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
Yes, It’s paper! My collage process begins when I paint and texture paper of all kinds to create my “palette.” At any given time I have over 1,000 sheets of painted paper in every hue. Papers will include sheet music, sandwich wrappers, dictionary pages, etc. The paper is torn by hand and placed individually. Take a closer look. You might find a piece of poetry or a technical drawing hiding in plain sight. www.LisaMoralesMixedMedia.com 713-240-1227
Digital non-photography, bright happy graphic pop art CharlieHardwick.com 713-857-6274
After graduating from a Houston art college in 1992, Charlie had a 15-year career as a package designer in a Houston design company. While working on packaging for Minute Maid, Imperial Sugar and Hi-C, Charlie free-lanced as a rock poster artist on the side. After an illness in 2003 left him legally blind in 2007 and corporate downsizing in 2008 left him without a job, Charlie fell back on his love for creating rock posters as a way to earn a living. Now working out of his home studio, Charlie enjoys the time he dedicates to producing posters and exploring other areas of art including painting and print making.
I am a professionally trained artist having earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston. Since then I have continued practicing my craft exploring various styles, materials and techniques creating highly detailed pieces. While my work is diverse both in choice of medium and subject matter, it centers around nature and organic forms.
I create remarkable jewelry from antique and vintage architectural elements, including hinges, keyholes, chandelier parts and doorbells. I also repurpose musical instruments, clock-parts, vintage tools and postage stamps. I search high and low for castoff pieces of the past, then reinvent them. I frame them in classical jewelry settings, to highlight their hidden and often unintended beauty. The result is a striking and adventurous synthesis of industrial strength, history and glamour.
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.
I love to paint and that is what I do now. My paintings reflect my life and God’s creation. I render many coastal themed pieces, but also love animals and people. My goal is to reflect the personality of my subjects or the character and charm of objects. Acrylics are my go paint for smaller pieces, but I also use oils.
Acrylic landscapes and abstract paintings. I get my inspiration from nature and process it through all my feelings and emotions. The result is shown in my art work as a way to express myself. If any of my art will make anybody happy for a moment, my mission is accomplished.
