Thursday, June 25, 2015

Summer in Columbus is Filled With Creativity and Talent!

Meet Malvin Hicks of Art by Marcus...
I was born and raised in Gary, Indiana.  I have always had a very strong interest in reading and learning about the old masters and pretty much every form of art. I have also played football for a number of years of my life including two years on the Cincinnati Bengals. I have also traveled a lot in my life. I just simply enjoy colors and turning something into nothing. I love creating and using my God given talent. 
I was 11 years old when I made my first painting. I had just seen Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh at the Museum of Art in Chicago. I asked my mom and dad for an oil paint set.  I've been painting ever since. And now I paint every day. I am always coming up with a creative solution for what my imagination forges.  This is actually one of my first shows at a public venue.
A cloud formation. A shadow. A flower. Different textures on surfaces. Literally anything can inspire me to create.  I don’t believe my work fits the craft title. But I would say that my work is very eclectic. Anyone is free to and enjoy my artwork.  I discovered my talent through determination. When I looked at Starry Night I just knew that I was capable of creating something that intense and beautiful.  The creative process can be very vivid for me. It can start from a sketch or it can start from cooking a delicious meal. For another example, when I’m painting on glass I never erase and I use that as a limit to creating.
In 5 years, I hope that I am still an independent artist working on the things that I love. I also hope that I am still creating new and fresh paintings that the masses can enjoy.  I paint what I see. Whether it’s from something I see day to day or if it’s something that pops into my head. Every now and then I will have a strong message or meaning behind my work but that’s not why I paint. I paint because I love it and other people do too.

Meet Debbie Evans of Cutesy and Fun...
My name is Debbie Evans.  I have been happily married for 40 years.  I have 4 amazing children and 7 precious grandchildren.  I have been crafting jewelry for over a year.  I thoroughly enjoy it.
This will be my first Avant-garde Art and  Craft Show.  I am very excited about being a participant.  I have always loved jewelry.  However,  I could never find a piece that was uniquely designed. I started taking the jewelry that I had previously purchased and transforming them into something unique.  My friends started complimenting me on my pieces.  
 I started creating several pieces of jewelry.  I looked online and found a craft show close to my home.  The show was so much fun.  I made new friends and extra money.  I was hooked and the rest is history.  In the next five years I see myself continuing to display my pieces at craft shows.  Who knows, I might even open a small shop.  I would also like to donate my jewelry to a women's shelter.  Everyone can use some jewelry to brighten their day.

 A sample of my jewelry can be viewed on www.cutesyandfun.etsy.com

Meet Susan Chess of Czecka Gems and Jewelry...
I am on the staff at Ohio State University in the Dance department.  I have my degrees in music, but I have done artwork for quite awhile. During my years in high school, I had a full scholarship to study drawing and painting at the Carnegie Institute of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  When I was considering what I was wanting to have as a major in college, I was torn, but music came to the forefront.  At Ohio State I teach, perform for dance concerts, and I am a musician for all levels of Modern and Ballet Technique classes.   I had not painted for quite a number of years, but this year, decided to take it up again.                  
 
I also have been making jewelry for about 20 years.  I work with many types of beads, crystals, leaded chandelier glass, filigree, and many other mediums to make my jewelry.  I use finer materials such as Austrian Crystal, semi-precious stones, antique and Czeck glass and much more. 

As far as the artwork ( painting and drawing) I started painting and drawing when I was very young.  In high school (1968)  I really got interested.  The situation that moved everything forward was that my teacher submitted some of my art work to be considered for the full scholarship to Carnegie Institute of Art.  Only two people out of a given school district are chosen, and I was lucky enough to be one of the ones.  This is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show.  I came across it when I was looking for festivals where I can sell my paintings and jewelry.  I like the church shows in particular because of the atmosphere and there are many opportunities to talk to people. Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show looked like something that I was looking for, so I decided to try it out. 
I love to work with light and shadow.  Some of my work is in black and white.  Through this color scheme, I get to work with the depth and shadow in an isolated way.  What is an inspiration to me is that I want people to look at my paintings and say ' I want to be there!   I want to walk into that woods"  or " I want to go to that magic place!"
As far as my jewelry, I want it to be unique enough that when someone gives it as a gift, that the receiver definitely feels like they have received something special.  Color variety and unity are really important.  If I am having a central focus such as a pendant of sterling silver and laboradite, I want it to look like a unified piece of work that draw the eye to the center piece, but yet the surrounding beads, while providing color of their own, still honor the center of focus. 

