Congrats to Tina Mackin of Smackin Art

Today’s Woman Magazine recently issued an Artists’ Call to Entries for an art piece representative of its 18th birthday. Tina Mackin's piece “18” landed in the top 5 (out of 52 entries) and is featured in the December issue of the magazine, on its website and on a T-shirt.

Check out the 18 finalists at the Today's Woman website.

Click here to see the top 5 winners featured in depth, including Tina.

Way to go Tina!!

October Team Giveaway: Part 1

The winner of our September giveaway, donated by Tina Mackin of Smackinart is "haptree" of the UK. Congrats haptree, we will be in touch with you to get your address so we can send out your cards and 'zine.

Being that October is the beginning of the fall season, we will be hosting TWO giveaways this month!

The first giveaway for October was generously donated by Joey and Kelly Graves, the beading team behind Whimsy Beading.


Boo To You! October is here, and it's time to trick or treat with a fun necklace from Joey and Kelly Graves of Whimsy Beading! This 20" necklace of fiber optic glass beads in orange and grey, silver spacers and Swarovski crystals spells out every ghost's favorite word and will be a fun addition to anyone's holiday jewelry wardrobe. Valued at $25.00, it's sure to be a sweet treat to the lucky winner!



How to Enter?
To enter, please visit Kelly and Joey's Whimsy Beading shop. Come back here to leave a comment and tell us what you like about their shop. If you tweet about the contest let us know for another chance to win. If you post this contest at your blog, leave a comment with the link for yet another chance to win. Finally, if you are not already a subscriber to our blog, enter your email in the subscribe box for another chance to win. Just let us know that you have become a subscriber.

This contest ends on October 14. We'll post the winner here and then announce the second part of our giveaway.

Good luck to all and thanks for playing!!

Share our Success: Tina Mackin of Smackin Art

Our very own multi-talented team member, Tina Mackin is a finalist in the Today's Woman "18" themed contest. Tina's art submission is shown above.

We'll find out the winner sometime after October 12.

Good luck Tina! Teambluegrass is proud of you!

Bluegrass Sept Giveaway: SmackinArt

Our lucky winner of the August giveaway from Purrprints is Jacque Curl of Missouri. Congratulations Jacque. Becca will be in touch with you when your prize ships!

We'd now like to announce our giveaway for the month of September!

This month's prize come to us from the very talented Tina Mackin of SmackinArt Studio. Tina is giving away three hydrangea watercolor greeting cards and a copy of her original 'zine, the "Poetry and Essay Issue."

Total value of this prize is $15.


To enter, please visit Tina's SmackinArt shop and come back here to leave a comment and tell us what you like about her shop or her art. If you tweet about the contest let us know for another chance to win. If you post this contest at your blog, leave a comment with the link for yet another chance to win. Finally, if you are not already a subscriber to our blog, enter your email in the subscribe box for another chance to win.

The contest ends September 30. We'll draw a random winner that evening and post by the first week of October.

Good luck to all and thanks for playing!!

Tina Mackin of Smackin Art

Our own Tina Mackin, of Smackin Art, had her digital art published on the cover of underwired in August:

We are very proud of this talented member of our team! Tina does amazing digital collage art in addition to her fun illustrations and gorgeous watercolors. My favorite in her shop is this watercolor, Variegated Leaves Never Say Never:

Be sure to stop by and say hello to Tina at her Etsy shop, Smackin Art, and keep an eye out for this artist on the rise!

Interview with Tina Mackin

Tina Mackin
www.smackinart.etsy.com
This week I talked with Tina Mackin, of smackinart.etsy.com Her work is bold and vivid, and makes a statement wherever it is. Read on to learn more about our conversation with this artist about her fun works.

CORINNE: Where do you get your inspiration?
TINA: Watercolors - nature, music; editorial cartoons - pop culture and the news; illustrations - people, music and issues.

CORINNE: When getting ready to start a new watercolor, how do you select what to paint?
TINA: It’s usually the color or form. When I was painting daffodils, I was drawn to their form. When I painted this large piece on hibiscus, it was the flower’s bold orange color. Once a form or color has caught my attention, the item seems to appear everywhere saying, “paint me, paint me.”

CORINNE: What sets you apart from your competition?
TINA: Each art piece is original. I do not photograph things and, then, trace them as a surprising number of artists do. I do not make giclee's of my work. Each piece is the only and the original.

CORINNE: What medium do you work in the most?
TINA: Currently, ink and pencil.

CORINNE: Do you show your work in any galleries?
TINA: Prior to Hurricane Katrina, I was very active in gallery hops and shows. After the hurricane, the main gallery were I sold my work closed and the other stopped dealing with original art. I gave my paintings a break. Currently, I have paintings at Anabel’s Oriental Rug Gallery in St. Matthews and Widdershins in Louisville.

CORINNE: What about craft shows?
TINA: Not anymore. I wasn't make enough money for the time and effort it demanded. Which do you do better at, etsy or craft shows? Etsy is easier on the art that's for sure.

CORINNE: What product in your shop is your favorite right now?
TINA: Hmmm. Derby Anticipation.

CORINNE: I love your Pomegranate painting, can you tell me more about it?

TINA: Pom drinks, capsules and this-n-that were in the mainstream grocery stores. I was intrigued. I was drawn to the red color. I thought the fruit was beautiful on the outside, but had no idea what it looked like on the inside. So, I decided to buy 2, cut one open and paint.

CORINNE: Who is the artist who inspires you the most?
TINA: I love the creative work of Vadis Turner. I am listening to Sara Bareilles right now. I can't go wrong with The Dixie Chicks have a song for my every mood.

CORINNE: I can tell pop art really inspires you. If Warhol and Rauschenberg were in a boxing match, who would win?
TINA: Yes, I am a big fan of Pop Art. Warhol wouldn’t fight with fists only with words. I’d guess Rauschenberg. His work seems like he’d be a frenetic person.

CORINNE: Where in Kentucky are you?
TINA: Louisville

CORINNE: Tell me a little about your family.
TINA: I am married with two children (almost 12 year old daughter and almost 10 year old son – they have summer birthdays). I have three dogs that are like children, a bunny, guinea pig and a fish.

CORINNE: How do your kids like mom being an artist? I know it’s a big deal to my daughter.
TINA: The children love me being an artist. And, they respect when I’m working on a piece. It’s also educational as my kids hear me say when I love a piece and when I think I’ve missed the mark. I know my kids loved seeing my work out in the community. When I belonged to the Kentucky Watercolor Society, I participated in many member exhibits, one of which was the local library.

CORINNE: What do you do to get over creative block or to take a break from creating?
TINA: Spend time in nature, work in my journals, go for a walk, take anap or meditate.

CORINNE: Your Etsy shop (smackinart.etsy.com) has some fabulous paintings in there. Do you have a website or blog in addition to your etsy shop?
TINA: My website is www.smackinart.com

CORINNE: If you could give just one tip to a newbie to selling their craft online,what would it be?
TINA: Take good photographs of your work.

Be sure to check out Tina’s website for a much more extensive collection of her paintings. Her variety is impressive. You can purchase her original watercolors on smackinart.etsy.com

Next week's interview: Jacqueline Ettinger