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
Tulsa, Oklahoma artist Claudia Kates Doyle is "an old soul at art." Although she has been a professional painter for over thirty years, she is brand new to Etsy. In fact, she just joined a few days ago on May 17, 2008. So far she is enjoying the "inspiration and energy and fun." Generally her work exhibits a contemporary form of Impressionism, but she also creates mixed media and abstract art, and plans to post more works soon. She admits that she never knows when or how inspiration will strike, but when it does, she puts it to work, creating her wonderful art. Please check out her shop: http://brushworks.etsy.com/
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