At a very young age, I started drawing.  Drawing was the first mode of visual art that I did.   I loved to shade everything!  My parents supported me in every way possible.  At the age of 6, they bought me sketch books, water color paints, colored pencils, and pastels.  I would draw everything from scenery, magical places, to religious paintings.  The jewelry didn't come until a bit later in 1986.  I always liked looking at jewelry at stores, but would always be thinking things like ' They should have done this or this' .  Then I decided that if I'm so particular, I should begin making my own things.  So, I make earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and suncatchers. 
The fact that I like working with color and light (light in particular) was my first draw.  While some of my drawings and paintings are of places that can be real, I also like to paint dream like fantasy worlds where, once again, I want people to say 'I want to be there '

As far as the jewelry, I'll be looking at a stone that I would like as a center piece, and then start putting various beads beside it to see how the blend is.  If I am starting with the beads themselves and still want a centerpiece, then I see how the center piece can compliment the beads. 

While I will remain at my job at Ohio State, I would like to do art and craft shows.  I feel like I have something to offer, and I enjoy interacting with people.  The message behind my work really has to do with the fascination of light and texture.  Depth is very important in my work. I want my work to communicate the beauty of color, light, and shadow. 

2015 Columbus Summer Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday, June 27, 2015, 10:00am-4:00pm
St. Agatha's Parish Hall
1860 Northam Rd
Columbus, OH 43221
For more information, contact Becki@ag-shows.com
Visit us on:

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Meet the Colorful Crafters of Columbus!

Meet Kathryn Michelle Shafer of Glassworks by Shelley
Hello.  My name is Kathryn Michelle Shafer. Everyone calls me Shelley. It has been my nickname for as long as I can remember. I have been lucky enough to be married to my wonderful husband for 10 years. I was an Executive Assistant for 13 years after a tour in the United States Navy. I started painting on glass in the late 90's, early 2000's. Ten years ago I found out that I have a hereditary heart condition and am currently testing to be put on the heart transplant list. I stopped painting for awhile, because of my health, but started again a few months ago.
This is my first Avant-Garde Art and Craft show.  I used to be a vendor at craft shows years ago, but haven't been for a long time, it seems. I have always loved to create something from nothing. Being an emotional and creative person makes me need to have an outlet. I found glass paints a long time ago and thought it would be fun to figure out what interesting things I could create with them. I am passionate about everything I say and do. Life is to be cherished and that is what inspires me.


My husband laughs at my creative process. I take a piece of glass and look at it for a bit until it hits me what to draw.

The message behind my work is that I hope everyone finds beauty in all things!

Meet Katie Roush of Katie's Ooak Dolls...
I'm Katie Roush and married to my best friend, Griz. (Yes that is his name).  We have two fur babies, Samson an American Bulldog and Scooter, a Jack Russell. I have three daughters who gave me four beautiful grandchildren who I adore. I like to believe that faeries and trolls exist, you just have to look for them in the morning dew amid the flowers a bit harder.

I have been making dolls since my girls were little. I have been doing it full time now since my youngest passed away. It kept my mind and hands busy through the darkest time in my life.

For inspiration, I just look at a magazine or material and right away I know what I am going to create. My mind starts working and picturing what I am going to do.  I love to see my wee folks come alive in my hands.  My crafting began when my girls were little.  Each year at Christmas, they got something I made, along with what Santa Claus brought.  It still rings true today and, I have carried that towards my grand children too. 

I discovered my talent by accident. I could always make clothes, my grandmother showed me that. So when my youngest, Krystle was about 4, I tried my first doll. I was hooked! It was a simple rag doll with a heart on her chest. That was over 25 years ago.  Now my wee creations are a bit more elaborate with glass beads, lace, ribbon and wire for posing.  I see the final project in my head, and my hands just do it. 
In 5 years, I would love to see my dolls under a lot of little girl's Christmas trees and become treasured heirlooms. My message is never stop believing in the magic. Its there, just as the dew in the early morning kiss the flowers in the flower beds, so are the wee folk, if you look hard enough and believe. 

