Issue 1 Artist Spotlight | Claira Heitzenrater
C+B: Who is Claira Heitzenrater?
CH: Claira Heitzenrater (b. 1988) is a painter, printmaker, cat mom, and educator living and working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. She holds an MFA in Painting from Edinboro University (Edinboro, PA USA) and a BFA in Studio Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, PA USA). She has been featured on the Create Magazine podcast, in issue 13 of Create Magazine, volume 38 of Studio Visit Magazine, and various other publications. She has shown work regionally and internationally, including virtual exhibitions with PxP Contemporary and the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, the longest standing arts organization in the USA. She has completed residencies at SparkBox Studio in Picton, Ontario, Canada and the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT, USA.
C+B: What are you long-term creative goals?
CH: My aim in creation is to give life to liminality.
C+B: What other creative outlets do you enjoy or want to try?
CH: I love reading and writing, and trying my hand at various media when I’m able. I’d really like to get more into photography.
Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be, 8” x 10” moon, oil on panel
(Original artwork ©Claira Heitzenrater)
Ideal creative retreat: I’d love to go back to the Vermont Studio Center. New England is ideal for creatives with a darker edge.
Currently inspired by: My favorite creators are mostly dead, ha! I love all artists from the Baroque, Rococo and Pre-Raphaelite periods. I admire a lot of contemporary artists as well, including Aleah Chapin (@aleah_chapin) and Dana Zaltzman (@danazaltzman).
Claira Heitzenrater
Issue 1 Artist Spotlight | R.J. Papaleo
C+B: Tell us about yourself!
RJP: I’m a graphic designer during the day but my dream is to work full time in the fine arts, either as an artist or in a gallery/museum setting. I’m really fascinated with vintage media & technology. Collecting and archiving various pieces of nostalgia is a concept I’m very drawn to.
C+B: What is one quote that inspires you or informs your work? Who said it and why do you admire them?
RJP: “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with it a club.” - Jack London.
It’s a great, simple reminder to stay hungry and engaged creatively.
C+B: What is something exciting that you're looking forward to in your life or creative life?
RJP: More and more people are seeking to purchase my work for their homes and it’s really touching to know that my work is being enjoyed in such special spaces.
Erie Canal I, 20” x 8,” acrylic on canvas (Original artwork ©R.J. Papaleo)
Ideal creative retreat: I’m always inspired by traveling on back roads through small towns, looking for hidden spots & views and stopping at galleries & vintage shops along the way.
Currently inspired by: My college professor, painter/sculptor Jim Zingarelli (@jzingarelli); my best friend, Proof Magazine creator/editor Jeb Perkins (@jebperkins), jazz themed illustrator/painter (@yazuka_ruma)
R.J. Papaleo
Issue 1 Artist Spotlight | Lindsey Luna Tucker
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Lindsey!
LLT: My days are mostly full of painting, writing, reading, and being in nature. The majority of my inspiration is drawn directly from nature but I also am inspired by the books I read. I often have at least five to ten books on my nightstand at any given time.
C+B: What is one quote that inspires you or informs your work and why?
LLT: "It is precisely what is invisible in the land that makes what is merely empty space to one person, a place to another.” - Yi-Fu Tuan
Tuan is a geographer who writes extensively on contradicting human experiences with nature - space and place, the intimate and the distant, rootedness and outreach, etc. I love to read his writings and consider how as we as humans are constantly holding opposing beliefs within ourselves. This quote in particular inspires me because what is invisible is always the thing I am searching to capture in a painting.
C+B: What is something exciting that you’re looking forward to?
LLT: I just signed a lease for a new studio space and move in this month! I've had my studio at home for the past few years but have recently been craving a bit of separation from my paintings. I look forward to walking to my studio every morning and having a bit more space to create!
Find and support Lindsey here:
Where The Wildflowers Bloom, 30” x 30,” oil
(Original artwork ©Lindsey Luna Tucker)
Lindsey Luna Tucker
Ideal creative retreat: My ideal retreat would most certainly be based in a remote location surrounded by nature. There would be time for hiking, creativity, reading, and of course, good food. I'd prefer a small group of participants so we can have plenty of time to get to know each other and keep an intimate setting.
Currently inspired by: I'm constantly in awe of paintings by Raimonds Staprans, Fairfield Porter, and Wayne Thiebaud among many others.
Issue 1 Artist Spotlight | Heather Martindale
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Heather!
HM: I am a full time artist/creative, a wife and a mother of two girls 3 and 6. They pretty much keep me busy but I also enjoy cooking and baking, as well as gardening in the summer time.
C+B: What is one quote that inspires you or informs your work?
HM: "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." by Georgia O'Keeffe.
I have always loved the simple yet elegant work of O'Keeffe. That quote resonates with me, as I believe my work speaks through emotions rather than telling a story through words.
Ideal creative retreat: A historic house in the hills of Europe. Not a lot of people around, great food and lots of fresh air coming through the windows.
Currently inspired by: Leeah Joo @leeahjoo, Shana Levenson @slevenson, and Heather Horton @heather_horton.
