Meet Etsy Artist: lenoirdesigns

The artist behind lenoirdesigns is an "introverted, laid back guy that loves art, shooting pool and a variety of genres of music." His inspiration "comes from everyday life." It can be the "intimacy and passion from (an) interpersonal relationship, the day to day surroundings from politics to spiritual views and finding beauty in small things." He describes his eclectic style as "contemporary urban flair" or "abstract figurative." A lifelong artist, he's been selling his works professionally for 10 years. He appreciates Etsy for allowing him to find an online following. Please check out his shop: http://lenoirdesign.etsy.com/ and website: http://lenoirdesigns.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: schmooks

Artist Claire describes herself as "an illustrator and graphic designer." She has always wanted to be an artist and studied creative subjects throughout school including finishing her degree in Graphic Design at the University of Canberra. She has a 19 month old son and another on the way, but still manages to work part time and find a way to pursue her art. She recently finished illustrating a children's book and plans to do a few more. Like many artists, her inspiration comes from the world around her. "I do a lot of collecting of magazines, photographs, images etc. - anything I like the look of, or gives me an idea," she admits. "I never really plan what I am going to illustrate." Usually she prefers to just play with an idea and see where it takes her. So far her fun and quirky designs have been a success. "I get tingles knowing that my work is sitting in someone else’s home on the other side of the world," she says. Etsy has been a great way to connect with other artists and she recommends, "design for yourself and everything will fall into place – and if it doesn’t who cares, as long as you’re having a great time." Please check out her shop: http://schmooks.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: printmakerjenn

Jenn is a busy Mom to a 13-year-old daughter and 10 week old baby boy. She earned a degree in Art with a minor in Art History and then "promptly returned to school for a degree in Computer Science." Like me, she's been working in the high-tech industry - as a Software Developer and Linux System Administrator. "This week I officially quit my job," she declared, "(when my maternity leave ended) so that I could stay home full time with little baby Oscar!" Her teenage daughter was also a big part of her decision. "She is thrilled to have more time with me." Her graphic, modern creations are often inspired by Vintage and mid-century images. "As the saying goes, 'everything old is new again,'" she explains. Etsy is now her full time job, and she feels blessed to be able to create her art while being involved in her children's lives. "I'm looking forward to becoming a better participant of the indie community," she says. Please check out her shop: http://printmakerjenn.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: DancingGirlArt

English artist Francesca Burras is "more or less a full-time artisan these days, working from (her) studio - aka the spare bedroom." Nature is her biggest inspiration. "I’m always amazed at the variety and beauty of what I see around me and I take lots of reference photos when I’m out walking my dog. They prove very useful for sparking ideas and often end up as elements in my mixed media pieces." She also has a fascination with myths and folklore from all cultures – "not Victorian, sanitized versions, but the older, darker stories which tap into something primal in our collective psyche and are a hugely rich source of imagery." Like her personality, her style has many facets. "I’ve always admired artists who have a consistent style or theme to their work. They work in one or two media and that’s it. They become instantly recognizable and have a really cohesive look to what they do. However I can’t work like that and after trying to fit myself into that particular mould for some time I finally decided to just acknowledge that I like doing too many different things to be able to settle on one permanently. So I paint, make collages, handmade books, quilts, linotypes, and lately I’ve rediscovered the joy of knitting!" Her mother may have played a part in her awakening her artistic soul. "I was fortunate to have a mother who, although we had very little money, had an infinite imagination," she explains. "We would create things out of the bits and pieces we had around the house and in the garden and that was a wonderful experience for me. It made me interested in all sorts of stuff, from sewing and knitting, which she taught me at an early age, to painting, which she loved." Thankfully she has turned her passion for creating into a full time job, although she admits, "I tend to think of a job as something I have to do even if I don’t want to. So although this is a job in the sense of earning a living I do often feel like I’m truly blessed because every day is a new adventure full of new things I haven’t done yet." She advises her fellow artists "do what you love, what makes your heart sing. And take good photos along the way." Please check out her shop: http://dancinggirlart.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Photographer: jennifersquires

Canadian photographer Jennifer Squires was born in Toronto, but now lives and works in London, Ontario. She is inspired by her surroundings and uses photography to "search for simplicity and meaning in the everyday." She finds beauty in everything - and elegantly captures it in her work. "I’m a very creative person and I tend to think outside of the box in almost everything I do," she says. "I grew up in a very small hamlet so I was always looking for ways to make things more interesting." Since she always had a camera in hand, she decided to study photography in high school and college - and has turned her hobby into a full time job. "I’d like to be the person people come to when their walls need to be refreshed," she admits. She recommends her fellow artists "spend at least as much time advertising off Etsy as you do on Etsy." Please check out her shop: http://jennifersquires.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: SankyBlue

I stumbled across this beautiful print of an original oil painting the other day while searching for "sushi." It's absolutely stunning, so I checked out the shop - SankyBlue. To my surprise Nancy Hyer just joined Etsy a few days ago on April first. Her inspiration comes from nature, which is beautifully showcased in her floral works. "William James says it best for me," she explains, "'I am done with great things and big plans, great institutions and big success. I am for those tiny, invisible, loving, human forces that work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, which, if given time, will rend the hardest monuments of pride.'" Eloquent, just like her art. "This quote speaks well to wonderfully inspiring networks such as Etsy, which offer opportunities to share the basic human experience of creativity and possibility." Please check out her shop: http://sankyblue.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: PlushBot

When I was a kid my favorite toy in the whole world was a sock monkey I named Gungadina. While perusing Etsy one day I stumbled upon an artist who sells fun prints of my childhood toy in all sorts of wonderful locations...

