I believe that the right painting in the right place can turn your day around for the better. In my art I like to romanticize ordinary places and things. I have an ability to see the beauty all around me-even filling up at the gas station, loading my car in the Walmart parking lot, or making breakfast. I try to focus on the joyful and beautiful moments in everyday life. With my art, I help others slow down and remember the good things they have right now in this moment. I paint usually with oil, and occasionally acrylic.
Love of art has always been a major part of my life. Growing up in a remote area in Lebanon, I spent my childhood on hillsides entertaining myself by using natural environment to make art, creating miniature villages using twigs, mud, pebbles, seashells and other flotsam. Bullet casings and exploded shrapnel afforded excellent miniature construction material. I started my career as a molecular biologist, but I never gave up art, filling up any free time creating something. After taking my first class in ceramics 10+ years ago, I fell in love and decided to give it 100% of my attention. Turning mud into a mug involves physics, chemistry, and cognitive constructional abilities, yet is ultimately controlled by the unpredictable whims of the kiln gods, … and playing with clay is cheaper than psychotherapy. I replaced scientific experimentation with experimentation with clay. I am constantly trying new techniques, materials, and glazes, giving rise to my eclectic style. There will always be something new and different in my collection. You can view current works by following me on Instagram or my website.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
NShipula—Creative is owned by Natalie Shipula. I have a degree in fine art from Youngstown State University. My inspiration is drawn from where I grew up and in all of my travels. As a United States Air Force Veteran, it took me some time to finally get on this path of becoming an artist but I finally made it here.
Being a Graphic Designer full time was my lifelong goal, however, I find my passion lies in painting and photography. While I mainly paint watercolors and they are usually on paper, I have been experimenting with some new surfaces. Today, you will find that along with framed pieces, I also have watercolors on wood and metal.
Becoming an artist came with the knowledge that I create a lot of waste. While I am mindful of this, I try to use as much of my materials as possible. When the demand for framed art became apparent, I didn’t want my cost of supplies to raise the price of my art to levels that no one would be able to buy. For the framed pieces, I search for affordable vintage or recycled frames, I reuse mats if they are in good condition, and for my wooden or metal pieces, I search for items that could have another use. I do all my own framing, custom-cut all the mats, and fix/prep all other materials. I am as sustainable as I can be while creating pieces that range in size and price making it so everyone has the opportunity to purchase an original piece of art for their homes.
Jeff Lung is a self-taught artist interested in figurative abstract expression. All his life he has been obsessed with filling empty spaces with shapes, and his doodle-scribbled notebooks collected over the years document this quest. He finds great satisfaction in finding relationships among forms and expressing them through emotion. In his free time, Jeff enjoys being outdoors: running, hiking and cycling. He also loves comic books and live stand-up comedy. Born and raised in Quincy, Illinois, since leaving home at 18 years old he has lived in big cities like Madrid, Beijing, Los Angeles and Chicago. He now spends his time between south Texas and central Illinois. https://jefflungart.com/ Read Jeff’s story in the Artist Spotlight!
Hand-made wooden bowls, vases, goblets, urns (and more), many saved by the use of crack-filling epoxy, some decorated with stone inlay. www.theyankeewoodturner.com
