Archive for the ‘Biography’ Category

Peacock Art On Display In Coconut Grove

The Peacocks have arrived, one by one they are being placed in front of their sponsors businesses. Enjoy the Video

 The Coconut Grove Peacock Tour  was launched and all the finished peacocks were splendidly displayed out along the Promenade by the Shoppes of Mayfair. These photos were shot at the beginning of the first hour but the party had not quite yet started.. It was packed. Just about everyone was there.

Heather Bettner  came up with the idea of the www.coconutgrovepeacocktour.com
was Born in Coconut Grove, FL.

“Majestic Peacock” my 1st peacock sponsored by Milam’s Market, Coconut Grove

“Queen Of Coconut Grove“  my 2nd peacock . I was fortunate to have had a second sponsor Pat Sessions and Family for the benefit of the Village Council  inspired my vision for this imagery. He  asked me to paint  Main Hwy,  the historic  playhouse, Charles Street where the first Bahamian villagers settled in the late 1800′s , Greenstreets restaurant, Commodore Plaza down to the Post office and LuLus restaurant on the far right corner. Grovites who live here love Coconut Grove. We live outdoors and bicycle, sail and stroll our neighborhoods.. So putting the local “Peacocks” in town amongst the gardens that grow profusely here  is my way of showing how much many of  love Coconut Grove. 

Backside of  QUEENIE
“PEACOCK PARK the way it used to be

Pat Sessions Family ( my sponsor) - to the Benefit of the Village Council

Erica King -Coconut Grove, Artist  – Golden Celebration Peacock is a collage of the local smiling faces of
people who have made Coconut Grove what it is.

Fred Hunt -Coconut Grove artist on left ,  Meme Ferre red peacock on right

  St. Stephens peacock on the left and  Dan  Bondorffs peacock on the right.

 Dan Bondorrf, Silvia and  Lebos  and Georges  peacocks

 Emilio Sauma also one of the Peacock Artists with me in my handpainted handmade Sexy pink Heliconias dress.

Meme Ferre Artist standing by her peacock.

Little Girl was loving Miss Queenie

 Monty Trainer  of Coconut Grove,
Tom Falco in back  www.coconugrovegrapevine.com

http://coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.com/2010/05/peacock-launch-party-is-next-weekend.html

Eileen Seitz -  ”Majestic Peacock” Sponsored by Milams Market made the  online newspaper.

I moved to Coconut Grove in 1979 . One of the colors I remembered that  the beautiful Playhouse  was painted was pink.
Pat Sessions and family sponsored me to paint my 2nd peacock and asked me to paint the Coconut Grove Playhouse on the Peacock. Immediately I saw the color Pink.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did painting that color with the yellow frangipanis and our beautiful blue skies.

http://coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.com/

http://mmstudiosinc.blogspot.com/2010/04/featured-artist-interview-eileen-seitz.html

Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a positive being an independent thinker who follows spirit in all that I do.  I love people and always see that anything can be accomplished and manifested. My attitude is “When I see ideas on the inner planes, I can make it happen in the outer world.  I also have learned  That which is mine, comes to me”

What brought you to Florida?
A trip to the west coast of Puerto Rico where the surfers lived in treehouses and sat on their surf boards like seals out in the waves when I was 18 showed me the LIGHT and NATURE in such abundance and beauty that I fell in love .   It was  1968 and  that same winter I went on a journey to the Florida keys camping with my sister and her friends. It  was my first “seeing” of this same light  in the US and I knew I belonged in South Florida. We took a day trip to Key west and as soon as I saw the architecture and felt the energy,  I knew I would live there some day.  Either that summer, or the next,  a boy back then, I met and began a relationship with, was my ticket out of Manhattan.   Manhattan was where I was born and raised and lived for 21 years.   This guy and I  lived  in New York state for 2 months in a tent in the woods and then after  walked  through the countryside of NY state  with a horse, a compass and puppie ( like two indians).  We  finally left the city and got a ride to “Key West” where I lived for 5 years.

Do you have a favorite place in this huge world of ours?
Of the many travels I have experienced and many places I have seen and lived
some of the ones that stand out are.
For the Land,     Martinique, St. Lucia, Kauai, Tobago, Jamaica
For the people   Manhattan, Outer Islands of the Bahamas, Taveuni Fiji
For the conversation right here in Coconut Grove, Florida
For the City, Museums, Culture -  Manhattan,  Paris,  Venice,  Brussels,  Florence,  Amsterdam,  Brugges,  Nice

Did you go to school to study art?
I went to Pels Art Institute in Manhattan was I was 12-13 years old and then at 17- 18 years old I went to saturday morning art class Pratt Institute, Brooklyn N.Y.  At the end of my senior year in High School, I applied  to Pratt and was accepted as a full time Fine Art Major.

When did you first realize you are an artist?
My mom knew when I was 8 years old in 4th grade and kept me busy with “art materials”
I knew when I was 13 and held a rapidograph pen in my hand and started to draw. That was it
I was hooked and knew that I was going to do this for the rest of  my life.

How would you describe your painting style?
Imagination and individuality expressed in creating a vision that excites the SOUL and invites the SPIRIT of you the viewer to bask and enjoy all the “smells, sounds, joys of color, through whatever line and form I bring to the 2nd dimensional surface. I paint my experiences, my relationships with 
the  plants,  architecture,  people or animals.  I invite you the viewer to see your own” limitless” spirit.

What inspires you to create your images?
ah! the breathe of being alive.   Everyday I am inspired, by things I see because everyday I see something with new eyes as I have lived another day of experience. People inspire me, clouds inspire me, the tropics inspire me
The tropics feed me.
The northern climates don’t give me the same energy as the tropics, where the sunlight is different.
I love the south west too with the red clay earth, that inspires me.
The unusual inspires me.
What famous artists have influenced you, and how?
When I was growing up in Manhattan,  I read the book “Agony and Ecstasy” two times about Michelangelo life story.. It truly moved me deeply
I read Vincent Van Gogh’s Life story and LOVED LOVED Gaugins paintings.
I took a trip to Manhattan back in the 1980′s just so I could see Gauguins traveling  exhibition of 500 paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of art.. I was so so so moved.. I just sat on the floor staring at this one painting for a really long time.
I love all the IMPRESSIONISTS not so much for what they paint but for their COLORS and how they move them around the canvas. One of my favorites is Manet. his paintings of women and children are my favorite. and his usage of BLACK.. I just loved where and how he put in the black.
The IMPRESSIONISTS were influenced by the LIGHT when they went to SOUTHERN FRANCE
that’s when their paintings changed.. Beautiful colors.
When I was in Paris the 2nd time I saw an exhibition of some of the impressionists painters.
 Some of  Cezanne and Gauguin works and saw their paintings they did down in Bretagne Region
Just like me when I left the NORTH AND MOVED TO THE SUNLIGHT.

What do you do for fun (besides painting)?
Watch movies, go to the beach, bicycle ride, visit with friends, read and write to clients.

How do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?
Things never get tough in my studio.  I am always doing something artistic.  When you are an artist it never gets turned off.  If you are willing to LISTEN to SPIRIT it never gets tough.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?
Fabulously , engaging, loving every breath of it.  I call my clients often when I have questions for them about their orders.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I never plan anything more than maybe next week?
I live in the NOW.  Every day a new opportunity comes my way.. So why would I plan something so far away, when tomorrow is not even promised.. and If I “LIMIT” my thinking Spirit could not reach me when it was time for another gift or opportunity.. I have learned this since I was a young child. So I wake each morning embracing my day and eager to see what is coming in.

What are you working on at the moment?
A PEACOCK a 4.5ft x 5ft fiberglass PEACOCK it is FANTASTIC and a “commission watercolor of a family’s home in Celebration Florida.

                                                                DAY 4

Any advice you would like to pass on to up and coming artist?
Learn how to draw.. If you can DRAW you can do anything. If you know how to DRAW then learn how to mix colors.. Then you will be FREE

Is there a place on the web where folks can see your work & purchase prints?
my website is www.eileenseitz.com
with a secure shopping cart for your own ease of purchasing.

Do you have a blog?
on my website I have my news/ biography and more that people can add comments too PLUS I have a comment place in my CONTACTS.
I don’t have a blog.. I am more into  PAINTING than talking about painting.

Do you have some upcoming events we should be aware of?
DELRAY AFFAIR
Delray Beach Florida
April 16, 17, 18
I am the OFFICIAL POSTER ARTIST.

 Cover of Magazine and Inside Article – 2010 Delray Affair Art Festival

http://www.landfillart.org/index-3.html

I received a phone call from Ken Marquis from landfillart.org asking me if I wanted to participate and  paint on a “hubcap” and save it from a landfill. Of course I said yes as it would be a great saving to our planet and also create “art”

“Lobster Claw on the Lily Pond”  created with oils on metal.

The ultimate goals of this project are twofold. The first is to compile a book with the story and photos of the evolution of landfillart.org and the coming together of 1041 artists for a common cause, making great art out of rusted refuse. Only artists could lead such a charge. The other goal is to select 200 of these metal canvases to travel and inspire other such movements.

This weekend at the Festival of the Arts - in Deerfield Beach, I received  a Yellow Ribbon signifying  “Award of Distinction” and a nice Check.

It made my weekend along with all the wounderful new people I met who bought my works.