musetouch_issue_28

musetouch 

Visual Arts Magazine 

ISSUE 28 JANUARY 2014 

Francoise de Felice Stephen Mackey Isaiah Stephens Mecuro B Cotto Catrin Welz Stein 

Pier Toffoletti Brian DeMint Steve Richard Veronica Winters Francesco Jacobello Mirela Pindjak 

musetouch.org

MUSETOUCH MAGAZINE January 2014 

Editor 

Maia Sylba 

Graphic designer 

Dejan Silbaski 

Contributors 

Nini Baseema 

Kiyo Murakami 

Ian Furniss 

Cover 

Marcela Bolivar 

MUSETOUCH is a magazine about visual arts. It has been created by Maia Sylba out of a love and passion for 

art with the hope that people will be able to use the publication and website as a platform to showcase their 

skills and gain recognition. 

Facebook 

facebook.com/musetouchvisualartsmagazine 

Twitter 

Linkedin 

Mail 

twitter.com/musetouchmag 

linkedin.com/in/maiasylba 

maiasylba@gmail.com 

Submission Guideline 

If you want to contribute to the next edition, you can send us an email with your data and a PDF file that 

shows your works, also a link of your website if you have any. 

We would love to see your art so don’t hesitate to contact us and welcome. 

All artwork in this magazine is copyright protected under the MUSETOUCH Magazine brand or remains 

property of the individual artists who have kindly granted us permission to use their work. 

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Steve Richard 

Capture the Imagination 

Catrin Welz Stein 

Inner Feelings 

008 

Francoise de Felice 

The Story 

218 

Pier Toffoletti 

The Free Spirit 

036 

Stephen Mackey 

Mystique 

Brian DeMint 

Unique Voice 

256 

Peter Kemp 

Story after Story 

070 

Veronica Winters 

The Artist 

296 

Isaiah Stephens 

Storyteller 

106 

Mirela Pindjak 

Face of Darkness 

326 

Mecuro B Cotto 

Behind the Magic 

148 

366 

Francesco Jacobello 

The Creative Flight 

180 

394 


Steve Richard 

Steve Richard has been plying his trade in the mysterious photographic arts for well over a 

quarter of a century. Steve is both a stills photographer and a cinematographer, thus bringing 

an unerring sense of style and composition to all of his work. Whether it is commercial, corporate, 

or fine art work, Steve’s visuals capture the imagination, challenge preconceptions, and 

merge a classical ethos with urban grit and 21st Century techno-savvy. 

Born and raised in a small town in Canada, Steven took his first photograph at the age of 12, 

over 40 years ago. Much of the early years were spent developing his craft while working in 

the various commercial facets of the photography trade. During this time he developed a 

significant love hate relationship with photography, and actually gave up shooting a number 

of times. During these down times he has worked as full time musician touring across 

Canada, a recording studio engineer, a fiber optic network designer, a teacher at Dalhousie 

University, a cinematographer shooting music videos and short films, and has developed the 

necessary skills to produce a fine bowl of Tom Ka Guy soup. His passion for photography 

developed into a full obsession about 20 years ago when he decided to only shoot the subjects 

that would interpret his view of the world. For the most part this meant a combination of 

humor and beauty mixed with the dark side of life. He now spends most of his fine art focus 

on dance and bodies in motion. 

On the professional side Steve continues to shoot musicians, dancers, creative advertising and 

anything beautiful and dark. He currently resides in Halifax Nova Scotia with his wife and 

two children. 

steverichard.com 


Capture the Imagination 




















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Francoise de Fe 

Françoise de Felice, descendant of an Italian father and French mother, was born in Paris 

where she lived until she was 20 years of age. As a child Françoise de Felice was introduced to 

art by her grandmother. Later whilst at the Sorbonne she also attended the Beaux Arts. Her 

initial introduction was to that of the essetial Impressionism. Françoise de Felice then left 

France for Sicily where she found that the French Impressionism was not enough. 

