Currently, I am working with oil on canvas. I am most inspired by nature. Specifically, I like to take a close look at nature’s smallest creatures and put that beauty on a canvas for the rest of the world to see.   817-691-1414  http://laurenmdean.wix.com/laurendeandesigns
Tonya Engel is a self-taught artist born in Texas and has established studios in New York, Paris, Miami, Austin and
Houston. Heavily influenced by folk artists of the Deep South and Masters like Mark Chagall, Frida Kahlo, and Romare
Beardon, her contemporary style engages figurative form mixed with emotion & expressionistic boldness.
I approach each piece intuitively. Like a dance, I engage the canvas with movement and strokes and scrumbles and washes. I then step back from the easel and take in the random swoops and drips. A bend of an elbow, a hint of an eye or the slope of an organic shape that occurs after turning the canvas another direction can dictate what will happen next. From beginning to end I’m able to allow each painting to arrive at its completion through intuition. I use Oil, and mixed media and sometimes include collage or text to convey a message.
My art, for me, has become an opportunity to share how I see life, humor & the human spirit. My stories celebrate the
joyful and deeply emotional moments as well as the mundane and unremarkable making us human.
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
As far as I can remember I always had a lot of fun creating art. Making drawings of crazy characters has always been my way of generating smiles around me. In the year 2003 I began to paint. My basic idea was to transport the characters that I drew on paper to canvas. Starting from scratch, I experimented with oil paints for two years, painting wildly away without a lot of direction. Good times. Then I met this wise man named Jan Buytaert, who taught me how to use acrylic paint. This was the most important change in my painting style. Acrylics were the tools I needed to shape my own little world and bring my little weird characters to life. My main aim while painting is to have fun and enjoy the moment. I want to capture this good vibe in my paintings and transfer it to the public. This usually results in joyful works full of color and positive energy. With my paintings I like to invite viewers to look at the world through the eyes of a child and to revisit a childhood past of curiosity and enthusiastic discovery.
What’s unique about my work is that I print in Platinum/Palladium. These prints originate as either film or digital images and are printed by hand here in my Montgomery, Texas studio. These are heirloom quality prints presented either framed or unframed. I am currently in AfterImage Gallery in Dallas. www.michaelpittmanimages.com
Art is very personal to me. I put a lot of myself in my art. Whether it’s a painting, a collage, or random crafts, everything I do is very personal and an expression of how I feel at that moment in time. Through my art, I can obsess over different interests and express how I feel about the world. One of my favorite things about art is that I can edit the world the way I want to see it. There are no limits. I do a lot of watercolor and acrylic paintings. However, I also make hand-bound art journals, painted boxes, handmade bags and purses, and dread extensions. I do all sorts of arts and crafts. Personally, What makes my art different is my love for women. I try to bring out the beauty in everyone I paint and inspire women to love themselves. Sometimes a little reminder telling you’re beautiful or that everything will be okay is all you need. Facebook Page
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James Armentor – Auto paint on sheet metal.
I apply automotive paint to hard surfaces like sheet metal. First I make a pen drawing then freehand the design on a prepared surface with an airbrush. After the freehand work is done I use a freehand shield, a cut-up piece of plastic in one hand and airbrush against it to make a sharp edge. When I am done I spray an automotive clear coat with an automotive finish gun. I never know how the clear will react with the base paint. Some base paint will float up in the clear some colors will bleed through other layers. It’s really neat to watch the reaction. When I’m done I polish the piece to a fine deep gloss.
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Read an interview with James in THE LEADER newspaper >> here.
by Steve Sellers
Unique design in women’s jewelry using, the finest stone and pearls available, and .925 sterling silver. 713-385-0459
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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.
