With her love of the outdoors, it is only fitting that jewelry artist Michelle Hoting’s designs are a direct reflection of nature. Her pieces combine the elements and textures of nature with the use of natural stone, fine silver, sterling and copper often combined with found natural objects such as acorns and twigs, seeds and leaves. 707-791-4680 www.MichelleHoting.com
It was 20 years ago in a stone cutting class at UT Austin that the ah-ha light came on and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life and only recently that I have decided to do it for me! I’ve expireinced it all, Cartier, Bulgari, I’ve repaired and refurbished jewelry for the finest antique jewelers in the country and I’ve been inspired by them all. I love jewels! I love wearable, livable jewelry. Jewels are meant to be worn and lived in, not holed away in the dark safety deposit box.
Recently I have been taking old vintage and antique jewelry finds and giving them new life by reinterpreting them into something modern and wearable. My repurposed jewels are a balance of metals and textures, old and new, real and faux, wearable, livable art. “
I use natural fiber such as wool, alpaca, and angora as my media, transforming the raw fiber by hand dying and using a variety of felting and surface design techniques in my creative process. My style is expressive and impressionistic and centers on vivid colors and textures to create striking visual movement. My representational art is primarily landscapes and botanical images. I also creates stunning non-representational art in the process of exploring composition, medium, and color. www.michellebowersart.com 281-299-9049
I am an emerging fiber artist in the Katy/Houston Area. I began my artistic pursuits at an early age studying sketching, drawing, painting, and writing in a multitude of venues from academic courses to artist’s cooperatives. In recent years, I have transitioned from a casual painter and artist to a career artist. I think of my artwork as inner reflections of the outer natural world, full of color texture and experience.
My work reproduces familiar visual signs, arranging them into new conceptually layered pieces. This work has always been grounded in pleasure and aesthetics. Felting is my key to sharing this inner landscape with the world. Hand dying and wet felting started it. From the beginning, the process of transforming fiber into cloth has struck me as magical. And, over the years, that magical process has had its way with me, leading me from hobby to art.
Felting fills me with a sense of accomplishment and integrity, and has proven a most amenable vehicle for translating inner vision to outer reality. I felt from the inside out. Though I work quite deliberately, consciously employing both traditional and innovative techniques, my unconscious is the undisputed project manager. The organic nature of this work frees my imagination and provides many opportunities for happy accident and grace to influence the finished product.
Moving to Texas has opened new vistas that resonate deeply with my fiber work. Inspired and invigorated by a renewed sense of continuity, and awed by the mystery of how creation occurs, I am now exploring the many patterns, textures and colors of this new land.
David Mercado is an artist who resides in Austin, Texas. In the beginning, his imagery focused on the beauty, strength, and movement of hummingbirds—a series that gained him national recognition by their popularity. As his career progressed, however, an exciting new abstract collection emerged which illustrated not only his range as an artist, but showcased the evolution of depth and complexity within his work.
It is the striking imagery of Mercado’s latest venture, however, which reveals a much more personal side of the artist. His “Virgen de Guadalupe” series gives a profoundly intimate glimpse into the faith and heritage which have inspired him. The series unveils an incredible transformation of traditional, iconic imagery into complex, abstract renderings of the Virgin’s image onto board, paper, and furniture pieces. Mercado’s style flawlessly blends the old and new to produce this new intriguing mix of vivid, soul-jarring, and contemporary pieces. @davidmercadoatxEmail David
Austin native John Mercado works primarily in painting and book deconstruction. He often uses found objects and mixed media to create his geometric artwork, which can be viewed as aesthetically minimalist with constructive and collage elements.
