I've always lived in NW
Ohio, as has my husband of 35 years. We love to travel and eat (he's a
certified chef). Besides my polymer art, I attempt to garden, am
a "mom" to two parrots and love to spend summer time at our
lake place in Indiana. In my former life I was a
structural/architectural designer for 28 years.
I discovered polymer
almost 20 years ago but didn't have time to really explore it's
possibilities. In 2007, I took a hiatus from formal
architectural design and embraced my polymer art full-time.
I have participated in about half
dozen or so Avant-Garde Craft Shows. From my experience, I have learned inspiration can come
from the most unlikely sources. Many times it's objects in other more
traditional mediums (metals, fabrics, natural textures) and it hits me
that I could do this in polymer, only do it differently. It's not just
about "copying" something - it's about transformations.
Browsing a book store in
the early 80's, I saw a title "The New Clay" by Nan Roche. There was
only one brand of polymer clay available in our area, but I had to get
some...
I've always been
"artsy" from grade school through high school, college and on to
my formal career in architecture. Validation in polymer art
initially came from an unexpected award. In 2009, on a whim, I
entered the annual Interweave Bead Star competition at the last
minute with a polymer neck piece. Imagine my total shock when I placed 1st in
one of the categories!
Many pieces take some planning. Once
cured, the manipulative options you have with polymer change. That's why I need to
think through as many steps as possible ahead of time. One of the first
questions that show visitors ask about my art is if all those colors and
patterns are painted. There is NO paint involved, except occasionally as an
antiquing medium so planning the basic structures is a necessity. Of course even with all the planning, some wonderful unexpected serendipity usually takes place as a piece develops!
I want to continue
experimenting with polymer and stretching its creative limits. The polymer
artistic community is growing by leaps and bounds. It is becoming more recognizable
world-wide.
I
want shoppers to know that they can own quality, one-of-a-kind
wearable art and home decor items, often for the price of typical mass-produced
retail. Who wants to wear/display/or give pieces that are exactly
like thousands of others??
Even though I have an
online Etsy shop, shows are a great way to personally connect with the public and to explain the creation processes for this rather unknown
material. I love it when even knowledgeable people handle one of my pieces
and say, "THIS is polymer clay???" (Plus, they save shipping at
shows, and I usually pick up the sales tax.) ;)
Meet Sarah Smith from Fantaxidermy...
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My name is Sarah Smith
and I create faux animal taxidermy wall hangings/ornaments called
Fantaxidermy. I have just started creating these pieces within the past
several months, but I have always loved making art. I have been doing so since
I was a kid.
I especially love creating one of a kind pieces for my home. I have always enjoyed animals and nature as well, and I wanted to incorporate
this into my craft.
The first faux taxidermy piece I made was to hang on
my own wall and the idea to create more to sell at arts and crafts shows sort
of blossomed from there. I love colorful, eclectic, unique art pieces and I think that is what I make - no two pieces are the same!
This will be
my first Avant-Garde show (really my first show ever) and I am so excited to be
a part of it!
Meet Liz Randloph and Deb West from Watch What You Say...
We are "Watch What
You Say!"....Lizz Randolph and Deb West, former DJ's and an audio
producer! We decided our printer was a LOT easier to carry around than our DJ
equipment and are now taking our love of sound in a whole new direction with
"Audio Art"!
This
story began recently,February of 2014 when Lizz's first grandchild was born. She was able to capture the first time she heard him cry on the simple voice
recorder of her cell phone. We listened to it over and over via our
sophisticated audio software and were amazed at the way it "looked"
on the screen. We knew there had to be a way to capture that in better quality
and detail then screen print and paste. With lots of trial and error we have
been able to perfect the sound waves into usable art. We chose our name to
combine the visual and audio senses. With audio your eyes are watching what
your words are saying!
The
process takes four different software programs to do but the results are
something truly unique and personal! We can make the waves and background in
any color combinations, add text of the message being said, names, dates etc.
to create a custom made print of your voice, kids, pets, cars, motorcycles
etc. We can record a voicemail left to you by someone special... or a
lasting memory of a voice message from someone who has passed.
We
love having FUN with our craft! We take along a professional vocal microphone
to record on site and a portable top notch digital recorder to record cars,
bikes, pets etc. We have done recordings off of cell phone video's of school
band and choir solo's, however we do comply with all copyright laws. We have
recorded prayers and made a print for someone who asked a friend to pray for
them. They keep that print at their bedside to see and feel the words.
Probably the best part of what we do is present a great gift idea for those people that have "everything." We are pretty sure that they do not have this! Grandparents love "seeing" you say, "I Love You Gram!". Dad's looking for a great gift to give mom from the kids. Everyone can find their answer in audio art! Our furry four legged pets are with us such a short time... we love hearing and seeing their sounds go from voicemail to art!
We can print on premium quality photo paper up to 8x10 at our events. We can also order custom gift ideas such as coffee mugs, mousepads and pillow cases!
Probably the best part of what we do is present a great gift idea for those people that have "everything." We are pretty sure that they do not have this! Grandparents love "seeing" you say, "I Love You Gram!". Dad's looking for a great gift to give mom from the kids. Everyone can find their answer in audio art! Our furry four legged pets are with us such a short time... we love hearing and seeing their sounds go from voicemail to art!
We can print on premium quality photo paper up to 8x10 at our events. We can also order custom gift ideas such as coffee mugs, mousepads and pillow cases!
That
brings me to a cute story of one of our fun clients! She said her husband is
"in love" with his show car. So when he was not home she took the
risk of starting it up, called us and left a message to the roar of the engine
on our voicemail. We then took that sound and had it printed on a pillow case
using the colors of the car and adding the text of the year, make and
model.
"Now," she said, "he can sleep with the car he loves so
much!"
Another
fun story was from a grandfather who sat down and recorded a heartfelt message
to his grandson..."GET A JOB, SON"!
We did not print out the actual
text of what he said... just added "Some sound advice from your Grandad!"
We are seeing a lot of people who use our audio art for tattoo's as well! What a cool idea to have yours... or your loved ones voice be a part of you forever!
We are
having a blast creating these pieces that are as unique as the stories everyone carries
with them! We love people, enjoy getting to know them and seeing what they
have to say! We keep our prices within reach of any budget, ranging from as
little as $10.00 to $30.00.
We like to say "If you can HEAR it, now you can SEE it."
Stop over and like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/
and always remember to "Watch What You Say!"
We like to say "If you can HEAR it, now you can SEE it."
Stop over and like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/
and always remember to "Watch What You Say!"
2014 Summit County Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
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