WYMZEE ART PRESENTS - ART BY ALISA STEADY

 Wymzee Art is proud to present

Art by Alisa Steady

Her business name online is Art by Alisa Steady.

aka Mouthwatering Art by Alisa Steady

Alisa's bright and bold art style ...has blasted the world with a smile.

Her colorful type of art work that she uses in her paintings, ACEO's,

 and canvases will  make you smile.

Be it from holiday to everyday art...she will surely opens your eyes to color.

See her Etsy page here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtByAlisaSteady?ref=si_shop

Alisa lives in Northeastern Illinois, right on the border separating

Illinois and Wisconsin. She likes to call it ‘Illisconsin’.

She lives with my best friend Addison (who also happens to be

my husband), they have three cats – Bunker, Lilly, and Three Wood,

and three orphaned rats – Putter, Knack Nasher, and Nick Nibblet

who reside in a rat town home and are smothered with love and

lots of goodies by Alisa and family also.

As you can see Alisa has a wonderful amazing eye ,

 and lots of imagination... which is why her inspiration strike

 at any given moment.

She is a true artist... and having fun !

Visit her blog here...and take a peek at that creativity at work.

http://alisasteadyart.blogspot.com/

She is currently selling her original

works of art using deep edge canvases.

But hopefully will soon have some prints available.

If you would love to get a piece or more of Alisa art.

She is having a special on 5”x5” size pieces that are ready to display wood block

 artwork in her Esty Shop, and as a special she is offering  20% off any item to celebrate

 May and upcoming Mother’s Day. May 1st  to May 13th.

And again that link is here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtByAlisaSteady?ref=si_shop

Alisa has been painting since high school...

and became a member of Etsy is 2010.

 Alisa dream  for herself in the art world...

is she hopes to add a gallery show

to her list of accomplishments.

Alisa also says  in her Art future...she hopes that

2012 is a year full of even bigger goals peek her inspiration.

She is branching into YouTube videos where

she will demonstrate painting techniques and how to approach

a painting  like hers from start to finish.

She is also developing a mixed media

workshop which she would like to teach locally,

and eventually nationally.

With the sells of art and the recession in the world what it

is currently, Alisa  had this to says ...

My art business is growing steadily every month,

but I have noticed with the recession lately that original artwork is

not selling as much as it used to. So I am taking the opportunity to

explore giclees and print work. It’s a good

process for thinking about your customer base and what

would be more affordable for them.

As Alisa became a member 2 years ago of Merry

Whatever to get her name and art seen more.

Advertisement and having your work seen is very important.

She knows there are lots of other artists out there just starting.

This is what she had in advice for them.

Alisa's Words to the Wise on how to be successful are...

She believes that you are as successful as you want to be.

                                   Know your business and what your niche is.

Who are the people buying your product ?

Also, stay consistent with updates about new artwork and

keeping your marketing tools fresh (like updating your blog at

least once a week, and maintaining a daily presence on your

Facebook page) is helpful for keeping your business on track.

I think it also attracts new people to you.

Another important aspect to a successful business is being professional

 with your clients.

 Golden Rule: Treat them as you like to be treated as a consumer.

Alisa would like to  leave this message-

Happy Mother’s Day to all those incredible women who shape lives,

support dreams, and who are always have been there when she needed a hug or support.

The support that hold us together.

When asked ...Who are your favorite artists,

her answer was...

I have so many on going and newly discovered favorite

artists and crafters, it’s hard to keep them all straight!

 One of my favorites is Heidi McDonald (Heidi M),

an Illustrator in the United Kingdom. Her work is magical!

Another is mixed media artist Jeanne Bessette in Raleigh,

North Carolina. Her work makes my toes curl and inspire me

to push my own creativity. Others are Mystele Kirkeeng, Wyanne,

Michelle Allen, and Danita Art ...to name a few!

But that’s just tip of the ice berg!

She has many favorite to many to name in this short story.

I asked Alisa ...what art form would you like to try, she said :

I have always been interested in beeswax and finally got

 the tools needed to experiment with it.

Now I just have to find the time!

Wymzee Art Friends  would like to Thanks Alisa Steady

 of Art by Alisa Steady for this interview.

Remember to visit her links listed above to see her  beautiful work.

A special treat from Alisa's is that she is doing the May...

 Artist Giveaway on Merry Whatever.

 So remember to go there now  -  http://babycakesmerrywhatever.blogspot.com/

 make a comment or purchase a item from her to get a chance to win one of her

wonderful art pieces pictured on Merry Whatever now.

And a Special Thanks to Alisa for allowing us in her world of ART !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jillian Crider

Wymzee Art is proud to present

Jillian Crider
from
The Art of Jillian Crider



Jillian Crider grew up in the beach-side suburb of Grange, in Adelaide, South Australia as "Jill Capon" - part of the Capon and Lill families. Her birth family is from the rural mid-north (Riverton, Saddleworth) of South Australia - Hannaford and Noble - she was adopted at birth and has lived in Australia, England, Germany, and the USA. She currently lives in southern Oregon, USA.




Jillian was born with a talent for drawing, and even though excelling at High School Art (lettering, design and history of art) with an "A" at age 15, she is self- taught, as she was not able to pursue formal study further. This doesn't stop her from pursuing her art and teaching occasionally, which she enjoys.




Employed through life in various fields other than art, she calls herself 'A Jill of All Trades'. This follows through to her art. One of her solo exhibitions was presented as 'A Jill of All Shades'. For a while she was self-employed doing house portraiture in pen and ink - producing over 9,000 portraits!




She works in multiple mediums and sizes, even including some very tiny miniatures. Her work is collected world-wide. Jillian has won awards in notable exhibitions, and been juried into numerous art shows.



During her life she has picked up some unusual areas to apply her art - rubber stamp design, set design, jewelry design, instant lottery ticket design, murals, billboards, photography, movie theatre advertising, graphic design, pop-corn cans, book covers, magazine illustration and even a cow pat pad.





She started painting 'seriously' with a few works in 1998. A friend wanted to see some of her artwork and she had none to show. She set about 'proving herself as an artist'. Her second pastel won an award and she has gone on from there with more art, more awards and exhibitons. She had her own gallery/studio for 2 years at West Beach, South Australia. Jillian was Outside Exhibitions Art Director of the Atlanta Artists Center for several years and on their Board of Directors.



Currently she is devoting as much time to her art as she can, and sells much of it online. She also likes promoting art and other artists. She has a deep attachment to miniature art, ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals - 2.5x3.5") and SFA (Small Format Art), even though she paints in large sizes as well. She is head of several art groups online. She loves pretty, unusual and cute things.
Jillian says “I am an artist, photographer and crafter. I have traveled extensively. My art is who I am, not what I am.”



Her website JillianCrider.com has been online since 1st June 2001.

To see more of Jillian visit her website and links
Etsy
and
Etsy

Jillian Crider's JacketFlap Book page
Blog
Zazzle
Jillian Crider – Pinterest


Jillian Crider believes in Making the world lovelier, one image at a time




Jillian is the special guest artist this month on the Merry Whatever Blog. Please take a moment and visit her there.

Past and Present

Wymzee Art is proud to present...

A present look at a few of our past spotlights…

Paula Nerhus
aRt dOlLs, pHoTogRapHy, aNd DeSiGn



The art moth doll- is about 29" tall. She is free standing in a wooden base. To see additional photos of her please visit her FLICKER
Available to purchase on Etsy


Bonnie Jones
One of A Kind (OOAK) Figurative Sculptures



This tiny 7" Figure is sculpted from paper clay over a strong wire armature. She is dressed in hand dyed silk and antique lace; her headdress is an antique silver piece. The wings are mixed media and her base is paper clay decorated with silver leaf. She is OOAK never to be created again.
Available to purchase on Etsy


Laurence of Feltoohlala
Needle felted dolls with love



DREAM is an art doll, needle felted over an armature which allows different poses, one of a kind and my own design ,and won't be reproduced. She stands at 16 inches, 40cm on a wooden square base of 7x7 inches (18 cm).
Her dogs are about 8 inches tall top of the head...one black the other white. Their eyes are resin and paper clay and made by me.
Layaway and international shipping.
Available to purchase on Etsy


Marinart
By Marina



This decorative doll is 13 inches tall, jointed legs, shelf sitter. Her arms can take any pose. Sculpted out of Paperclay and painted with acrylic paints. She is a ooak. Her dress is not removable and her hair is soft tibetan mohair permanently attached to her head. Freshwater pearls adorn her hair and glass beads are her knees. Her legs are dangling. She can stand only with an appropriate doll stand.
I will make one for her for free if you request it.
"There will be only one of her"
Available to purchase on Etsy


Abi Monroe
OOAK Clay Art Dolls




A custom doll for you…The doll will be made from Paperclay and Puppen Fimo, painted with Golden acrylics, with a Gesso undercoat, and finished with Perfix Coloulress Fixative, for long lasting protection. The doll will be between 12-14" tall. The rest is up to you. Layaway is available.
Available to purchase on Etsy


Tirelessartist




I have made this doll in a spirit of steampunk thinking of how simple and at the same time complicated we are.
Sometimes we are happy, sometimes we are sad. One day we see just bright colors and the other it seems that the whole world is sinking in the darkness… Actually the world is always the same, and it has nothing to do with how we feel. We get confused, and we seek for the reasons, because we simply forget, that all we are just biological machines with thousands of chemical and physical processes in us. We can be affected by something, or we can break without any obvious reason – the most important is to understand that and to try to repair us as soon as possible.
Available for purchase on Etsy

Sarah Dressler

Wymzee Art proudly presents
Sarah Dressler
AKA
ToadstoolsNTreestump




Sarah lives in St. Georges, Delaware, USA. She teaches mixed media/art exploration classes for children & teens, part-time. An extraordinary amount of her time is occupied by duties as a "band mom." That will make sense to anyone with a history or present involvement with a school marching band. It is teaching Sarah a lot about organization, fitting uniforms, sewing flags, feeding large groups of kids quickly and a hint of general parenting to 80+ teenagers.




Sarah told me she has been making, drawing, and painting things, for as long as she can remember. In 1989 she earned a BFA from The University of the Arts, in Philadelphia, PA in Metals/Jewelry. She has been painting and doing calligraphy for the SCA for about a decade – and feels there is something satisfying about painting miniatures and the attention to tiny details such work requires.




I asked her what kind of crafts or art she purchases for herself and Sarah told me…
“There is no one category of craft/art that I purchase for myself, though fantasy and woodsy/earthy stuff often tempts me. My home was built in the 1860s and is decorated in an eclectic mix of styles that all seem to work with each other pretty harmoniously. So, a wide variety of art is on my walls and shelves.




Sarah doesn’t really have a favorite season to create and she says she dabbles in a variety of mediums when she is working. When she starts to feel blocked in one medium she will shift to another, sometimes the different disciplines inform each other and inspire ideas that work for multiple projects. Miniature paintings offer details that work for costumes or character ideas in my art dolls. Jewelry can get scaled back to fit a doll. A doll's colors or aesthetic may inspire a painting or even jewelry.”



"Each season has its own sources of inspiration. During the summer I find myself thinking about sea creatures - mermaids and the like. This summer I decided to make a collection of the four seasons. One doll for each season, and in the middle of the heat wave it was lovely to be making a doll inspired by snow. There is something magical about spring and fall, those times of transition when you cannot predict the weather or what kinds of colors you may discover in unexpected places are probably my favorites, if I were to narrow it down."



Sarah says her husband is very supportive of her artistic endeavors - he even helps with her bookkeeping. Sarah thinks her kids are not only supportive but are occasionally helpful. When her daughter was about 6, she was my initial incentive to start making dolls. She wanted a small cloth faerie doll she had seen at a friend’s house. We could not get one like it, as they had been discontinued, so Sarah thought she could make something similar. It had simple tube shaped limbs given definition by tying thread tightly around joints. Her daughter was thrilled with her first attempts but Sarah got bored working on such simple ideas and it felt like cheating using a commercial doll as her source of inspiration. Soon after that, she started drawing her own more lifelike patterns with shaped limbs. Eventually Sarah opted to start playing with realistic and more fantastical proportions. Her son got tired of her making "girl" dolls and requested something for boys - to be specific a brachiosaurus. Sarah made him one but was not inspired to make more dinosaurs, but trolls, goblins, brownies and spirit dolls grew out of that gentle nudge out of her comfortable box. Nearly a decade later, Sarah keeps pushing herself to learn new techniques and how to work with other materials. Needle felting is one of her newest areas of experimentation. Her son was thrilled and subsequently requested some dragons and alligators... Sarah feels his enthusiasm is about as good as family support can get. I think so too.



Sarah’s newest project is making dolls with their own settings. Until recently she had been photographing her dolls in a diorama, a woodland scene to give them a sense of place. She told me, ” I can't sell my photo backdrop so I have started providing some of my dolls with a small set piece - a nest, a chunk of bark, a mossy platform covered in leaves... I am about to start some household brownies - dolls sitting on mini chest of drawers, on a jewelry box, lanterns and maybe even a small bird cage.”



Along with teaching art classes, Sarah is looking into teaching doll making workshops. She has donated dolls, jewelry, calligraphy and paintings to a variety of organizations and causes that were looking for items for auctions or fundraising events. Sarah feels it is a wonderful feeling to be able to contribute something that will be appreciated in a variety of ways. She feels the monies raised are good but she loves to see/hear about the reactions of people who wanted some of her work and won a piece while donating money to a good cause.



Sarah sells on Etsy her only online shop, but she does occasional craft shows and is looking forward to her third year as a vendor at Faerie Con.



I asked Sarah what tools and supplies do you most use in your work?
“For my dolls, my favorite fabrics are quilter’s cottons. I am particularly fond of batik cottons. I love the sense of freedom in the colors those techniques produce. For doll wings, I love playing with Angelina films and fibers, sometimes incorporating wires, sequins and beads as well. My dolls’ hair is usually either Yadeno Mohair, or a combination of eyelash yarns. I use a technique called needle felting to attach the hair. Until sometime in the last a couple of years, all my dolls were completely hand sewn. I have finally made peace with my sewing machine and most of the seams on the dolls bodies are machine sewn. I use John James long darning needles for the rest of the hand sewing. My favorite materials in my jewelry making are pearls, every color and shape. I love the ethereal quality of the light they reflect. I also love moonstone, garnets and amethysts, among others. I generally use accuflex 49 strand beading wire. It’s as flexible as thread but is made of steel, so it is very strong and it means I never have to thread a beading needle again.”



I get inspired by listening to music and wanted to know if Sarah did also. “Sometimes I have music on (jazz, classical, world, movie soundtracks, celtic, and the occasional pop or rock song), especially if I am doing calligraphy, it's less distracting and less likely to invite wording mistakes. When I am sewing or painting I love to listen to audio books. It's the favorite way to multitask. The local library has a fair selection of audio books but some I loved so much I've slowly started collecting my own. So far it is a pretty eclectic mix of classic literature and fantasy, as well as a few chick-lit books. It is fun to get lost in stories while working on the more tedious aspects of my work; like cutting out, turning, stuffing doll body parts, stringing beads after the design of a necklace is completed, or needle felting dolls.”



Sarah gets inspiration from a lot of places, but a few seem to factor more heavily in her work. “For example the paintings of Brian Froud and the astonishingly beautiful dolls of his wife Wendy Froud never fail to inspire me. Looking at one of Brian Froud's books was what gave me license to break free of the expected proportions of human inspired dolls. Suddenly I felt free to give them enormous noses, giant heads and tiny bodies, super long limbs, feet and hands, and more modest torsos or heads. I frequently work free of patterns altogether and just draw doll parts onto the fabric and start sewing eager to see exactly what will come of such freedom from planning.”



I always wonder what information each artist would share to help others who are trying to be successful in an online business.
Sarah told me, “While I have yet to learn the secret to doing it successfully, promotion seems to be the key to success. You can make the most exquisite art in the world, and have a very well organized office and bookkeeping system to track sales and lovely packaging to ship things in, but if no one knows of your work or how to find it you will never make enough sales to be successful. Promotion on and off of the internet will get your name and images of your work out to the larger population and working to target your potential fans will help grow your following and your work will sell.”



I like to know what each artist collects and Sarah says she’s been known to collect hedge hog items, as they are just so adorable. When my family goes for walks in the woods or camping I often take a bag with me to collect occasional pine cones, acorns, bits of lichen or some bits of mossy bark on the forest floor. Many of them find their way into my work”.



Sarah has been published with 5 dolls in Art Doll Quarterly a few years ago. She has submitted her Four Season dolls for possible inclusion in a magazine but she won’t say which one. (She doesn’t want to jinx them, so I won't say anymore.)
To see and read more about Sarah join her on facebook.

Cheyanne Payne

Wymzee Art proudly presents
Miss Oblivious
AKA
Paynecreation Dolls
who now works under the name
KOOK Teflon



Miss Oblivious, is a California native living in Seattle since 2006, yet striving for a residency in Louisiana. She left her heart in New Orleans! Miss Oblivious is a doll-maker, photographer, painter, zine publisher, writer, film-maker, promoter, producer, and art instructor. She also takes time out to be a Pike Place Market Ghost Tour guide. Miss Oblivious is inspired by people and events that embody the underbelly of society, including, but not limited to, the dust-bowl glamour of traveling sideshows, circuses, the dark history of the French Quarter and the unacknowledged icons of queer culture.



She’s been with the same man for almost 12 years and has 2 children (8 yrs& 14 yrs old). All of them are very supportive and her husband supports her in any way possible to make her dreams come true.



Miss Oblivious went to school for graphic arts in 1991 and has been a zine publisher since 1994. She fronted a band from 1999-2003, NAG. She has been making dolls since 2005.



Her favorite crafts to buy, sell or make are dark historical and fictional folk art. When asked what is her favorite season to create for, she answered, “Damp, cold, Halloween season, of course!”



She loves to collect vintage prostitution books, old dolls, sock garters and her sons’ artwork.


 
Her newest project is a book, centered around a fictional town she created in Louisiana. This is based on different doll collections and is called "Bereavement Louisiana". She is also working on a collection for the second annual "Carnival of Saints".


Miss Oblivious sells her items on:
Etsy
Ragin Daisy
Gargoyles

She also vends at various art and gallery shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland and (of course) New Orleans. She was also teaching from 2008-2010, but had to put it aside due to a full schedule.



She gets inspiration from Dame Darcy , citing her full time (24/7) dedication to her art.
Her biggest influence in art, after Dame Darcy is Madame Talbot; Claude Cahun; turn of the century Mardi Gras; Anita Berber; Marie Laveau; Haunted (United States) History; and frequent visits to the Big Easy.



She loves recreating or creating historical persons. The dolls bodies are all hand-stitched from new cotton or felt. She normally strides to use as much vintage fabrics for her dolls as possible. Most of the time the fabrics she uses will come from antique dresses, doilies/hankies, or household items which she reforms into the dolls attire. She also places a eucalyptus nut in most of her dolls. These nuts come from 19th century trees planted in the San Francisco estate of former New Orleans resident and voodoo priestess, civil rights advocate, Mary Ellen Pleasant.



