Featured on Great Day Houston!
Featured on Great Day Houston!
First Saturday Arts Market was featured on Great Day Houston! Hostess Deborah Duncan talked with artists Lauren Luna, Julie Mahler, Lilli Lehtonen and Mitch Cohen!
May 4, 2024
Hannah Bladh
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.
Vince O’Connor
My art style is a dynamic fusion of oils, acrylics, and watercolors, allowing me to seamlessly navigate various mediums to capture the essence of my inspiration. Working in reverse, my paintings unfold organically, free from preconceived notions, as I passionately explore textures and allow the artwork to evolve naturally. The result is a visceral experience for the viewer, where the emotional depth and spontaneity of my creative process resonate strongly, making each piece a unique journey of discovery.
Thomas David Carr
My paintings are energetic abstractions with a concentration on movement and color themes. Making them is what I would think playing jazz would be like or dancing with color.
Lili’s Sweethearts
My Latin American origins heavily influence my work. I pay homage in all my paintings to the diversity of the women in the world, including indigenous people, artists, and the everyday fighter. My work is colorful and often includes hidden words, messages, and poems I wrote to give each piece a unique feel and a deeper meaning. My goal is that every piece brings color and history to their future forever home.
Hashem Studio
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.
Monica Ortiz
I am an artist who is also a singer, songwriter, and award-winning writer and producer in the entertainment industry. I love the canvas because to me it represents a clean slate for inner expression.
I work with acrylics, oils, or gouache and create works pulled from emotions and thoughts from my love of the world we live on and the Universe we live within.
I believe the Universe is an ever-expanding colorful force of life and I try to allow the thoughts and feelings of mindful, passionate creativity to flow into my canvases. While visiting my gallery at First Saturday Arts Market or my online profile, I hope that you can sit, breathe, look at my paintings and see what emotions/moods it inspires in you.
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.
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.
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.”
