Thursday, June 16, 2011

Rhody artists ~ Liz Carren

Artist’s name: Liz Carren
Shop name: Botanical Beauties and Beasties
Website: http://botanicalbeautiesbeasties.com/main
Blog: http://botanicalbeautiesbeasties.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BotanicalB_B
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BotanicalBeautiesBeasties/
OnLine http://botanicalbb.myshopify.com/collections/all

1. Tell us about your work:
What you will see in the Botanical Beauties and Beasties is my love of art, illustration, flowers, horticultural and whimsy. I have been involved with Art, Design, Photography, Graphics, Landscape Design and Gardens for a long time. I thoroughly enjoy maintaining the integrity of the literal image using new digital tools to move directly to interpretive imaging. My desire is to simply enhance and recreate reality. In this case recreated reality equals the Community of Botaniumus. Each Botanical is an original image.

via BotanicBB


2. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter?
My background is in art and design as far back as I can remember. I was painting at a young age with my painter grandmother, I was going to museums and events with my future PHD Art Historians Sister and Mom, and I was “doing art” in school or home. I grew up a bit and went to Ithaca Collage, School of Communications and received a Bachelor of Science in Cinema Studies and Photography. With an appetite for adventure/travel I furthered my studied in London at the International Film School, in Covent Garden, London and received a diploma from there as well. I worked in the DC area for a number of years as a photographer. After a while I went back to school again, this time in Landscape Design. Over the next 15 years I pursued design as an Exhibit Designer, an Interior Planting Designer, an Exterior Garden Designer, and as a traditional Graphic Designer. The outcome of all these past disciplines of art is the Botanical Beauties and Beasties.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration?
The garden, nature and particularly flowers!

4. What’s your favorite item to make?
It is not so much an item as a flow for the Botanical Beauties & Beasties. I love to design a new Botanical Beauty with no pre-conceived notion of where the flowers may take me but to have some of idea of the story that will soon go with the illustration. It is nearly impossible for me to choose a favorite. I really do love them all; they all make me smile for one reason or another!

image via Botanical Beauties and Beasties

5. What’s your best seller?
Greeting Cards with Rosie, Jolié , Mimi or Zoie.
image via BotanicalBB
6. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
We actually live on the RI, MA border- but most of what do seems to be in RI! I live with my husband and our 2 dogs and we have been “on the boarder” for 6 years. I have been in the New England area for about 15 years. I am originally from Maryland.

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
Without a doubt it is South County. Love the feel, the look, the water, the beaches, the towns, the artists, the growers and small markets/stores still owned by “locals!”

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add
I hope people will be drawn into and delighted by the land of Botaniumus. It is a joy for me to fuse my love of photography, gardens and digital imaging all into one place. My eyes and the camera lens capture the broad to the microscopic. Through this I find the magic of detail: the grain of sand that creates the beach, the pollen that creates the flower. The message is clear to me - Pay Attention! Little details DO matter – in ones’ own life and in the environment.

The purpose of the Botanicals is to educate and spread the message of “green”- Eco Awareness/ Eco Education. Whimsical creatures promoting a sustainable earth.

The hope of the Botanicals is to get into the hearts of minds of the public, and to make you smile when you look at them. 
The mantra is Environmental Consciousness.

Beasty or beauty is surely in the eye and mind of the beholder. I hope you find them all fun, intriguing, dignified and enchanting!

The newest addition to our community- Julia, she is setting up a Bakery in Izabella store and café- the Knowledge Café! Want to know more? http://botanicalbeautiesbeasties.com/2011/06/06/meet-julia-baker-and-chef-of-natural-foods/
Jolié : Herbalist for Beauty and Remedies. (Columbine flower)
Zoie: Queen of the Woodlands (Pink Magnolia Bud)

A specialty post card- for those that have campers heading off soon!
via Botanical Beauties and Beasties

To read all the stories of all the Beauties: http://botanicalbeautiesbeasties.com/individual-stories/

2 comments:

liz said...

Thanks for the awesome post!

boliyou (I {heart} Rhody) said...

So glad you like it, Liz!

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