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Artist Creates Sunsets, Portraits

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: March 25, 2009

While professional artist Mandie Soran spends much of her time attending shows these days, she admits her love of art all began when she realized she was a little obsessive-compulsive about her coloring pages as a child.

After a time, Soran, 26, of Land O' Lakes, set aside the crayons in favor of colored pencils, watercolors and chalks. While she might not be as obsessed by her work, she has begun to focus much of her energy on producing pieces to put on display in regional art shows.

"I was in gifted classes in elementary school," Soran said. "We would do different types of learning, but my favorite was when we would draw. The best exercise was 'From This to That' where we would have to take a simple design on a sheet of paper and make it whatever we wanted to. I would cover the entire page while my friends my just drew a little box."

Throughout middle and high school, Soran said she stayed active as an artist.

"I took art classes and I did the newspaper and yearbook classes," Soran said. "I was also into creative writing and crafty things like making pottery and jewelry."
Soran said she is always trying to do something different and new with her artwork.

"I will work with one media and do all that I think I can do for that time and then move on," Soran said. "I get bored with the same thing all the time, so right now I am using chalk a lot but lately I have been thinking about getting a sewing machine."
Soran said she loves to use chalk pastels because she gets to be more intimate with her artwork then with other mediums.

"Each media is so different to work with," Soran said. "I love the pastels because I get to work with my hands and fingers to blend the colors. I am not just using a brush to create something."

Inspiration can come from a variety of places, Soran said. Lately, she said she has been drawing portraits of James Dean, Jimi Hendrix and Bjork while also drawing the nature scenes and sunsets she loves.

"I am inspired by things in nature, music and musicians," she said. "I used to always hate doing portraits because I thought I wasn't good at them, but lately I have found that I like them. I have been trying to hone in on the person."

Paula Adler of Palm Harbor said she loves Soran's work.

"I really like the way she uses color," Adler said. "I have one of her pieces she did based on a picture from Africa. It is so vibrant that guests always ask me where I got the photograph. She has such a great eye for color."

Soran's passion for showing off her work has increased thanks to her recent participation in the Square One art shows. She will be in the next show, dubbed La Di Da, at the Ritz Carlton, 1503 E. 7th Ave., in Ybor May 30 at 7 p.m.

"Lately, the shows have been sparking my interest in creating more work," Soran said. "I have been torturing myself, but it helps me to get inspired. Shows are about having the courage to show your work to others because basically the artwork is you. I also like to hear other people's interpretations of my work."

For information, visit mandiesoran.com.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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