SHARING SUNSHINE WITH YOU

Meet Cincinnati,Ohio artist, Barbara Klocke!

Chickadees, Barbara Klocke

I first met Barbara, whom I now call Sunshine, on March 22, 2007, in my first days as a Gallery owner at Zazzle.com. She was my third fan!

We became friends and cheerleaders to each other. As I slogged through the learning process of setting up the Gallery, learning posting protocols, Zazzle etiquette, etc, Barb always cheered me on, and encouraged me.

Barb is insightful, tremendously funny, and caring and giving to others. Her fans and friends span all age groups, art styles and genres. She is a delightful woman who sees the divine in all and everyone she sees and knows.

When not creating, Barbara spends time with her family and friends, reads, gardens, knits and crochets and practices the healing practice of Qigong.

Old Barn, Barbara Klocke

Barb, how did you come to be an artist?

“Art has always been a part of my life. It has always been a source of joy and expression for me. Having others enjoy my work is the highest form of success for me.

I suppose that my love of art began with my first coloring book. I decided that I wanted to be an artist at a young age. I was fortunate enough to have an artist neighbour as a child. I would visit her often and ask her what I needed to do to become an artist and then I taught myself how to do it.”

Earred Grebe, Barbara Klocke

And what media do you work in?

“I used to work in oils, but now I work in acrylic and sometimes watercolour. I work on canvas or paper, but I worked extensively on rocks for some time. Recently I began experimenting with coloured pencils.”

Wood Duck, Barbara Klocke

How has your career developed over the years?

“Over the years, I entered numerous art shows, both amateur and juried. My work was accepted for shows in Sofia, Bulgaria and Athens, Greece.

The prestigious Clossens in Cincinnati, featured my rock art for six months.

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Tempo-art section, featured two articles about my Rock art. I also appeared on a local TV show with some of my rock art. My Granddaughter was permitted to go on with me, so that was great fun!

Two local Cincinnati galleries featured my work for several years.”

Pelican, Barbara Klocke

Has your work changed over the years?

“I paint a wide variety of subject matter, including wildlife and florals. A number of years ago though, I began researching the Native American culture in an effort to learn more about my own heritage. As a result I painted many Native American inspired paintings as a tribute to that Culture. “



Sunflowers, Barbara Klocke

What motivates you to create?

“I see the expression of God's love all around me, in Nature, Animals and people. I suppose that is my main motivation, to try and capture some of that beauty and love. The Native American art is more spiritual in nature, and many of those paintings came to me in dreams. To Native Americans, nurturing one's Spiritual side is as important as nurturing the physical side. They feel that true happiness can only be found by having balance between the two.”

Please visit Barbara on Zazzle!

http://www.zazzle.com/klocke

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

Next Time: An interview with an artist who I met here at home and have worked with for many years, Kate, of Kate’s Kards on Zazzle and Etsy.

Many thanks for coming by, cheers ruth ;D

My Story

So, fine, I’ve finally started my very first blog EVER!

I’ve read that I should SEO the content, etc, etc…..

For now, I’m just going to get the thing started; I’ve procrastinated on this TOO LONG already.

So Search Engines, Yoooooo Hoooooooooo, I’m over hee eere *waves hands*, Come and fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind meeeeeeee! Helloooooooooooooo? Hellooooooooooo?

Oh well, if that doesn’t work, I will do the SEO thing, …. eventually……..

I’m told that in a blog, one should use ones own ‘unique’ voice. I only have the one voice, is that the unique one? Am I missing something?

I am not a person to embellish or embroider things much; a Capricorn with a Libra twist. I’m not big on emotional, mushy or cute. I am passionate about integrity, kindness, courtesy, tolerance, gratitude, love, fun and helping others achieve their full potential, in whatever large or small ways I can.

I’ve heard that folks like to know more about an artist, to have an affinity with them and some understanding of their creative motivation. So what might they like to know about me I wonder???

It all started on a snowy Christmas morning long ago …… I can sure imagine what my fiery, out spoken, red haired mother had to say about that!

The next 30 years were a mish mash of character building circumstances. Suffice it to say ‘forged in the fire’ might be an accurate description. I say ‘GOOD’, I wouldn’t be who I am, but for all that, and I bloody like who I am.

Per that ‘bloody’, I may have picked up my mother’s penchant for British slang. She by the way has been departed from this earthly life since 1975.

Throughout my life my creativity was encouraged in ways large and small, as a ‘hobby’. The older I grew, the stronger the inclination to create became. In 1994 I became a potter. Kick wheel, kiln, and the whole nine yards. I opened a Gallery, taught students AND worked full time at a J.O.B.

A medical crisis stopped life as I knew it in 2003.

My families support and alternative treatment strategies have aided my slow, and to date, incomplete return to health, physical mobility and strength. Throughout my recovery journey, it has been spiritual study and creative endeavours that have soothed my mind, provided necessary mental and physical therapy and given me hope that my efforts to heal would lead to a brighter, stronger and healthier future.

A little over two years ago, I discovered the online world of Print on Demand, P.O.D. Here was a way to market my art, to get it out to the world, despite my physical limitations.

I began to delve into digital art and image manipulation. This led me to rekindle my relationship with the camera. A wonderful friend on Zazzle, Perlyyyy, introduced me to Apophysis and my love of Generative art was born. Today, Generative Art is my focus and passion.

Next Time: An interview with artist Barbara Klocke of Ohio and a look at some of her beautiful work. Barbara is a wonderful, talented and accomplished lady who I like to call ‘Sunshine’!

cheers, ruth ;D