Meet Marie of Marie Murphy Designs

Marie took time to respond to the CRAFTED questions - just a few curiosities so you could learn more about our artists!

1. My favorite greeting card from my collection would be the love birds card. I like the simplistic bird image with the pattern background. Overall, I feel it is a cute card.

2. A good deal of my cards are typographically inspired. I absolutely love typography and am always critiquing it whether it be on packaging, a billboard, store signage, or on a website.

3. I went back to school as a non traditional student for graphic design. For my senior project I decided to launch a greeting card company. I loved it so much that following graduation I decided to pursue that path. I have had a borderline obsession with stationery for over fifteen years.

4. My favorite part of my artistic process is working with typography. I love trying to find the right font for each card and making sure that each letter and each word are evenly spaced and line up just right.

5. When I grow up I want to buy out Hallmark.

6. I graduated from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's degree in graphic design in May of 2015.

7. If I were magically given three extra hours a day I would work on designing more hand drawn cards.

8. If I were not pursuing a career in stationery I would be a painter, primarily one who works with oils. 

Bob Baumann - Behind the Lens

Do you have one photograph that you are most proud of and why?

I honestly have to say the I am proudest of my latest work.  Then I move on the the next.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I find my inspiration in just about everything I see. From a rusted out Ford Truck to the flight of a Bald Eagle.               

What started you on this artistic endeavor?

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge in 1974.  I was amazed at the detail of the steel and stone work.  That’s when I started to look at things in a different way.

What is your favorite part of your artistic process?

It is the catch. I sometime equate photography to fishing,  you get a great number of keepers but every now and then you catch a big one.

When I grow up I want to …                

…be an adult.

Where did you learn your craft / art?

From being a year-book staff photographer in high school to photographing college football, I am learning more about photography everyday.

If you were magically given 3 more hours each day - what would you do with them?

Exploring my world.                

Artist Statement:  YOU DON'T TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH. YOU ASK, QUIETLY, TO BORROW IT.  ~AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Mason J.A.R Apparel Reveled

Do you have one piece that you are most proud of, and why?

I don't have a one piece that I am proud of. Each one has great significance to me.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Most of the imagery comes for the stories me and my two sons share through books or imaginary story telling.

What started you on this artistic endeavor?

I wanted to get back to the art world after having my son Mason. It seemed fitting to combine my love of block printing and children's clothing.

What is your favorite part of your artistic process?

Carving the blocks definitely! Its my own form of meditation.

When I grow up I want to …

continue to push myself as an artist.

Where did you learn your craft / art?

My father taught me how to carve linoleum blocks at a very young age.

If you were magically given 3 more hours each day - what would you do with them?

Design, print and play with my two boys. 

If I were not a printmaker I would love to explore collage.

Jessica's artist statement:

Artist Jessica Ann Russell is the creative force behind Mason J.A.R. Apparel. Hand block printed in Bethlehem PA. Mason J.A.R. Apparel creates unique artwork on comfortable organic kid's clothes. It's imagery and color palette are influenced by natures own playful images and cultures across the four corners of the Earth. In 2011 Jessica started Mason J.A.R. Apparel.  Her own home based business. A dream inspired by her son Mason and her love for fashion and art. When not chasing her two boys she is working on developing new designs in her studio. 

She learned block printing when she was just a child, from her father and fellow artist. Over the years she has worked for a variety of print studios, before and after college. Jessica attended both the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and the School of Visual Arts where she majored in textile design and children's book illustration. After working for years doing visual merchandising she returned to what she loved, printmaking. Mason J.A.R. Apparel is dedicated to providing a product that inspires and exposes our littlest of humans to art responsibly.

Clay Art for the Soul - Patty Baumeister

Get familiar with Patty Baumeister of Clay Art for the Soul

I am a third grade teacher at Montgomery School in Chester Springs, PA. Working with clay became a passion when my youngest child left for college. I now have a home studio where my inspirations become reality.

My Clay Art is sold at art shows throughout Chester County.  Clay Art for the Soul is for those who enjoy surrounding themselves with objets d'art. Most of my work is raku fired. Pears, letters, numbers, and game pieces are designed in a way to make them unique and very special.  You can see more of my work on my Etsy shop...clayartforthesoul.

I find my inspiration from being a teacher. I try to make my curriculum as creative as my art...learning is an art form, different to every pair of eyes. If I have an idea and I can't sleep, then I know it's good. 

I have an amazing pottery teacher. She often helps me extract ideas from my head and create them in clay. She is the teacher that has influenced me most in my life...I hope that a few of my students will one day feel that way about me.

Bobby Graham - Jewelry

Get to know Bobby Graham, RT Graham, creator of fine jewelry using silver and gold, as well as gem stones.

Do you have one piece that you are most proud of, and why?

Along with my regular jewelery I take some time each year to make a large statement piece, these usually incorporate found objects and gemstones. 

Where do you find inspiration for your work? 

Botanical illustrations and architecture. 

What started you on this artistic endeavor?

The desire to never stop working with my hands.

What is your favorite part of your artistic process?

Making stuff. I enjoy transforming material into finished works of art. 

When I grow up I want to …

I’m never growing up

Where did you learn your craft / art? 

Kutztown University 

If you were magically given 3 more hours each day - what would you do with them? 

Go outside, sketch, and make art 

If I were not a jewelry maker, I explore printmaking 

Nicole Logan - Meet and Greet!

Do you have one piece that you are most proud of, and why?

It's either the Koi fish or the latest piece I've done. The Koi fish is my logo and what started it all, when what I'd been working toward clicked. I'm proud of each latest piece, as I strive to make each piece better than the last. I use what I know from all the past pieces and improve on that for the next. So, the latest piece is a culmination.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

The animals I choose just due to my love of creatures. Inspiration is in the patterns and colors I'm drawn to. I find my patterns in Nature, the Arts and Crafts movement,  designs and philosophy, and Asian Art (Arabic, Muslim, Indian, Japanese and Chinese.) I'm an avid park lover, I try to do a walk a day in nature. I see patterns all over on my walks, and study how they interact. I grew up going to the Tuxedo Park School in NY.  Many of the homes there were designed in the Arts and Crafts Style. I fell in love at an early age. Later, I lived near Rose Valley, PA, and befriended a relative of the A&C architect Will Price. With her, I studied the tenants and art of the movement, as well as the lifestyle teachings. I was even a member of the Rose Valley Museum board for a few years. The pattern design, which often references nature, combined with the respect of workmanship/enjoyment of craft heavily influences my art. Sometimes I research patterns online and in books. Classic Asian Art often has pattern, again, derived from abstractions of nature. I look to the old masters to learn and challenge myself. I study the use of line, color and forms by doing small searches daily. Constant research does more than intermittent. 

What started you on this artistic endeavor?

Surprisingly, it was digital work. Having originally studied oil painting, I took a break and to try photography. I ended up photographing all the patterns I saw. Then, I would combine them in photoshop. That led to painting patterns by hand and then learning to combine the photographic and painted patterns seamlessly into an artwork. From there, I realized I needed to simplify the composition in order to have the pattern be the most appreciated element. Eventually, I came back to just painting, but using gouache and what I had learned working on the digital pieces.

What is your favorite part of your artistic process?

After all the larger painted areas are complete, I like to "play" with the details. I also prefer to work with Asian brushes.

When I grow up I want to … have a balanced and fortunate life. 

Where did you learn your craft / art? Happily, I was contacted!

If you were magically given 3 more hours each day - what would you do with them? I'd probably try my hands at some pottery in theme with my current work.

Deanna Haldeman

Welcome to our interview with potter Deanna Haldeman. Please enjoy getting to know Deanna and her approach to her craft through our series of questions we have posed to our participating artists.

Do you have one piece that you are most proud of, and why?             

I am always most excited about the next "new pot". This could be a new form, new glaze or glaze combo, new technique, new decoration, etc.  If it turns out well its is my favorite pot until the next "new pot" is in the process.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?    

I find inspiration in nature, traditional and standard pottery forms, and function.

What started you on this artistic endeavor?       

I have always loved art but I was introduced to pottery when a friend of mine talked me into taking a Ceramics class in High School.  I was hooked as soon as I touched the clay.      