John has been a full-time artist for more than fifteen years participating in juried art festivals across the country and has shown in galleries in New York City, New Haven, CT, Houston, TX, San Antonio, TX and Austin, TX. Instagram: @johnmercadoarthttps://www.jmercadofineart.com/
Original fantasy fine art created in acrylic, oil, digital, graphite, epoxy clay & wood. Work available in pendants, canvas, resin & paper prints. www.thebutterfrog.com 713-501-4564
I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember on everything and anything I could get my hands on. My father was my biggest cheerleader when it came to my art, but got frustrated with me drawing in his beloved books. Because of this, at age 6 he had me in basic children art classes. These classes opened a door for me that lead me to my beloved art teacher Fran T. May. At age 8 Fran came to my art class and asked me if I would be interested in attending one of her adult art classes. Of course I did and that one move truly changed the way I viewed myself and my ability as an artist. I stayed in her class until I turned 18, at which point she told me there was nothing more she could teach me and encouraged me to explore my own ability. I am eternally grateful to Fran for the love and guidance she gave me.
Today, I have a booth at the Texas Renaissance Festival (#670 Wizard Way) called the Butterfrog. During off season of faire I show at a few other renaissance festivals in Texas & Oklahoma, White Linen in the Heights and First Saturday Art Market.
Doing this has allowed me to place my pieces in private collections and help many charities and local families in need.
Lauren Luna was born in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from Kent State University’s School of Fine Arts with a focus in painting, she moved to New York City. She began teaching Special Education for New York City schools and entered a Masters program at Manhattan College. Upon graduation, she moved back to her hometown of Columbus along with her son and continued teaching. Later enrolling in the Academy of Art University for her second Master’s degree, in Fine Arts.
In 2011, Luna relocated to Houston, Texas, pursuing her new life as a full time artist and footwear designer.
Lauren Luna was named a Top 50 Entrepreneur by Scion Car Company, participated in Austin and Houston Fashion Week, was featured in British Vogue and Glamour Magazines, and had a shoe design in an exhibit in the Grassi Museum in Germany.She was honored to receive the Margot Siegel Award for Design by the Goldstein Museum of which two pairs of her hand painted shoes are a part of the museum’s permanent collection.
In 2015, after winning Best In Show at a juried art competition, she was commended by the Alvin Independent School District School Board, and was put into Congressional Record by the District’s State Representative.
She is a frequent participant to local art festivals, and also has a mural at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Luna currently is an art professor at Lone Star and San Jacinto Colleges, and is Co-President of the D.R.E.A.M Affect Foundation, a non-profit organization that awards scholarships to minority art students pursuing Fine Arts, and grants for emerging artists to show their work.
by Kristy Allmon My signature style with Enchanted Photodesign offers a luminous, ethereal view of a widely diverse array of subjects, from personal portraits to hard-edged urban views, from wildflowers to vivid graffiti. Far more than a business name, Enchanted Photodesign describes my approach to photography itself, a highly characteristic expression of my worldview, which creates a unique and immediately recognizable body of work. www.enchantedphotodesign.com 713-320-2713
Unique hand forged and oxidized jewelry. fLuxe Jewelry flirts with a balance between soft and edgy forms and is inspired by many styles, including art deco, Aztec pottery, & modern graphic design. fLuxe Jewelry is a line made from copper sheet metal and patina chemicals. Soft, playful colors compliment the sharp, geometric edges. 713.299.6286 fLuxeJewelry.com
Here is the question: Why can’t everything be beautiful? The Beyond Her Collection is a group of high quality, everyday artisan goods made more satisfying with thoughtful design. It starts with original art – watercolors or pen-and-ink drawings by Paule Hewlett (aka “her”- which is then imprinted onto various surfaces, then packaged by hand, with care.
Products include stationery and office products . . . napkins and dishtowels . . . pillows and mugs . . . tee shirts and scarves. Most products include an inspirational or comforting quote, resulting in a soul-satisfying Art + Wisdom experience.
The raw ingredients are carefully chosen – we hunt for natural fabrics, feel-good sizes, practical designs, great styling, sturdy construction, unique textures. The images and colors are carefully chosen to be both visible and durable so that using these humble domestic objects is a joy in itself.
The textile products are silkscreened by hand with eco-friendly water-based inks. Many of the paper products are printed one at a time in our shop. We use small local shops for any outsourcing. All products are lovingly packaged by hand in our own studio, in our own style.
We call it Art for Living. And it makes a difference. Oh, and the name? It comes from the passion that drives this small business. It truly is . . Beyond Her.
