Blog Art Exhibition, Danielle C. McManus "Dimension and Personality"

Danielle C. McManus is an illustrator and designer, she currently lives in New York. Danielle works on the blog A Love of Drawing. She uses a wide variety of media in her work, such as watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, drawing, computer graphics, and oil paint. Danielle is also a blog correspondent for Urban Sketchers. With tradeyourtalent she speaks about the role art plays in her life, the infinite possibilities of creativity, and why reading helps with creative blocks.

Interview with Danielle

Which role does art play in your life? 

Danielle: I would say art plays many roles in my life. As far back as I can remember I always had a crayon, marker or some kind of pen in my hand. As a kid my mom would buy me coloring books and giant sheets of wax paper to draw on.  I went through it like water! Growing up I also struggled with being shy and many times art was how I was able to talk to other kids my age.  I would say that art runs deep inside me and has allowed me to meet the most important people in my life.  Only as I have gotten older have I realized how important art is and how important it is in my life. The fact that I can get up everyday and make a drawing or go outside and draw the flowers, or travel to Paris and draw the Eiffel Tower just because, is truly wonderful. Art is a part of my everyday routine I would say.  Even days that I am not drawing images are always floating around in my head. From bright colors to figuring out how I draw someone’s ear. It’s kind of a funny thing I would say.

Can you describe your style? 

Danielle: My style is my personality. I feel the more variety and the more creative expression the better. I like to draw with a variety of materials and sometimes I even draw with chopsticks or tree sticks. It’s fun to see the infinite possibilities when it comes to creating a picture.

What do you do when you have a creative block? 

Danielle: When I have a creative block I go to the museum. I also look at art books and try to find new kinds of art to look at as well. I find the most important thing to do when I have a creative block is to read. Reading allows you to fill up your artist's well and will supply you with new information. Once you have information you can add it to your art and then you will have more to say with it. It adds dimension and personality.

Inspiration is...

Danielle: Something that can come from your heart and something you feel very deeply. 

If you could collaborate with another artist, whom would you pick?

Danielle: Well I have to say I would have loved to have collaborated with my late teacher and mentor who was a wonderful artist and teacher.

Art and music fundraiser in NYC: Donate an artwork for providing women with scholarships in Tanzania

Dear Trade Your Talent Readers, 

my really good friend Patricia Schneidewind runs a non-profit called the Bakhita Girls Project (www.bakhitagirls.com). They provide scholarships for young mothers and underprivileged girls to return to local secondary schools in Ifakara, Tanzania.  Right now Bakhita are working on raising funds for the girl’s school fees that are due by the end of August.  I told my friend about the many talented artists I know and I was wondering if you'd like to donate one of your artworks for this great cause. We will probably do an art raffle or let guests at the fundraiser buy a painting in the name of one of the 13 school girls !!

There are two ways for you to participate: 

1) If you are in New York I would be really happy if you could join us at this great event!

2) If you would like to contribute from anywhere around the world it would be great if you'd be able to send one of your artworks to us or directly to one of the guests who will buy your painting at the fundraiser! of course we will also put your name on the flyer for the fundraiser and I will blog loads about your participation! :-))

We will let you know after the fundraiser who donated money for your painting! 

The fundraiser: The fundraiser will take place at Vodou Bar in New York (a new bar that opened a few months ago on Nostrand Ave, near the Nostrand stop on the A) around the middle of next month. The date is not fixed yet but will take place between the 10th and 22nd of August (date will be set soon), so if you'd like to send us an artwork please get in touch soon ;) 

For more info drop me a line at susanna@tradeyourtalent.de !!

I look forward to hearing from you!!!

All best from New York, 

Susanna

Bakhita Girls

Art everywhere you go

What's fascinating about New York is that you find art everywhere - on the street, in the park, in Cafés. I thought I'd share some of these moments with you. I also discovered how much fun photography is, and so I recently spent two hours in Washington Square Park just trying to capture the people and how they created such a special mood in the park. 

This man was using buckets as drums and

 created an amazing mood in the subway station. 

A piano in Washington Square Park. 

Painting in the park. 

The Paper Raincoat "Curiosity is the key"

Brooklyn songwriters Amber Rubarth and Alex Wong are behind the band The Paper Raincoat. Even though they are a young band, their debut EP was released in July 2008, Alex and  Amber  already have many supportive fans. Their music was even placed on the film "The Last Song", based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. With tradeyourtalent Amber and Alex speak about curiosity and discovery.

On your website you write that your are an imaginative collaboration. What do you mean by that? 

ALEX: The idea of exploration and imagination is central to the concept of this band.  The whole idea for the project was born out of a creative improv exercise we decided to try one day.  We started describing a world filled with certain characters and the beginnings of a storyline, and let those elements guide a lot of the song ideas.

Has it been a difficult path? 

ALEX: We started the project at the beginning of 2008 and played our first band show June 2008.  Honestly I think we've been really lucky with people wanting to help us and opportunities coming our way.  All independent music is "difficult" at any level but I've definitely had it rougher in other projects, than we have with this project - so thanks everyone!!!  

What was the best thing a fan ever said about your music? 

ALEX: There was a couple in Colorado that told me they got engaged to our song "sympathetic vibrations" in their kitchen - which i thought was pretty awesome... but i think the time i remember the most was a lady in Kansas who said "your music makes me want to like myself more."

What does creativity and inspiration mean to you? What inspires your music? 

ALEX: i'm sure Amber has her own take on this, but for me, it means asking questions. Curiosity is the key to creativity for me.  It's much less about needing to supply an answer than just asking good questions.  As far as song ideas, i think they always come from things i'm wondering, things i don't know.

AMBER: I feel like in this project especially, the inspiration has come a little differently - it's not as much self-reflection or coming up with an idea and playing it out, but more exploration into stream-of-consciousness activities of writing our story-line and then feeding that into the music.  It's a lot of fun and feels like a discovery more so than a creation in many ways.

You are still a young band, but you've got many fans already. Are you sometimes overwhelmed by that? 

AMBER: We've been really fortunate to be able to tour with artists we really love who've introduced us to their fans. We opened early on for Vienna Teng quite a bit and that's been amazing, she has really helped us be able to do a lot of the live shows in front of fantastic audiences.  

What have you planned for your spring tour? 

AMBER: Not exactly sure yet, we're mostly writing right now and working a bit on individual solo projects as well.... we want to have some new recordings to share before hitting the road again, so finishing that up first.  We do have a NYC show Feb. 25th @ Highline Ballroom, and a show in Ann Arbor on April 22nd @ The Ark.

                                                            For more on Amber and Alex

                                                         www.thepaperraincoat.com