Meet Melissa Sweeney from Melissa Sweeney Photography...
My name is Melissa Sweeney and I work as a photographer in Knoxville, TN. I do mostly nature and travel photography but also do portrait photography locally. Before making my home in Knoxville earlier this year, I lived in Memphis, TN where I studied Anthropology and Spanish at The University of Memphis. Before that, I grew up outside of Cleveland, Ohio in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
I have been doing photography as a serious hobby and as a business for about eight months. I officially launched my business in August of this year. But before that, I always enjoyed photography on a smaller scale.
I'm inspired by nature and unique places. No matter how many gardens or parks you visit, each one has something different to offer. I'm inspired by discovering and capturing what each place has to offer.
I've always loved photography and since I was a kid I've always loved any kind of crafting. I always sort of envisioned myself doing something creative and selling my work at shows, although for a long time I didn't have an idea what type of art I would get into. But during college I was focused on academics, getting work experience, and trying to figure out what I wanted to do as a career, so I developed a different perspective and was more focused on stability rather than passion. After graduating, I quickly realized that working a 9-5 at a job I wasn't passionate about wasn't for me. At that point I wanted to pursue something more creative and find what my passion was. Then earlier this year, it finally clicked. I always found myself taking photographs everywhere I went and fascinated by photography. It only made sense to pursue it. Since then it has truly grown into my passion.
I started in photography before I really thought that I had talent because it was something I wanted to do so I was willing to do all I can to learn it and become talented. Once I started learning, after a few photo sessions I would look back at the images I took and I actually liked quite a bit of them. Then in sharing them with friends and hearing positive feedback, that's when I started to realize that I did have talent in it. It all just felt very natural.
My creative process starts by brainstorming interesting places to go, either ones that I've heard about from others or have learned about in research. But the most difficult part is choosing where to go first! There are hundreds of amazing places to visit within just a few hours of Knoxville, so often planning when to go to which location is the hardest part of the process. Next is to get out there and shoot anything that I find interesting and captivating. After that, it's a matter of deciding which works are the best and what products I want to turn each image into.
In five years I hope to be doing art and craft shows on a regular basis and to have grown a strong following in my Etsy shop. Additionally, I hope to be regularly submitting to magazines, contests, galleries, etc. I would also like to increase and develop the portrait photography side of my business.
The message behind my work is about connectivity and bringing joy. There's something that can be so peaceful about nature but it can also be used to craft powerful messages. I think each of my pieces has a different message behind them, but my general message is to get out and discover what's around you, to find peace in nature, and to let it bring some type of happiness to you.
For more of my work, please visit (www.melissasweeneyphoto.com) and my Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/
Meet Susan Kurtz from Susie Kays...
I am a wife, a mother of three school age
children, an artist and a treasure hunter.
My family has moved many times, and my crafting has kept me sane.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Design, and I am also a graduate Jeweler
Gemologist. I have always had a love for sparkly items, starting from
when I was very young. I would sneak up to my Grandmothers Attic and try
on her sequin dresses, and all of her rhinestones. I love taking
something, and creating something different with it. I love Vintage items, and creating “new” from
the old.
I have been in the jewelry industry since the
1990’s, and have been crafting as long as I can remember. I inherited my
Great Aunts jewelry collection, and that turned into my desire to create Brooch
bouquets. I have worked with many
Brides, and have even been a featured artist on many bridal Blogs. I create custom headpieces, centerpieces,
bouquets and cake toppers. I also love
up-cycling, and creating new jewelry from Antiques. You will find me selling my Jewelry items at the
Avant Garde Shows, but can always create custom items.
I become inspired to create, by my general lack
of non-creating. Sounds strange, but if I do not create something for a
few days, I get this urge. One day it may be to sew, one day it may be to
bead. Vintage items inspire me, and I love turning them into something
unique.
I left the Retail Diamond jewelry industry when I
had children. By creating my own items, it enabled me to stay at home
with them. I opened my Etsy store in 2011.
I have always been artistic. I enjoy
working with my hands, and my mother taught me to sew. I have a good eye
for design, and create things that I would want to have for myself.
A bouquet usually starts with a color, or a
specific brooch that I will work around. I group them by size and shape
and work out an appealing design. The jewelry is usually inspired by
something that I would actually want to wear.
I would hope that I could still make a little
“mad money” by selling my craft items. I don’t need to be the biggest; I
just hope to make a little extra from my work. I enjoy working with
Brides, and love being involved in such a special day.
The message behind my work: Create what makes you happy.
Meet Holly Oyster from CroMagna Creations...
I’m a 45 year old mother of 2 and co-owner of a successful industrial service company. I left behind a career in Classical Archaeology during the 90’s when I burnt out on my PhD, but i still dabble by volunteering for regional digs, and I keep in touch with my old crew on the dig in Turkey. I’ve traveled extensively in Greece, Turkey and Egypt, and I know 7 languages, although most of them are very rusty now due to lack of use.
What inspires me to create.. color, texture, and difficulty - I love bright cascading colors, and I’m a sucker for any high quality yarn that uses them. I find a yarn with a lovely feel, using bright or complimentary colors, and I can’t wait to find a use for it. Besides that, i’m always looking for a challenge - if a pattern is too easy, I grow bored quickly and I struggle to finish the project. I’m always looking for the next, most challenging project, and often I design my own patterns because I can’t find anything like what I see in my head.
My creative process..
Oddly enough, the cliche about the artist waking up with a sudden brainstorm is very very accurate. If i’m stumped on a project, and i can’t figure out how to do something I want to do, I often have the idea pop fully formed into my head when i’m laying down just falling asleep. For instance, I was working on a baby-doll type tank top for myself, and i didn’t like the way the pattern was written for the back and straps. I kept playing with it, but nothing worked the way I wanted. I laid down for a nap that day (my daughter was a toddler at the time) and as I drifted to sleep, the back and strap design popped into my head, and i immediately know it would work exactly the way i wanted. I finished it the following day. More than once I’ve had to get up and sketch out what I visualize so that i won’t forget it.
My five year plan.. I mostly create and vend in order to share what i do with others. I’m not expecting to get rich, i’m not expecting to open an online store and sell large qualities of anything I create. I enjoy sharing what I’ve created and getting feedback on it. i love interacting with the other vendors and getting their take on what I do. i LOVE seeing people appreciate my work and really enjoy when they ask questions about it. If anything, I’d hope that in 5 years I will have a few published patterns that will sell moderately well and that I can help others learn the versatility of crochet and that you don’t have to be a knitter to be able to create beautiful, high-quality items from yarn.
The message behind my work: beauty, originality, self-reliance. I vend to sell the items I will be making anyway out of love of the craft…and so I can justify buying more yarn. :)
My name is Karlisha Anderson from Sensuous by Karli...
I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I graduated from Cleveland School of the Arts in 2003. My focus was visual arts and photography. I am a breast cancer survivor and I have been in remission for 3 years now. I also have multiple sclerosis which prevents me from working a traditional job five days a week. Currently, I am a stay at home mom. Although I love being at home taking care of my family, there is so much more I would like to do with my life. I love art!
I am a creative person and I love helping people. So in March of 2015 I started Sensuous by Karli. I want customers to experience the bliss that emerges when they see, touch and smell products created by Sensuous.
My current product line includes scented candles and handcrafted candle holder sets. My goal is to expand my product line early 2016 and in 5 years, I dream of being a household name. I want to open a few boutiques throughout the state of Ohio to showcase my work.
This is the first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show I will be participating in and I hope it won’t be the last. I am very excited about this experience and I look forward to seeing the smiling faces of new people.
2015 Fairlawn Winterl Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
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