Meet Keni Scherbinski of Keni Scherbinski Hand Lettering & Design...
My name is Keni Scherbinski and I live in Medina, Ohio with my rad husband. I am, by profession, a baker/cake decorator, but my passion is lettering and design.  I started dabbling in lettering in Middle School, about 15yrs ago, doodling different fun fonts, practicing new writing, making up my own type. My schoolwork was definitely always covered in fancy quotes and scribbles.
This will be my first Avant-Garde craft show, and I'm excited since I have been to the show as a voyeur and all of the vendors were so friendly!  I am always inspired create something new, while lettering is my 'drug of choice' I love trying new crafts, even if I fail at them! I'll be out somewhere and see something unique and think, "I'm gonna try that!" I'm am an energetic person who likes to keep busy, and creating things is the perfect way to be productive.
My mom played a big part in my lettering love! She, too, creates fun little fonts and doodles often! We would scrapbook together when I was young and she had all sorts of font sheets we would copy or build upon.  I think I finally discovered I actually had a knack for lettering when people started asking me to do logos, or paint signs for them. Then a local art gallery asked me to join them, I realized I might be able to take my lettering to another level. I guess I never thought it would be possible to sell my handwriting before!

I am definitely a stereotypical 'creative mind' which mean my creative process is messy. I love to research fonts, and have several books splayed all over along with hundreds of pens, and stacks of drawing books strewn about. I don't usually draw and redraw like I know most ppl like to, I like to get a vision in my head and get it out just how I want it.
In 5 years I'm hoping to be able to do lettering full time from home, to be producing stickers, cards, totes, mugs, ect. on a much higher volume. I'm pushing myself to put myself out there and have confidence in what I do.

My hope is that my work will make you love your roots, have pride in where you're from, and do what you love.

Meet Linda Younkman of Lindy’s Designs...
Living in Dublin Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, I am married and have three grown children. I just became a grandmother for the first time last year.  After working in the insurance industry for 42 years, I retired fours years ago. Gardening, cooking, reading and golfing are other pastimes that I enjoy when I am not making jewelry. From an early age I have enjoyed crafting things, learning to sew when I was 5, learning to crochet and knit some time later. I was always the first one to sign up to manage the craft project for school parties and at birthday parties for my children. I have always loved jewelry and making jewelry for my daughter and I was a natural leap. My leap into jewelry making started by accident over 12 years ago, when my daughter came home from a friend’s house where the mother had started making jewelry. My daughter suggested that we give it a try. 

That was the beginning of a love affair with beads and all things sparkly. I fell in love with beads and designing in particular with natural stones, vintage beads and artisan beads. In the beginning I was just designing jewelry for my daughter and myself but quickly found that I had more beads and jewelry than either one of us could wear. I dabbled a little bit in selling my jewelry but didn’t really concentrate on that until after my retirement. 

I have always had a passion to learn and with so many techniques and materials to work with, I found jewelry making to be a never ending adventure. To satisfy that desire, I began taking classes in different techniques and materials. Over the years I have taken classes in basic wire working, polymer clay, PMC, bead weaving, and metal and cold connections. From some highly respected teachers including Connie Fox, Sherri Serafini, Kate McKinnon, Carol Cypher, Tracy Stanley and local teachers, I have taken classes and learned new techniques.
I’ve been making jewelry for the past 13 years.  This will be my first Avant-Garde show
I have always been interested in crafts of one type or another.  I started sewing at a very young age.  I learn to crochet when I was about 12.  Sewing was my first love and I ventured into other forms of crafting as I got older.  The jewelry making was totally by accident but once I started making jewelry I was addicted.  I love working with all the colors and various stones, metal and beads.  I love to learn and learning new techniques and trying new styles has always kept me interested and going forward.  

My keen interest in jewelry design started by accident many years ago because of my daughter. This interest has since grown into a passion. I’ve dabbled in all different mediums and I’m still dabbling. I started with bead stringing using natural gemstones, artisan lamp work beads and metal.  I love to combine my love for Southwestern styles into my work, mixing leather, copper, patinated metals and natural stones. Recently I’ve started playing with seed beading and leather. My style is bohemian, eclectic – I’m still trying to find myself!


Once I started making jewelry and people started asking who made it and where to buy it, I think that gave me the confidence that I really did have some talent.  I’m not sure that I discovered it myself.  I just did things that I love to do.  The materials I am working with usually drive the creative process.  I’m inspired by color and materials.  I start out with a thought or design and often times once I start the direction changes and evolves into something else.  
I want to continue to learn and grow.  Learning new techniques is always something that I am interested in. I hope to really focus this year on growing my business and becoming more of an online presence. I have been concentrating more on promoting my business. I have an Etsy shop, a facebook page and I just recently created my own website.  I am starting to do more shows and I hope within the next 5 years to be selling more through the online market as well as at local Art Shows.

I hope that my work is unique enough that it gives people who buy it and wear it a sense of beauty.  

2015 Columbus Summer Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday, June 27, 2015, 10:00am-4:00pm
St. Agatha's Parish Hall
1860 Northam Rd
Columbus, OH 43221
For more information, contact Becki@ag-shows.com
Visit us on: