Meet Etsy Artist: canyouhearme

Sami is the astounding talent behind Etsy shop CanYouHearMe. She lives in Salem, Oregon with her husband Brian in what she calls "a magical cottage (a darling guest house on a beautiful piece of land complete with vineyard and orchard)." Both are in grad school - Sami studying Art Therapy Counseling and Brian finishing his PhD in Nuclear Engineering. "Artist + mad scientist = love," she jokes. "Even though we're both crazy busy with school, we're doing what we are passionate about and, to be honest, I can't think of a time in my life when I've ever felt more satisfied and happy." Her inspiration comes from her own experiences and the lives of those around her. "I’m inspired by triumph over hardship, love, and all those little subtle moments of goodness that deserve to be captured." While she mostly works with oils and collaged mix media she has recently "developed an affinity for figurative work and finds (herself) moving more and more in that direction." She enjoys taking risks in her art, which lends itself beautifully to her "fun, inventive, and somewhat precarious" style. While juggling school, Etsy is only a hobby at the moment - one that is only ten days old. "At this point, if I can get to the place where I can happily say that my shop, in my eyes, is a success then I think that will always be enough." She may be brand-spanking new to Etsy, but she has some sage advice. "I have learned that the only person you really need to please is yourself. If others love your work- great! But if they don't- that never will devalue what you do. Please check out her shop: http://canyouhearme.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/