There she developed her own style, letting go of the well worn paths in order to create her 

own style. Inspired by the magnificence of The Sicilian baroque and the light of the island she 

reached out further to an almost liquid yet precise line. Her style derives both from instinct 

and depth of thought. The compositions of her paintings are an introspective story, one of 

self analysis. After a number of comings and goings between the mediterranean and France, 

Françoise de Felice settled on the Ile de France close to Paris. Her works have been exhibited 

well in France and also Europe in Padua, Rome, London, Paris and Geneva. 

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francoisedefelice.com/en 

facebook.com/defelicefrancoise

lice The Story 



































“No information = mystique. That’s definitely part of it, although it does sound a little contrived 

put like that. 

You can have any facts you want, but you’re sworn to secrecy. Only kidding, I just hate those 

sites where they have a moody photo of the artist with some trenchant quote about their life and 

art underneath. 

I’m 45, married, lots of children, cats, rabbit. I’m also self-taught, so if you’re going to give anything 

away, let it be that. People love it, it’s democratic.” 



stephenmackey.com 

arcadiacontemporary.comphenmackey.com

Mystique 




































Peter Kemp 

“Coming from the always rainy Holand in former days I loved to draw. With my photography I 

got more tools to fit in all details into my photo stories, which are running through my head all 

day. I like to do story telling pictures in a vintage atmosphere. 

Trying to create some mystery and glamour into pics. Firstly by trying to create the old light, 

which is well known by the Dutch Master painters like Johannes Vermeer. Secondly by working 

together with my beautiful models and team to join me into my photo projects. 

My scenes focus a lot on details, with just a quick look. But a deep and longer look might open 

the door to another journey. 

I guess I like to create little stories within my stories. Well ...anyway all details are thought of long 

before the camera clicks.” 

Peter Kemp 


peterkemp.nl 

facebook.com/pages/Peter-Kemp-Art-Photography

Story after Story 






















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Isaiah Stephens 

Isaiah Stephens (Lowell, United States) makes drawings, paintings, mixed media artworks and 

conceptual artworks. By using popular themes such as surrealism, heroism, sexuality, fantasy, 

and adventure, Stephens touches various overlapping themes and strategies. Several reoccurring 

subject matter can be recognised, such as the relation with popular culture and media, 

working with repetition, provocation and the investigation of the process of expectations. 

His drawings often refers to pop and mass culture. Using written and drawn symbols, a world 

where light-heartedness rules and where rules are undermined is created. With a conceptual 

approach, he tries to approach a wide scale of subjects in a multi-layered way, likes to involve 

the viewer in a way that is sometimes physical and believes in the idea of function following 

form in a work. 

His works directly respond to the surrounding environment and uses everyday experiences 

from the artist as a starting point. Often these are framed instances that would go unnoticed 

in their original context. Through a radically singular approach that is nevertheless inscribed 

in the contemporary debate, he uses references and ideas that are so integrated into the process 

of the composition of the work that they may escape those who do not take the time to 

explore how and why these images haunt you, like a good film, long after you’ve seen them. 

His works are a drawn reflection upon the art of drawing itself: thoroughly self-referential, 

yet no less aesthetically pleasing, and therefore deeply inscribed in the history of modernism 

– made present most palpably in the artist’s exploration of some of the most hallowed of 

modernist paradigms. 

Tell us who is Isaiah? 

Isaiah Stephens is an artist and a writer. A storyteller! A boy who’s always enjoyed the creative 

process of coming up with a story. Whether that be with words or pictures. Unfortunately, 

Isaiah Stephens is also a boy who’s terrified of people. So putting himself out there, has never 

been something that came easy. 

How did you first get into the world of art? 

I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. Literally. Hours and hours, days and days, 

of sketching took up most of my childhood. When most kids were outside playing, I was 

inside drawing my favorite cartoon characters, comic book characters, and people I saw in 

movies. Throughout my teen years in high school, I naturally got better. And I’ve been lucky 

enough to have people in my life who helped further my artistic career for me. 


