Visual Art

Trust Exercise

Thomas Oscar Miles is a fine art photographer, based in the West Midlands, UK. He began photography in 2013. He has since been in multiple magazine publications, both online and physical, featured in numerous exhibiting opportunities, the latest being a cash prize and exhibiting opportunity in Wentworth Woodhouse, partnered with ArtWorks Together. As well as working with a creative team to work on commissioned portraits.

His work has since acclaimed awards such as the ‘Shropshire Rotary club’s young photographer of the year’, and as a finalist in the ‘Pride of Shropshire, Learner award.’ His work is inspired ideologies of embracing personal vulnerabilities to find self-empowerment, conjured up through dark and intimate art. Series such as 'Our Beautiful Demise' 'Encyclopaedia of Self and 'Fathering Fawn' will be released by the artist this year. instagram: @thomasoscarmiles / website: www.thomasoscarmiles.com

CODED

Vance Reynolds (They/He/She/Any) is a queer artist currently residing in Salt Lake City, Utah. Originally from the sandy state of Florida, Vance has been crafting in many mediums since childhood. Notably, they developed a passion for photography, beauty, fashion, and storytelling. Reynolds is finishing up their degree in Media Arts with an emphasis in cinematography and screenwriting, and is projected to graduate in December of 2022. Vance enjoys self alchemy, expanding their soul, meeting new minds, and exploring the world. They also indulge in rock climbing, audiobooks, and meditation. Recent developments in their work include the creation of a zine, expression and exploration in the medium of poetry, and having their screenplay, Bounty Boyfriend, published in the BYU Aperture journal.

With many projects on the way, you can follow the journey @HellofHound or @PortfolioChaos

Flawed Black Diamond

A natural-born artist from Dallas, Texas, Rickale West, affectionately known as Roxy, was born with many gifts; music being the first. Her innate love for creating art followed her throughout each stage of life. After graduating from Texas Southern University with a degree in Psychology, Roxy worked in corporate America but felt that something was missing. She began to explore different sides of her creativity and in 2018, embarked on her journey as a self-taught visual artist. Thereafter, “Roxy Wuz Here Artworks” was born.

Often, people have asked her, “What inspires your distinctive art pieces”? Her response is simple--life. Painting from the heart and soul, Roxy creates one-of-a-kind, intention-based pieces, depicting stories from her perspective. Stories of trials, tribulations, victories, and healing are told through her artwork. With hopes of touching and inspiring her viewers, Roxy wants them to know that they are not alone in their life journey.

Roxy prefers to work in mixed mediums which include heavily applied acrylics, fluid acrylics, and texture mediums. This, paired with her love of color blocking, has allowed her to create bold pieces that bring her artwork to life. She is widely recognized for her abstract and impressionism paintings. Her favorite piece “I'm Ok” was recently featured in the exhibit “Being Bipolar in a Polarized World and The Thin Line” at The Art Center Highland Park. It is a dedication to the idea that black women are always expected to be strong, despite the many internal and societal battles that they may face.

Roxy is an advocate mental health awareness. She enjoys spending time with family, writing, and traveling. Website: www.roxywuzhereart.com IG: @roxywuzhereart Facebook: www.facebook.com/roxywuzhereart

Wondering Wheel

Julia Muench is an award winning, multi- disciplinary, visionary artist/ maker, based in the Monmouth County, New Jersey area. Her artwork emanates a lifelong interest in exploring and understanding world cultures, music, dance and organic forms. She hopes that what she creates, be a catalyst in meaningful people connections. Her award-winning artwork has been described as being "healing and illuminating, with a touch of whimsy". Her recent projects include a solo public exhibition, installation works, commissioned fiber art pieces for individual clients,  public art projects, and showing her work in art galleries. Instagram: juliamuench_artist To see even more work: https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/julia-muench

The Agony of Mary Magdalene

Columbus artist, Joe Dulin-Didonato (aka “the Outside Artist”) is best known for his dynamic range of color and texture. Contrast and color play a huge part in the design of each unique piece. From abstract to Impressionism, to realism- Columbus’ “Outside Artist” is best known for his creative use of acrylic on canvas but is no stranger to woodwork and graphic design.