Release, 3’ x 4,’ oil (Original artwork ©Heather Martindale)
C+B: What other creative outlets do you enjoy or want to try?
HM: I love to bake and cook and do most home renovation projects. I also enjoy other art mediums like clay and printmaking.
Heather Martindale
Issue 1 Writer Spotlight | Lorna Simes
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Lorna…
LS: I have a background in engineering and construction, but all of my passions are arts-related. I’m a voracious reader (of poetry in particular), an avid theatergoer, a musician, and I host a world music program on WSCA Portsmouth Community Radio in Portsmouth. NH.
C+B: What is one quote that inspires you or informs your work?
LS: My favorite quote has always been this one from Yip Harburg. “I am one of the last of a small tribe of troubadours, who still believe that life is a beautiful and exciting journey with a purpose and grace which are well worth singing about.” Yip Harburg wrote ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ so he deserves our eternal gratitude for that alone, but I love the idea of being the kind of person who believes in the wonder of the world. I try to do that, but some days are easier than others…
C+B: What are your long-term goals for creating?
LS: To continue to write poems that people feel an emotional connection with. It’s all about the work.
C+B: What is something exciting that you're looking forward to in your life or creative life?
LS: Collaborating with a fellow creative on a series of ekphrastic works.
Find and support Lorna here:
IG: @wscaradiored
Lorna Simes
Ideal creative retreat: A farmhouse in the Loire valley in France, with only the landscape and sky for company. Bliss.
Currently inspired by: In terms of poetry, I have a huge affection for the work of the English poet Christopher Reid. He won the Costa Book Award in 2009 for his collection., ‘A Scattering,’ some of the most precise and elegant poetry on the subject of grief that I have ever read, but his entire canon is magnificent. If I were stranded on a desert island, I'd be sure to have my collection of Reid poetry with me! I greatly admire the work of Ilya Kaminsky. His ‘Deaf Republic’ anthology from a couple of years ago is some of the most potent poetry I have ever read. You can find him on Twitter @ilyakaminsky I am a fan of the visual arts, particularly the work of British contemporary artist Victoria Threlfall. She does extraordinary things with color, texture, perspective, and light. Her images are compelling and resonate deeply with me. You can see her vibrant and striking works on Instagram @victhrelfall. Closer to home, the work of New Hampshire artist Dawn Boyer is essential to me. I find her abstract landscape work profoundly affecting. You can also find Dawn’s work on Instagram @dawnboyerfineart.
Issue 1 Artist Spotlight | Brooke Ebeling
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Brooke!
BE: I am a full-time artist currently residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! When I’m not painting in my studio, I’m usually reading, playing games, or watching movies with my partner and our Beabull pup. Something that people who know me as an artist may not know about me is that I LOVE analyzing movies/tv shows/comics. I used to obsessively watch any piece of media I could get my hands on (long before Netflix and “bingeing” were a thing!). I could talk to someone for hours about plotlines, actors, the history of the programs, and more. If you need a partner for pop culture trivia, I’m your girl!
C+B: What is one quote that inspires you or informs your work?
BE: “Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that's why I made works of art.” - Felix Gonzales-Torres
While I don’t typically look to his work for inspiration as a painter, this quote has stuck with me since the first time I heard it all the way back in undergrad. I love the idea that our artwork does not need to be tied to one specific feeling or emotion. We create because we exist, and our artwork is our interpretation of all our experiences in this world, good, bad, funny, or sad.
Ideal creative retreat: Somewhere coastal with lots of beautiful local foliage! I’ve always been a beach bum and find that salt air and warm sun does wonders for my creative motivation! I’d love to be in a place that encourages artist collaboration as we all work towards strengthening our practices! Somewhere with good food, good company, and a beautiful environment for creating!
Currently inspired by: Artists who push their medium past the traditional techniques and subjects. I love artwork that tries to relate to the viewer in ways outside of just appreciation of technical skill. With that being said, I’ve been really enjoying Mark Tennant (@marktennantart), Dayris Felix (@dayrisfelix), Clare Kim (@clarekimart), Mary Kate Noonan (@mk.noonan.art), Ally Pedemonti (@allydoesart), and Sarah Stieber (@sarahstieber).
Same Shit Different Day, 24” x 36,” oil on stretched canvas
(Original artwork ©Brooke Ebeling)
C+B: What other creative outlets do you enjoy or want to try?
BE: This summer I’ve been teaching a lot of printmaking summer camps for children, and have been super inspired by what we’re learning! I love woodcuts and relief printmaking and think that would be an amazing outlet to pursue. I also collect mugs, and would love to someday own a pottery wheel so I could learn how to throw some mugs of my own! I love painting, but because it is my profession, I’m often not creating just for the sake of creating. I’d like to start learning some new mediums so I can give my creative practice some “play time!”
Brooke Ebeling
Issue 1 Artist Spotlight | Charlie J. Meyers
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Charlie!
CJM.: Before the pandemic, I was working as a fashion production manager for an international fashion designer. I am a clutch artisan. Right now I am focusing on building a stronger studio painting practice and improving my health and fitness. In my spare time, I love going to the gym, hiking, and seeing new exhibitions. I am inspired by the artwork of queer painters, storytellers, writers, illustrators, and performance artists. Something people may not know about me is that I received my Masters degree in Montreal, so I speak some French!
C+B: What is one quote that inspires you or informs your work?
CJM: I had a professor once say to me "you can think your way into a different reality." I admire this concept because so often we are limited by our thoughts. When we change the way we think on a core level, it creates a new reality. When we are able to do that, new levels of creativity are reached and trauma is healed. When I was told this in graduate school, I saw it as a fanciful idea. Now as an adult artist living with disabilities, I see it as my core principal of living. It has become the fundamental reason for me to keep going every day, no matter how I physically feel. It is why I make art.
C+B: What are your long-term goals for creating, Charlie?
CJM: My long-term goals for creating are to continuously make bodies of work that are vulnerable, unique, and fearless. I do not want to be contained by expectation, rules, or social media. My goal is total freedom, always.
Charlie J. Meyers
Heavy-Hearted Spectator, digital gouache
(Original artwork © Charlie J. Meyers- NFT here)
Ideal creative retreat: A national park with all meals provided. I would just have to get up, paint, hike, and sleep. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Currently inspired by: Justin O'Brien @justinliamobrien and Loie Hollowell @loiehollowell. They make the kind of work that lights a fire under my ass and I get jealous (in a good way) and start painting.
Find and support Charlie here: Web: charliejmeyers.com IG: @charliejmeyers
Issue 1 Writer Spotlight | James Dupree
C+B: Tell us about yourself, James!
JD: For the past ten years, I have been a fresh fruit and herb (culinary/medicinal) farmer in North Carolina. I studied English at UNC, and for the last five years or so, I have been working on my career as a writer/editor. After taking a couple of creative writing courses in college, I realized I loved not only sharing my work with other like-minded creatives but helping them brainstorm ideas for their own stories. Since then, I have joined local writing groups, and I find the experience incredibly rewarding. I encourage every writer to do the same. Not only do you see an improvement in your own work, but your unique experiences and knowledge help countless others.
C+B: What are your long-term goals for creating?
JD: Oh boy, I’ve got quite the list of projects. But to keep it simple, I have five possible novels/anthologies that I hoped to have written and published sometime before I kick the bucket. I also hope to expand my career as an editor and help other writers find success in telling their stories, whether fact or fiction.
C+B: What is something exciting that you’re looking forward to?
JD: Further exploring life with my amazing and beautiful co-pilot… Also hopefully finishing my first book within the next couple of years (half way there!).
James Dupree
Ideal creative retreat: I'm not that picky. Somewhere quiet and relaxed is always appreciated. Yet, I also get some of my best ideas driving on busy highways with the radio blaring.
Currently inspired by: For writing: Jeff Vandermeer @jeff_vandermeer123, Neil Gaiman @neilhimself, Douglas Adams, Ed Brubaker. For artwork: Michael Del Mundo @deadlymike and Seb Mckinnon @sebmckinnon. For their humor and knowledge on gaming and entertainment: Greg Miller @gameovergreggy and James & Elyse Willems @jameswillemsfeet @elysewillems.
Issue 1 Artist Spotlight | Priscilla Thomas
Luna Beckons, 11” x 14,” oil (Original artwork © Priscilla Thomas)
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Priscilla…
PT: Aside from creating art, I enjoy reading "sciency" books and sitting on a shaded deck listening to the sounds of nature. I also enjoy keeping up with events and advances in space travel and exploration; and listening to thoughts and opinions from diverse viewpoints on them. What would surprise most people is the lengths I’ve gone to in order to assure I could attend rocket launches and NASA media events. I will NEVER reveal them, I have a clean criminal record and want to keep it that way ;) . My brazen tactics have given me many experiences that have inspired numerous pieces of art.
C+B: What is one quote that inspires you or informs your work?
PT: Wow, there are so many... I am a book addict and would personalize the books in my home library with bookplates (it was a thing). My favorite bookplate, that I adored, had a silhouette of a battered Don Quixote on his steed, continuing on his quest along a landscape with a broken lance. I have never forgotten the inscription above the image... "Break a lance for an ideal." That comes back to me when making decisions in life, or specifically when I am faced with weighing what I want to say in a painting against whether the painting will have mass appeal. I never go with mass appeal.
C+B: What are your long-term goals for creating?
PT: Inspire people from ALL backgrounds to see new ways we can rise and progress as a united humanity.
Ideal creative retreat: A remote cabin in an evergreen forest, in complete solitude - for an extended stay. Give me a nice bonfire pit, big stone fireplace, and fresh coating of powdery snow.
Currently inspired by: Paula Dunn (@pauladunnartist) for her astonishing efficiency in creating mood and pulling the viewer in, and Roger Olmos (@el_olmos) for his perfection in storytelling. His images sweep me away. But an artist that tugs at my heart consistently, that has a longer duration career is Saul Chase (@chasesaul) - the breadth of his work while maintaining a tone that haunts and welcomes, is just, well, I'm speechless.
Priscilla Chase Thomas