Cleveland Art- Local Artist Beth Hess

Tell Us a Bit About Yourself..

I keep very busy with my two young daughters, our family electrical business, and my artwork. 

Apart From Creating Things, What Do you Do?

I stay at home with my daughters and am very involved with them.  I also do the bookkeeping for our family electrical contracting business.

Where Do you Get Your Creativity From?

I am always inspired by nature and my surroundings.  I work mostly at night when the house is quiet.  Doing artwork just takes me to another place. 

What Got you Into the Craft Hobby?

I definitely am driven to create!  I have never had any formal training as an artist, but for years I have been making original items that have run the gamut from stained glass to handbags to paintings.  After my second child came along, I had difficulty finding the time to create and I really felt that something was missing from my life!  I purchased my first canvas and paints and fell right back in love with the creative process and haven’t stopped since.

How Would you Describe Your Creative Process?

I love the feeling of looking at a blank canvas, an empty sheet of paper, my piles of fabric, or a bare pane of glass and diving right in.  I am most inspired by my natural surroundings and love color and light.  My pieces evolve from start to finish and aren’t necessarily planned.

What is Your Most Favorite Item That you Have Ever Produced?

The first couple of pieces I did after the birth of my second child when I really got back into creating are the most meaningful pieces I have produced.   I incorporated fabric (something I was very comfortable with) and painting (something new for me at the time) onto a couple of canvases.  I think these items are my personal favorites because they really fueled my creativity and motivated me to always be trying something new.

How Did you Get Your Business Off the Ground?

I am just starting my business and am taking a grassroots approach.  I opened up an etsy shop and am promoting it with facebook and conventional networking.

What are Your Goals with Your Business?

To do what I love doing and be profitable.

What Do you Do in Your Free Time?

I love to read, garden, listen to music, and spend time with my family.

What's the Message Behind your Work?

I don’t know that I have a specific message behind my work, but I know that I really try and see the beauty in my surroundings and that being creative and making things with my hands really helps me to express myself and to be a better person.

Check Beth and Cleveland Art out this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church at 5500 West 54th St. Parma, OH 44129. Show time runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. This eclectic show will feature 65 of the areas most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the North East Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation. For more information or to become a vendor, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Twitter: @AvantGardeShows

Facebook: Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows

Natalie Rose Designs.. The Art of Natalie Freedman!

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Natalie Freedman and I am a Jewelry and Metal Artist based out of the Cleveland area. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jewelry and Metals from Kent State University in the Spring of 2010. I currently work at Bella Design Jewelers, a custom Jewelry store in Bainbridge, Ohio, as a Bench Jeweler and a Cad Designer. Most of the jewelry that I make is made from sterling and fine silver and I specialize in the technique of filigree.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

When I am not working on my jewelry, I spend as much time as I can with my family. I try to take time to relax and enjoy the simpler moments in life. I am a singer as well. Not professionally, but for fun. I’m one of those people you see singing at the top of their lungs driving down the road.

Where do you get your creativity from?

Most of my creativity comes from a desire to create beauty. My mother is an inspiration to me and she has always supported my craft and encouraged me to utilize my talents.

What got you into the craft hobby?

My mother. My siblings and I grew up on arts and crafts. You name it, we did it. So I’ve always been an artsy type of person. When I started college my sister was taking a jewelry and metals course. I was intrigued, so I took the course as soon as I could and that’s when my love affair with metal and creating jewelry began.

How would you describe your creative process?

I usually just go into my studio, pick up a piece of metal or my tools and start creating whatever comes to mind. At times I will do sketches if I’m inspired or if I am designing a specific piece for someone.

What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced? 

My favorite item that I made is Magnolia: Perseverance. It is one of my larger show pieces created in the spring of 2010. The piece forms to the wearer’s body and was created using sterling and fine silver wire in the technique of filigree with a hand forged neckpiece. This piece deals with the relationship between women and flowers. A magnolia flower stands for ones perseverance.

How did you get your business off the ground?

I’m still working on it actually. I’m working on getting my name out there and acquiring a larger fan base.

What are your goals with your business?

I hope to create and sell as much as I can. My hope is to one day have my own store/studio where I can sell my own work and other artists as well as teaching classes and doing repair and custom work.

What do you do in your free time?

I don’t have a lot of free time but when I do I like to relax.

What's the message behind your work?

Beauty...

Check Natalie out this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church at 5500 West 54th St. Parma, OH 44129. Show time runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. This eclectic show will feature 65 of the areas most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the North East Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation. For more information or to become a vendor, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Twitter: @AvantGardeShows

Facebook: Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows