 and disappears...into 1743. The story is detailed in seven bestselling novels, and continues now with the eighth release in the series, Written in My Own Hearts Blood ending a four-year wait for loyal fans. The continuation of this saga begins in the summer of 1778. The city of Philadelphia is watching the retreat of the British army, and George Washingtons troops are in pursuit. Thinking that her husband, Jamie, had drowned on an ocean crossing, Claire has remarried her husbands best friend. Jamie returns from the watery grave to learn of his best friends actions and is determined to extract vengeance on a man he truly loved as a heartfelt friend. During this time, we learn that Jamies illegitimate son has just discovered the identity of his real father. Adding to the drama is Jamies nephew, Ian, who is facing his own complex issues. Although their century is turned upside down, Claire and Jamie are quietly thankful that their daughter, Brianna, along with her precious family, has been safely returned to 20th Century Scotland. Unknown to them, their grandson, Jem, has been kidnapped. Briannas husband, Roger, volunteers to go through the stones again to try to find their son. With Roger out of the picture, we learn that the true target of the kidnappers is Brianna, and what they truly covet are her family secrets. The kidnappers never left Scotland. A continuing story that most likely will have readers inquiring when book nine will be in print, Written in My Own Hearts Blood will not disappoint loyal readers. Written in My Own Hearts Blood can be purchased at most major bookstores and in e-Reader versions for Kindle and Nook.