“That’s the power of the smile”.  Kathleen speaks these words during this video, and she’s seen it firsthand.  How a smile can turn a stranger into a friend.  How a smile can warm a cold bus or train.  She continues to forge links between people with her art and presence.  Take a few minutes to get to know her.

It’s all in the details-video interview with Jann Alexander from Roy Gatling on Vimeo.

Jann Alexander is a photographer and painter that has made a name for herself in Austin. Jann is the creator of the “Vanishing Austin” photo series, capturing images of iconic buildings and signage in the city. Jann also owns and operates Austin Details Art + Photo gallery in downtown Austin. You’ll want to get to know her, so have a look!

Austin Details Art + Photo is a fantastic new gallery in downtown Austin by Jann Alexander.  She has announced several calls for entry around specific themes.  Be sure to click on MORE… to see the full post.

The Calls for Entry are:

The Neon Show

American loves neon. And Austin’s full of it.

Austin is a town that worships neon. It lights up our life all over the city, as it does all around the country. We’ll pay homage to the art of neon with our gallery’s Grand Opening and exhibit reception on September 16,  The Neon Show.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT if you are an emerging or established artist creating original works in neon or about neon, especially with neon itself, or painting, serigraphy, film/video, traditional or digital photography, where the subject matter shows neon. Enter by August 23 to have your art considered for exhibition.

Essence: The Truth in the Portrait

The best portraits convey a hidden truth.

How do you portray your subject’s hidden qualities–the essence–in a portrait? We’re looking for your creative responses for our October 15 exhibit, Essence: The Truth in the Portrait.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT if you are an emerging or established artist creating original portraits, in any media, especially painting (oil, acrylic, pastel, water color, etc.), serigraphy, film/video, sculpture or mixed media. Enter by September 17 to have your art considered for exhibition.

24 Hours in Austin

Go on assignment to provide a glimpse into one day in the life of Austin, Texas.

We’re considering online portfolios for a one-hour assignment on one September day on location in Austin, Texas, for our November 12 exhibit, 24 Hours in Austin.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT if you are an emerging or established artist creating original visual art and photography, in any media, 2-D, 3-D or video/film. Enter by September 1 to have your online portfolio considered for assignment for one hour during one September day in Austin, Texas.

Best of the Fests

We’re rounding up the best art from Austin’s holiday festivals under one roof: ours.

If you sell your creative work at any of Austin’s holiday festivals, you’ll also want to sell it at our gallery during Best of the Fests, opening December 4 to coincide with the Downtown Holiday Stroll and the  Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting. Our location at 8th & Congress is ideal to attract shoppers at the annual Congress Avenue festivities, with our opening exhibit timed to appeal art lovers.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT if you are an emerging or established artist creating original work, in any media, that will be displayed at any Austin holiday art festival. Enter by November 5 to have your art considered for exhibition.

Tattoos have been around for centuries, but when Austin-Artists.com met Dan Henk, we found tattoo art that is way different than we had seen before. Dan’s style is best described as realistic, and much of his art comes from the horror genre.  Check it out!

Multi-talented artist Ricardo Acevedo likes to push the envelope with some of his work, and whether he’s doing graphic design, writing poetry, making music or doing a photo shoot, he brings a passion for all things creative to his work.

We at Austin-Artists.com are now offering artists the opportunity to provide a guest blog post, along with photos/video of their work. Stefanie Distefano is our first!  She does some great work and also teaches.  Be sure to visit her website, www.flamingoranch.com, too.

There is nothing more fun than being knee deep in a mosaic project. Currently, I’m installing one at D&B Auto on Live Oak and S. First street.  The piece that I’m working on is a Dia de Los Muertos joy ride ~ SWEEEET! It’s coming together nicely…let the good times roll.

Suvi’s Walk was designed as “world music for mosaics”.

Her friends, who really are from everywhere, came to my studio and made the flowers that created the tile garden leading up to her sweet bungalow.

It’s a brilliant piece representing all her girlfriends as well as Suvi’s amazing spirit.

My favorite piece at this very moment is the fish bridge. it’s simple and powerful. One thing I know to be true of my work is that there is so much meaning in every piece and whether or not you know about it or even notice the words or details, you can feel it.

Another of my favorites is the huge floor piece on my porch. These are all recycled floor tiles glazed and fired in the kiln. My friend Maime and I drew her the day Farrah Fawcett died, so her name is Farrah. She’s probably 15 ft long and her wings stretch 10 feet out. There are flowers all around her. She’s pretty awesome…

What makes my mosaics special:

The collaborative effort that goes into each one. So many fingerprints in the project give them something we can all relate to. You sense the spirit of many hands. The fact that there are handcrafted tiles in there — perfect little amazing pieces of art within the larger piece.

Recycled tiles — I use floor tiles, bathroom tiles, anything I can get my hands on. This adds it’s own element for completing the circle.

Pieces of mirror! Reflections of yourself; your own interpretation. You become a part of this art …. not to mention the disco effect dazzling us in the sun.

You can see more of Stefanie’s work at her website.

Austin has no shortage of interesting artisans and designers. Randy Andreasen is one of them. We met him at his workshop in South Austin where he fascinated us with his story AND his unique guitar design. Randy has spent many years perfecting his guitar design, and you owe it to yourself to watch the interview, even if you don’t play. You can learn more by visiting www.andreasdawn.com

Break on through to the other side-Video interview with Austin Artist, Wiley Ross from Roy Gatling on Vimeo.

Austin-Artists met Wiley Ross, a talented visual artist that has been drawing and painting since…forever. From murals to ink sketches to acrylics, the medium doesn’t matter. It’s the message in the image that does.

Do you know what a creative superhero is?  Watch the video and find out!  H. Cherdon Bedford is the real deal, right here in Austin, TX.  Whether it’s film, acting, photography, writing or graphic design, this lady has the bases covered.