What makes Joe an “Outside artist” is his way of working “outside” of the normal confines of the art world. Passion and pride exhume itself from the canvas as it jumps into the arms of the individual examining his work. Joe works hard to add life into each stroke of the brush and movement of the hand. Joe’s art breathes and moves on the canvas the same way dancers take to the floor. Each piece has its own life and world. Immerse yourself in the experience of his art and it will speak to you. Instagram: @the_outside_artist Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/joe.dulindidonato

in the moment

Amanda M Julien is a published author of poetry (The Muse and The Writers and Readers’ Magazine) and photographer (Months to Years and Prospectus), residing on the east coast of Nova Scotia with her partner, children and fur babies. Her hobbies include reading, photography and walks along the rocky shores of the only place she has ever called home. Her work has previously been published in both print and digital format. Find her on Instagram: @ajulienphotography

woman

Iman Jabrah is a Palestinian American multidisciplinary artist. She is the recipient of the full scholarship from China Scholarship Council and is currently pursuing her masters in Fine Art at China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, China. Iman holds a BFA from Northern Kentucky University in New Media Art. While at NKU SOTA, she received a scholarship to study an art course in Spain. She has exhibited repeatedly with the red door project to contribute for the Art Academy of Cincinnati Scholarships including at the Cincinnati Zoo and the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. She also performed at the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center, the New York Abrons Arts Center Amphitheater, and exhibited works internationally. Iman continues to proudly confirm her Palestinian American identity, living life without borders and continues to give back to her community whether in Palestine, Cincinnati, or China. Her main focus is to shed light on the losses one cannot control and the fragments of these memories remain to linger as a form of identity. Many of her projects aim to reunite Palestinian artists in the diaspora through the art community, exhibitions, residencies, and collective projects.

Arbor

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” —Vincent Van Gogh

Robert Palmer’s recent subject matter revolves around landscape. There are many opportunities when creating a landscape painting. He enjoys viewing varying color throughout the day. A landscape can look different with each passing minute and might not look the same as light changes. It’s about capturing a moment in time. Roberts portfolio consists of balancing subject matter between two ideas; large open spaces and small concentrated spaces, both in landscape. Small spaces can be representational of a scene vague but recognizable at the same time. Imagery can be close up cropped reflections of a lake or stream. He is capturing large open spaces too. Both seem to take on similar representational compositions when looking at the wide open sky or reflections in water. He is drawn to the familiar landscape. Roberts painting something that feels familiar. This will be a focus for future paintings as well. He feels there are unlimited opportunities to capture these scenes on canvas.

When creating a piece, Robert methodically consider the composition, shapes, light, color, line, value, texture, and shadow in my art. Roberts paintings are thought out and planned. Some works are inspired by places Robert visited, while others are inspired from places he imagined. Occasionally he uses photographs as a guide for paintings. Robert has also been known to use multiple imagery from different locations in one composition. Some paintings start out with a series of sketches and watercolors. Paintings are thought out, and start from general forms to specific. Each brush stroke is carefully thought out. Some marks are stylized to strengthen the composition in texture, color and form.

Some works are inspired by old masters and modern artists like Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Renior, De Kooning, Joan Mitchell and John Singer Sargent. Some contemporary artists that have influenced my work are Wayne Thiebaud, Chuck Close, and Gerhard Richter.

Robert Palmer graduated Summa Cum Laude from ASU with a degree in Fine Art, Painting in 2003. Roberts choice of medium is typically oil paint and water color. Some work has contributed to organizations for charity. He has been shown in several shows throughout Utah and Arizona including 2022 Tempe Gammage Auditorium in June.

A Gathering of Book Birds

Jess Richards is the author of three novels: Snake Ropes, Cooking with Bones, and City of Circles, all published by Sceptre in the UK. She also writes short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry – many of these have been published in various anthologies. She is currently working on a creative nonfiction project on the theme of birds and ghosts. Originally from Scotland, Jess currently lives in New Zealand with her wife. She completed her PhD, ‘Illusions, Transformations and Iterations: Storytelling as Fiction, Image, Artefact’, at Massey University in 2020. This hybrid art and creative writing project culminated in a set of visually and textually transformed books.