This is an extension of my art column, Art Valet, in The Leader Newspaper. Read the column here, where I interview, Lily (Nabarupa Bhattacharjee), a visiting artist from India, that is in Art Launch’s mentor program.
The theme was “Around the World.” I invited artists from my mailing list to tell me their stories and where they are from.
This is an extension of Mitch Cohen’s art column, Art Valet, from The Leader Newspaper. Read the column here. The theme was “Around the World.” Mitch invited artists from his mailing list to tell him their stories and where they are from.
So I’m from various parts of southern England; I was born in Hereford, raised in north London but spent my adult life in a small town in Cornwall. I’ve been in Houston since December 2016, so I’m still kinda new!
What kind of artist are you?
I graduated with an illustration degree in 2011, then worked freelance in kid’s illustration as well as on contract to BBC making art and props for a children’s art show. I quit and got rid of anything I couldn’t fit in a backpack to travel in 2013, and for the next few years I lived in and moved around Catalonia, Italy, Switzerland, and England couch-surfing, volunteering and drawing. During my time in Italy I fell for a pretty American who was staying at the hostel I was working at…then a few years later I moved to Houston to be with that American permanently!
My career currently is both as an illustrator and an artist, so I take commissions, write and illustrate comics and picture books as well produce paintings, drawings and small-run seriographs for galleries.
In my pictures, I use a lot of esoteric and natural symbolism, especially plants from England and symbolism from native Celtic witchcraft and folk stories. Most of my work is inspired by my inner experience, working through my ‘Self’ and past trauma…making a picture is sort of an attempt to explore or transform something inside me, so my work is very personal and quite varied! I also hope that by sharing the personal work I make that other people with similar temperaments might find something useful in them too. I like to juxtapose the esoteric symbolism and folky themes with bright colours and modern comic style, sort of folk magic for millennials. I work in Photoshop, mixed-media, laser-cut wood and acrylic, pen and ink as well as making screen and block prints.
Has living in the states, changed your art? How?
Living in the States has definitely changed my work…I think for me it was an expansion – suddenly I’m surrounded by so many people who are so different from what I’m used to, and Houston itself is predictably very different to living in a small town by the sea in rural England! Everything about being here has expanded both my repertoire of influences and my ideas of what I could possibly do with my artwork. Before moving to Houston I struggled to figure out where I ‘fit’ in the worlds of illustration and art, but since being here I’ve been able to expand what I imagine the boundaries are between the two, that is, I don’t see a boundary anymore, and I love working with a marriage of the two. I think letting go of the distinction between art and illustration has made my work more experimental and unique, and far more enjoyable to do!
I also run artist critique and support groups online because I love to interact with and support other artists, and I have a regular blog where I tackle sort of general philosophical and spiritual issues through the lens of art.
What would you recommend a visitor to your country try doing/seeing or tasting in your country?
I suppose if I were to recommend a visitor something to do in England it would be…to see more than just London! Cornwall is my most recommended place, especially if you love history or beautiful landscapes. Cornwall has a number of Neolithic sites, as well as ruins and castles (Tintagel, the ‘birthplace of King Arthur,’ is stunning!) a number of ‘magical’ Celtic sites, as well as beaches, cliffs and headlands, forests and little quaint towns by the sea, and great surf and music spots.
If you really want to experience an out of the way, old-school English experience, I know an alehouse for a pint on the quay in a little town that is perfect! “The ‘Front” in Falmouth (in southern Cornwall) won best ale house and best cider pub of the year in 2018 from the local ‘Campaign for Real Ale’ awards, and comes personally recommended by me, who drinks and knows a fair bit about English ale!
This is an extension of Mitch Cohen’s art column, Art Valet, from The Leader Newspaper. Read the column here. The theme was “Around the World.” Mitch invited artists from his mailing list to tell him their stories and where they are from.
Where are you from and how long have you been in the U.S./Houston
I am Pakistani/Indian and South African, I was born and raised in Houston Texas
What kind of artist are you?
I am a henna, makeup and lash artist.
Has living in the states, changed your art? How?
Although I was born and raised here, my art work has definitely changed because I live here. I learned henna when I was 15 and Pakistan didn’t have the concept of natural, vegan, and harmful chemical knowledge or concerns. If it worked it worked if it didn’t and caused harm there were hospitals to fix it was kind of their policy. However meeting different American artist through social media, I learned about natural, vegan and cruelty free henna and makeup products. Which changed my designs out come, the health of my clients skin and overall the quality of service I provided to my customers.
What would you recommend a visitor to your country try doing/seeing or tasting in your country?
If you ever visit India, South Africa or even Pakistan always try the local foods they are the best.
Advice i leaned from my grandfather what ever foreign country you travel to, eat a piece of raw onion. it will settle your stomach for the water and foods of that country since your immune system would not be used to that region.
This is an extension of Mitch Cohen’s art column, Art Valet, from The Leader Newspaper. Read the column here. The theme was “Around the World.” Mitch invited artists from his mailing list to tell him their stories and where they are from.
Valenciennes, France – Way up north, by the Belgian border.
How long have you been in the U.S./Houston:
Since 2004, with only one year back in France in 2008
What kind of artist are you?
I like to call myself a photography engineer. Starting with my own photography, I structure and modify familiar sights into something new, unseen, and hopefully unexpected. I also like to be a social artist where some of my work can benefit local associations to help our community.
Has living in the states, changed your art? How?
The US, and particularly Houston, can leave an impression to Europeans first visiting. Those colossal highways exchangers, the shimmering skylines (as Houston has the privilege to have more than one), the gargantuesque food and even the amazing people welcoming me at the same time “boycott France” was trending in the early stage of the Iraq war. While it has definitely inspired me to capture bigger and brighter things, it did not, however, change me as a photographer initially. But the American mindset, which eventually set in, eventually did.
What Americans are known to excel at is breaking any rule, any convention, that stand between them and success. It applies to architecture, manufacturing, culinary fields and many others. For me, it is what shaped me to break from classical photography to create something beyond what the lens could capture. It’s playing with any technology at hand to push past common places and unapologetically craft my own concepts regardless of the conventions that otherwise revolve around photography.
What would you recommend a visitor to your country try doing/seeing or tasting in your country?
The first thing you need to find is a local bakery. There will always be one at walking distance from anywhere in France. Nothing beats the fresh bread still crispy and warm from the oven that you pick up in the morning.
After that, look for churches, cathedrals, basilicas. Most of them are always open to the public, but before you go visit them, learn about their history. When they were originally built, expanded. When they were torn down, and later rebuilt, renovated. Once you know that, you get to appreciate the architecture, the details in the writings, and the art that shows through structure, paintings and stained glass. Churches taken in a vertical panorama are one of my favorite things to shoot.
Mitch Cohen founded First Saturday Arts Market in 2004 and still manages the show.
A couple of artist receptions that I would love to see but alas – it’s first Saturday and I have plans. If you can go, send me your thoughts and photos, I’ll post them here!
Archway Gallery presents UBIQUITOUS
In my column last week I introduced you to Liz Spencer and Gene Hester- 2 fine artists that have collaborated with glass. Read my column here.
Opening reception is 5-8 p.m. Saturday, November 5 at Archway Gallery, 2305 Dunlavy. There will be complimentary valet parking and light refreshments, and the exhibition will be on view through December 1. Find more details online at archwaygallery.com
Now this next one I am really disappointed I can’t make – Lindsay Peyton is a great friend and awesome artist. These large oil paintings depict all the wonderful places I got to visit with Lindsay in Seattle last summer. Oh, you bet I wrote about that trip, read that column here.
From the invite: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” C. G. Jung.
