An exceptional challenge of the creative mind is to remain inspired by their work – what propels creative energy in times of little inspiration ? Inspiration is an enigma – mine comes and goes in cycles that defy any hope of consistent prediction. As a creative professional there is not a day that I have [...]
I am proud to announce my novel Memoirs of Oblivion. I was compelled to write Memoirs of Oblivion after my family’s experience with traumatic brain injury. If the injury itself was not enough, all the systems in place to provide protection and support were severely broken. This story takes place over one year and is [...]
Howard Finster, the grandfather of the Southern Folk Art movement was a pioneer that showed the world that Art can thrive outside of museums and galleries in ordinary places and in everyday objects. He took what others might deem trash or obsolete and turned it into something contemplative. He opened Paradise Garden for the world to enjoy, a true testament that Art comes to life, when people are able to interact with it. Howard Finster showed the world that objects surrounding us can take on a new life, in a sometimes magical way, and communicate messages that can lead to transformation.
Howard Finster, the grandfather of the Southern Folk Art movement, was a pioneer that showed the world that Art can thrive outside of museums and galleries in ordinary places and in everyday objects. He took what others might deem trash or obsolete and turned it into something contemplative. He opened Paradise Garden for the world [...]
This festival was founded by many independent filmmakers from all over the Southeast in an effort to make independent film more prevalent and help foster connections between film-making professionals in the Southeast with a wide spectrum of entertainment professionals from all over the world. The most remarkable thing about this festival is that it is [...]
Everything in Between is a fictional drama about McLean Edwards who is making all the preparations to leave home for the first time to attend college. She is armed with the goal of education and marriage – her first milestone is to land a place on sorority row. After being blacklisted during rush, her life [...]
I read a blog by John August and he wrote advice to screenwriters “to wait until you write your fourth screenplay to submit it to screenplay festivals and competitions”. I scoffed at the thought of all the hard work I had poured into writing my first screenplay and then letting it go to waste by [...]
Hidden Archaeology is a series that explores “out of place artifacts” or ooparts. It is an area of archaeology that few scientists dare to explore. It is the gray area of history that no one talks about. They call it “cult” or “hidden” archaeology. I like to think of myself as a modern day pioneer [...]
Keepers of the Gate is a thriller about the way information is used in the 21st century. It examines the way it is obtained and delivered to individuals through the story of two journalists in Iraq covering a story. It explores the convergence of old and new technology and how messages are constructed and filtered. [...]
Ava Leigh Stewart is a featured artist on Gawker.com Ava Leigh Stewart was chosen by Gawker as an up-and-coming young artist and filmmaker with a fresh style. They have featured her paintings in their online exhibition. As an artist, she challenges cultural and societal norms in an effort to communicate messages that reach people on [...]
Fledgling Darlings is my third book of poetry that is an all-encompassing artistic journey exemplifying the soulful depths of the human experience. This work celebrates personal freedoms and challenges established theories with glistening imagery that is sure to strike every reader with a unique energy each their own. With every turn of the page, discover [...]
Art West Film is a full service production company and was founded with the belief that individuals can change the world through the power of ideas. Preview some of our most recent projects.
Keepers of the Gate is a thriller about the way information is used in the 21st century. It examines the way it is obtained and delivered to individuals through the story of two journalists in Iraq covering a story. It explores the convergence of old and new technology and how messages are constructed and filtered. [...]
This is the extended trailer for Paradise Garden, a documentary film about the legacy of Howard Finster that premiered at Finster Fest 2013 in Summerville, Georgia. The film chronicles the renovation of Paradise Garden and stars celebrities that worked with Howard Finster. The interviews include Chris Frantz from the Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Steve [...]
South of Southern is a film that explores the lives of several seemingly traditional Southerners and the complications that often arise when old society mantras meet the modern age. This is a tale of treachery, deceit, debauchery, and salvation, seen through the eyes of a handful of diverse party guests celebrating the engagement of a [...]
We interviewed author Lee Wilson about his latest novel, The Last Hybrid: Bloodline of Angels. He shared a behind the scenes glimpse into his process of creating this story and offered some tips for aspiring writers about the process of writing a novel. What inspired The Last Hybrid? A dream I had as a teenager. [...]
