Claudia Marie- Whimsical Paintings to Bring Joy

Tell us a bit about yourself..

My name is Claudia Schieve. I'm a student at Cleveland State University, majoring in Public Relations and Advertising. (I'm graduating this December! Woohoo!) I'm also an intern in the Events department at BrandMuscle, Inc., a church singer on the weekends, and an artist and musician the rest of the time!

 

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

When I'm not painting, I'm usually either working, going to school or making music. I sing and play guitar and ukulele at various venues around Northeast Ohio.  You can check out my website for some music, videos, show schedule, etc.: http://www.claudiasings.com.

 

Where do you get your creativity from?

I'm going to have to go with both my family and just life in general.  My parents are both pretty creative people both musically and artistically and my grandmother used to paint a lot so I think I may have inherited some of my artsy-ness.  I'm constantly getting inspired by nature and the world around me as well as other artists I come across.

 

What got you into the craft hobby?

I used to draw ALL the time when I was a kid. Like, constantly. I think I did that more than anything else. I guess it was a good way to keep busy since I'm an only child and had to entertain myself without brothers or sisters to play with all the time. A few years ago I decided to give painting a try and fell in love with it.

 

How would you describe your creative process?

Sometimes I just randomly get an idea of something I want to paint and go for it. I also look for inspiration online on art blogs and Etsy.  Other times, I start painting a background and I don't even know what it's going to end up being yet. I usually paint while listening to music or watching movies.

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

It's hard to pick one, but I'll narrow it down to my owl paintings!  I'm definitely obsessed with owls and they're my favorite thing to paint! 

 

How did you get your business off the ground?

I'm not sure it's really "off the ground" yet to be honest!  haha.  But I think I'm on my way!  When I started painting, I never really thought about selling them until some of my friends told me I should try it.  So I opened an Etsy shop and the rest is history!  It's a lot of fun and each sale is a major thrill.  It makes me so happy when people like my paintings and want to hang them in their home or give them as gifts. 

 

What are your goals with your business?

My main goal is to keep on creating and having fun!  I'd also like to promote my work more so that more people will see and hopefully enjoy it! :)

What do you do in your free time?

With all the things I talked about in #1 & #2, free time can be pretty rare!  But when I do have free time, I like hanging out with my friends and family, and my cat - Mario, going to see live music, movies, reading, taking pictures, writing music and eating good food!  I also really like acting in plays and musicals but I haven't had much time to do that lately because I haven't had time for rehearsals.

 

What's the message behind your work?

Hmm. Good question! I don't know really. I seem to gravitate towards using bright colors and whimsical images, so I guess I just aim to brighten up someone's day :)

Check out Claudia Marie this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature 67 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.

Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show

Sunday, October 23, 2011, 10:00am-5:00pm

Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church 

5500 West 54th St. 

Parma, OH 44129. 

For more information, contact Becki Cooper, at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Anthony Martino- Painting From Meditation & Emotion

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

My name is Anthony Martino and I am an abstract expressionist artist and have always loved to paint since a young age.  I am also a student full time and truly enjoy the creative process in regards to painting in the abstract fashion in which I enjoy to paint in.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I am a full time student and also am an artist painting live in various locations.

Where do you get your creativity from? 

I get my creativity from emotions and energy. In my paintings I get inspiration from music and the emotional connection I get from painting to the music.  My art is not planned out, but instead, it is done in a spontaneous manner that allows me to feed into the creative process and tap into that creative freedom from a higher source. 

  

What got you into the craft hobby? 

I think the thing that got me into painting is from two reasons. One, my love of painting, specifically, the act of painting itself. And two, the joy in which my work brings to others!

How would you describe your creative process? 

As a painter I find creative expression through the energy and feeling that color imparts to me as I apply it on canvas.  Rather than starting with a preconceived idea, I allow the energy of the moment to determine the nature of the composition.   In a sense the act of painting is almost a form of meditation in action.

 

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

It is hard to say which work is my favorite because I have an emotional connection to each work I create.

How did you get your business off the ground? 

Basically by word of mouth and painting live at various art events.

What are your goals with your business?  

My ultimate goal is to exclusively become an artist by trade and make a living at doing it.

