Meet Etsy Artist: raycious

Rie is a Japanese transplant in Australia with an Aussie fiance, a dog, and birds. "We both enjoy being involved in our own craft," she admits. "My inspiration is coming from my country Japan. We have a lot of traditional craft/art which I love to spread all over the world!" Of course her mother and fiance are also a huge inspiration. Her Saikumono style is a "very delicate way of a hand sewn craft from time gone by in which disappeared during the period of war, but now it is revived anew." Pre WWII Japanese women used the art of Saikumono to express the beauty of nature throughout the four seasons. Please check her out on Etsy: http://saikumono./

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: KathyMartinStudio

Aside from being an artist, Kathy Martin is also a professional saxophone player, singer, composer, and "3rd grade teacher, who has a passion for creating." She has lived in 10 different states, but currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she plans to pursue her music career. As a composer she writes New Age piano ballads. "I then layer different ambient sounds and melodies over the top of my piano compositions to create a Yanni or Enya type of piece," she explains. "As an elementary school teacher I plan to begin writing a series of songs that will encourage students to learn and acquire long-term retention of important facts. I have begun research on the brain in regards to how music effects and enhances the long-term retention of knowledge....think 'School House Rock' and 'Conjunction junction, what's your function?'" Aside from music she loves creating visual works of art. "Painting beautiful, unique works of art is very fun and exciting to me. I use a variety of acrylic paints, 18 karat gold leaf, silver leaf, and copper leaf in my pieces. Most of my paintings are base coated with 24 karat gold paint, painted in 3D, and then treated to appear to be antiqued metal." Nature and music are her inspiration. "My favorite subjects to paint are cherry blossoms (and) dragonflies," she says. Currently she focuses on metallic earth tones, but plans to experiment with a bolder palette. "I am afraid of color's beyond shades of gold, copper, and silver for some reason," she admits. "It's time to start branching out." Although she's been composing songs since she was 13, she's only been painting since 2003 when her "EXTREMELY talented sister, who is a gifted visual artist, moved in with (her) for 2 years." To encourage her sister's talent, she purchased an excess of supplies - and one day picked up a brush and started painting herself. "My first painting was so ugly that I threw it away," she jokes. "It took a while to figure out what medium to use and how to get the three dimensional aspect of my paintings how I wanted them...Luckily, as a teacher, I get 3 paid months off a year and can use that time to really focus on my painting." Please check out her shop: http://kathymartinstudio.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: artsygemini

Sandy Sappington-Broschat lives in northern California with her husband of 23 years. "I have 4 grown beautiful kids, three live close by and one is overseas in the Army." She has been "trading art cards all over the world for about 3 years." Although she enjoys all mediums, her favorites are drawing, collage, and altered art. "I enjoy looking at and collecting other peoples art work," she admits. "I am one of those people who sees art all around, whether it is how someone decorates their house or on a canvas." In fact, her surroundings are often her inspiration. "I have an art room and the walls and ceiling are covered in art work of others, my kids as they grew up, my hubby who is a hobby photographer and art I have done over the years." She tends not to plan her work ahead of time. "I just let my imagination go wild and work on an item 'til it is finished. If I am not happy with a piece I set it aside and leave it alone and often when I come back to it I either like it or I have new inspiration to finish it. I love vintage and distressed looking things when I collage or do altered art. Most of my items have a real warm patina and look to them. When I draw or paint I tend to use bold colors and strong lines. I love using either charcoal or my prisma color pens and pencils." To Sandy, creating has always been "therapy and comfort." One of her biggest joys is hearing from people who enjoy her art. Please check out her shop: http://artsygemini.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/