1stSatArtMarket
Posts by Mitch Cohen:
Caroline Z. Marcos In The Spotlight
Caroline joined First Saturday Arts Market when it was about 6 years old. She took a break to be a Mom and returned just a few years ago. She’s currently working on new exciting projects as she continues to explore her creative side.
Tell us about yourself outside of the art world.
I’m a mom of two (ages 11 and 8). I was born in Alexandria, Egypt, raised in California, and moved to Texas in 2007 after marrying my husband. We met in San Diego at a church conference. I currently live in the Northwest area of Houston. I’ve been making art since age ten, and I have a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy. I love the ocean and being outside, exploring new places. I love to read, and I’m involved in my church, helping out with the kids’ camps there.
How did your art journey begin?
My grandfather was an oil painter, and we had his oil paintings all over the house I grew up in, and my aunt also followed in his footsteps. There were a lot of pre-Raphael renditions all over the place. I was always drawn to it. In high school, my art teacher told me to join the honors watercolor club, and I also got recognized for an art show at that time, so I was hooked. I majored in art in college, but it was part of a double major with psychology because I come from an immigrant family who didn’t believe that a career in art was real.
Where are you now with your art?
I ask myself that every day lol. It’s my passion and my dream, so I’m always working on it, both in my studio, applying to calls, etc. My last few things have been getting juried into the Art Car Museum “Blue” show. In 2022, one of my paintings was acquired by The Woodlands High School Art Trust. I finished the Artist Inc. program in 2023. I got some great commissions completed this past summer of 2023.
Do you have big plans/goals for the future?
I want to connect with interior designers and work more closely with them and do some more commission work. I want to find other avenues, walls to put my work on as well. I’m open.
What guidance would you offer to a budding or novice artist?
Take yourself and your art seriously because it’s important work. Don’t give up on it, no matter the resistance you might get from the outside world or your own family. Keep honing your skills, continue to learn, and always have a ‘beginner’s mind’ so it stays fresh and fun. Your vision and your work are unique because it’s made by you. Don’t worry that “it’s been done before” because it’s never been done before by you.
Bonus Question! Anything wild and crazy that would raise eyebrows?
I’ve hiked Mount Sinai (Moses’ mountain) on foot and by camel! I saw the most amazing night sky! I also hiked Yosemite, which was one of the most amazing experiences in my life.
One weird fact
I love Tom Waits. Took awhile for this Egyptian to acquire that taste in music! lol
Melinda Patrick
Tell us about yourself outside of the art world.
Outside the art world? I didn’t know there was such a place. But ok. There is family, which for me is Little League and mutton-bustin’ at the rodeo. I’m fortunate to no longer be required to have an outside to the art world so I can work every day in peace.
How did your art journey begin?
My journey began before most of you were born. My artist grandfather put a brush in my hand, gave me paint and demanded “Paint.” There was no turning back. It continued through public school and several years at the Houston Museum of Fine Art Scholarship Class. Every Friday in the basement. You never heard of it before, right? Preceded Glassell.
Where are you now with your art?
As I said, I paint every day. Sell a lot online and sometimes get offers I can’t ignore. The biggest so far is painting mural designs for a public art company in L.A. I paint a large canvas and they enlarge the image, print it and install it in Walmart stores. So far I’ve done three. It’s fun, it’s fast, and it pays.
Find Follow Connect
Do you have big plans/goals for the future?
More of the same and more exposure. I want to be the painter whose art my great grandkids will find stuffed in the attic and when they get it appraised, it’s worth a fortune. Like on Antiques Roadshow.
Tell us what’s next and where to find you.
More more more of the same. More murals, maybe a show or two and more amazing offers. I’m doing most of my painting in the Hill Country outside of Marble Falls. Find me on the usual social media, my website and a few online galleries such as Artfinder and Saatchiart. And to see it in person, visit Primal Gallery in Dripping Springs. Tell Joe I sent you and he’ll give you a discount. And it’s the only place to see my nudes.
Bonus Question! Anything wild and crazy that would raise eyebrows?
No photos please, but many years ago I spent time at a nude beach outside of San Francisco. Carlos Santana saw me naked.
Paintings Available for Purchase
Najia Omer
Najia Omer’s mixed media paintings draw profound inspiration from her cultural roots, having grown up in Pakistan. Infusing her canvases with gold-thread stitching, she intricately portrays women as origami birds in her artwork. These visual narratives become a reflection of aspirations and the pursuit of dreams, creating a unique tapestry that beautifully weaves together culture and personal journey.
20 Year Anniversary Story Request
Everyone loves a good story.
Thanks for sharing yours! Anything you’d like to share! I may use your story in my newspaper column in The Leader news, online or in press releases. Photos would be amazing,
Email photos here.
Thank you so much! For participating and for 20 Freaking Years!
Cheers!
Mitch
I will honor your privacy request. I only ask for an email if clarifications are needed. I’ll let you know where your story ends up too.
Papermolas
Miriam Lim O’Brien, the owner and creator of Papermolas, draws inspiration from molas, a traditional textile art form of the Guna Indians in Panama and Colombia. Her designs reflect the vibrant patterns and colors of typical molas, combining traditional looks with modern geometric graphics. Initially creating physical paper art, Miriam transitioned to a sustainable digital medium due to time constraints and market demand. She now prints her designs, including greeting cards and coasters, in her home office using professional equipment. All products Miriam presents are her original designs, celebrating the fusion of tradition and modernity in her artwork.
Svetlana Gorbunova
Svetlana primarily focuses on mixed media 2D, specifically texture art featuring gold and silver leaf. She creates paintings with acrylic, oil, or ink overlaid on textures crafted with various types of modeling pastes. Svetlana incorporates silver and gold leaf into her artworks. In addition, she engages in oil and acrylic paintings, as well as drawings in various media.
Penny’s Treasures
Penny’s endless fascination with gemstones has inspired her to incorporate these artworks from Mother Nature into her own art. She loves experimenting and combining metal and stone in novel and unexpected ways to create one-of-a-kind, rustic pieces that have that special soulful feel that only handmade treasures can provide. Penny infuses a bit of her heart and soul into each piece in the hopes that her clients will sense the love that goes into each one and find a connection with the pieces that called to them.
“I strive to create jewelry that brings to its wearers confidence, joy, and the courage to embrace authenticity, and to share their uniqueness with the world.”
Aimee Kudla
Aimee’s Handcrafts
My name is Karina “Aimee” Kudla. Since 2016, ceramics has been my passion, sparked by hand-building classes at a community center. I love crafting unique pieces inspired by nature—mountains, birds, flowers, and fruits—using various techniques. Ceramics reflects who I am and how I see the world.
I run a studio in Old Katy, TX, where I teach pottery and sell handmade works. I’m active in local markets and on social media, sharing my love for the craft. I work with mid-fire white, red, and black clays, experimenting with glazes to create consistent, harmonious finishes.
I work mostly with mid fire white, red and sometimes black clays. I like trying different types and colors of glazes, however, I strive to form a uniform and consistent finish. I plan colors that would work well together taking in consideration how they work on the specific clay undertone.
Julianne Mahler
1000 Cranes by Julianne Mahler
Julie Mahler is an artist whose medium is repurposed paper and books. Julie started to think of herself as an artist late in life; the themes of resilience, finding beauty in the everyday, and allowing a sense of whimsy run through her work.
