Call for Art: KMB Artisan Auction 2016

Ellen Bennett lost her daughter, Katie, in 2013, to anorexia.

Anorexia is an insidious, brain based disease, with life threatening consequences and a 20% mortality rate, the highest of all mental illnesses. A doctor who consulted on Katie’s case in Denver told me later her brain was “hijacked” by the disease; this term helped me begin to understand why this disease is so devastating. He also used the phrase, “it was like dealing with a terrorist, extreme, irrational and so incomprehensible”. Eating disorders are not a choice, they are life threatening diseases.

Ellen Bennett, Director of KMB for Answers
Livonia, NY

A Sale for Artists – July 30

This came to us in an email from Eve Elzenga. Some of you may know her from her With Love from Friends program, where Valentine’s Day cards were created by local artists. Eve worked with local agencies to disperse them to the elderly. She’s also an interior designer & event planner. If you’ve ever been invited to one of her fabuloso luncheons, the micro-attention to detail in her table settings alone will blow your mind.

You can imagine she has lots of cool stuff! She’s downsizing and selling lots of it on:
Saturday, July 30, 8am-3pm
415 Mt Vernon Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620

Beautiful craft supplies from the heyday of With Love: papers, stickers, scrapbooking materials, ribbons galore, punches, etc.

Vintage fabrics from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s. Lace, trims, appliqués, buttons, etc.

Party supplies: new paper napkins, plates, cups, cupcake papers, cake decorating materials, lanterns, party decor.

Like-new hard cover children’s books by famous authors/illustrators

Vintage books about every holiday you can think of with great illustrations you can use in art projects

Husqvarna Serger: never used, recently oiled, with every book, cd and instruction manual you could buy for it; in a carrying case.

Vintage hats in pristine condition. They were mine, most worn only once or twice.

“I’m sure I will be unearthing more this week. All will be priced to move swiftly!”

Wendell Castle Woodshop Tour

Scott Grove shared this studio tour with us on Rochester Artisans Insiders the other day. If you believe in the “right tool for the job” – you’ll get a kick out of Wendell Castle‘s big, bright beautiful workspace.

I kept wishing my dad could have seen this!

Check out Scott Grove’s other videos on You Tube. His website is here, which also include business courses.

Good stuff!

Jessica Goodenbury

1. What is your name and what is your business name? Where can we find you through social media?
I’m Jessica Goodenbury and I go by Puccoon Raccoon. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram if you want to see what I’ve been up to.

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started?
When I look back at my life I feel like everything I’ve done has been leading me directly towards where I am now. Art has been my hobby and passion since I could hold a crayon, and I realized I might be able to make a career out of it in High School. I went to college to become an art teacher (I love teaching) but took a random job as a jeweler for fun one summer two years in. Right away I was smitten and actually dropped out of college to keep my job. I ended up working as a bench jeweler for 9 years learning everything I could until two years ago when my department was dissolved and I was laid off. I took this perfect opportunity that I was given, launched my own business, and never looked back.

3. Explain a bit about your process, please.
Sculpture was my passion and my biggest artistic strength, so I make my jewelry by drawing off of that. My process is mostly done through lost wax casting, where I sculpt and carve things like my tiny animals then cast them into miniature silver beasts. I mix in some hand fabrication here and there, but I really enjoy working with wax primarily.

4. What’s the comment heard most about your art?
“So you really make all these? How the heck do you work so small?”

5. What is one thing people find surprising about how your art is created?
That I hand sculpt the creatures in wax. Most people have no idea how jewelry is made and have a hard time wrapping their heads around the casting process.

6. What’s the one tool you couldn’t live without, in creating your art?
If I had to pick just one of the tools that I love dearly, it would have to be my flex shaft. It’s a dremel tool that I use every single day and I can’t imagine working without.

7. How has your art changed over time?
I’m always trying to make my work better, but lately I’ve been trying to make my pieces more dynamic with more life in them. I know I can make some really awesome pieces, and I’m trying to explore and push my self to do what I have in me.

8. What’s your favorite part about making your pieces? Least favorite?
I love stone setting and sculpting my animals. I wish I could do that all day. What I don’t like is cleaning up my pieces after casting. It’s tedious, dirty, and repetitive, but essential.

9. What’s your dream project?
I’m not sure if this is my dream project or more of a nightmare, but I might have an opportunity in the future to make the jewelry for a movie. It’s a long story, but I know a guy who knows a guy and my name got out there. The idea of it terrifies me, but that would be so incredible to see pieces that I made in a movie.

10. Where is your art available for purchase?
I sell my pieces on my Etsy shop, and you’ll find me at local art shows all year all over town. 😀

Kathy Cottrell

1. What is your name and what is your business name? Where can we find you through social media?
Kathy Cottrell dba Kat’s Kustom KarryAlls

Blog: Aprons with Attitude
Email: katskarryalls2@aol.com or apronswithattitude2@aol.com

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started?
I began actively about 11 years ago and haven’t stopped.

3. Explain a bit about your process, please.
I look at a piece of fabric, fondle it and, taking into account the size of the piece, devise a mental picture of how it would look as a tote bag or clutch, walker tote, small purse, or apron. If the price is right and I have all the extras on hand [purse handles, zippers, coordinating fabric for lining etc,] I purchase it. Then I make it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. If it works, I sell it. If it doesn’t, I remake it into something else. Nothing goes to waste in my sewing room.

4. What’s the comment heard most about your art?
The lively colors and prints. The uniqueness of what the piece was in a former life [like it was a woman’s vest, now it’s a tote].

5. What is one thing people find surprising about how your art is created?
That I like to reuse items and make them into something entirely different [ie a man’s dress shirt into a stuffed animal].

 

 

6. What’s the one tool you couldn’t live without, in creating your art?
My Brother lightweight industrial sewing machine. This puppy will sew through bone.

7. How has your art changed over time?
I’ve gotten neater and cleaner, taking more time and care. Oh—I follow directions on the patterns.

8. What’s your favorite part about making your pieces? Least favorite?
Favorite: Creating it. Least: Not enough hours in the day.

9. What’s your dream project?
Making a quilted gym bag. The big ones. Something you could pack an entire set of clothes and sundries needed for a weekend away.

10. Where is your art available for purchase?
On my blog, Aprons With Attitude [cash, credit, personal checks] and at shows around town.

My grandkids and me at Niagara Falls Aquarium.

Michelle Roberts: The Hallmark Dream

I met Michelle Roberts a few years ago when we had lunch to sift through ideas on some projects between Rochester Artisans and her branding & design business, Novus|Be Known. I could tell immediately that she’s the real deal, very creative and very motivated.

But even before that I knew Michelle on Facebook through her beautiful Messenger Birds. Simple design, beautiful form & finish and interactive because they come with a blank scroll of paper for your special message for the recipient of your gift.

I wanted to share my story of how my craft is now in Hallmark stores across the country. I wanted to let our fellow artisans know that Hallmark is looking for artisans and their handmade craft to sell in the stores. They are repositioning themselves as more of a handmade, support-the-artist company which lends some awesome opportunity to all artisans! I thought this was some useful information coming from someone whose dream just came true!!

“I knew I could do it and I just did it.”

Visual Meditations – Mandala Inspired Art

The opening is tonight, First Friday, 6-9pm. If you like a more relaxed shopping experience, Second Saturday is a good option, June 11, 10am-3pm. Also: Thursdays, June 9, 16, 23 – 4-6pm.

Visual Meditations
The beautiful textile work of Stefani Tadio joins the mixed media explorations of Susan Carmen-Duffy to delight the gallery wall of Create Art 4 Good! You are invited to embrace “visual meditations”, the wonder, the color, the vibrancy!

Create Art 4 Good
Suite 201, Door 5
The Hungerford
1115 East Main Street
Rochester NY 14607

susan@createart4good.org
585.210.3161

Stefani Tadio Paper Art
stefani.tadio@rochester.rr.com
585.507.5223

Artistry by Lisa Marie

1. What is your name and what is your business name? Where can we find you through social media?
I am Lisa Marie, owner of the studio “Artistry By Lisa Marie.” You can also find me on Facebook (ArtistryByLisaMarie) and Instagram (ArtistryByLisaMarie).

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started?
I was born with a crayon in my hand and was always drawing as a child. While working on my MA in Art History in Florence Italy, I realized I preferred creating art over studying art made by others. After I returned to the states I opened my studio, that was five years ago.

3. Explain a bit about your process, please.
My process depends on what I am creating. If it’s a custom pencil portrait based on a photo, I carefully study facial proportions – similar to the drawing techniques I learned from the Renaissance Masters that I studied in Italy. I slowly layer shadows and color to create a realistic portrait. If I am working on a coloring page – I always draw them by hand then upload them onto the computer to create digital files customers can buy online.

4. What’s the comment heard most about your art?
Most comments are actually questions – can I blend two photos into one drawing? Can I take a small photo and turn it into a big commission? Can I enhance/takeaway a feature? The answer is almost always “YES”!

5. What is one thing people find surprising about how your art is created?
Many people seem surprised that my work is colored pencil. They see the rich colors and assume it’s paint.

6. What’s the one tool you couldn’t live without, in creating your art?
My eraser. Love. Love. Love my eraser.

7. How has your art changed over time?
I have become more precise in custom portraits – definitely more technically accurate proportions. But I’ve also learned it’s OK to have fun with other features – such as hair, clothing, and tweaking eyes to bring them to life.

8. What’s your favorite part about making your pieces? Least favorite?
I love the feeling that I’m helping people cherish someone special with a portrait. With my coloring pages, my favorite part is when customers send me photos of their finished artwork. Least favorite is the same for both – there’s never enough time! I always think there’s just “one more thing” to do.

9. What’s your dream project?
I’m already doing it. Every commission and coloring page is a unique challenge that inspires me to draw something different – and that’s exactly what I want with each project in my studio.

10. Where is your art available for purchase?
You can find my etsy shop at ArtistryByLisaMarie.etsy.com, my blog is ArtistryByLisaMarie.wordpress.com. and I also list pricing info there.

Blank ream of paper and pencil

Roslyn Rose

1. What is your name and what is your business name? Where can we find you through social media?

I am Roslyn Rose and my business is called Roslyn Rose Studios. I am a new artist in Rochester and I so happy to have found such a welcoming art community.

I can be contacted at the following email addresses and social medias.
roslynrosestudio@gmail.com or rrose@roslynrose.com

My blog.
My personal Facebook page.
My Facebook business page.
My LinkedIn account.

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started?
I was told I was an ‘artist’ in the second grade. From that day forward, I considered myself an ‘artist.

3. Explain a bit about your process, please.

I digitally blend multiple photographs to create images that may suggest the past, the future or a new reality. I juxtapose the neglected with the occupied, the deserted with the inhabited, one place with another, or the past with the present.

4. What’s the comment heard most about your art?
Many people look at my finished prints and ask, “How did ever you do that?”

5. What is one thing people find surprising about how your art is created?
Viewers of my artwork are always surprised how the collaging of different images become so integrated.

6. What’s the one tool you couldn’t live without, in creating your art?
As my work is so technically involved, I cannot live without my cameras, computer, scanner, and printers.

7. How has your art changed over time?
I originally was a painter but then became addicted to printmaking, especially etching. Later I started to combine photography with my prints. The development of Photoshop drew me to concentrate on photography and image manipulation.

8. What’s your favorite part about making your pieces? Least favorite?
I love the possibilities available to me by combining different photographs to produce montages that ask to the viewer to blend their own imagination with the illusions I present. I enjoy everything about the technique I use to produce my prints.

9. What’s your dream project?
My dream project at the moment is to have an exhibit in Rochester.

10. Where is your art available for purchase?
My art is available for purchase at my studio in the Anderson Arts Building, 250 N. Goodman Street, #402. The studio is open to the public on most First Fridays and by appointment.

I am represented in New York City by the Ceres Gallery, 547 West 27th Street, #201. I also ship work to buyers who contact me thru my website.

South Wedge Sip & Shop

Join us for the inaugural South Wedge Sip & Shop! Lots of neighborhood stores will be participating by having drink tastings and special deals!

Sip & Shop goes from 5pm – 8pm, on May 19th and will continue on every third Thursday! Start off by checking in at Star Alley (next to Lux Lounge) to get your ID band. There will be fabulous free goodie bags for the first 25 people to swing through!

Participating Businesses Include:

Abode // Hedonist // Historic House Parts // John’s Tex Mex // Little Button Craft & Press // Louelle // McCann’s Local Meats // Nathaniel Square Corner Store // Needle Drop // Pyramid Tattoo // Second Chic // Stars & Stripes -The Flag Store // Surface Salon // Thread // Zak’s Avenue