If she could live anywhere in the world, I ask for her first choice. She answered, not surprisingly, “New Orleans of course, inside of a big decrepit home in the French quarter, with my husband and children. “I find inspiration from the air, streets, sounds, religion and stories of the quarter. My one year goal is to have all my travel paid for and my book finished. My book is based on a few different collections of dolls I have created.
In five years, I plan on being a full time Louisiana resident. Within ten years, I can think only of New Orleans, and living in a world of perpetual ruinous glamour. I'd love to own a specialty doll/art curio shop/gallery in the quarter, maybe a house on Esplanade.
I dream of making dolls all day & night and owning a pet goat.”



I always ask what info you’d like to share to help other be successful in an online business and she told me to be consistent and passionate with your work. The rest will follow.



Her inspiring art work was the subject of a March 2010 feature article in New Orleans’ Cue magazine. She has also been seen in METRO, SEATTLE SINNER and Stretched Canvas Art Mag. Miss Oblivious has had her dolls and photographs exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. She is a regular participant in art and photography exhibits in New Orleans, including Poets Gallery,
Ragin Daisy, The Darkroom and RHINO.

To learn more about this talented artist You can find her online at:
Her Blog
Facebook

Kandi Ali-Watkins

Wymzee Art is proud to present
Kandi Ali-Watkins
(in the art world she goes by Kali)
AKA
Water Scissors Paper



Kali is a California girl originally from Northern California and still considers the Bay Area her home. She now resides in El Segundo, California. Kali says to think of Mayberry as an example. It is a very small town where everybody knows your name.



Kali has been an artist since middle school where she would write little stories and illustrate them. She also took a drawing class in 9th grade and loved it. Unfortunately, after high school she says she didn't do anything artistic again for about 10 years. Kali loves anything that is visually stimulating. She loves to cook, read, watch movies, and paint with her fingers.



Kali loves to make primitive and whimsical pieces and she is usually drawn to the same in her liking of items. Kali likes to collect angels, old books and teacups. Her favorite season to create for is winter/Christmas. She told me her second son was born on Dec. 26th. She loves everything about Winter.



Kali is currently a stay at home mom to 4 sons, ages 6-16, but worked as a social worker in her other life. She and her husband originally met as Freshman at UC Berkeley and have been together ever since. Her husband and kids are her cheerleaders. Kali often asks them for their opinion on what she’s making, and will often go with their suggestions.



Currently she is working on inspirational ornaments and wall art. She told me “I like my art to say things that are thought provoking and not always polite. One piece that I especially love is a bird ornament that reads, "dear fear, i am ending this affair". She loves it because she thinks a lot of people, especially artists, struggle with fear. Kali says life really does open up when you let fear go. Selling your art/craft is such a vulnerable thing to do. It can bring up a lot of "issues” about acceptance and rejection.  Kali has just started designing a line of rubber stamps and hopes they make their debut around Christmas.



Kali currently sells all her clay creations on etsy. She also sells paintings on etsy and ebay. She would love to teach a class someday, but hasn’t done so yet and she often donates items for charity.


Kali told me she is inspired by so many people. Words inspire her the most. Poetry (all) and the bible are her favorites. One artist who is inspiring her lately is Anahata Katkin. Her work is fearless. Kandi also a big fan of Yoshimoto Nara.




I asked her what information she would like to share to help other be successful in an online business. Kali told me, “ I would like to tell anyone starting out in an online business to take their time. It can be a slow process but well worth it. In the beginning, I stalked my favorite artists and people who do well in the business. By stalk I mean I  followed their blogs, signed up for online classes that they offered, and watched how they promoted themselves. I would also suggest researching anything and everything on pricing. Check books out from your local library, read and take notes. It does not happen over night. And lastly, be yourself.”



Two of Kali's dolls were featured in the winter issue(Jan. 2011) of Art Dolls Quarterly. One collage and two brooches will be in the Christmas edition of Somerset Studios 2011.




Please visit Kali's blog and flickr to see more of this wonderful talented artist!
Blog
Flickr