"Years ago I used to work as a production artist for a magazine, but soon discovered I hated working in an office," admits the quirky talent behind PlushBot. "I quit that job have been making a living as an independent artist ever since. Now I can do whatever I want, whenever I want!" She is often inspired by her surroundings. "Living near Santa Cruz, CA that can anything from the ocean and surfers to the Boardwalk and all the crazy tourists," she explains. "Being an ex-graphic designer I tend towards bold, clean, and colorful imagery," she says of her whimsical prints. Please check out her shop: http://plushbot.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: birdandflower

Elaine Jackson has a profound love of nature, both organic and human, which comes across beautifully in her folksy paintings. "I like capturing a moment in time, the moment just before the emotion changes when a person is in touch with peace or joy or just about to say something; in touch with their true self." When I asked about her interests, she joked, "I have so many passions that I could answer this question a thousand times and the answer could be different each time." She did finally pin down a few, though. "I love birds and flowers, and mermaids," she admits. "I love stories of people who do amazing things behind the scenes." Each of her pieces express her whimsical spirit. "I like to do artwork that radiates a healing energy and a sense of play." She recommends each Etsy artist develop their own unique style. "Ask your art where it wants to go and let it take you there." Please check out her shop: http://birdandflower.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Woodblock Artist: anniebissett

I was lucky enough to happen across a wonderful artist this morning, who opened her Etsy shop less than 24 hours ago...

Annie Bissett makes beautiful watercolor prints from her own hand-carved woodblocks in the traditional Japanese style known as Moku Hanga. While she has been a commercial illustrator for almost 20 years, she has been "furiously making woodblock prints in (her) spare time for the past 3 years." She explains that "the Japanese technique is distinguished from western techniques in its use of multiple blocks for multiple colors, water-based instead of oil-based pigments, and hand printing with a baren rather than printing on a press. The materials used are simple, organic and completely non-toxic -- ideal for working in a home studio." She has examples of a printing setup on her blog (http://on-my-desk.blogspot.com/2006/07/annie-bissett.html). Her subjects tend to be political and spiritual, while "celebrat(ing) this incredibly beautiful planet we all share." Her most recent project is a series of prints based on satellite images of locations that caught her eye through news stories -- "a sort of geopolitical art." Unfortunately the process is quite an undertaking, but a challenge she welcomes. "A single print can take up to two months to produce. It's the antithesis to my commercial illustration work, where I work digitally and turnaround times can be as short as three days. At first I found the contrast too extreme, but now I really value the time I spend making 'slow art.' When I'm working on a print of a place I'm not familiar with (for instance, I just completed a print of Mecca) I often listen to music or poetry from that area while I carve. The process has become a form of meditation and contemplation for me." Her brand new Etsy shop is currently a hobby but she hopes to eventually turn it into a career. Please check out her shop: http://anniebissett.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist & Graphic Designer: Krystan

Krystan is a full-time graphic designer and illustrator, who often does freelance work as well. She earned her Bachelors degree in 2005 and has been enjoying her craft ever since. A Rhode Island native, she recently made the move to Providence in a beautiful neighborhood near the water. Inspiration for her bright, cheerful style comes from friends, music, bright colors, simple patterns, and "the general hilarity that is (her) life." Almost everyone she surrounds herself with is incredibly funny - and her day often mimics "The Office;" her favorite show. "I can't wait for the writer's strike to be over," she admits. Although she's been creating since she was a baby (she still has the first drawing she ever did), she's only been working on graphic design for eight years. "(Etsy) is definitely both a job and a hobby for me. I'm not sure what I would do without it!" Like most of us, she hopes to eventually transition to Etsy full time. "Take good, clear photos, have a good banner (of course I would suggest that!), and list often," she reccomends. Please check out her shop: http://krystan.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: MystikArt

Miriam is a self taught mixed media artist, who hails from Puerto Rico. Although she currently resides in Orlando, Florida, she has also spent time in New York and Spain. "I love my USA and Spanish mix of cultures. They are both very rich in the Arts," she explains. Her inspiration comes from other artists and their work. "Nothing makes me happier than painting," she admits - and she's been creating her whimsical folk art since her teens. In 2007 she successfully made her art a full time job. While she hasn't reached her target sales goal yet, she still sees her career focus as becoming a better artist. "Take your best and make it better," she recommends, quoting her high school art teacher. "Strive to be a better artist with each (piece)." Please check out her shop: http://mystikart.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

My other passion: Portraits

While I focus on jewelry in my Etsy shop I have two other passions: writing on my fictional novel about a medevac helicopter crew in the Vietnam War - and pencil portrats. I have never persued it professionaly, but I wanted to share my work with my friends...These are some of my favorite pieces...

-Wendy Baylis