What do you do in your free time?  

In my free time I like to bike ride, read, and also listen to my music collection as well as paint!

What's the message behind your work?  

The message behind my work can be summed up in this way. My work is non representational, and is spontaneously created through the use of meditation and letting go of all pre- conceived ideas of what art should be. Instead, I try to tap into a higher source, thus allowing the creative energy to be free where I am free to create without being tied down by specific cannons of what and how art should be. I utilize color, energy, and feeling to make a true and sincere emotional connection that I desire to have reflected in my art, as well as allowing the viewers of my art to share in this intimate, and emotional connection.

Check out Anthony Martino this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature 67 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.

Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show

Sunday, October 23, 2011, 10:00am-5:00pm

Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church 

5500 West 54th St. 

Parma, OH 44129. 

For more information, contact Becki Cooper, at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Recreating Beauty Through Color & Pattern- Allyson Meier

Tell us a bit about yourself..

My name is Allyson Meier and I was born and raised in Cleveland. I received my education from the University of Dayton, a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art, with a concentration in painting and printmaking. I recently got engaged to a wonderful man and my favorite person, Carlos, who is a graphic designer and co-owner of the Cleveland clothing brand, ILTHY (I Love the Hype.)

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Currently I work for a printing company in their pre-press department, which basically means I take clients’ orders and prepare them for printing. It’s a lot of numbers and digital files, so not too challanging in the creative department. But I recently finished a certificate program in Graphic Design, so I’m looking to expand my career soon.

Where do you get your creativity from?

I definitely get my artistic ability from my dad - he’s the one who taught me how to draw. Being in school and receiving a formal education in art really helped to refine and nurture the creative process for me. You’re forced to be creative even when you’re not feeling “creative.”

What got you into the craft hobby?

When I started working full time after school, I found that I didn’t have as much energy and time to devote to my painting as I would have liked. The smaller crafts I do (the ink drawings, the cards) allow me to still create and get involved in the artistic process, without as much of a commitment, time-wise and emotionally. 

How would you describe your creative process?

My creative process is kind of sporatic. Inspiration will hit at the oddest times - driving in the car, before I go to bed, while I’m supposed to be working! I always try to jot down the idea or sketch it out, so I can return to it when I have the time. Then, it’s just a matter of bringing that idea to life. Some days, I’ll really feel like working, and I’ll paint, draw and do some other craft all in one evening. Other days, I’m not in the mood and not much gets done. I’ve found I really have to listen to what I feel like doing, and act as soon as the urge arrives. 

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

I would have to say this painting is my most favorite piece I’ve ever made. It was made for my friend Gina, who is a ceramic artist, so we did a trade. She loves the color purple as much as I do, and being artistically minded like me, she gave me free reign. Some paintings I really struggle  with, but I remember how organically this one evolved. I’m so happy with the result. 

How did you get your business off the ground?

Well I don’t know if I would say it’s off the ground yet! But the business I do have now has come to me mainly through personal connections that have resulted in commission pieces, as well as from online marketing. I sell my work on Etsy, and I am always looking for more opportunities to promote my work. This is the first show I’ll be participating in in a while, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to showcasing my work to a new audience and meeting some new people. 

What are your goals with your business?

As with almost every artist, designer, crafter or creative person, to be able to support myself solely through my work is my main goal. I’m always looking to create more, to make more time for the creative process, and push my work to new levels. I really feel that if there is enough passion, time, and energy put into something, the success will come. 

What do you do in your free time?

I find I take interest in all the arts, even if I’m not good at them myself! I like listening to music and going to concerts, watching good movies, reading, both books and magazines. I do spend much more time on the internet than I should, looking at websites and blogs for inspirations. And shopping :)

What’s the message behind your work?

While some artists use their work to make strong statements about issues of importance to them, the message behind my work is more about “art, for art’s sake.” There is so much visual beauty in the world around us. I like to try to recreate some of this beauty through color and pattern, both observed from my surroundings and created from my own mind. I do use text in many of my pieces, which are often my own words and thoughts about things, but they are abstracted so that the words can’t be read, only so that the pattern can observed. 


Check out Allyson Meier 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.

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