ARTIST STORY | Femi Ford

ARTIST STORY | Femi Ford

ARTIST STORY | Femi Ford

 

Femi Ford is mixed media artist and surface pattern designer living in the country side of New York, USA.  With a background in Art & Printmaking, she loves to experiment in the studio and translate her fine art into pattern for fashion and interiors.

Here is more about her, in her own words:

“I love the sense of spontaneity, unpredictability and discovery that art can offer. I fell in love with Printmaking & Letterpress in college…there is just something about pulling the first print of a transferred image that never fails to excite me.

After 10 years of creating and selling my artwork in galleries around NYC, I left the city for the country life to raise my family surrounded in nature. In June 2012, I completed a highly respected course, The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design.  Since then, I’ve been incorporating my lino cuts, paintings, & ink drawings into digital patterns for fashion and home products.

My artwork and patterns can be described as bold, feminine, organic & vibrant.  I’m inspired by nature’s patterns in flora & fauna, fashion, jewelry, exotic places, and happy accidents spilled from my studio.

When not designing, I can be found running, swimming, or snowboarding with my family. I also run & curate a local art gallery featuring artists from our community.”

Femi is a talented artist, friend, and colleague of mine.

You can find Femi’s beautiful work at:

Society6

ETSY

Femi also designs prints for outright sale through Hunt & Gather Studio.

 

 

 

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ARTIST STORY | Tamarindo Pottery Studio

My husband and I took a recent trip to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. It was an amazing place and I can’t wait until we can return. Tamarindo is small beach town on the Northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It is famed for it’s surf! It’s great place to learn surfing or to hone your skills, if you are more advanced. I’ll be writing more about our trip through out this weeks post’s. During an afternoon wandering the town, we meet ceramist Arbin Espinosa Guevara who owns and runs Guaitil Pottery Studio.

Guaitil Pottery Studio | Arbin working on a piece | Artist painting and adding decorated elements

I was immediately drawn to the beautiful patterns on the pieces and my husband was intrigued by the traditional pre-columbian methods, as he teaches ceremics. Arbin was kind enough to let us all around his studio and explained to us the traditional methods he uses. We were able to chat with & watch two of his fellow artists painting pieces. My favorite part is that they were working in their boardshorts! Hmmm re-thining lifestyle. Live at the beach -wear bathing suit to work – paint beautiful pottery- go for afternoon surf. Where do I sign??

“For over 800 years, the Chorotega Indians have been producing organic coil built pottery throughout Central America. This artistic tradition has been passed down, generation to generation, and is one of the remaining indigenous crafts still being practiced in Costa Rica. In the small pottery village of Guaitil, located on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, Arbin Espinosa Guevara was handed down this tradition from his mother. Growing up in the village and being surrounded by this art form, he learned all facets of production and has been practicing this ancient craft ever since.“

Arbin also provides lessons and workshops in his studio. You can visit his website HERE

Some of Arbin’s work. We took home the one on the bottom right.

More beautiful patterns and traditional Costa Rica animals and motif’s.

Not only does Abrin have a fab little pottery studio in a great little beach town but, his wife Tricia is an artist as well. She make awesome metal and leather jewelry. She has a great little hand-made jewelry boutique right next to his store. Her site is UrbanEclectic.etcy.com .

ARTSIST STORY | Amy Sia

ARTSIST STORY | Amy Sia

One of my favorite pattern designers is London based AMY SIA. She is fast becoming know for her dreamy watercolor patterns. I share a mutual love with Amy for her use of watercolor techniques, bright colors, flowers, and dreamy compositions. I am continuously inspired by her work and am enjoying following her career and seeing where it will go. She has a fierce following on Pinterest and you can follow her boards HERE.

Her work is available in prints, skins, and iphone cases her at Society6.

Amy’s fans will be happy to know that she just launched a new website for a new line of beautifully printed scarves with her signature watercolor patterns. Place your orders now!

www.amy-sia.com

I can’t wait to see what comes next!!!!

ARTSIST STORY | Amy Sia

ARTIST STORY | CORIUMI

ARTIST STORY | CORIUMI

Lithuanian artist Arvydas Baltinas creates the lovely screen printed leather bags. Check out her ETSY shop here.

ARTIST STORY | Musibatty

ARTIST STORY | Musibatty

Artist Jennifer Musi designs and makes every MUSIBATTY designer handmade jewelry piece in her Condesa studio in Mexico City. Her jewelry showcases amazing lines and textures, with ethnic and nature influences.

“Each design begins with a drawing; simple lines that are then translated into a soldered model using hand fabrication techniques. The resulting three-dimensional piece is replicated in sterling silver or bronze using the lost wax casting process and meticulously polished to achieve the perfect sheen”

You can find Jennifer’s beautiful pieces at her ETSY SHOP or www.musibatty.com

ARTIST STORY | Shadowplaynyc

ARTIST STORY | Shadowplaynyc

Shadowplaynyc was started by two New York artists Xime & Ali. They take us to a galaxy far far away with their beautiful garments. Each outer-space garment is one-of-a-kind and handmade using real Hubble telescope images. Available in their Etsy shop Shadowplaynyc are beautiful sewn skirts, dresses, scarves, and some children items. You can also check out their blog HERE.

ARTIST STORY | Alison Gledhill

ARTIST STORY | Alison Gledhill

I love these pretty tied-dyed /leather bags from etsy shop Gracedesign by Alison Gledhill. They are serene, and a perfect match of beauty & function. Alison Gledhill is an designer and artist living in Toronto, Canada. With a background in textiles and costume design, she creates these beautifully hand crafted bags, scarfs, and kimono jackets. She draws inspiration from her many world travels and nature.

“I find inspiration in the sunshine and the quiet, solitude, nature and its wonderfulness, animals and their often hilarious and heartbreakingly beautiful eccentricities, excellent music and dancing outdoors in the summer, coffee and wine, colour, texture and my lifelong search for beauty.” -Allison

You can find her lovely work here on Etsy: GRACEDESIGN

ARTIST STORY | worldofpineapple

ARTIST STORY | worldofpineapple

Artist Noa Ambar from Tel Aviv, Israel has created a beautiful collection of printed leather products. She takes her inspiration from her passion for color, cartoons, street art, and heavy metal music. After much experimentation, she developed her own unique method for printing on leather. Her line includes phone cases, cuff bracelets, belts, wallets, and more. Recently, she has also started a collection of printed pattern leather for other crafters to use in their own work. Noa’s goal as a artist to help add more color to our world, who wouldn’t want that?

“The PINEAPPLE brand is my way of adding colors to the world we live in. These colorful creations are here to brighten up your day and bring a smile to your face!”

Check out her ETSY shop worldofpineapple  !!!!

ARTIST STORY | April Deacon

ARTSIST STORY | April Deacon

Ohio artist April Deacon has a knack for creating something new and freash from objects of the past.  She mixes modern color palettes with vintage textiles and other found objects. Check out her awesomely quirky Etsy shop Aprilawakening, where you can find these beautifully painted vintage textiles. Here is what she says about her process:

“These are the objects I am drawn to. Items once treasured by someone litter the shelves of antique stores and exist in droves at flea markets. My desire is to resurrect forgotten memories through these pieces. Discarded photographs, textiles, jewelry findings and more, take on new life with a fresh coat of paint. I want to create a longing for these once undesired objects.”