Storyteller 


Seeking out gigs and shows for me to submit my work too. 

What techniques do you use? 

For my traditional work, I love graphite. For me it’s the easiest to work with. And also just my 

around favorite. I also love watercolor painting. Pastels. And I’ll occasionally work with paint, 

out of that I need to work on. 

For my digital illustrations, a is a combination of paint tool Sai and Adobe Photoshop. 

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started? 

You hear a million artists say it, but you never really understand until you get better. “The 

only way to get better at drawing, is to keep on drawing.” It’s completely true. There’ll be times 

when you are completely frustrated with the piece you’re working on. And it can make you 

give up drawing for days, weeks, or even sometimes months or years. In all actuality you just 

have to push through keep on drawing. The more you draw, the better you get. It’s weird. 

What are you trying to say with your artworks? I sense the message behind each of them... 

I don’t know if I’m really trying to say anything with my works. Trying for me has always 

been...therapeutic. So if there is a message in my work somewhere, I assure you it’s completely 

unintentional. 

What do you hope to achieve with your art? 

I’ve never set out to teach anyone anything with my art, or even open anyone’s eyes to anything. 

Most of the art that I create is kind of therapy for myself. I’ve just been lucky enough to 

have other people see it and gain something from it. 

What’s your dream art project? 

I’m kind of working on my dream project right now! I’ve written a novel, and now I’m also 

working on illustrations to put both into the book and on the cover. This is a project that fuses 

my two loves. Art and writing. Now, whether anyone will ever see that book, that’s another 

story... 

Do you maybe have your favorite artwork? 

I do! It may not be my best work, or even the most impactful. But my favorite piece of art that 

I’ve done is “Who would I be without you?”. It’s a piece that meant a lot to me when I first 

drew it, and still does. 

What’s the biggest life lesson you’ve learned through art? 



The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that not everyone is going to like your art. No matter how 

much work you put into it, there will always be someone who feels...dissatisfied. And that’s 

okay! As an artist it’s your job to please no one but yourself and if you’re satisfied with what 

you’ve created and that’s all that matters. 

How do you see yourself in the future? 

In the future, I just want to be happy. Whether that means that I’m living in a shack in the 

middle of nowhere, or huge loft in the big city, I want to be happy. Doing what I love to do, 

making art. 

MS 


isaiahstephens.deviantart.com 

facebook.com/IsaiahStephensArt




























Mecuro B Cotto 

Mercuro B. Cotto lives and creates in Moscow, Russia. He is a photographer who resists the 

formal portraiture approach and photographs delicate, feminine figures within the flow of 

their surroundings. There is an underlying sensuality and a sense of romance or emotion that 

is conveyed through the softness of light and tone. 

mecurobcotto.com 


Behind the Magic 






































Catrin Welz Stei 

Catrin studied graphic design in Germany and worked as a graphic designer for various agencies. 

In her spare time she experimented with mixed media, collages and paintings on canvas 

and finally entered the amazing world of digital art. There she also discovered her passion and 

love of surrealism. Since then, her drive to create has never let go. 

“As a child I loved to draw and liked to be creative. I almost was born with a pencil in my hand. 

I knew I wanted to do something related to arts. I have graduated from Graphic Design in 

Darmstadt, Germany and then worked for different advertising agencies in Germany, USA and 

Switzerland. 

I stopped working in agencies after becoming a mother, and after a short time of being self employed 

I decided to quit work until my children grew older. Because of my children (4 and 6 years 

old) I can go through childhood again and I can enjoy the world of fantasy and fairy tails. I like 

to look at childrens books and let them inspire me. „Where the wild things are“, from Maurice 

Sendak is a favourite book of all of us. Through the children books I rediscovered the love to illustration 

again. 

As a professional graphic art designer I often had to make compromises for the clients. There 

were a lot of rules in visual communication and I often felt that I could not express my whole 

creativity. Now I enjoy creating art that does not explain itself from the beginning. My images 

have a dreamlike and surreal quality. They speak from inner feelings which we often hide in our 

daily life.” 

