Richard S. Hall has a real love and appreciation for the Texas Gulf Coast. It shows in his paintings, drawings, and writings. Trained as a medical and scientific illustrator and architectural delineator, his works easily capture the character and essence of his subjects. Many of those subjects are harbor scenes, sporting scenes, and natural science. His writings most often focus on architecture, history, and natural science. He has won numerous awards and has exhibited in the US, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and the middle East. His works can be found in collections throughout the globe. 713-305-1991 facebook.com/ThePintailGroup
“Lighthouses, Lightships, and Beacons of Texas: a comprehensive field guide,” his IPPY award-winning book, also highlights his skill as a writer.
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.
My medium is a varied mix of tiny shells, scraps of paper, slivers of glass, thick gel mediums, crusted gouache additives, creamy acrylic and globs of oil paints, traces of watercolor and melted wax crayons combined with hardened enamels and carefully chosen 14kt gold flake.
Every piece is original and every creation is an unpredictable surprise! I create with a clear heart, no expectations. The materials combined together create a resist-like reaction and the results are different every time…..each piece is genuinely unique and original!
I’m passionate about living the artful life. I have a great appreciation for nature and animals,20% of all sales goes to S.N.A.P. (Spay and Neuter Assistance Program) for animals. I am also an active advocate for the “Adopt Don’t Shop!” movement which means finding forever homes for our homeless furry friends.
Each piece is handmade out of a combination of sterling silver, fine silver, gold-filled wire, copper, and/or precious stones. My designs are simple and clean. I express the inherent beauty of the silver by hammering, twisting, soldering, wrapping, etc. The shape of the silver itself, along with the contrasting scales of materials provides elegant and interesting designs. silverthread-designs.com
I’ve been working with silver for over 20 years. I began taking classes in Columbus, Ohio from a wonderful woman named Wilma Cecil. I immediately loved metal as an artwork medium. Then I moved to Austin, Texas to study architecture at the University of Texas. While I was there, I further developed my silversmithing skills by taking classes in the School of Fine Arts. I graduated with a degree in Architecture in 1997 and moved to Houston, Texas where I practiced Architecture for the last 17 years. My jewelry, of course, is influenced by my Architectural education. The balance of form, scale, and texture is as important in a small piece of jewelry as it is in a large building.
I take care and pride while creating each design. I hope you will enjoy each piece as much as I enjoyed making it.
My art reflects my interest in science and nature. Also, light and darkness. I’m a digital artist, creating abstracts and realism- expressionist works. Many abstracts start life as fractals, which is my way to balance my logical side with my creative nature. At times, I feel very split between art and tech geek.
