I
am 25 years old, from Euclid, Ohio. I graduated from the Art Academy of
Cincinnati in 2009 with a BFA. I love creating art, taking photographs,
spending time with friends, family, and my boyfriend. I have a passion for nature,
and spend most of my free time hiking or reading about animals and/or the
environment. I hope to continue my education within the near future; I just
have to decide exactly which degree to pursue.
I started seriously making art in junior high, so about 10 years ago. But, I have been making art since I could hold a pencil in my hand.
Full time I work as an Administrative Assistant for a local
aerospace company. This is my first non-kitchen job in over 5 years. I love
making food and working with other creative and talented Chefs, but the
schedule is non-conducive to creating art.
Growing up I have always had a vivid imagination, and art has
always been extremely important to me. I believe my curiosity and drive for
knowledge fuels my creativity.
My creative process is diverse. Sometimes it is
intuitive, automatic. Other times I set out with a specific goal and concept
that I wish to convey. Lately, I have been more into the automatic,
non-objective side of making art.
When it comes to favorite pieces, it is
nearly impossible for me to say what my favorite piece is. But, I have to say
that 2 of my collages I made in college are important to me because I rarely
work large. Steamrolled and Beaten Path are both 3’ x 6’. I really enjoyed
building them from an array of materials; it was a new experience, and one that
I hope to delve into again soon. Luckily, I have just acquired a studio which
makes this possible.
My biggest goal is to keep motivated.
Creating art gives me a sense of wellness and self-actualization that nothing
else can. I hope that I can continue to show my work and sell it, because it
feels good knowing that other people enjoy what I create, and hopefully it
inspires them to really see the world around them.
I think that selling art is just a result of making
art. Most artists would like other people to see what they spend so much time
creating, and hopefully sometimes those people will be inclined to buy what
they see because it inspires them.
I sometimes create art with a specific ecological
message, but most of the time I just wish to inspire people’s imagination and
to enhance their perception of what is beautiful and wonderful in the world.
Please feel free to view my art on My Etsy and My Website.
Meet Michelle Cook from Peachtree Designs...
My friend Amy and I are behind the business and have been friends for about 15 years. We have each always enjoyed creating, and have recently
begun to collaborate on projects. It has brought us even closer as friends. We have both been crafting for years. Amy specifically has been sewing since she was young, and I have always been pretty handy with a glue stick lol!
Amy and I draw inspiration from various objects around us. I draw inspiration from magazines and vintage images. Amy draws inspiration from different fabrics, patterns and colors, and we both draw inspiration from Pinterest!
Amy and I draw inspiration from various objects around us. I draw inspiration from magazines and vintage images. Amy draws inspiration from different fabrics, patterns and colors, and we both draw inspiration from Pinterest!
For us, creating
is a great outlet. In Cleveland,
we all know the weather is not the greatest, especially in winter. We need something to keep us going and
in good spirits. That is why we
both love it.
I got started in my craft when I saw these magnets and decided to take the
project a step further and upcycle magazines. Once I started making them, I was hooked for good!
We got into selling our work because we ran out of space to keep all our creations. Bottom line, if you simply create and create and create, eventually you have to do something with the surplus. So we wanted to offer our pieces to others so that we can keep creating other things. Crafting is such a great outlet, and we need to keep doing it!
We got into selling our work because we ran out of space to keep all our creations. Bottom line, if you simply create and create and create, eventually you have to do something with the surplus. So we wanted to offer our pieces to others so that we can keep creating other things. Crafting is such a great outlet, and we need to keep doing it!
Amy
has always had an amazing talent with a sewing machine (like her mom). She started creating pieces and hasn’t
looked back! She is always
generously sharing them with others, so selling in shows just made sense.
My favorite part of the creative process is the very beginning. I sit down with a magazine and the possibilities are endless! I will spend a lot of time looking for the perfect pictures for my magnets. I try to think about what other people might like, love and how this piece will fit into their lives.
Our goal with our business is to share our pieces with others, and continue to come together on projects.The message behind our work is no
matter what it is you are passionate about, find time for it and do it! You will be happier and healthier in
the long run.
Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 West Side Summer Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature over 170 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the Cleveland Animal Protective League, for animal rescue.