Catrin Welz Stein 


facebook.com/CWelzStein 

catrinwelzstein.blogspot.com

n Inner Feelings 






































Pier Toffoletti 

Pier was born in 1957 in the village of Torreano near Cividale in Northern Italy, surrounded 

by the art and antiquities of ancient Rome. Now he lives and works in Udine. Since he was 

a young boy, painting has been a passion and he drew inspiration from the tiles and frescos 

which were a part of his daily life. 

In 1976 Pier earned a “Diploma di Maestro in Arte Applicata” (Certificate of Master in Applied 

Arts). While developing his unique medium and style he worked as Creative Director 

for his advertising agency, using his talented eye for developing and directing television commercials. 

Pier also worked with the Italian public broadcasting network (RAI) on a number of 

animation projects. 

Pier developed a passion for speleology (exploring caves), and while pursuing this interest he 

traveled to some wild regions in Central and South America between 1992 and 1995. His experiences 

in these environs created a deep change in his view towards life. It was in 1995 that 

Pier decided it was time to devote his full time and considerable talents to painting. 

Pier?s work can now be seen in galleries and publications throughout Europe and Asia. His 

North American debut at the Galleria di Sorrento in Las Vegas has been eagerly anticipated 

by collectors who have seen his art in Japanese and Parisian galleries where he is avidly collected. 

In 1997, Pier was nominated to become a member of the “World Council Of Arts” and 

that same year his work was featured on the cover of the prestigious Japanese publication “Art 

Pictorial”. 

piertoffoletti.com 

facebook.com/pages/Pier-Toffoletti 


The Free Spirit 
























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Brian DeMint 

Brian DeMint of Eyeworks Photography is a fashion/beauty and fine art photographer based 

in Joplin, Missouri. Formally trained as an oil painter, Brian made the switch to photography 

in 2004 and is self-educated in both photography and digital manipulation. By combining the 

classic elements of design with the digital technologies of today, he creates visually striking 

imagery with emphasis on emotional color and unique styling with the help of his very talented 

wife Dena who provides Hair Styling and Makeup application. 

Brian’s credits include: Fiori Fashion Magazine, Digital Photo Pro, AfterCapture Magazine, 

Italian “A” fashion, Bust Magazine, Cut & Dry, Sessions Magazine, Cliché’ Magazine among 

many other publications. Brian is also a Speaker on the National level with AfterDark Education, 

Sandy Puc’, SPA, PPA and has appeared on the Photovision Series. 

It is Brian’s goal to help others find their own unique voice by employing the words of the 

great Cecil Beaton: “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity 

of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, 

the slaves of the ordinary.” 


eyeworksphotography.com 

facebook.com/brian.demint

Unique Voice 






























Veronica Winter 

Who are you Veronica? 

I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. I call myself Russian-American artist as part of 

me always belongs to my native country although I’ve been living in the U.S. for over 16 years, 

all my adult life really. I got my BA in Business Administration from Zelenograd Business College 

and the University of Tulsa and I got lucky to go to Tulsa, OK on a scholarship in 1996. I knew I 

wanted to stay in the US after that because I saw real opportunities in this country as opposed 

to living in Russia. It took me a while to relocate but as I did I became more interested in Art 

than business and I started taking art classes at the Tulsa Community College and the University 

of Tulsa when my son was born. After a while I began commuting to the Oklahoma State 

University to get my Bachelor’s degree in studio art. It was a very difficult time for me because 

our child was still very little and a 90-minute commute one-way with all the classes and homework 

were exhausting for me. 

