My art is often a way for me to make sense of the world, and my place in it. Even the physical act of drawing allows me to feel calmer and more at peace with my surroundings. I suppose my pieces are a way of creating a bridge that connects my world to reality. The subject matter fluctuates, ranging between my desire to purge some inner demon, to merely giving life to an idea I found amusing and wished to create. I often use symbolism to represent my concepts in a broad way, hoping to convey to the viewer a general idea of what I wish to express, without giving them a step-by-step guide of how to relate to my work. I have always found interest in “traditional” methods, such as drawing and painting, and often use both in my pieces. www.AnneByrdArt.com
Original handmade micro-macramé and beaded jewelry. I get inspiration from natural forms and work mostly with natural materials—thread, silver, and semi-precious stones. I like simple beauty, but also enjoy more elaborate and intricate designs. lillianeelysian.com
Gathering inspiration from explorations of daily life, the environment, history and travel – this is the basis for all that I create. My personal influences are diverse, ranging from early childhood exposure to Faroese folk art and Peranakan textiles & ceramics to modern artists such as Jun Kaneko and Dale Chihuly . Mediums of choice vary based on concept and practical use – ceramics, paint, textiles, upcycling, salvaged materials, collage & assemblage . Pure, simple and beautiful is my endeavor – Hansdottir is the resulting amalgamation.
Varied styles ranging from military/aviation, surreal/sci-fi, realism and abstract paintings. Detail-oriented works composed of oil and acrylic on canvas. (Bio below)
Market manager Mitch Cohen interviewed Jack for his arts column in The Leader Newspaper. Read it here!
From the thriving city of Houston, Texas, Jack Connelly is an artist whose passion is capturing history, action, wonder and imagination on canvas. Jack has been creating art since the moment he could lift a pencil, and has been an active participant in the professional art world for about 35 years.
In Jack’s opinion, painting is one of the most unrestricted and freeing forms of expression. Most of his pieces are created in acrylic and/or oil paint, although Jack has extensive experience with watercolor, graphite, and mixed media as well.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Jack took on a nomadic lifestyle as a full-time art show vendor, displaying his art in an average of three to four shows a week in the South Texas area. Jack has also taught several art classes in the past (and wishes to teach more in the future), and enjoys sharing his knowledge, experience, and guidance with others in order for them to learn and practice painting, as well as develop their art skills and techniques.
Jack Connelly’s styles include (but not limited to) military & aviation, sci-fi, surrealism, realism, impressionism, and abstract art.
Commission paintings are regularly requested and are a major part of Jack’s art career. Many of Jack’s commissions have been for veterans or their families, in hopes of passing down their legacy and honor those who have served their country. He loves to take memories, events, dreams, ideas, etc. and bring them to life on canvas. This gives him the ability to share his passion with others while providing for them a unique keepsake; their personal story told in paint and filled with detail, never to be forgotten.
I am a professionally trained artist having earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston. Since then I have continued practicing my craft exploring various styles, materials and techniques creating highly detailed pieces. While my work is diverse both in choice of medium and subject matter, it centers around nature and organic forms.
I create remarkable jewelry from antique and vintage architectural elements, including hinges, keyholes, chandelier parts and doorbells. I also repurpose musical instruments, clock-parts, vintage tools and postage stamps. I search high and low for castoff pieces of the past, then reinvent them. I frame them in classical jewelry settings, to highlight their hidden and often unintended beauty. The result is a striking and adventurous synthesis of industrial strength, history and glamour.
Valerie Gudell, 3D mixed media artist, was born in NYC. She currently works in Houston, TX, where she creates assemblage art as well as vinyl and clay creatures with unique and sometimes complex personalities. Her main artistic influences include the Steampunk genre, Asian culture, and street art.
During the past few years, Valerie has shown her work at the Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, CA), Irving Arts Center (Irving, TX), ShockBoxx Gallery (Hermosa Beach, CA), CraftBoston, d’Art Center (Norfolk, VA), and the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (San Angelo, TX). She has shown her work locally at the First Saturday Arts Market, Ardest Gallery, Texas Art Asylum, Winter Street Studios, and Art Museum TX. Her work has been featured in the Houston Press, Culturemap, The Leader, the LA Beat, and the OC Register, among others. Valerie is currently an artist at Hardy and Nance Studios (Houston, TX).
Zen Morris-VMGWater Rabbit-VMGRudo-VMGRabbitmonsters-VMGJellybean Monsters-VMGJellybean Monsters-VMGGarbage Party or HOA Meeting
I’m an old hippie whose jewelry making began 20 years ago when on a dare my wife signed me up for a beginner beading class at a local bead shop. I was hooked pretty quickly and began making women’s jewelry using silver, stone and crystal beads and constantly learning techniques to make better pieces. While beading is still a passion, most of my work now is with chain and wire wrap.
Five years ago on yet another dare, I began making rings from old silver coins. I don’t cut or solder the coins. One coin makes one ring and the detail from both sides of the coin is preserved and visible. I fell in love with working metal, and am constantly learning new techniques and exploring the boundaries of turning old coins into cool jewelry. Taking something like a 100-year-old coin and turning it into something it was never intended to be has been an unbelievably rewarding journey, and I love that the possibilities are endless.
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