That quote was the inspiration for artist Lindsay Peyton’s upcoming exhibit entitled “Unconscious Conscious.” Her large oil paintings of interior spaces – which the artist says depict “places that provide us sanctuary and refuge” — will be on display from Wednesday, Nov. 2 through the end of the month.
An opening reception is slated for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Jung Center of Houston, 5200 Montrose Blvd. in the heart of the Houston Museum District.
Art will be paired with brews by Town City Brewing!
Mix one part classic, one part antique and one part vintage and you’ve got Houston Vintage Market and Festival. Now in it’s sixth year, the annual event has been rising in popularity and getting bigger each year. With a focus on vintage fashions from the 20th Century, vintage enthusiasts from all walks of life join this festival.
Houston Vintage is an organization that brings together vintage vendors and enthusiasts from Houston and the surrounding areas. It’s an opportunity for all who love and live vintage to exchange ideas, find some amazing treasures, learn through demos and lectures (style, dance and culture), and celebrate all that is vintage throughout the eras.
Held at the classic 1940 Air Terminal Museum, the architecture of the original art-deco Houston Municipal Airport building at present-day William P. Hobby Airport, is the perfect backdrop for this two day event. Starting Friday evening, September 18, 7-11 p.m. with a preview party and fashion show held inside the Air Terminal building, patrons are encouraged to wear mid-century Hawaiian attire to coincide with this years theme of “Blue Hawaii,” the famous Elvis Presley flick from 1961. The preview party features a partial lineup of vendors, entertainment, food trucks, classic cars and complimentary beverages.
Continuing Saturday, September 19, 11-7 p.m. the market area is held in the recently restored 1928 Carter Field Airmail Hangar with dozens more vendors offering everything from vintage themed art, jewelery and clothing to beauty products. Entertainment with a vintage theme will be at both locations all weekend. Adding to the nostalgia of the occasion, the 1940 Air Terminal Museum’s restored planes and helicopters will face shoppers from the tarmac outside the open hangar doors.
The highlight of Saturday is the Ms. Houston Vintage pageant back at the terminal building with local celebrity judges Tina Zulu, owner of Zulu Creative, Miss Gay Houston 2015 Violet S’Arbleu and the Houston Chronicle’s fashion and beauty editor Joy Sewing.
Enthusiasts of all kinds are rarely satisfied with a mere two day event. Fortunately, the City of Houston designating September 14 – 20 as “Houston Vintage Week.” Jumping on the proclamation, event organizers added an opening happy hour, and a screening of the movie Blue Hawaii. All the activities, vendors, performances and more is on the website. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the website also, both days are included with the purchase of preview party tickets.
Houston Vintage Market and Festival 2015 HoustonVintage.com houstonvintagetx (at) gmail.com #houstonvintage2015
Kick-off Party At Lei Low Tuesday September 15, 6 – 8 p.m.
Lei Low Rum & Tiki Bar, 6412 North Main St
– Celebrate the beginning of Houston Vintage week
– Get in the Tiki spirit at this hip & happenin’ tiki joint in the Heights
– Open to the public / cash bar
– Drawing for free tickets at 7pm
“Blue Hawaii” screening – Wednesday September 16, 8 p.m.
Double Trouble, 3622 Main Street, Suite D, Houston, TX 77006
– Free event open to the public
– Introduction by Ms. Houston Vintage 2013 Jessie Rox
Preview Party and Fashion show – Friday Sept. 18, 7 – 11 p.m.
1940 Air Terminal Museum, 8325 Travelair Street, Houston, TX 77061
– $20.00 If purchased online (includes market entry following day) & $25.00 at the door. For Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/pxpvamg
– Live music by: Hank Schyma & the Southern Backtones
– Mid Century Hawaiian attire encouraged
– Prize for best dressed
Houston Vintage Market and Festival – Saturday, Sept 19 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
1940 Air Terminal Museum, 8325 Travelair Street, Houston, TX 77061
– $5 at the door. Free admission for kids 11 and under
– 40+ vendors
– Performances & demos
– Free parking
– Vintage attire from all eras encouraged!
