ABOUT THE ARTIST (Longer Version)

(Because many people ask some usual, and not so usual questions, I've responded to and posted answers here.  I truly appreciate the kind phone calls we receive from folks wanting to chat or ask me questions, but unfortunately, between my soap & art businesses, I don't have a lot of time to field these type calls and still work, even though I'd love to!  I'm the chief cook & bottle washer around here for everything! So I hope this page helps answer most questions! For those wanting to know more about how I got started in my soap biz, here's a link for ya! About The Owner )

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN AN ARTIST?

I THINK so!  As a kid, I always drew & painted pictures....but what kid doesn't?...I think most are naturally artistic and creative!  Many childhood memories were of sitting under the big tree in our front yard at a picnic table, or in my room, drawing for hours on end...probably way more so than most my friends.  I preferred art and tomboy activities with my brothers, over Barbies...yet I could re-decorate a Barbie house with the best of 'em, and sew a Barbie wardrobe out of fabric scraps!  The biggest birthday or Christmas morning thrill for me was getting a brand new 64-set of crayons, graphite pencils, sketchpads, paints, & Walter Foster - How To Draw & Paint books!  I also spent a lot of time writing, and still love writing; perhaps one day, the two will converge (?).  During especially crazy-busy times of my life, I'd often stray from doing art....but only because other priorities took precedence.  It always kind of called me back!  It's like something that needs to get out of you....

PROGRESSION OF AN INTEREST

I've always been the kind of student who learns best by actually doing it, not just being lectured about it.  So I learned art by doing it, and through studying step-by-step books, analyzing art through it's many steps to build-up back to forward, and began first trying to re-create beautiful picture book illustrations as a child, even selling them at our lemonade stands.  Then later, I did many pastel still lifes & landscapes, ... pencil drawings of horses became a focus when I owned my own....my muses changing over the years.  I veered-off into fantasy art one day in 1993 after reading a Brian Froud book, "Faeries" to my 3-year-old daughter, and decided to draw a picture of her with fairy wings. I couldn't seem to stop painting fantasy since then!  I love to paint scenes or characters of  ideal worlds, creatures and places of Earthly beauty that reflect an innate natural magic...like the magic of childhood that so many grow up and lose.  I hope my paintings help keep that world of possibility alive!

I collect art books I've studied over the years, and explore YouTube tutorials.  I consider my art a work-in-progress, but can't imagine ever being fully satisfied with my skill level.  But one must start somewhere to know how far you've come later, rrright?  ;) I use watercolor and acrylics, pastels, pen & ink....and I am taking a stab at learning digital art for the challenge of it, but I believe my heart lies with traditional mediums.  For me, there's just *something* about getting paint on my fingers, and chunks of pastel under my nails....I feel more connected to art!  Still, I'm fascinated with what you can do with digital! 

After establishing my first art website Wild Oaks Art (fairy, mermaid, and other fanciful creatures),  I decided to develop a venue specifically for my witchy art.  I conjured "enchanted" with "fantasies"...and "Enchantasies" was born.

IS ART ALL YOU'VE EVER DONE AS A BUSINESS?

I've been a paint-for-my-own-enjoyment artist all my life, didn't even attempt to sell my art until 2004, at the ripe old age of 46!  I guess it's never too late, eh?  (My mom didn't start painting until she was in her 70's!  All those years I had no idea what was hidden beneath her "Mom" exterior!  Neither did she!)  Even then, I wasn't so sure I wanted to actually try to "sell" my work.  It moreless came about at the encouragement of soap clients of mine for whom I'd created some custom-painted soap labels with a very favorable response ...and ...with my own brain-stormy entrepreneurship-tendencies, and fully aware of the wonders of the internet through success I'd already had in my soap business.....I decided ...Why not?  I'll put up a website,  post a few art pieces, and see what happens!  Art is so subjective;  I've developed a following of viewers/buyers who see something in my art that they identify with & that appeals to them.  I've been selling art ever since I put the site up, my art has appeared in several magazines, two books, and involved in some licensing projects.  I hope to eventually devote more time to art, but I run the full-time soap business, so time gets verrry stretched & ambition often outpaces hours in the day.  I feel badly that I cant't produce art as much as I work on it in my head! 

As for "Is that all I've done?"--- Scrolling backwards....before selling art starting in 2004, and starting my soap business in 1994, I ran a daycare business out of my home while my own three children were small, so I could be home raising them.  I LOVE children and this was a great way to spend the magic of childhood with them, AND  have an income!  When not chauffeuring kids to sports et al....evenings and weekends were spent developing my soap business, art, and freelance writing (I wrote children's stories - am a graduate of The Institute for Children's Literature, ...I also had the school and area-redevelopment beats for a local community newspaper,... and produced my kids' school newsletter), I was also a part-time calligrapher, working freelance for wedding coordinators.  The child-raising years were kind of, um, a blur of intense activity! Prior to that, I was a surgical assistant, working for plastic surgeons for over a decade....a profession I dearly loved and was fortunately able to do a lot of travelling with;  I saw much of the US and South America.  Before that, I attended college with the goal to become a professional writer...and somehow got waylayed into the medical field.  Life can take side-trips and show you interests & talents you didn't even know you had...yet I think earliest interests always sorta stick with you, can follow you into your current ventures.  Art/crafts steer me today, and I do a lot of writing as part of that;  I design and maintain my websites.

I have other hidden talents, but I don't want this About The Artist page to become any more blah-de-blah me-me-me than it already is!  If you want to know more about my abilities to hang drywall, sing Aerosmith's greatest hits, and my infamous projectile hiccups...you'll simply have to follow my blog!  heh heh

CAN YOU ACTUALLY MAKE A LIVING SELLING FANTASY ART?

Well, I haven't quit my day job ...yet!  But that's because I love my day job, too!  But plenty of people sell their art for a full-time living...so YES!   There's so many factors at-play to that question....and much hinges on how much do you need to "make a living", ...like where do you live, do you have a mortgage to pay each month, or are you living in your parent's basement?  Do you have kids to support, college tuitions to pay?  You get the idea.  It's all relevant as to what is required to "make a living".  But there are a myriad of ways to sell your art, including licensing, making art products that expand your capabilities for sales & exposure!  But it all starts with making the art first, and connecting with a fanbase! 

IF YOU DIDN'T CURRENTLY DO WHAT YOU DO, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

I really like what I already do, I just want more TIME to do it!  But I guess if I were to choose a dream job that fascinates me, I'd love to master digital art and be able to work on conceptual art for movie projects like Lord of the Rings or Avatar type productions....that would be just so WOW, WOW, WOW!  One of my favorite parts of watching movies like that is "The Making Of..." portion!  Makes me salivate to be a part of it, and around all those genius creative minds!

I also really love being with, and working with animals.  Could be a farmer, world traveler, photographer.....  Geez....I better live a loooong darn time if I'm going to tackle all that! 

WHERE ARE YOU FROM & WERE YOU ALWAYS IMAGINATIVE?

I was born in Rochester (upstate) New York, near Lake Ontario, just a couple of blocks from the beach.  My dad believed in making the most of weekends, so our family of six did a lot of camping, visiting all the beautiful natural wonders of the area -- especially The Thousand Islands, St. Lawrence & Hudson River areas, Finger Lakes; I'm sure that's how my affinity for forests and places where enchanted folk hang-out, began. I well-remember losing myself in the woods and acting out Little Red Riding Hood, or Hansel & Gretel.  For me, the forest literally reverberated with voices & whispers...and called to me in a "you belong here" sort of way.  This same "calling" has existed all my life.  A FAVORITE place to be now that I'm on the west coast , is Lake Tahoe and it's magical forests!  

As a kid, I always adored the adventurous spirit of how my dad would come home late on a Friday night, and out of the blue say to my mom, "Honey, pack the cooler, I'll pack the trailer...let's go CAMPING for the weekend!"  Somehow it all came together with four kids, in record-time, we drove all night, erected a tent by flashlight, and never knew precisely where we'd be waking up on Sat.--but we knew it would be FUN...it always was! And I couldn't wait to go explore deep within the trees, find those spirits that called to me!

I also spent large amounts of imaginative time in our backyard, particularly at an enchanted cherry blossom tree, and a beautiful rock garden where I first discovered faeries, toads, and other garden creatures living among the plants and stones. (I share a recounting of that first fairy-sighting here: Fairy Sighting Recounted) .  When I was 11, on the same day that the first man walked on the moon, my family left NY, struck out by car to move to Californy, visiting many states along the way for our summer vacation. 

I've been in San Diego ever since...living places near the beach, in rural country, and presently in suburbia....about 15 minutes from the coast.  San Diego is so diverse in that you can drive 15, 30, 60 minutes in most any direction and be somewhere interesting and beautiful--the beach, lakes, edge-of-the-ocean cliffs, mountains, desert ....even downtown.   It's easy to be a tourist in my own city!  I only miss the change of seasons I first grew up with.  A trip to the mountains when the leaves turn, cures my longing.....(I have connections in Rochester who still send me color-changed leaves each autumn.  I trade them for California lemons off the tree in my backyard!)

ARE YOU RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED?

Right-handed...but I do a lot of things with my left.  I guess it's a carry-over from my days as a surgical assistant where I HAD to be able to cut or suture with either hand.

SO WHY DO YOU PAINT WITCHES?

I think I've just never grown-up or lost my love for the magical side of life, first ignited by children's literature and the beautiful illustrations within....especially those of the much beleaguered and hag-ified "witch".  I always felt certain that beneath the scary veneer of any so-called "witch" image, beat the heart of a hero, perhaps a genius, who was just misunderstood, mislabeled...or unloved.  Even the Wizard of Oz Wicked Witch of the West made me feel sorry for her!  "Witch" seems to be the catch-all label or accusation for any woman who dares to be, or just naturally is different. To me, "witch" can also be representative of any one or group who is stereotyped or witch-hunted.  So why not flaunt "different" if you're going to be labeled anyway?  :::chuckles:: Give 'em something to talk about!  (Who says "different" isn't a change for the better?) 

I've always been drawn to witch tales, actual witch history, T.V. shows like "Bewitched", movies like "Practical Magic"....and stories that exemplify true "magic" is simply "love"! Halloween is my most-cherished holiday, I can't remember a single one when I wasn't dressed-up, as I still do to this day...as a witch.  My love of witches was truly rooted in childhood fanciful imaginings, enactments, and attachments .....flying a broom or umbrella off a hill in the wind (the patio table umbrella yielded the best and least-injurious flights!), mixing potions, conducting seances at sleep-overs, extremely close & connected to my pets ....a childhood never quite left behind.  I've loved sharing these passions with my own children, nurturing them to be imaginative people!  While my initial attraction to the world of "witch" was related to the glamorized or Hollywood-version of witches, for even those created a spark of familiarity,  I soon learned that there was something deeper, a potent earth-tied spirituality to "witch"...something I myself had already embraced strongly since I was a child....a spirituality that came very naturally, born of the woods, gardens, & seasons.  

WHAT DO YOUR KIDS THINK OF A MOM WHO HAS "NEVER GROWN UP"?

Well, gosh...I can't speak "for" my kids, and wouldn't dream of putting words in their mouths...but best I can can tell, and know of my three, they like their mom just as she is--but that could be subject to whether or not I'm willing to loan them money.  LOL!  I've been "grown-up" for them when it counted, .....and "not grown up" when it counted more! (And I hope they never fully grow up either, for their own sanity!!!)

OK, YEAH, BUT WHY WITCHES NOW, AS AN ADULT?  AREN'T YOU AFRAID YOU'LL BE LABELED NEGATIVELY OR CONSIDERED A KOOK?

:::smiles:: I would more likely ask YOU why you think being a kook or being labeled negatively is associated with WITCHES?  If you're at this website at all, you must have some interest in witches yourself, or perhaps you already think I'm a forgone-conclusion kook, and if so, gosh--no one made you come here; the content is separate from my other websites and you weren't lured to come by some devious auspices or spell....  *wink*. 

I am intrigued, even amused why it seems that even still today, interesting women who are the least bit non-conformists, speak their mind, do or see things differently than the general masses, often find themselves labeled "witch"....in a not-so-nice way intended to stifle, or make them feel like a misfit or outcast...even demonized & ostracized.  Not so different than the powers of suggestion that led to the Salem Witch Trials, if ya think about it and/or have even bothered to learn about the truth of those horrific times! 

In my earliest recollections, I vividly recall the stereotypical "witches" of any neighborhood I ever lived in.  You know who she is....often living in a house that's spooky or different from other houses, cloaked in bountiful tangled gardens, a bevy of pets about, interesting scents emanating from within...very "into" Halloween. While my childhood friends were suspicious and frightened of this woman, I didn't know her, but I wanted to be her friend and know more about her. I seemed to be the only one....

"More Than Who You Think You See I Am"

If my art can in some small way be illustrative of the real, or even stereotyped profile of witches in an embraceable, homage sort of way...that makes me enjoy my work all the more...especially if it helps dispel untruths.   If anyone labels me in the process, well heck, face it, they were likely looking for something to stick a label on me for anyway, and WILL find *something*--I have plenty of quirks to choose from!  Have at me!  ;)

But the simple truth is, I just love to paint free-spirited women who fully own themselves, perhaps don't quite conform, are maybe a bit eccentric, bask in their individuality, are confident in their identity & even their stereotypes and history; are self-proclaimed witches, or women others historically refer to as witches, just because they are blessedly different.  I revel in creating paintings that match what many feel is "them", and celebrates that...not judges it negatively!

I'D REALLY LIKE TO TRY MY HAND AT ART...HOW DO I START?

I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination, so listen to me with a grain of salt, and know there are plenty of other views....but  my advice is, just jump in and start -- time & life's a wasting!  Look how long it took ME to even put up an art website in the first place! Grab that pencil and Post-It note by your computer and start scribbling...NOW! 

I think the first most important thing is to be brave, .....NOT be afraid to be imperfect, and to want to constantly improve technically, and in-vision...you WILL!  But as with anything, *practice* must become your mantra and lifestyle. I know of NO long term artists who achieve any measure of success without a lot of hard work and commitment. Even artists with truly great & sustained success under their belt will say, "I need/want to get BETTER!"  They never rest on their laurels, it's an ingrained mind-set to improve, improve, improve. If you don't currently possess it, this mind-set CAN be acquired!  What you think, is what you become!

The second most important thing you can do is retain and cling-tight to your individuality & artistic calling in every conceivable way. Constantly work on the technical aspect of art so you master control of whatever medium(s) you prefer to use to bring your unique visions to life on paper/canvas.  Collect & study instructional art books and online tutorials.  (Many books can be found "used" on Amazon to keep costs down!) Some accomplished artists generously post tutorials on their websites or at online art forums.  Take art classes & seminars if you feel they help you. Learn all you possibly can and put it into action.  The goal being to match your technical abilities to the visions as you see them in your head and present them as accurately as possible!  This is always my biggest challenge: to take the vision in my head and translate it accurately as possible on paper!  When that happens, and only then, do I feel a bit of SUCCESS!

Familiarize yourself  with artists whose work you admire and who are willing to offer helpful advice (on their blogs, websites, at forums, etc.--there are MANY!); most artists I've had reason to admire will help you for free, albeit it may take them a bit of time to return emails if you approach them that way.  Just be specific about a question or technique you'd like to know and first exhaust obvious sources of online help that you can access on your own by Googling. Many accomplished artists support up-and-comers....but no busy artist appreciates getting countless emails that ask questions requiring vast and expansively time-consuming replies to such vague inquiries as  "So how do I become a fantasy artist?"  You'll likely receive a blunt reply of "Learn to paint!".  There are many "how to" books available on "the basics" via Google ("used" and new).....add them to your art library, study them, do the exercises.

In your quest to source-out artist support, you'll no doubt find many online forum artist communities; some can be truly wonderful, others not as wonderful, with mixed-bag  personalities, attitudes, and ulterior motives.  Ultimately, being an artist is about actually *doing* art and improving with each piece you do....and this can really only happen with devoted PRACTICE.  There's no short cuts to personally mastering control of your medium.   It's easy to become an art forum "regular" to try to learn more about art, listen to tips and figure out what it takes to succeed, and this is all well & good..... but you can also end up regretting a lot of time not-spent-actually-painting.

Identify quickly who are the genuinely helpful people at forums and "friend" them, give-back when you can to reciprocate their kindness & generosity...and don't even bother reading posts of those who you can plainly see are attention gluttons & ambition vampires, or people bent on establishing pecking orders; they only vampirize those who let them.  As much as I love my computers and the vast access they provide, there's much to be said for knowing when to turn it off and get to work!  As most artists will tell you, you don't FIND time, you have to MAKE time for art!  Still, it's always validating to meet other artists feeling the same struggles as you, and not measuring, judging, or responding to you based solely on your current level of art success.  Being an artist is just one part of who we each are as a whole person. Look for supportive places that recognize that and treat all members like a person and an artist of value. Like a chrysalis, you may just be in the early stages of your full development and who knows, could be the next DaVinci! Mwhahaha!  :)

Whether you do art just for yourself, or to create a business, it's up to you how far it goes, by what you put into it!  If I may suggest an excellent book that might help keep your head in the right place for art or virtually ANYTHING you wish to succeed at - "The Success Principles" - by Jack Canfield. Invaluable!   If you need a cheerleader, I'm happy to oblige!  And as said, there are many wonderful online forums that support and encourage new artists! 

And this is a forum I helped create and co-administer called FAE (Fantasy Artists Emerging) Forum at:

...a very low-drama art forum and great place to be, as you will see by comments of the members there who will attest to this.  There's a veritable TON of valuable art info/tricks of the trade archived there...and it's FREE...artists helping artists!  C'mon & join the forum and/or feel free to contact me personally... :)

Carol - faescribbles@aol.com

I also steward a website that supports & showcases fantasy artists:

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN YOUR ART AMBITIONS!

ARE THERE OTHER INSPIRATIONS YOU DRAW ON TO START A PIECE, BESIDES WITCHES?

SURE! I'm inspired by most anything enchanted, mystical, romantic, or that lurks behind trees....as you can see on my other art website - Wild Oaks Art.  Music, history, myth, and legend. Sometimes I'll merely hear a word in conversation, or see the flash of an image while driving...and BAM...IDEA!  Quick...write it DOWN!  I'm sure most of us are inspired the same way -- it's simply a case of being open to sensory experiences that spark imagination! 

I have notepads laying EVERYWHERE with word or brief-sketch ideas.  (The photos below of my art studio show an unusually clean & neat studio; it *normally* has notes, photos, sketches and papers laying everywhere, further messed-up by cats playing with those papers!)  I love to people-watch. I sense souls lost in a dream-moment; I see moods in others, lit by a feeling I relate to myself....these are especially plentiful inspiration for a vision I want to *hold*, capture in a painting. Then I stare & study for lighting & shadowing effects....take photos if I have a camera handy. The outdoors makes me feel electrifyingly alive in a sixth sense sort of way! 

I like to look at others' art, but feel extremely conscious of not wanting to be overly influenced by them in my own creations.  It's great to appreciate and be inspired by others, but you don't want to be so inspired that you appear to be a knock-off of them or their style.  Who wants the reputation of being "The artist whose work looks like So-and-So"???

SPIRITUAL BELIEFS

Religion and politics are two things best left un-discussed in polite company, or so most say, but I'm not like most, and since many have pressed me about this, I s'pose it's worth having a paragraph or few about, as I have no deep dark scary secrets to hide.  I'm a firm believer that sometimes saying nothing at all speaks more about you than if you opened your mouth and said your own truth. People at-large, in my experience, can come up with the darnedest things, or their own derivative, if you DON'T speak your truth, or are afraid to do so. I'm posting this to answer questions asked of me.  It's not an invitation to discuss it at length, dissect or solicit any particular school of thought, or entertain a conversion campaign.....on your part or mine.  I respect that this can be important to many, but I just really don't have the available time to get into lengthy talks about it.

The BIG Questions:

Some site visitors email and ask me ...."Soooooo....like, do YOU believe in hocus pocus, practice spell-casting, child-eating, animal sacrifice, and all that demonic possession, devil-worshiping stuff?"  I've even had people ask me if I make my own soaps out of human fat!  (I guess they're also probably thinking of the movie "Fight Club"...where human fat was obtained from plastic surgery liposuction refuse containers by the main character "Tyler" - Brad Pitt, to make soap. His marketing ploy was "We're selling people's fat butts back to them as soap, and making a profit!")  I must admit, when I saw this movie, I nearly died laughing at that line and absurdity of using human fat! 

Another frequent comment I get is ..."But Carol, you're so nice, how did YOU get mixed up in liking witches?" (I guess I automatically assume that most who even come to this website already have some attraction themself to the witchy side which precludes thinking witches are not also nice!)