What is your favorite part of your artistic process?      

Creating the initial form on the potter's wheel is my favorite part and opening the kiln after a glaze firing to see what magic took place is a close second.

When I grow up I want to …continue to "play in the mud" and travel.

Where did you learn your craft / art?         

I took my first pottery class in Wyoming at Worland High School, continued taking pottery classes at Northwest Community College in Powell, WY and the University of Wyoming.  After graduation I moved to PA and later started taking classes at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford.  I have taken workshops from wonderful potters including Chris Staley, Janet Mansfield, Suze Lindsay, Steven Hill, Tom Turner, Bill Van Gilder, and others.  I also read a lot of pottery books and magazines.  One of the best things about pottery is you can learn something with every new pot you make and every kiln you fire.

If you were magically given 3 more hours each day - what would you do with them?     

I would make more pots, research pottery throughout history and experiment more with glazes. 

If I was not a potter I would explore photography.  I like to capture the beauty that is all around us.

Get to Know Andy Smith, Watercolorist

Welcome to our interview with Andy Smith, watercolorist. We've asked Andy a series of questions so you could get to know more about him, and his artistic process.

Do you have one piece that you are most proud of, and why?
Not really, I try to challenge myself with every painting.  I will often take time to study something like water or sky and then do some small study paintings and then a larger work to master the subject.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Everywhere!  My wife and I travel and are always “looking” for subjects. I do a lot of historical sightseeing and love the 1800”s time period.  But I really key in on how light effects subjects.  We make it a point to “look around”.  There are more subjects than I could ever paint.

What started you on this artistic endeavor?
I could always draw and always wanted to paint. When I married, my wife helped make that a reality.

What is your favorite part of your artistic process?
First the excitement of starting something new.  I can “see” that blank white paper turning into a painting.  And then that last 30 minutes in a painting when all your work just comes together!

When I grow up I want to …

I am already doing what I want, except maybe be a professional bicycle rider!  I missed that opportunity!

Where did you learn your craft / art?  

I am self-taught. Started in my 20’s with lots of practice, read some art books, went to see paintings, and lots of dedicated practice. I developed a good work ethic and I paint every day.

If you were magically given 3 more hours each day - what would you do with them?
Oh, I would go out for a longer bicycle ride and then spend some of the time with my wife!

If you were not a watercolorist, what art / craft would you explore?
Honestly, I cannot imagine anything but painting watercolor, it is simply part of me.

Thanks so much Andy!

Linda Lurcott in the Studio

Ever since I was a young girl, I have enjoyed the creative process.  In the last decade, I discovered a new medium…metal.  Recently, I was surprised to learn that my great grandparents owned a jewelry store in New York City.  I realize now that I inherited their passion along with some useful tools (which I adore) of the trade.

I respect the creative process of metal smithing and I thoroughly enjoy working with metals. I love how it can flow and bend.  Often there are multiple projects in process on my work bench.  Sometimes, as I glance over the projects, the ah hah moment happens…I sense what needs to be done to move the project along.  Some pieces are based on nature while others have historic origins.  When the natural and historic sides come together, a unique piece of jewelry comes to life.  

Water and straw broom casting with molten silver are two favorite techniques I use to create flowing organic silver sculptures.  Water casting produces small cup shapes, into which I set pearls.  These pieces can give the appearance of seashells or bird nests.  Broom casting produces silver icicles.  Some of the castings of each process are combined to create unique jewelry pieces.  

Some of my pieces feature a beautiful single stones while in others I use several stones for a more dramatic visual affect.  Also, I use fossils or architectural materials such as pieces of antique stained glass and nails salvaged from a 19th century church that burned down in Downingtown, PA.  

An equaling stimulating process is created by fusing and roll printing.  With this process, I can create intricate designs in textured surfaces.  In my fused pieces I often see natural forms among the textures and design the piece around those forms.  To make those features more visible I enhance with 24KT gold followed by a patina.  This process reveals the texture and shows the depth of layers through the contrast of color.  When more variation in color is desired, I set a stone into the piece.

