​My friend and co-author Nancy Rust and I have written and published five books, including three picture books. We enjoy writing books about history and interesting people and animals.

​We are both members of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), and through that, the Acadiana Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. 

​I am also a potter and longtime member of LAA. I love the flexibility and unpredictable nature of clay art. I like hand building and creating fanciful figures and shapes. I learned to work in clay from the late Betty Jean Tompkins, who introduced me to LAA. Through her I am a founding member of the Cracked Pot Friends, a group of potters who continue to inspire and encourage me.

Kudos to LAA for encouraging creative talent in art and writing. Recently, my writing group collaborated with LAA to promote reading during Children’s Book Week. It was a wonderful way to showcase the link between art and writing, particularly in picture books, which are often where children first experience art. 

​Carol Stubbs

I was obsessed with drawing and art from a young age. I drew pictures for years before starting to paint.
I’ve taken many workshops with numerous artist for many years but never had any formal training. What you see in my exhibits is the culmination of hours upon hours of trial and error.
 
My painting  “career” started with landscapes. I produced many bayous and swamp scenes with oak trees being my favorite subject with lots of Cajun cabins, ducks, and chickens.
 
After moving away from Houma, LA back to my childhood town of Lafayette, I branched out to floral abstracts and to figurative art.
 
I love outsider art, as well as the expressionists. Many of my paintings reflect these ideas.

Camilla Drobish

I suppose if I pinned myself down (which would be a lot to wrestle with) I would call myself an illustrator. Drawing has always been my favorite form of art. In the womb I kneaded an eraser. That’s a mild artist joke. I have lived most of my life in south Louisiana so I do enjoy creating images of wildlife, but I tend more toward fantasy images inspired by books I read or films I watch. I grew up in the 70’s/80’s which were the heyday of paperback cover art and movie poster art, so I’m sure I picked up on much of that as I got older. I do traditional media artwork rather than digital. I’m a lead-head.

My biggest influences were mainly the fantasy artists I admired and tried to emulate as I continued to illustrate: Frank Frazetta, Michael Whelan, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, N. C. Wyeth, Robert McGinnis, John Harris and many others. Illustrators all, who transformed words into images. I also enjoy pin up artists like Gil Elvgren. For obvious reasons, but also for the innocent nostalgia it invokes.
​
I make art to tell tales. Which makes sense since I also enjoy writing poetry and an occasional story. I try to interpret what I read or watch in illustration form. It is frequently humorous or in caricature style. I tend toward YA or children’s art in many ways, but not exclusively.

Art means a lot to me. I have been viewing it or doing it all my life in one form or another. It helps ground me while at the same time allowing a much needed escape into fantasy that is often lacking in everyday life. Which, in essence, is what most artists strive for.
​
An illustrator. That’s me.

​Jason Hardy

I use acrylic and other water media on paper and canvas, in an abstract figurative style.  
​
My creative expression uses layers of metaphor and symbolism to stimulate curiosity, provoke thought, and encourage further inspection. I often uses bold, clear, sometimes bright colors and themes are usually joyful in nature.

I've studied fine art at the University of Louisiana, Louisiana Technical School Adult Art Extension program, and many master workshops.

I begin by thanking our out-going President, Terry Palmer, for his many contributions to the LAA. His work with the LAA these past 2 years has kept us running and operating during these unprecedented times. I would also like to thank you, the LAA membership, for placing your confidence and trust in me to serve as your President.

For the past 2 years I have served as First Vice President, and I am ready to accept this honor in becoming president to continue our wonderful LAA history and build upon it. My main goal this year is to encourage the membership to become more involved. I would like the members to feel like this is their organization.

​For those of you who are already leaders, to reach out and encourage and mentor those who have a passion to move forward. I want to be someone who listens and inspires for all to create! And, together with the strong support of the new Vice Presidents, Margo Baker and Edward deMahy, we all will strive to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Your President of your LAA, Dusty Reed dusty@cajunpicasso.com 

Haiku poem by Guy Kilchrist

​As I jot down these few words for my fellow LAA members, I’m enjoying the hard hitting beats and prophetic lyrics of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Tom died too early with a lot more to say in his melodious way, but, he leaves us with his art for the ears. I’m sure that each one of his music creations is inspired by an event, an event that led to an emotional response of ear art. So here we are in September with emotions flaring from all sides and from a variety of events. From COVID to Hurricane Ida, we’ve run the obstacle course of emotional hurdles. It’s tiring, isn’t it? There is an oasis, a beacon of light out there to help take your mind off the turmoil. It’s your Lafayette Art Association. Join in the activities, go see what’s happening and participate in the exhibits. Your emotional flow will become positive.

The Eye of the Beholder exhibit is ending soon 9/18. If you haven’t seen this exhibit, it’s an exceptional show with sales of several pieces. With the end of this show, there’s the start of another - The LAA Fall Members Only Exhibit. Eye participants will need to remove their work during normal gallery hours, 9/22-10/2. Submissions for our fall show are also during this period. So, pick-up and drop off at the same time.

​Get your creativity flowing and pARTicipate! We’d love to see you and your work.

Terry L Palmer LAA President

Art requires a willingness to learn and to experiment. I started out exploring art through ceramics. Then came basketry followed by experimentation in 2D art through encaustic mono-print making.  As each medium was explored, varied and creative work was produced.  

The production of artistic work for me involves research and workshop attendance where learning and experimentation is encouraged. A recent workshop I attended exposed me to printmaking with acrylic paint on a Gelli plate. 

Happily, “Water” was a product of that workshop.  

Susan Chiquelin

As a student I was interested in many subjects: art, anthropology, psychology, biology but the urge to create led to a Painting and Commercial Art Degree at Mississippi State University. To make a living, I have worked as a graphic designer/ illustrator for various businesses and environmental agencies over the years. It was working with environmental scientists that kindled my interest in the natural world. Birds, fish, leaves, trees, and animals often inhabit my work. 

​Through the Acadiana Center for the Arts I also work in public schools as a teaching artist. I am adept at using computer programs, such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign as well as traditional media like ink, paper and watercolor.

Diane Baker
​dbakerdesign@bellsouth.net

​​To form a clay piece, I begin by throwing the clay on a wheel forming an urn or bowl or rolling slabs out for tiles. I then sculpt my nature inspired scene on each piece. After air drying the pieces are bisque fired. I may add a glaze to the piece or high fire it “au naturel” since I prefer the finished pieces to reflect the natural clay coloring.
 

Bruci Gauthier
St. Martinville, LA
bruciredrim@yahoo.com

My work is involved with the spirituality of art. In the similarities between the creative experience and the meditative experience and the affects it has on my work. Striving to be in the NOW. Working with methods that diminish my authority during the creative act, relegating my influence, relinquishing my control.

I am a multi-talented artist with professional work in the Visual Arts, Music, Dance and Theater. At an early age I realized that the common thread in all of the arts, along with the fundamentals of design, is the creative experience. And the key to the creative experience is the dissolution of self-consciousness. Creating art is more about the act than it is making the product.

My Process: "Pre-Decide not to Pre-Decide"
I developed my personal approach to "art-making" while working on my Master's Thesis in the '70's. Through the years, I still maintain the validity of my original thesis, but arrived at certain realization along the way. I have become aware of some rationalizations I made in terms of how much control one could actually relinquish. I have come to realize that, although I can strive to minimize any efforts to control the final outcome, making design decisions is unavoidable. By striving to be present, acting within the process with little to no mental dialogue/conscious decision-making, relying on a well of knowledge and experiences deep within me, the decisions that are made are made despite me.  That, of course, is an ideal situation to aspire to.

​Edward DeMahy

We just spent 2.5 weeks packing up and then moving our son and his family to Wyoming. Thought we were leaving the hot temperatures behind, but of course, they were having a heat wave! And, since it’s usually cool, no A/C. This week we’ll be packing and moving my 96 year old mom to Lafayette. At least there will be A/C! And speaking of no time for being bored, Simone found this interesting article about the benefits of boredom!

CREATIVITY Research Suggests We're All Getting Less Creative and Scientists Think They Know Why BY JESSICA STILLMAN

"A researcher at the University of William and Mary analyzed 300,000 Torrance Test scores since the '50s. She found that creativity scores began to nosedive in 1990. She concluded that we're now facing a 'creativity crisis,'" reported author Michael Easter on Medium recently. That sounds alarming, but the good news is that, unlike the decline in IQ scores, scientists have a pretty good guess what's causing our collective creativity to tank. Scientists blame "our hurried, over-scheduled lives" and "ever increasing amounts of (time) interacting with electronic entertainment devices," Easter explains. In short, we're too busy and entertained for creativity to blossom.

