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.
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!
April DeConick is an abstract expressionist who uses fiber and ceramics to create wall art, sculptures, tiles, slab ware, and fashion. Her studio – 2Twenty – is in The Silos at Sawyer Yards. She is represented by Ardest Gallery in The Woodlands.
Danita Vanhoose’s paper collage was shaped by a nomadic lifestyle that started in the Pacific Northwest and took her across the country many times over. Her art pieces often appear as disjointed memories by combining vintage photographs, stains, decals and various types of paper. continued below
Her art journey began in earnest after an impromptu collaboration that led to open call art shows while living in Florida. A grocery order writer by profession, Vanhoose continued testing the boundaries of supplies and patience in New York until moving to Houston in 2017. Houston’s vast and diverse arts community sparked her passion for sculpting out of recycled and repurposed materials and found her true passion, paper collage. Evidence of an early childhood love for art, favorite pastimes and travel are evident in the stories that Vanhoose skillfully weaves from her 2D paper collages.
Jose Canales is a Honduran artist who mainly focuses on caricaturesque prints of animals he has encountered throughout his life. Jose believes that humor has a place in high art and that the more whimsical subjects is paramount to the human experience. Material-wise, Jose uses a variety of techniques such as silkscreen printing, wood carving, animation and digital design.
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.
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’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.