And yet another ... "Do you believe in those witch alters, rituals, incense-burning, all those anointing oils, beads, costumes, and chanting?"...to which I can't help but ask, "Beggin' your pardon, but WHICH religious belief are you referring to?  Don't a majority of ALL religions have some type of alters, rituals, incense-burning, anointing oils, beads, costumery, and chanting?  How is it, that some witches who use these accoutrements are so much different, or weirder, or deviant-seeming  from anyone else in their practices?"  :::scratches head:::

First, I'd like to encourage folks to not automatically think the worst...of anyone, or any spirituality. Cuz, yikes!  Just YIKES! And again....um, tell me again WHY are you here if you truly bring these negative ideas in the first place?  Once I stop chuckling, and marveling (and yes, even feeling sickened) that many evil-type characterizations obviously still exist so prevalently, and people fall victim to erroneously believing these ideas either out of honest ignorance, or via what their own faiths promote them to believe (from what they tell me!)........I say to them....as I say to you....Some of my best friends are witches"!  The TRUE spirituality of "witch" has nothing whatsoever to do with evil thoughts or doings.  As with many spirituality paths (including the many forms of "Christian"- Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, etc.), "witch" has many variations and hybrids, group or solitary practitioners, so there is no one blanket definition...but I can guarantee you that  the core philosophy is always "harm none"....and "treat others as you wish to be treated".

For those who say that there have been some pretty awful things *reputedly* practiced by so-called witches...and so therefore by my painting witches, they suggest it glorifies those evil acts, ...those types of characterizations are extremely unfortunate and isolated events, as are most crimes, and not the definition of witch spirituality--at all!  And too, let's be balanced and not forget or neglect to acknowledge the pretty awful things practiced on a grand scale in the name of organized religion (like Christianity) designed to rid the world of evil and ugliness....which in and of itself demonstrated incredible evil and ugliness-- The Inquisition which transcended hundreds of years, ...the Malleus Maleficarum (Latin for “The Hammer of Witches”, or “Hexenhammer” in German) is one of the most famous medieval treatises on witches. It was written in 1486 by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, and was first published in Germany in 1487. Its main purpose was to challenge all arguments against the existence of witchcraft and to instruct magistrates on how to identify, interrogate and convict witches, ...the Salem Witch Trials...shall I go on?  But I hardly believe this is reason for artists to not paint images that reflect religion, religious figures, or spirituality because of dark periods of religious history or current religion crimes.  I'll not assign or hold anyone guilty for the deeds of  what forbearers did in the name of religion, if you don't assign me guilt or hold me accountable for all the evil things you've heard that witches supposedly have done, just because I paint witches...truce?   Be the brave one to step out of the circle of misconception in your own circle of friends, and you may be surprised to find some of your now, or future friends, might be "witches" too, .....whom you hopefully no longer feel a compulsion to ask if they eat small children! 

ARE YOU WICCAN?

No actually, I'm not, but I am familiar with it.  I'm a religious *mutt* of sorts...perhaps you'd call me a spiritual hybrid (?).  I was baptized & raised Roman Catholic and still embrace most tenets of that faith, as I believe were rooted in their true origins, ....but I embrace tenets of most ALL faiths, including Old Religions that pre-date Christianity and honored the Earth. I do not support, and have been as outraged as the next civil human being, by well-publicized disgraces most every faith has had a spotlight shown on.  To me, the goodness of all faiths ultimately distills down to The Golden Rule.

I don't seem to agree with EVERYTHING, any religion espouses. This aspect generally causes me to reject being part of a group-anything. For me, spirituality is a state of mind, I embrace it in my heart & conscience, and feel compelled to apply it to my life in actionable ways. Many people spend hours a month in church, mosque, synagogue, drive home, pull into their driveway, and turn a blind eye to the neighbor in-need right before them; what is the true measure of "the faithful" then? You can listen to sermons that dissect multi-interpretations of The Bible or other books of faith, to apply to life; some instruct you to reject certain brothers/sisters for what they were born as, while Jesus, for example, who many choose to emulate..... embraced, walked with, talked with, ALL.  For me, the real sin is to sit and continue to listen to lectures that willfully and self-righteously instruct you to reject and exclude certain others in the name of "faith".  Words in books have irrevocably altered or caused lives wrongfully taken because of it.  In Christian bibles you'll find in Exodus 22:18 - "Do not suffer a witch to live."  The English interpretation was taken from the original Hebrew words in which the word used for "witch" actually meant "poisoner".  Yet to this day, as in the time of the Puritans, many continue to literally believe that "witches" should not be allowed to live, and hold up their bible "as proof". 

You can be born-into, or on your own, search & search for a spirituality that feels like "home", and finally find it where it was residing all along---in your own heart.  I like what the Dalai Lama espouses, "There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness."  I respect whatever spirituality others choose...I only expect the same consideration in return. 

So OK, I've jumped the taboo "no religion" barrier and answered some actual inquiries asked of me...I DO care enough to listen & respond to questions, far-fetched ones and all. But please....if you associate witches with bad mojo spirituality or you're suspicious of who and what witches really are, and of myself because I paint them, I invite you to make the effort & educate yourself before you believe or contribute to perpetuating tired old suspicions....and I promise, I won't ask you tired old suspicions back, like Do you believe in throwing women suspected of being witches into a lake, hands & feet bound, to see if they float?---Supposedly a sure sign of a witch, to then be hanged or burned.  And if they didn't float, they were dead either way!  Seriously---this was one "authenticity trick" God-fearing Puritans practiced in Salem...."in the name of religion".  Suspicions & accusation of  "being a witch" then, included everything from knowing how to use herbs in a healing way, to dressing unusually, to thinking independently outside the preordained box, to looking sideways at someone wrong. 

Does this measuring stick not sound familiar in today's world? 

Now ...as then, words, who wrote or said them, interpretations, power of suggestion, and re-telling, all becomes truth, if you believe it.  There are many, many informative books & online links to what the true definitions of witch spirituality is.  Whether you choose ignorance or choose enlightenment, is your call!  But perpetuating the same tired old myths can leave anyone sounding scarily stuck in the Puritan Age mind-set.....and we all know what that led to....IN MEMORY

WHAT IS GREEN WITCHCRAFT?

My interest in the realm of the witch years ago brought me to study what is oft referred to as Green Witchcraft or Wise Woman Ways, the ancient study of plants, herbs, flowers, the natural world and it's power to nourish, heal and enhance our lives....get back to what Earth has always already offered us.  Basically, de-chemicalized & detoxified everyday life! Dating back to prehistoric times (based on legends passed forth--the only means of keeping track at the time), there was always a shaman, healer, or Wise Woman who had acquired knowledge of plants, remedies used to help the community.  While most privately sought her expertise when in-need, many of the same people would publicly shun her when the community as a whole (as in medieval and Puritanical times, for example) would gang-up and accuse her of witchcraft or sorcery. Her so-called "witchcraft" or "magic" was simply plant knowledge that she generously offered and used to help people of her community with their ailments. So much for helping a neighbor out, eh?!  Back then, it could earn you a stoning, or hanging from a tree! Yikes!

I've long studied and employed much of this same plant knowledge in another of my crafts ...soapmaking (<--you're welcome to visit our website for artisan handmade herbal soaps, as well as our new Wylde Wytch Soaps and Ancient Alchemy soap lines!).  It's inspired my deep appreciation for how the Ancients and Natives before us lived by, honored, and celebrated the gifts and seasons of Earth.  Simple.  Uncomplicated.  What's worked for centuries continues to work today!

CURRENT

I live with my adorable and musically-creative (and contractor business owner) husband who makes me laugh (incredibly hard) every day, and a large pet-family here in San Diego, in a cottage surrounded by fairy-filled gardens.  My three children are grown and either off on their own, or in college...we remain a very close family which I count as one of my greatest blessings!  Following my beloved dad's death, my mom just recently moved from over 500  miles away, to one street away from us and I we get to enjoy her more in our lives!  I'm enormously lucky to have both a soap workshop and an art studio to play in, so I can conjure & work from home.  I wake up each day thankful and excited to throw on my grubby old jeans, crank up the music, and set about plans for a day of soapmaking and/or painting; ...it feels like Christmas morning to me to think "What shall I MAKE today?"!  I revel in the solitary-ness of my days at work creating things...I tend to work-till-I-drop and am a do-it-yourselfer at just about everything.  I'm simple;  don't aspire to owning more than I actually need, or "keeping up with the Joneses".  I feel gifted with the love & friendship that surrounds me, the joy of possibility that a blank sheet of paper and several tubes of paints can bring, ....or oils, herbs and essential oils to mix and create soap with.  I love to take ordinary ingredients, and with a little creative magic, turn them into products that others seem to enjoy...art and soap!  And I remain in techno awe that this thing called a "computer" can make connecting with people world-wide and being able to run a business from home so EASY! 

I believe in giving-back, if one can afford to do so and enjoys any measure of success.  I choose to support local charities/organizations (soap donations) that assist battered women, the homeless, the military, ...and a favorite project (with art) is creating and donating coloring sheets for young patients at a local children's hospital to color and "be an artist" while they cope with their illness & recovery. I encourage other artists to explore ways to give, if you can!  Check out this link to find a Children's Hospital near you...nothing in this world, of course, is brighter or more beautiful than a child's smile or laugh!

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/childrenhospitals.html

I receive a LOT of requests each day for charitable donations...but unfortunately cannot contribute to all (sorry!).  I have chosen to remain loyal to the local charities I can maintain an on-going verifiable relationship with...so thanks for your requests, and I wish you well, but I'm presently at my contribution limit.   

As for my personal, non-working life, little things make my day.....time with my husband and family, listening to the wisdom of older folks like my mom and in-laws, humor, a hike in the hills, a bike ride, horseback-riding, toes buried in mud as I garden and get good 'n' dirty, shopping at a local farmers market and seeing & smelling all the colors of fresh produce to make a pot of soup out of to feed my family, a full moon picnic, beautiful music, long baths, crisp sheets, my animal family piled up on the bed surrounding me in furry warmth as I dive into a book into the wee hours....for me, it doesn't get any better than that!  

I SEE YOU HAVE SOCIAL NETWORKING ACCOUNTS, BUT WHY AREN'T YOU EVER ON THEM MUCH?

I *DO* have Facebook, Twitter, Live Journal, and Blogger accounts, as well as a mailing list newsletter you can sign-up for.... but tend to use them mainly to post major art or soap updates and that's about it.  I don't have anything against social networking, even though I recognize conceivable pros and cons. Mostly I just don't have much time, and if I do have time, I'm working on new art or picking up dog poop (i.e. working, or doing the mundane).  I created this "About The Artist" page to answer basic info and questions-already-asked. 

I'm always available via email: faescribbles@aol.com

SO ARE YOU A DECLARED WITCH OR NOT?

Um..."declared"?  I don't feel I need to declare or label myself anything really. I believe there can be inherent dangers in feeling obligated to expect or declare labels of anyone, and I don't think I truly fit any particular profile closely enough to declare myself fully "it"....whatever "it" is.  I'm not deliberately being evasive, I'm just really not the labeling type....and as said earlier, I'm a mish-mash of enough beliefs that I'm not any ONE anything, so I'm certain I won't fit anyone's expectations or pidgeonhole of a description. I'm not confused about my spirituality, or unwilling to commit to something, nor in-need of *saving*......I just reject negatives that I perceive in many faiths, in favor of trusting my heart, conscience, & gut. 

But if you happen to believe in and wish to embrace stereotypes......  ;)

I DO have a large collection of black attire.

I grow gardens filled with herbs & botanicals I use in soaps and potions.

The "fats" I make my soap out of are vegetable oils...but "fats" nonetheless.

I NEVER think I have enough pets, would gladly welcome more, and have two very black cats, but am just as close to my non-black cat..

I've always loved *eating* children...particularly their plumpy cheeks... I munch on them till they die laughing hysterically....the sweetest sound in all the world!

The Dark Lord I worship is packaged in a Hershey's wrapper. 

I've been accused of *demonic possession* while PMSing....but what's a little demonic possession among friends...this too shall pass.  The Dark Lord Hershey gets me through it.

If you throw me into a lake with my hands bound and no way to swim, I'll likely sink like a rock!  But no telling if I'll come back in spirit-form and haunt your arce for willfully & deliberately drowning me!

Soap scents waft heavy on the breeze surrounding my home and workshop, luring passers-by closer...asking, "What is that spellbinding smell?"

A broom and umbrella still stand tilted at the door jam, ready for the next windy day. 

I often know who is calling before the phone rings.

I'm inordinately mesmerized by the moon.

And I am VERY into Halloween! 

Seems you can go through the motions of growing-up, but still be who you always already were as a child!  At least for me this is true.....

So there you have it...draw your own conclusions, as you will anyway...and I'll "draw" mine.  (I happen to know a soapmaking nun who fits the exact same profile!  heh heh!) 

Thanks for your visit!  And if you too, have questions for me or would care to leave feedback or a note that you were here--I always appreciate constructive feedback and meeting new folks!  I'm at: faescribbles@aol.com  Maybe I'll post your question here!

PSSSST!  I believe we all have at least a bit of artist in us and I encourage YOU to pick up a paintbrush and let yourself out!  C'mon!  Make some creative magic YOURSELF!

We usually post new art to our blogs first!  Friend/follow us to receive updates!