Entertainment at Houston Vintage: Live Music by: Pecos Hank, featuring Jo Bird, Houston Cat’s Corner ( swing dance troupe), Rhonda Roberts, Maye Applebottom and dance performances by Luna Tango Productions
Food Vendors: St. John’s Fire, Golden Grill, Koagie Hots, Chocolate Wasted, Doughmaker Donuts and Smoosh Cookies
Sponsors: Topo Chico Deep Eddy Vodka, Magpies & Peacocks, Lakota Room, Candilicious, Height of Vintage, X., Violet Peacock, Lucky Cat Beauty and Neal Hamil Agency, Silver Eagle Distributors
I tend become fascinated with mediums that I know nothing about; art forms that there is just no way I’ll ever try, just admire. Leisa McCord’s artwork absolutely falls into that category and has fascinated me from the first time I heard from her five years ago.
Leisa is a lifelong crocheter.
Miniature thread crochet to be more specific. The kind that would require you to wear fancy magnifying eyewear. I can’t say whether or not Leisa looks like a mad scientist when she’s crocheting or not, but the end results are amazing and beautiful.
Leisa’s inspiration comes from the thread manufactures patterns of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. Which also makes her a preservationist. Leisa reproduces these patterns on a miniature and creates her own designs. The scale is so small, that she makes her own tools. Leisa also dyes her silk threads to her liking too. Her finished pieces are “framed” in sterling silver and ready to wear as earrings and pendants.
Leisa celebrates her 5th anniversary with us at the market Saturday, and she tells me this was her first show to attend. I asked if there anything significant that happened to her as a result of participating at the market.
“This was definitely my jumping off point! I’ve become much more involved in the art scene. I have jewelry in galleries now. I’ve been in big shows. I’ve learned lots about presentation, infrastructure, booth shots, payments systems, you name it.”
Leisa has another passion that she’s bringing to the market on Saturday too. Music! Leisa and her friends are celebrating 20 years with an a cappella group called the Lager Rhythms. Leisa is a soprano! They perform at lunchtime – and you can visit Leisa’s booth behind the music tent. Read more about the Lager Rhythms on the website, here. Leisa can be reached at leisa@mccordworks.com and http://mccordworks.com
Friday on any road in Houston is bound to keep you tuned to your radio as you creep along, bumper watching for hours. So at lunchtime today I left in a panic to get to Jerry’s Artarama, which is conveniently located off 249 and 1960, about 30 minutes to an hour away from my Heights home. I just needed a few art things.
Well that trip turned into an all day adventure! First, artist Linda Hardy is shopping near by and overhear’s me asking for directions and calls me out for leaving the Heights. Yes its true! On occasion I must travel outside my precious loop, okay? The fella that helped me turns back around and introduces himself, the assistant manager, Daniel Elliott – we’re Facebook friends too. Wow! Nice to meet you Daniel Elliott. (Daniel is an excellent artist by the way.)
I know an opportunity when it slaps me in the face (that would be a proverbial slap by Linda). See Linda has been promoting her studio complex where she creates her art since she moved in about a year ago. I’ve never been, and I know its gotta be close – so off we go, and thankfully Linda steers me through for a sandwich on the way. Yeah Linda!
The Purple Elephant Gallery and Iron Butterfly Studio is in the heart of Cypress, and it appears as we
pulled in the drive, that the whole street is part of The Purple Elephant. The gift shop on the corner sports a massive colorful sculpture of a sneaker on the corner. And just a few properties passed the “Hula” barn are the studios where Linda is. As you can see above – its quite a big “little” compound. Patio chairs and tables, creativity just oozes from every corner. The majority of the studios are stand alone buildings with a common area in what was once a house. The house doubles as more studios (2) and classroom space.
There’s even an animal pen! With goats, a sheep and pig. The pig is Picasso by the way, on the left. No, I did not feed anyone, but Picasso did get a scratch behind the ear.
As we are about to leave, artist Sergio Santos arrives. Goodbye Linda, hello Sergio! Sergio has a space down the street a bit, still on the property though. Sergio has a bit more space in this former one bedroom home. Really cool! He’s got the room to create, and display his paintings and award winning photography for the monthly open studios.
Quite an unexpected treat today! I am getting my wish to visit working artist’s studios that is for sure. I’m still finding similarities in studios no matter what kind of artist. Inspirational phrases, quotes and “things.”
I’m inspired again and ready to paint! And looking forward to my next visit to The Purple Elephant Studios!
Jerry’s Artarama is an awesome art store, and as I told Daniel, totally worth the drive to 12974-A Willowchase Dr., Houston, Texas 77070. They do deliver in Houston, however! Oh yeah! Like them on Facebook here or visit the website here.
The Purple Elephant Gallery and Iron Butterfly Studio on Facebook here. The artists host open studios on 2nd Saturdays from 5-9pm
Linda Hardy and Sergio Santos both attend the art market regularly.
They’re websites are linked on their art market pages here: Linda – Sergio
Mitch Cohen is the founder of First Saturday Arts Market. He also writes an art/event column for The Leader Newspaper. Check it out sometime here.
Adriana started attending the market in 2008 and it was her first time showing at a public venue.
Has your art changed since first attending First Saturday Arts Market How has your art changed?
My interaction with patrons and other artists helped me to create art that people are attracted to. As an artist I want to be free to create whatever I want but it’s also important for me that my art touches people. When I use to sell online I didn’t have that feedback that now I have thanks to be able to see people face to face
Is there anything significant that happened to you as a result of participating at the market?
Yes, as a result of my presence at First Saturday Arts Market I made connections and new collectors that allowed me to be able to be a full time artist. Today I am able to participate in all kinds of art shows, markets and festivals. Without First Saturday Arts Market I don’t think I would be in the place I am now.
I remember when …
My first art market wasn’t even in the market, It was outside. The market was full but Mitch was so nice to let me set up my booth outside a store. I wasn’t feeling very confident as an artist and I was afraid of rejection but the patrons were so nice to me and Mitch came to reassure that I was good. That day I sold almost everything I had and a store asked me to sell my paintings in their place. It was a dream come true.
Where are you now?
I keep selling art. I attend First Saturday Arts Market and White Linen Night at least 3 times a year and I am participating in different venues like gallery shows, festivals and art markets.
What would you tell the public about the market?
I have been in many other shows and the quality of work at First Saturday Arts Market is great. Here you are not going to find imports and mass made products. Everyone is an artist and many of our artist participate in high ranked shows that attract artist nationwide as The Bayou City Art Festival, WHAM, Waterway aArt Festival, Houston Fine Art Festival and many other juried shows.
How about to artists considering?
I would like to encourage artists to apply for many reasons. The knowledge you will get by just being able to be with clients face to face is enormous. The patrons are friendly and very encouraging. The artists at First Saturday Arts Market are very friendly and helpful. You will find a good family here.
Always try to help others, is the best way to be successful in this business.
First Saturday Arts Market will celebrate 10 years in March of 2014, making it the longest, continuously running monthly outdoor fine arts event in Houston. I asked the artists how the market has affected them, their artwork, friendships and what advice they may give artists considering outdoor shows like ours. I’ll share some of the responses on our blog from both new and seasoned artists leading up to our anniversay.
Running this show has changed my life. And watching how it has changed and affected the lives of others has been an awesome experience. If you have something you’d like to share, please email me at here. (1stSatArtMarket at Gmail com)
Just scroll down past this post to begin reading! (or click the banner above first if nothing is below)
Thank you Houston!
Mitch Cohen
Founder/Market Guy at First Saturday Arts Market