A client recently commissioned this piece from me. She wanted a unique and sentimental gift for a birthday gift for her closest friend. I was delighted when she told me my art was the first idea that came to mind.
My client described her favorite friend. She explained pink is her favorite color, she’s very feminine, loves flowers, and lilies are her favorite, and she was originally from New York. She also provided me with a quote and a favorite photo of the two of them together. I edited the image in Photoshop. I wanted the photo to have a photo-booth strip feel. Pink lace altered with colored ink also gave the piece a striking texture. I feel Mucha’s depiction of the female form has a captivating femininity all its own, and fit perfectly with the atmosphere I wanted to create in the work.
Image 1Image 3Image 4With You in My Life… • 11in x 14in • Mixed media collage • Carly Swenson • 2012
The work also reminded me of this commission I did near the end of last year for a different client. She too, wanted a birthday gift for her close friend—whose favorite color was also pink.
I Blame the Weather & the Cheap Liquor • Mixed media collage • 11in x 14in • Carly Swenson • 2011
Carly Swenson is an intuitive painter originally from northern Montana. She spent more than a decade working primarily as a mixed media artist before shifting to acrylics. Swenson received a BFA in Visual Arts with an Art History Minor from Bemidji State University. During and after university, she traveled and lived abroad, this included studying in China, traveling throughout Europe and living both in England and the Azores.Swenson’s work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions throughout the US and internationally. Her freelance writing and mixed media journals have been published in nationally distributed art magazines. She has facilitated art workshops for various age groups. Swenson’s work is also included in the permanent art collections of Angra do Heroismo Museum and Bemidji State University (Bemidji, MN). Currently, she lives in St. Paul, MN with a smart little dog and a weird little cat. They’re nice.
Copyright Notice:
All images (artwork and photography) protected by copyright and belong to Carly Swenson, unless otherwise noted. Any images not owned by Carly Swenson have been used with the consent of the copyright holder. Please do not reuse/publish/edit/copy/etc. any images from this blog without consent of the copyright holder. Thank you for your understanding and respect of artistic integrity.
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Carly Swenson • Intuitive Artist 
Hi there! I nominated your blog with the Liebster Award. See here, http://somedayscreative.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/spread-your-favorites-spread-liebster/
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That is so very kind of you–seriously, thank you.
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