Inside the mind of an artist at work

One of our core team members recently confided her excitement over a new project she had dreamed up. Her enthusiasm piqued our curiosity and we asked if she would share a peek into her creative process with you, our valued readers.

Heather Wirth of Smarty Pants Design might already be familiar to some of you for her dreamy swirled polymer clay buttons. Her paintings and previous jewelry designs reveal an artist with a very tactile and visual perspective. Take a look at her impressive mindmapping/brainstorming stream pictured here as you read the questions posed to her.

What is your latest endeavor called? Surfer Girl jewelry

What was your inspiration? I was inspired by the economy in a way, in that women have cut way back on purchasing "luxury" items such as jewelry

Who is your target audience? Surfer Girl is for the woman who never wears jewelry as a symbol of status or social class, but who loves the feeling of being adorned with something handcrafted and one of a kind, something that once she puts it on...she doesn't have to think about again.

How is this line different from what you may have done before? Each piece is being made to stand the test of time...the clay is baked for a shorter period so the beads and pendants stay semi-plyable. I'm using a 3 step process to glaze each piece, making the beads not only scratch resistant but also waterproof. The cords used are made from waxed cotton or synthetic rubber, and close via 2 beads in the back rather than a clasp, and can be made shorter or longer simply by pulling the beads.

How will this project resonate with fans of your previous work --- will it feel familiar to them at all? As everyone knows of my love of turquoise, it's no surprise the color palette for the line includes a variety of blues, aqua, blue-green and turquoise hues.

It sounds like Heather has come up with a very resilient and adaptable way for us to wear her art! You can view more of Heather's creations by visiting her etsy shop. Be sure to check back in mid to late July when her Surfer Girl line should make its debut! Also watch for her to make several local appearances in events such as The Grandview Hop, Westerville Farmers Market and Worthington Market Days.

http://imasmartypants.etsy.com/

Thursday's Featured item of the day by Zaryana of Art Fey Studio

Greetings readers! Today we have an exciting featured artist and newer team member. Her name is Zaryana. She creates one of a kind original art dolls that are so incredibly beautiful and enchanting. Their base is of manzanita wood and polymer clay. Hair is hand dyed mohair. Facial features are painted with acrylics and sealed. Wings are removeable. Other embellishments include microbeads and swarovski crystal. Attention is paid to every detail. Even her choice of fabrics reflects the richness of her designs---sometimes ethereal and other times as if they come from an era long past.

Here, in her own words is her profile:

Art Doll making is a big part of my life (and even part of my personality) that gives me an opportunity to dream away from everyday life into the wonderful world of fantasy through the creative process.

I am passionately in love with creating Art Dolls and for me it is as important as fresh air and fresh water. The process of creating itself has many wonderful aspects to it like: research and brainstorming, sculpting and painting, picking colors, fabrics and accessories, designing a costume, finding right color and textures, hair designs and overall creating a character. My characters appear from within, bringing to life the whisper of great legends and fairy tales that surrounded my childhood in the old and beautiful city of Kiev, Ukraine.

I started creating art dolls a long time ago. The interest came from my acting and stage design classes. Theater always inspired me. Many years passed by before I discovered polymer clay and instantly fell in love with this media. Now, after years of teaching art and being a freelance artist, I enjoy escaping into the world of my imagination and putting hours of work into creating a fantasy. Many of my Art Dolls and miniatures are in private collections across the world and I love to hear from my customers that my creations bring joy and happiness to their homes. It makes me a truly happy person.

*Here are two links to better acquaint you with this amazing artist:

http://artfeystudio.etsy.com/

http://www.artfeystudio.com/

Tuesday's item of the day

1 of a Kind Creations is the etsy shop run by team member Deb. She specializes in needle felted wool sculptures. Some pieces take as many as 20 hours of work to complete! What we love best about her mini wool "people" are the identities she dreams up for each during her creative process. She describes their character in a "bio poem" included with the purchase of each piece. Today you are meeting Sailor Jack. It is worth noting there is no stuffing or internal structure within Jack or any of his shop-mates.

Several of Deb's sculptures recently won a Vice President's ribbon for "Favorite entry" in the Ohio State University's annual faculty and staff art show.

Be sure to pop by her shop to check out her other unique and interesting sculptures/creations.

http://1ofakindcreations.etsy.com/