In Jewelry Tags Linda Lurcott, Silversmith

Meet Anita DiPietro

Warrior Princess

Warrior Princess

Do you have one piece that you are most proud of, and why? This sparkling citrine drusy statement necklace (“Warrior Princess”) is one of my favorite pieces, and one that I am incredibly proud of. This is a rather large focal piece, which I really enjoy creating. The moment I saw this gorgeous citrine, it immediately reminded me of the sun. All ancient cultures throughout history have used the sun as a symbol that was often used to represent Life, Strength, Energy, Feminine Power, Force, Clarity and Self.  I instantly envisioned it emblazed in an arrow-shaped, textured silver setting with a copper bail, added for contrast. I paired it with a piece of fossilized coral and tiger’s eye, because they complimented the citrine perfectly.  It is just one of those pieces that was inspired by the focal stone and I was able to translate that idea into a beautiful piece of wearable art jewelry.

Where do you find inspiration for your work? Most of my inspiration comes from nature.  For example, gemstones and fossils, organic textures and patterns, trees, the sun, moon and stars, flowers, landscapes, etc. I’m also very inspired by ancient civilizations and symbols.  At times, a song or emotion may also inspire a piece.  I am very open to the world around me and look for inspiration everywhere.

What started you on this artistic endeavor?  My metal jewelry making endeavor began in 2005, after taking a jewelry/metalsmithing workshop at a local gallery.   I never had the opportunity to work with metal in high school or college art classes, and I felt a genuine connection with it, perhaps, because I watched my father working with metal when I was young.  My father designed and created custom wrought iron railings, gates and home accents in our garage and taught my sister and me to braze small sculptures from welding rods and cut designs into tin cans with the torch.  When the course was finished, I set up my own studio space and began to experiment with different metalworking techniques.  I purchased various tools and materials over the years, as my skills developed; and now, more than ten years later, I’m still intrigued by metal.

What is your favorite part of your artistic process? The most enjoyable part of my artistic process is actually working with the metal.  Designing and sketching jewelry is a lot of fun, but actually manipulating the metal, sawing, filing, shaping, soldering, finishing and especially texturing is what I truly enjoy.  The process of transforming a raw piece of metal into a piece of wearable art jewelry gives me a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. 

When I grow up I want to … I recall when I was in fourth grade; I was extremely fascinated with earth science and learning about the different types of rocks and fossils.  I remember declaring that I wanted to be an archaeologist when I grew up.  Later, in high school, I was more interested in becoming a graphic artist.  However, neither of these would become part of my journey in this life.   Instead, life led me to jewelry/metalsmithing, in which my deep appreciation of stones and fossils is still evident.

Where did you learn your craft / art? I understood the elements of basic design, art, and color theory in college; however, for the most part, my craft is self-taught and my skills are refined in my studio as I work.

If you were magically given 3 more hours each day - what would you do with them? I would play with metal and make jewelry, of course!  I would also like to experiment more with small sculptural forms in copper and silver, or practical home décor or garden items.

If you were not a metalsmith/jewelry artist, what art / craft would you explore?  I would definitely explore clay.  I absolutely love all types of pottery, and have accumulated quite a few pieces over the years from talented clay artist friends.  I was fortunate enough to be invited to a clay class that one of my friends teaches, and I had a chance to “play with clay”, as she says.  I enjoyed the class very much and had a lot of fun as well. 

Artist Statement

I am a jewelry artist/metal smith, specializing in studio-created mixed-metal artisan jewelry and custom jewelry design.  My greatest inspirations include nature, fossils, gemstones, and ancient civilizations.  Using primarily silver, copper, bronze, unusual gemstones and fossils, my jewelry reflects the deep appreciation I have for the beauty and art that occurs in nature.  Currently, my focus is on texture and movement in my designs, though form and balance are also essential.  I utilize conventional and non-conventional techniques and tools in my studio.  Each piece is carefully constructed by hand using fabrication methods such as sawing, forging, soldering, fold forming, traditional and innovative stone setting, hot and cold connections, and texturing.  I enjoy the process of transforming raw materials such as metal sheet, wire, unusual gemstones and fossils into timeless designs with a deeper meaning, to adorn the body, as well as the spirit.

Please visit Anita's website to see more of her beautiful designs.

Tags metalsmith, jewelry, handmade, CRAFTED

Meet Bob Lott

We've asked all of our participating artists and craftspersons to respond to a host of questions - as a way for you to get to know them better. Today starts our series on our artists, please enjoy.

We'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Bob Lott

Do you have one piece that you are most proud of, and why: The piece I am most proud of is “Graffiti Underground”, pictured below on the left. This image was captured at an old coal terminal in Philadelphia. This image gets a lot of discussion in my shows because of its depth & color and has sold, in various sizes, 64 times, becoming my signature image.  “Graffiti at Sunrise”, pictured on the right, is another image captured at this site, which has won 2 awards: 1st place at a mixed show in central Philadelphia and 2nd place at the boardwalk show in Ocean City, NJ.

Where do you find inspiration for your work? I take inspiration from the beauty and mystery in nature, landscapes and urban decay all around us.

What started you on this artistic endeavor? About 2 years before retirement I started photographing my youngest daughter’s volleyball play.  She eventually moved on and my photography evolved to nature, landscapes and urban decay.

What is your favorite part of the artistic process? I enjoy capturing images, but the image coming out of the camera becomes the starting point for my finished images.  I really enjoy using various software (Lightroom, Photoshop and various plug-ins) to provide the more artistic nature of my finished images.  I let the image coming out of the camera to determine how I use the various software to finish it.

The artist and hie camera.

The artist and hie camera.

When I grow up I want to … be successful at creating and selling (in shows and on-line) fine art photography prints.

Where did you learn your craft? I learned my photography by attending a few workshops, but am mostly self-taught by reading and experimenting.  I have had the good fortune of doing computer-related work starting in graduate school and continuing throughout my career at DuPont.  These skills have been very helpful in using the various software to create my finished images.

If I were given 3 more hours each day … I might relax more.

If I were not involved in photography … I might try my hand at painting.

My artist statement is … "I seek out scenes which allow creation of a conversation among light, color and texture to show both the beauty as well as mystery in nature, landscapes and the urban decay all around us.  I frequently utilize multiple images, captured by varying shutter speed (from dark to light), combined in software during post-processing to capture the full dynamic range and depth of a scene as observed by the human eye."

For more information on Bob, please visit his website.

 

Curious?

Why does a craftsperson craft? Why does an artist create? We were curious. What better way to find out, ask them! We've asked all of our CRAFTED participants to respond to a series of questions. Over the next several weeks, we'll be sharing their responses with you.  

  1. Do you have one piece that you are most proud of, and why?
  2. Where do you find inspiration for your work?
  3. What started you on this artistic endeavor?
  4. What is your favorite part of your artistic process?
  5. When I grow up I want to …
  6. Where did you learn your craft / art?
  7. If you were magically given 3 more hours each day - what would you do with them?
  8. If you were not a (fill in your current art / craft focus) what art / craft would you explore? For example, if you were not a wood turner, what art / craft would you explore?
  9. Please provide your artist statement. 

Applications Being Accepted

Last year, Eagleview hosted the first CRAFTED event, an art / craft show featuring quality crafters and artisans from the region. It was a fantastic success. 

CRAFTED is returning to Eagleview again this spring, June 12th, from 11 AM - 4 PM. 

The show this year will feature approximately 35 craftsmen representing many facets of the art / craft movement. If you are interested in applying to the festival, please complete the application below.

The standard space allowance at CRAFTED is 10'x10' for a fee of $100. Sharing of a standard space with another artisan is allowed if approved by the application committee.

A smaller, boutique sized space, limited to one 6' table, priced at $50, will be considered. Absolutely no sharing of boutique spaces.  

In addition to the bevy of talented craftspersons, CRAFTED will also feature demos from crafters, a focused exhibition from a local art group, a children's make it - take it area, lively music, a lovely selection of food, local wine and craft beer tastings.

Marketing for the event will be aggressive in online, print and onsite promotions. Print and online outlets include Daily Local News, County Lines Magazine, Main Line Today, Suburban Life, Chester County Living to name a few. The event website will be launched shortly. All participating crafters will be mailed postcards to promote the event to their mailing lists.