Meet Etsy Artist: reflectionsoflight

"I've been creating as long as I can remember," Sharilyn admits. "I've always got my fingers into something." Creativity has always been a "need" for her, not just a passion. "Photography is one of my first loves," she explains. "In planning an upcoming trip I am very excited about the photo opportunities I am going to encounter." Although she has worked for years in education, she recently shifted focus to her art, which she aims to make functional as well as aesthetic. Painting ceramics has been the perfect combination for her. An avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, nature often inspires her - as with the beautiful bamboo sushi set. "A country girl at heart, anything in nature is beautiful and appealing and I love to represent a small part of that in what I create." In fact - that is why she named her shop Reflections of Light. "Perhaps I can take a small piece of the beauty of nature and reflect it in something I make." Please check out her shop: http://reflectionsoflight.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist & Potter: SynapseArtworks

The artist behind the hip Etsy shop SynapseArtworks is a 28 year old Salt Lake City potter and illustrator. Brian graduated in 2003 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a BFA, majoring in Philosophy. "I haven't been able to produce much art in the last two years since I recently took a job working and studying in the field of ocularistry," he explains of his time consuming job making prosthetic eyes. "It's a crazy, wonderful job I never anticipated falling into, which only about 120 other people in the country do." His shop may not be filled to the brim yet, but his modern take on a sake set struck my fancy right away. He hopes to have a studio up and running soon, where he'll focus on designing functional ceramics. "My more conceptual work, which is very time consuming and fussy, I show at Artisan Gallery in Paoli, WI," he says. "This is mostly inspired by art history and aesthetic theory. On Etsy, I tend to showcase my more functional ceramics work like teapots and sake sets, as well as t-shirts which I do just for entertainment and the fun of graphic design." He hopes to blend the screen printing he uses in his T-shirts with the ceramics in the near future. He describes his style as "tight, tidy, and often geometrical." Influenced by minimalism, his designs often showcase clean modern lines and geometric shapes. "I love all kinds of beverages, and hope to create vessels that elevate their consumption to a more conscious aesthetic experience; one in which there is an interplay between the subtleties of the drink and the art, each complimenting the other." Although his art is not his main source of income he does take it seriously and treats it as a second job. "You can check out http://synapseartworks.blogspot.com/, my horrendously un-updated blog for additional info," he jokes. Please check out his shop: http://synapseartworks.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: Raku4u

"Beauty, whether found in a glorious sunrise, a galloping horse with mane & tail flying, the glittering Milky Way in a midnight sky or the intricate icy geometry of a snowflake, has always captivated me for as long as I can remember," Lynne says of her fascination with nature. She majored in Art Education "as a way of surrounding (her)self with some of the world’s greatest art/artists and spent (her) family rearing years working as a public school art teacher & sharing that passion with hundreds (if not thousands) of students." When her kids were old enough she returned to school as a student, earning a Master’s Degree in Art Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Although she only took ceramics as an elective, she was hooked immediately. "When my hands first touched a lump of clay on the potter’s wheel, I had the most profound sense of 'coming home,' artistically speaking…..I knew this medium was going to change my life," she explains. She immediately changed her degree to focus on ceramics and the rest is, as they say, history. Her love affair with clay began as a hobby, but she eventually turned it into a successful business. She appreciates Etsy for being a "consistent venue for past & present customers to have full access to (her) work." Please check her out: http://raku4u.etsy.com/, http://raku4ubyshekinahclay.blogspot.com/, http://www.shekinahclay.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist & Potter: gracesheese

I discovered this next artist on her opening day at Etsy...

Grace was born in Taipei, Taiwan, but later moved to the US when she was 8. "My parents worked really hard to help my younger sister and I retain our heritage," she says. "We spoke only Chinese in the home, ate Chinese food, and my mom and sister and I use to religiously watch Chinese soap operas on the weekends." As a teenager she admits that she fought with her dual identities. "I attributed my social awkwardness with being Chinese and found myself rejecting that part of me," she explains. "As I began making pots in college - and painful high school experiences became a memory - I found that I was just naturally drawn to the Asian aesthetic." She realizes now that being a teenager is hard on everyone, no matter their background or heritage, and now fully embraces her Chinese roots. In fact, Asian and Islamic architecture are a huge inspiration in her pottery designs. "I don't seek out making work that looks Asian. It's just something that I naturally gravitate towards. I'll experiment with a new bowl shape and my husband will comment on how it looks just like a rice bowl. To my eyes, it just looks like how bowls should look." Asian fabrics are also an interest of hers, especially the intricate and colorful patterns of the Middle East and India, and the delicate carvings of her yunomi (Japanese footed tea cup without a handle) often reflect the detailed designs of a sari. She's been making her beautiful works of art - and function - for over fifteen years; the last 5 as a full time studio potter. Please check out her shop: http://gracesheese.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist & Potter: almapottery

Born in Eastern Europe, Alma emigrated to the US after college. Recently she even lived in Japan for a year, where she fell in love with tea and sushi ware, which is expertly suited to her passion for pottery. She absorbs inspiration from her surroundings as well as from her German/Russian heritage, so folk art and primitivism are as interesting to her as Japanese architecture and minimalism. "Too much cruising on Etsy left me creating some happy gnomes with antlers," she jokes. "I still have a hard time deciding what I want to do each day. I have a ceramic setup and a traditional darkroom, a room where I paint, and a closet filled with fabric and a dusty sewing machine. One day I will combine all in one big crazy piece of art." She wishes she could spend less time on the Etsy forums and more time in her studio, but admits it's tough to stay away. "I love the community I get in touch with everyday," she says. "Many of my customers have become my friends and I love that." Please check out her shop: http://almapottery.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: PlumHome

Bronwyn Simons describes herself as an "artist, entrepreneur, dancer, teacher, mother, partner, homemaker, spiritual seeker, and all around creative woman." Inspiration for her art comes from natural colors and ethnic design (especially Japanese and Italian). In life she finds inspiration in her family and friends - and by "hearing the stories of other artsy, entrepreneurial women." Currently focused on ceramics, she has dabbled in many mediums over the years. "The connecting thread between them all has been my love of line, colour, the decorative, and the inspiration of history." she explains. "I'm passionate about the revival of craft, and the importance of bringing the hand-made back into our daily lives." Happily self employed as a full time crafter for 16 years, she feels blessed to be making a living doing something she loves. "My Etsy shop is a wonderful place for me to showcase new designs, one of a kind pieces, and prototypes - it gives me a chance to play and experiment." She enjoys the sense of community with Etsy and has made some wonderful connections in her endeavors. She recommends her fellow artists "be authentic, post often, communicate clearly, enjoy the community." Please check out her shop: http://plumhome.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: sumiko

Sumiko has "had a love affair with all art forms since (she) was a teenager." Born in Kumamoto, Japan, she began studying fine arts while in High School. In 1958 she traveled to Italy and studied under local artists. She got married while in Naples and "put (her) artistic endeavors on hold while (she) raised (her) family." She eventually made her way to the US and lived in Washington, D.C. and Honolulu before settling in San Diego, CA. "I became serious with art as a student at Miramar College where I received an AA degree in Fine Art," she explains. Later she attended a class at Mesa College and "found (her) calling." She studied ceramics, sculpting, and glaze technology under Dr. John Conrad, a world famous author and a Master Potter. Please check out her shop: http://
sumiko.etsy.com

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: MAKUstudio

Marianne Kasparian (aka MAK) is of Armenian heritage and grew up on the East coast near Washington, DC. Her love of travel has led her on many cross-country drives through the US - and she has lived in many states. "Different cultures intrigue me in their ways of life and especially their food," she admits. "I’m particularly fond of Japanese (sushi), Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, and Thai food. Of course, stuffed grape leaves (dolmas) and many other Mediterranean foods are always on the top of the list." She worked most of her life as a bartender, but found her passion in raku beads and jewelry 7 years ago. "Raku pottery was made long ago for Japanese tea ceremonies," she explains. "It was modernized later in the Western world into the process you see today. This involves taking a piece of pottery that has been bisque fired in a kiln, then glazed and then firing it in a raku kiln (which my husband and I built ourselves). The piece is then fired to about 1800 degrees F, depending on environmental conditions, and pulled out of the kiln while still red hot. Then it is placed in a reduction chamber (a metal can) containing organic materials such as newspaper, sawdust, leaves, etc. Smoke is created and reacts with the pot leaving the unglazed portion black (a very unique characteristic of raku). It's so exciting and creates one of kind colors which are very hard to duplicate." Her quirky style is often "down to earth and funky." She opened her Etsy shop about a year ago and has cultivated it into a full time job. "(Etsy) has been a great environment for me to grow even further with my art, as well as share my passion with so many other people and artists," she says. "Follow your heart and live your passion!" Please check out her shop: http://makustudio.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: thebuddhabuilder

Seattle artist Anita Feng is 55, and has been "a working potter/ceramic artist for 35 of those years." She is also a published writer and teaches creative writing at Cornish College of the Arts. "I've recently completed a novel about a young woman's coming of age through her passion for clay (loosely based on my own story)," she explains. Her love of clay began in 1974 when she saw a friend's finished piece. "I admired it so much that I signed up for a six-week intro to pottery class, then promptly spent all of my savings to set up a studio." A year later she was doing the craft show circuit, selling her wares. She eventually moved to the Internet - and just found Etsy a few months ago, where she also has a second shop (http://anitasocarinas.etsy.com/). She has been a "practitioner of Zen" for thirty years, which is beautifully showcased in her work. As for the creative process, she describes it as "a kind of conversation that I'm having with clay. I listen carefully to what kind of mood the clay's in and I respond. I do have a plan in mind, but I'm always open to the fluid suggestions of the moment at hand! The word, Buddha, means 'to wake up' and therefore I try to find an alert and spontaneous presence in each of my sculptures." She hopes her pieces help "open our consciousness to a modern western sensibility to Buddhist art." Please check out her shop: http://thebuddhabuilder.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Jewelry Designer & Artist: Luxedesignworkshop

