Meet Etsy Artist: adallasgallery

The talent behind Etsy shop adallasgallery is a fellow Libran (born October 2) - and has also recently moved out of my neck of the woods - the Pacific Northwest - after living here for 26 years. He jokes that he doesn't like to talk about himself because "(his) past hasn't been particularly fascinating." He's been a lifelong artist, but after his daughter started college at the University of Washington, he has focused more on his art. Not long after he did his first show and his new career has taken off. "Since then I've done commission pieces and have sold over half the work I've produced so far," he explains. Believe it or not his works are all done using colored pencils, but have the look of watercolors. Each piece depicts his love of world cultures. Please check out his shop: http://adallasgallery.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: tamrasart

Tamra has been an artist all her life, but "was never encouraged in that area." She tries hard to encourage her own kids' abilities and talents - and anyone else who needs a little encouragement. "I have a degree in art therapy, so I have a bit of a bent toward that philosophy," she jokes. Her inspiration comes from the people in her life. "I'm a Jesus follower and I know that no one walks through my front door by accident, be it adult, kid or animal. I look for ways to serve the people God has put in my path, especially through my art." Her style runs the gamet, from realism to impressionism, but she strives to make her commisioned portraits "spot on." Although she mostly focussed on drawing and oil painting in the past, she picked up pastels about three years ago and now has "no desire to use anything else at the moment." She says "they do what colored pencils couldn't do for me." She has some of the best advice I've heard so far for her fellow Etsians: "Have a sign over (your) work table that says 'Make stuff!'" Please check out her shop: http://tamrasart.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: BijousWhimsy

Mandy Saile was born in 1977, in North Bay, Ontario, Canada to a French mother and German father. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art & Design with associate & honors standing in 1999, where she minored in communication & design and majored in illustration. "Creative blocks are not usually a problem for me," the full time illustrator admits. "The only thing that slows me down is that I get too many ideas and want to try too many new techniques at once." In fact she often has 20-30 projects in the works. "The linear and research stage of each picture is my favorite part," she says, "aside from getting to play with colour." Her inspiration comes from her surroundings - nature, music, people and their spirituality. "I feel that art is just an incredible way to share ideas and feelings and I love my job as a visual communicator," she explains. "I think that there is always someone out there looking to connect, looking to feel and to be provoked into thought and that it is an accomplishment when those things happen through a visual medium." She hopes her work "takes people away from their present." Her works are primarily colored pencil and pastel, but she has also dabbled with lino-cuts and watercolor pencils - and is even experimenting with acrylic and mixed media painting. Her latest venture is a series of greeting cards. No matter what the medium, everything she creates is "100% heartfelt, sincere, original and full of wonderful energy." New Etsy, she still has sage advice: "be authentic; only put your best work forth." Please check out her shop: http://bijouswhimsy.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/