I am proud to announce my novel Memoirs of Oblivion. I was compelled to write Memoirs of Oblivion after my family’s experience with traumatic brain injury. If the injury itself was not enough, all the systems in place to provide protection and support were severely broken. This story takes place over one year and is [...]
I worked with Paul Hough to create the graphic design for his film “The Angel”. Since a lot of the film uses lighting design that focuses on flickering fluorescent bulbs, we incorporated that visual effect into the light animation of the title sequence design. I chose a font that complemented the genre to set the [...]
This was my first experience with underwater film and done over a series of two dives with the Ocean Explorers in St Maarten. It is the oldest dive shop in St Maarten, owned and operated by longtime resident LeRoy French a renowned underwater photographer. I have always loved underwater still photography and was excited to [...]
Get an exclusive limited preview of the poetry book, Beyond Fear. You can purchase the book or download the electronic book from Amazon.com. Beyond Fear by Ava Leigh Stewart
Over 250 trailers were submitted to the festival for consideration, only the top 80 trailers in three categories were chosen to move forward to online voting and Paradise Garden: Howard Finster’s Legacy was one of them. The film is currently one of the top in our category of Biographical and Historical films. About the [...]
South of Southern is a film that explores the lives of several seemingly traditional Southerners and the complications that often arise when old society mantras meet the modern age. This is a tale of treachery, deceit, debauchery, and salvation, seen through the eyes of a handful of diverse party guests celebrating the engagement of a [...]
Spencer Drate is featured in our film Paradise Garden. Drate is the author of five film books, a judge for the Southeastern Film Festival, and has shared his talent to give us a list of top movies that every filmmaker should watch – check out his advice below. 1. The Sea Inside-2000′s-foreign-starring Javier Bardem 2. [...]
South of Southern is a film that explores the lives of several seemingly traditional Southerners and the complications that often arise when old society mantras meet the modern age. This is a tale of treachery, deceit, debauchery, and salvation, seen through the eyes of a handful of diverse party guests celebrating the engagement of a [...]
Spencer Drate is featured in our film Paradise Garden. Drate is the author of five film books, a judge for the Southeastern Film Festival, and has shared his talent to give us a list of top movies that every filmmaker should watch – check out his advice below. 1. The Sea Inside-2000′s-foreign-starring Javier Bardem 2. [...]
An exceptional challenge of the creative mind is to remain inspired by their work – what propels creative energy in times of little inspiration ? Inspiration is an enigma – mine comes and goes in cycles that defy any hope of consistent prediction. As a creative professional there is not a day that I have [...]
We interviewed author Lee Wilson about his latest novel, The Last Hybrid: Bloodline of Angels. He shared a behind the scenes glimpse into his process of creating this story and offered some tips for aspiring writers about the process of writing a novel. What inspired The Last Hybrid? A dream I had as a teenager. [...]
I am proud to announce my novel Memoirs of Oblivion. I was compelled to write Memoirs of Oblivion after my family’s experience with traumatic brain injury. If the injury itself was not enough, all the systems in place to provide protection and support were severely broken. This story takes place over one year and is [...]
Everything in Between is a fictional drama about McLean Edwards who is making all the preparations to leave home for the first time to attend college. She is armed with the goal of education and marriage – her first milestone is to land a place on sorority row. After being blacklisted during rush, her life [...]
This is the extended trailer for Paradise Garden, a documentary film about the legacy of Howard Finster that premiered at Finster Fest 2013 in Summerville, Georgia. The film chronicles the renovation of Paradise Garden and stars celebrities that worked with Howard Finster. The interviews include Chris Frantz from the Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Steve [...]
South of Southern is a film that explores the lives of several seemingly traditional Southerners and the complications that often arise when old society mantras meet the modern age. This is a tale of treachery, deceit, debauchery, and salvation, seen through the eyes of a handful of diverse party guests celebrating the engagement of a [...]
Howard Finster, the grandfather of the Southern Folk Art movement, was a pioneer that showed the world that Art can thrive outside of museums and galleries in ordinary places and in everyday objects. He took what others might deem trash or obsolete and turned it into something contemplative. He opened Paradise Garden for the world [...]