Peg grew up in Jacksonville, Florida where she spent summers at the art museum taking jewelry making and painting classes. "I think that my mother was worried that I would get into trouble if I had too much time on my hands," she jokes. In high school she fell in love with pottery and started selling her early jewelry designs in local consignment shops. "Life was good and I stayed busy," she explains. While in college she worked in the pottery department and focused her efforts on sculptural work, wheel throwing, and glaze techniques. In 1986 she moved to Atlanta, Georgia as a food stylist and later met her husband. "Wow, I never knew that people could earn a living doing what they loved!" She's been making her beautiful jewelry on the side for a few years. "I think that being a creative person makes me rethink the little things around me and I am always recreating something to make it mine. I started out just playing around with jewelry that I already had and made necklaces and bracelets out of materials on hand. I like for jewelry to be more versatile than just one thing so I tie it in a knot, make it a length that can be doubled or tripled to increase its fun. I make necklaces that are all the same length so that I can braid them together and make one fat happy necklace! To me so much of the fun is just playing with the materials and letting them speak of what they want to be." Please check out her shop: http://luxedesignworkshop.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Potter: StarksPots

It seems women artists far outnumber men on Etsy, but I have found a few more to feature here on my blog...

Ben Stark recently graduated college where he majored in history, but "spent far more time and effort in (his) elective ceramics classes." While he has been creating pottery since high school, he didn't create his own unique style until his later years of college. He hopes to one day turn his passion into a career, but for now has to work a regular 9:00-5:00 job like most struggling artists. "I am inspired by classic forms of functional wares, and am drawn to Asian pottery, as well as many contemporary American potters," he explains. "I want my work to be functional while at the same time a piece of art. To me, my pieces need to be used to be fully appreciated." His goal is "not to have Etsy support me, but I would like it to support my operating costs for making my wares." He offers sage advice he learned from fellow Etsians: "stick with it, and don't let sales determine self-worth. Become a part of a group or team, the camaraderie is invaluable." Please check out his shop: http://starkspots.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: GretchenKramp

Gretchen Kramp "consistently work(s) in the grey area between two and three dimensional work," whether it's painting on wood sculpture or creating her expertly textured tiles. "After college I cobbled together a living of odd jobs such as coffee barista, babysitter, and, opportunely, assistant to a ceramicist. Working with her introduced me to a bevy of artists making a living off of their craft. I am also fortunate to live near Pewabic Pottery of Detroit, a historic Arts & Crafts era pottery and tileworks still thriving today. Amidst all these influences, the clay bug bit me hard in 1995 when I made a few tiles as Christmas presents and was irrevocably smitten!" She has been a proffessional clay artist since 1997, pushing the boundaries of her craft. "I'm inspired by most anything from the natural to the whimsical to the downright weird," she admits. Her body of work includes tile murals for the National Amphibian Conservation Center and the Arctic Ring of Life inside the Detroit Zoo. She also sells her tiles at local art fairs, boutiques, galleries - and most recently Etsy. "My biggest challenge these days is trying to achieve balance between work and home life as I currently moonlight as wife and mother to two little girls. I'm hoping that Etsy will allow me to expand my audience without straying too far away from my priorities." She advises her fellow Etsy artists "spend as much time possible pursuing what you love to do...then whatever happens, you will have no regrets!" Please check out her shop: http://gretchenkramp.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: LureArts

Although Pam began her artistic career while studying at a university, she fell in love with clay the first moment she sat in front of a potter's wheel. Now a full-time highschool art teacher, she enjoys creating textured dinnerware, which includes sushi and dinner plates, olive trays, coffee mugs - even stemless wine glasses. She loves the wheel, but handcrafts many pieces as well. "I am addicted to making bowls and have a kitchen full of them to prove it," she jokes. "My pottery is meant to be used, but still be beautiful. I secretly think that my bowls have souls and personalities," she admits. "They want to be useful and share the joy in your life." From her home studio she mixes her own glazes and fires her own pieces, but "when there is 'down time' in my pottery production, I still enjoy picking up my paintbrushes." Spoken like a true artist. She finds inspiration in the ornate designs of the Rococo and Baroque periods - and Japanese pottery, "especially their earthy color schemes and asymmetrical tea bowls." Sometimes she even combines eastern and western sensibilities in her pottery. Most recently she has started a ceramic jewelry line, integrating the colors and textures from her handmade wares. She also plans to expand into ceramic clocks. "I use Etsy to hone my craft. The best thing that I did on Etsy is join the EMT (Etsy Mud Team). I highly recommend other Etsians to find a team that they can connect with." Please check out her shops: Pottery: http://lurearts.etsy.com/ Paintings: http://lure.etsy.com
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Pottery Artist: TuxedoJunction