After graduation in 2003, I got accepted to study for my Master’s at Penn State and we 

moved to State College, PA. Instead of staying in a small college town there for just two years 

we lived there for a decade. After graduation in 2005, there were zero art jobs available around 

town. I slowly started taking classes in classical drawing and painting at the Grand Central Academy 

of Art and t he Art Student’s League of New York. I felt like I had my vision in place but I lacked necessary 

skill to paint well what I wanted to communicate. Sometimes I stayed in New 

York for a month during one summer month and other times I commuted by bus back and forth 

in one day(which was 5-8 hours one-way depending on the weather conditions and traffic). I 

enjoyed my time spent there in class, although the commute was exhausting. I felt like I was 

learning a lot but never had enough time, finances, and opportunity to be there full-time. 

My family was always a priority for me. I slowly began building my own business teaching 

privately in my studio and part-time in local art organization back in State College. I’ve painted 

murals, exhibited, and sold some of my work as well. 

Yet, I always dreamed of painting for a living and with no regrets, I’ve decided to move on and settle 

in beautiful Naples (in 2013), in southwest Florida. Here I’ve started working on my new portfolio 

of paintings that I define as “imaginative realism.” I’m associated with “Gallery on Fifth” in Naples 

now and I’m sure I’ll be more involved with other galleries in the future. As I’ve 

been teaching drawing for about ten years in my studio and publicly, I developed a teaching 

strategy to educate committed students. This strategy transformed into my art books that are 

sold on my website-VeronicasArt.com and Amazon. 

Why do you paint? 

There is no clear “why” for me. It’s a need and we have emotional needs at times that can’t be 

explained logically. I’ve noticed that if I don’t paint, I become angry. 



s 

The Artist 


Painting calms me down and brings peace I need inside me, living in often stressful environment 

(like most of us). I’m a terrible verbal communicator and I think art lets m- 

e communicate effectively with people who have time to listen to me. 

I also have this idea that there are some persons who can benefit from my art and/or writing. 

They can find the connection with my stories I either paint on canvas or write on paper. 

It’s healing for people to know that they are not alone with their life’s challenges. 

If I start thinking logically why I paint, it loses its meaning for me. Paintings and the process 

itself become worthless. As they are supposed to decorate someone’s interior space 

and be enjoyed looking at, it’s difficult to find this special person who can both appreciate the 

work and have the means to own it. This difficulty that every artist faces is the downside. 

From where is your inspiration coming from? 

The inspiration is generated from within me as a response to my thoughts and emotions. My 

thoughts and emotions, though, get stimulated by the world outside me. I love to travel and 

record my impressions in photos and words. (I authored two travel guide books-about Thailand 

and Venice, and I co-authored a book about Nicaragua). It’s a different way of being creative 

telling a story. Even though I spend most of my time not traveling, I get inspired by other 

means-museums, contemporary artists, writers, movies, and even weather. 

Are you romantic? 

That’s funny, I’ve never thought of myself as a romantic because I’m an orderly, 

goal-oriented, determined, and generally organized person. I’ve never 

dreamt of things “living on a cloud” or wearing “pink sunglasses.” 

At the same time, I think there are poetry, beauty, and Romanticism 

to my art. I have a particular aesthetic for beauty. Much of it comes from my upbringing, where 

art, music, ballet, theatre, literature, and dance surrounded me as a child back in Moscow. 

I didn’t realize how important it actually was to my artistic development. I allow myself 

to be romantic in my painting and when I travel. I just walk, take pictures, and absorb 

life around me. 

Imagination is the word...in some way crucial for your art, as far as I am noticing... 

how does, or should, that word relate to an artist? 

I paint rather realistically but what I paint can exist in our life but it doesn’t. This “imaginative 

realism” comes from my close observation of life around me. A lot of it is symbolic. Imagination 

can be discouraged as a past trend (the Surrealism movement, for example) in contemporary 

art but I feel like it’s who I am as a person. Imagination is what makes scientists to invent 

and discover and artists- to create. 

How do you see? What is it about a scene or subject that speaks to you, makes you feel and 

causes you to create a painting? 



I come up with ideas for either writing or painting when or after having a strong emotional current 

inside me. Some call it “craziness” and others- an “artist’s fit.” No matter how you call it, 

this is the source of my imagination. Then, I think how I can communicate that and I look for images 

on my computer that resonate within me. When the idea is in place, I sketch and paint it. 

A lot of times, the basic idea evolutions into something else and that’s the beauty of it. Sometimes, 

I don’t even know what the story is when I’m painting it, but it becomes clear when 

I’m done! 

Is it important to remain true to yourself and your individual vision as an artist? 

Yes and I’ve learned it a hard way recently. No matter how different 

you want to be, you’ll be powered by your unique aesthetic and perspective 

in your heart and mind. Nothing can change that. 

How do you see yourself and your art in the future? 

I see myself as a successful artist, believe it or not. I know I’ll create many beautiful, exceptional 

paintings and my other creative outlets may flourish as well. I know I have many stories 

to tell and I’m a good listener. 

MS 


veronicasart.com 

facebook.com/veronicasart




































Mirela Pindjak 

When it’s hard to speak and to say out loud what touched you very deeply, maybe even left 

scars on your hear, opened a window to your pain and sadness … 

you have to find a way to express it even without words... 

to show it..to give it a voice..to shape it .. 

for me .. 

photographs became visible evidence of my life and gave me a chance to let go of those heavy 

burdens to live and to be free of my past… 

My desire is to reach through them all the people who felt the same and to help them find 

peace and if nothing else to give them some comfort in knowing that they are not forgotten 

and definitely not alone in feeling sad and in pain…. 

There is beauty in despair and something primeval in a desperate person, in these moments 

we can see, even just for a moment, what truly means to be a HUMAN – vulnerable and fragile 

but still a SURVIVOR. 

“floating in our rivers of solitude.. 

shattered by the rocks and cold waters.. 

silhouettes on the mirrored lakes… 

nothing but misted ghosts.. 

invisible we are.. 

shadows .. 

nothing but a breeze.. 

touching dead trees that surround us… 

feeling their dry leafs falling on our faded faces.. 

we become essence of nothingness… 

only breath on the frozen mirrors .. 

forgotten and never remembered..” 

by Mirela Pindjak 

(Mirpi) 

mirpiphotography.blogspot.com 

facebook.com/pages/Mirpi-Photography 


Face of Darkness 





























Francesco Jacob 

‘Born in the world heritage town of Militello in Val di Catania, Francesco Jacobello comes 

from an artistic family. Even though professionally his father was as a farmer, he recalls that 

form a very early age he was inspired by his maternal grandfather, who was an amateur artist 

himself, more specifically recalls an incident that happened when Jacobello was 8 years old. 

One day, in a hot summer afternoon, Jacobello and his grandfather were resting under a huge 

carob tree and both decided to challenge each other drawing the horses in the farm. Once finished, 

Jacobello had the approval and admiration of his older ‘master’. It was the turning point 

of that boy’s life dreams. It confirmed his feelings to dedicate himself to his love fully. 

Less than a decade later Jacobello was crowned for 3 consecutive years as winner of local art 

competitions and recognition from public and critics alike prompted Jacobello to travel and 

search for better opportunities for his talents. After nearly a decade of travels and apprenticeship 

all over Italy, Jacobello decides to move to London, one of Europe’s Cultural hotspots. 

As the artist himself points out: ‘It is a matter of evolving. As an artist you cannot be stuck, and 

when I fell it coming, I throw myself into another challenge, another creative flight. You have to 

keep evolving, as a human being and as an artist. Life is a source of inspiration for me. I love 

observing people. People I know, sometimes people I love and at times even people that for some 

reason catch my attention but that I have never seen before. I am drawn to emotions, feelings 

and some people’s features and faces just express what I want to say, my will to immortalize 

through the visual arts that split second moment and I ‘use’ them as a template to create my own 

way to tell a story, which hopefully will echo with the public. ‘ 


facebook.com/FRANCESCOJACOBELLOARTE 

francescojacobello.wordpress.com

ello 

The Creative Flight

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