Gone are the days where childhood was largely spent in unsupervised rambles and imaginary play. And we're generally just as overscheduled and overstimulated as adults. Many folks in the middle of midlife pandemonium struggle to find time to keep up with their email and brush their teeth, more or less putter and ponder. Which is just what creativity demands. Science shows that boredom actually increases creativity, as do activities like long walks (and showers) that demand just enough attention to allow our minds to wander. Einstein understood this. That's why he spent hours floating on his sailboat letting his mind gestate the brilliant ideas that revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos.

​The good news is that just as scientists are clear about the cause of our "creativity crisis," they are clear on what individuals can do to reclaim their natural inventiveness. Actively scheduling time to think, reflect, and experiment into your days, putting reasonable boundaries on your use of passive tech), varying your routine and your company, and getting out for more long walks can all help ensure you’re bucking the trend and nurturing your personal creativity.

“I’m a big believer in boredom. Boredom allows one to indulge in curiosity, and out of curiosity comes everything.” Steve Jobs

“Being bored is a precious thing, a state of mind we should pursue. Once boredom sets in, our minds begin to wander, looking for something exciting, something interesting to land on. And that’s where creativity arises.” Peter Bregman

“Boredom is your window… Once this window opens, don’t try to shut it; on the contrary, throw it wide open.” Joseph Brodsky

“Creativity is the residue of time wasted.” Albert Einstein

The trouble is we live in an age in which we never give ourselves the chance to be bored. All the entertainment we can dream of is at our fingertips. It’s time for us all to recognize boredom as a delicacy.

Pamper yourself this summer with a little boredom...your creative side will thank you.

Terry L Palmer LAA President

Wow!
Writing this message from the president sure comes around way to soon - but, I do have some important information for you.

I can never say enough about the great work our officers, board and volunteers have done and are doing. All are working hard to make your Lafayette Art Association a success. And it’s working. Sales from the gallery, gift shop and studios have all risen over the last year, despite COVID. Keep up the good work! And, I can never say this enough also - I love being associated with this organization and all of the people who are a part of it and keep the arts going for our community!

So, now I’m reaching out to our members. Get your art on! We soon have a new exhibit coming: The Eye Of The Beholder. This is an open 2-D and 3-D competition. This means you can invite your non-member artist friends to enter as well. There is a small entry fee for both members and nom members, but you’ll be competing for monetary prizes as well as ribbons. The Eye Of The Beholder is only our second monetary award show since we started this procedure. The first was a success and we’re hoping this will be even a bigger success. Besides incentive for the artists, it raises operational funds for the LAA. I’m happy to say, we have a couple of outstanding judges this year whose names I’m not allowed to divulge.

Here’s some information for Eye Of The Beholder that I can share with you: Chair person: Susan Chiquelin. For questions, email Susan: susan.chiquelin@lusfiber.net Submission dates: July 14-7/17 and July 21-July 24 (As another reminder, these are also the pick up dates for any work you may have had in the Spring and Summer Members Exhibit) Show dates: July 28 to September 18 Awards Reception: August 8th from 4-6pm

Prior to entry, please read our revised General Competition Submission Rules and Information. The rules and an Eye of the Beholder 2021 Submission Form can be found at www.lafayetteart.org/submissionrules.html where you can download a pdf to read or read online (go to www.lafayetteart.org, click on About LAA, scroll down to Rules/Competitions and click on Submission Rules).

I really hope to see a lot of you entering. I know there’s a lot of creative work out there! Have a great, artistic month.

​Terry L Palmer LAA President

Bond Memory Fulfilled Papa’s Love
  
Time has covered you but not my memory of you.
You grew up in a palmetto shack, common, illiterate, with French as a first language. Abuse away of life.
   Time has covered  abuse with love. Your love, Papa. Your love of mama and us changed all for you and us. Your love got the house on land and the big boat. All you had was a pirogue and a “fish cart.” and you grew it big. 
   Time has covered all that you built but not what you taught us. Respect for all no mater the color of their skin. “Until you walk in their moccasins, you don’t know.” You always said.
   Time has covered it all but not your gene-pool. Your grandchildren stands on your shoulders papa… I ran from the killing; not from you .I ran from the wet piercing cold; the blood smell, not from you. I ran to fulfill the Dream-pool, not from you. Death its’ self has not and never will break our bond.
 
In loving memory of Julian Justin Sons Sr.
 
Barry Sons