The self-taught potter behind TuxedoJunction had her first experience with clay at summer camp. She's been in love with her craft ever since, honing her skills along the way. She draws her inspiration from her surroundings and it could come from a walk outdoors, a museum - or even "a repeating pattern on a brand name tissue box." She's a fan of the the Arts and Crafts Movement, Frank Lloyd Wright's art glass, and prefers the Art Deco and Art Nouveau pottery styles. Adept in stained glass techniques, her pottery style combines her two loves beautifully.
Right now her craft is a hobby, but she hopes to turn it into a career. She acknowledges that shipping pottery is very costly, which makes it hard to keep the prices down. To even the score a bit she offers an affordable line of jewelry that is more easily mailed. She advises her fellow Etsians be patient. "Stick with it, make what you love, the sales will come." Please visit her shop: http://tuxedojunction.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: SofiaMasri/Poopsie

29 year old Sofia Masri makes victorian inspired porcelain jewelry while going to college full time as a Biology student. "Needless to say, my life is a non-stop circus," she jokes. Her vintage designs reflect her love of antiques, history, mythology, and ancient civilizations. "For my namesake Etsy shop I channel the vintage and antique loving, romantic part of me. I strive to recreate that feeling of holding an object from a bygone era." She has another Etsy shop by the name of Poopsie that shows off a more whimsical aesthetic. "There's a part of me that will never grow up, and I fully embrace it," she admits. "My craft is my therapy. Despite the fact that porcelain can be quite temperamental, I find a great deal of serenity in the process." Ever since she was a child she's been creating, doodling in her Sesame Street story books. "I loved to get messy with art supplies when I was younger, but I was also a perfectionist. I remember being accused of having my mom help me with my art homework in kindergarten. I've always been aware of the meticulous care you have to take in order to create something thoughtful, meaningful, and worthwhile." Her attention to detail is evident today in her master craftsmanship, which she successfully turned into a career this year. "I think it's important to make each and every item as if you were making it for a loved one of discriminating taste," she advises. "In other words, put 200% into your work, hold it to a high degree of scrutiny and quality." Please visit her Etsy shop: http://sofiamasri.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Meet Etsy Potter and Artist: GinPins

California artist GinPins is a phenomenal potter and artist, who "highly values a humorous perspective on life." She feels her upbringing has influenced her whimsical art. "My Grandmother taught me so much, even before I started kindergarten---basic sewing skills, knitting, crochet, various crafty pursuits involving lots of felt, sequins and glitter (my Barbies tended to dress like they had jobs as showgirls in Vegas), rudementary baking and some gardening. My Dad also shares a love of making things (although things of a different type) and passed on to me his affection for careful craftsmanship---thanks Dad." It wasn't until nine years ago that GinPins fell in love with clay when she took a required 3-D art class in college. It was love at first sight. "Me and the mud, we've been inseparable ever since!" Believe it or not, the picture for this post is not just a mug, but a teapot - the "spoon" is the spout. Her eclectic style is often "exacting (and) sometimes funny." She is interested in so many artistic endeavors that they often influence one another. "My love of knitting often shows up on ceramic ware as texture from stamps I make from swatches I knit for just that purpose. My love of ceramics shows up as buttons for my knitted and sewn items, or as jars to store my knitting needles. And, since I am also a painter, my felt pincushions get a bit of painting to enhance their realism." She's a self-admitted "goofball," who loves to amuse people with her work. "I think that careful attention to craftsmanship works to keep the humorous edge from becoming trite. I do produce more serious pieces from time to time, I just don't take myself too seriously." Although she works in a college ceramics & art department, she manages to find time to earn an edequate income from selling her work on Etsy and in local galleries. She plans to offer more functional pieces on Etsy. "I've been selling for almost 6 months on Etsy and started out a bit frightened of the shipping issues related to the fragility of ceramics, so have held off on listing that type of item. Eventually, I'd love to be selling 5 or so items per week." She suggests ne Etsians join a street team that reflects their craft. "I'm a member of the Etsy Mud Team and being on the team has enhanced my Etsy experience in ways I could not have imagined when I joined. Team membership has brought more visibility to my shop by allowing me to collaborate on group projects, as well as participate in challenges and promotions. However, it's the comraderie among the team members that really makes my Etsy experience so special. Our team's forum thread is a perfect blend of encouragement, advice and laughs. Yay mudders!" Please check out her shop: http://ginpins.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/