Artist Highlight - Gabriela Figueroa

Hometown:

St. Louis, MO

Lima - Peru

Preferred Mediums:

Jewelry

How many years have you participated in the Art on the Bluffs, Inc. Art Walk?

This is my first year!

Where did you go to school, earn a degree, or formally study art?

I went to Webster University.

What is your art about & what inspires your work?

I love to travel and learn about different cultures. I get inspiration from anything like the texture of a Turkish Kilim to the vibrant colors of traditional Tunisian doors to the exotic sounds of the Amazon jungle. My designs are fun, colorful, and bold, yet classy and timeless. 

What is your creative process like?

Since every single piece of jewelry I design is one of a kind (except for some earrings), each piece has a different process. I may look at a strand of fabulous gemstones and automatically know what I want the necklace or bracelet to look like. Many times, if I can’t get to work at that time, I’ll draw my idea and work on later on.

How or when in your life did you know you wanted to be an artist?

I never decided or wish to be an artist, it just sort of happened.

Where can your work be viewed? 

Currently, I sell my work at art fairs and festivals, through my Etsy site: capricedesigns.etsy.com and at a local boutique Dazzle Me Twice in the Central West End.

What shows have you displayed in?

Taste of St. Louis, Central West End Art Festival, Evanston Ethnic Art Festival, Greentree Festival, Art in the Park @ St. Louis Hills, Peoria Art Festival.

What do you most enjoy about the art scene in St. Louis/Metro East?

I just love how diverse it is and how fast it’s growing, it’s amazing!!

Artist Highlight - Mary Mosblech

Hometown:

I was born in St Louis, MO.

Preferred Mediums:

My preferred mediums are watercolor and printmaking.

How many years have you participated in the Art on the Bluffs, Inc. Art Walk?

This is the first time to participate in Art on the Bluffs.

Where did you go to school, earn a degree or formally study art?

I have taken more than 20 workshops from nationally known watercolor artists.  I am currently taking printmaking at Forest Park Community College.

What is your art about and what inspires your work?

I am inspired by nature - tree, landscapes.  I have recently completed series on dancers and children playing in water.

What is your creative process like?

I get an idea, mull it over for a day or two, then jump in and start painting or carving.

How or when in your life did you know you wanted to be an artist?

I've always wanted to be an artist.  However, since I needed to support myself, I became a teacher.  Now retired, I have returned to my first love.

Where can your art be viewed?

I have a website mosblechart.com where I list current exhibits and art fairs.

What shows have you dispslayed in?

I have shown my work at Creative Art Gallery, St Peter's Cultural Center, St Louis Artist's Guild, Art Saint Louis.

What do you most enjoy about the art scene in St. Louis/Metro East?

It seems like there is always something to participate in St. Louis.

Artist Highlight - Charles Dana

Hometown:

St. Louis

Preferred Mediums:

Digital Photography

How many years have you participated in the Art on the Bluffs, Inc. Art Walk?

This will be my first appearance.

Where did you go to school, earn a degree, or formally study art?

Books and many years and hundreds of thousands of images.

What is your art about & what inspires your work?

Nature abounds in hidden beauty and I try to uncover this beauty and present it in an engaging manner.  A high percentage of my photographs are either close ups or macro (many times larger than life) images of subjects that although common are not normally observed and remain invisible.  My approach is to present the subjects in an uncluttered manner and emphasize their soul (essence) by the use of light and color, ala the French Impressionist painters.

What is your creative process like?

As I am a photographer and as I not do studio photography with posed subjects, I spend a lot of time wandering through gardens, parks, yards, etc. in search of interesting subjects and insects to photograph.  When back home, I go through the images to find the ones that make the cut - I then normally will do a slight crop to frame the image and adjust the contrast and color levels to provide my impression of the subject.  I never combine multiple images and I consider an outing to be successful if I can achieve one decent image and perhaps one out of ten of these will make it to the images that I print to sell.

How or when in your life did you know you wanted to be an artist?

About age twelve - teachers were rather adamant that I was wasting my time and would never amount to anything.  It took a while, well over a half a century, but at long last, I am a part of the art scene and now regret that I did not do this a half century earlier.

Where can your work be viewed?

Creative Gallery on Ivanhoe Avenue in St. Louis.  I will also be displayed in a couple of coffee houses in St. Louis but I do not have firm dates as of yet.

What shows have you displayed in?

This will be my first show although I also will be at the Shaw Art Fair in October.

What do you most enjoy about the art scene in St. Louis/Metro East?

.As this is my first venture here, currently, I am unable to say but I am looking forward to this show and hope to become a regular in the past for a number of years to come, well perhaps not too many as I am now 70.

Artist Highlight - Audrey McFadden

Hometown:  Columbia, Missouri

Preferred Mediums: Acrylics

How many years have you participated in the Art on the Bluffs, Inc. Art Walk? This is my first year.

Where did you go to school, earn a degree, or formally study art? I have never formally studied art.  I have a culinary arts degree from California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and also a business degree from the University of Missouri.

What is your art about & what inspires your work? My art is about the beauty found in everyday nature.  I am inspired by the color and joy that bright flowers and trees and sunsets bring me.  I do not have any deep meanings I am trying to showcase in my art; I simply want to bring joy to the observer.

What is your creative process like? I always have a sketchbook with me.  If I see something while I’m driving around or if an idea pops in my head, I will just pull out my sketchbook and pen it out and go back to it when I’m in the studio.  When I am in my studio, I pull out the sketch book and just start painting on a blank canvas.

How or when in your life did you know you wanted to be an artist? I have only been painting for about four years.  When my youngest son was born, we moved to a larger house and I needed art for the many barren walls.  I couldn’t find anything that I liked that was affordable (I had just quit my full time job to stay at home with my two young sons), so I thought I would just try painting my own.  I instantly fell in love with it and it has blossomed into something I never imagined.

Where can your work be viewed?  I have a studio in downtown Columbia, Missouri in the Orr Street Studios where I have art displayed.   I also have a website (www.studioaudrey.com) as well as a small etsy shop (www.studioaudrey.etsy.com).  Fresh Ayers in Hannibal, Missouri has several of my things available for sale.

What shows have you displayed in? I have been in Art in the Park (Columbia, Missouri), Longview Art and World Music Festival (Lee’s Summit, Missouri), Downtown Hannibal Art Festival (Hannibal, Missouri), and various Columbia Art League shows.

What do you most enjoy about the art scene in St. Louis/Metro East? I am not familiar with the art scene in this area.  I have heard wonderful things about Columbia, IL, so I am looking forward to being a part of this festival. 

Artist Highlight - Randy Webb

We Wouldn't Be An Art Walk if We Weren't Open to All Forms of Art!
We would like to introduce you to one of our performing entertainers!

RANDY WEBB: Classic Country
Randy will be serenading us with a variety of country classics spanning the good ole' days of the 50's, 60's & 70's.

Artist Highlight - Liam Hughes

Hometown:

Ishpeming, MI… but I split my time between Milwaukee, WI, and Nenagh, Co Tipperary, Ireland now.

Preferred Mediums:

Folk Art Jewelry

How many years have you participated in the Art on the Bluffs, Inc. Art Walk?

This is my first year.

Where did you go to school, earn a degree, or formally study art?

I have my BFA from the Portland State University.

What is your art about & what inspires your work?

I recover pieces of broken antique and contemporary dishes and turn them into wearable pieces of art. The shards and their history and the techniques used in making the original piece inspire my work.

What is your creative process like?

I follow the folk art tradition of Pique Assiette which translates to “stolen from the plate.” This leads me on a path of recovering and recycling things that would otherwise be discarded and turning them into something decorative and useful.

How or when in your life did you know you wanted to be an artist?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be an artist. I was blessed with very supportive parents who encouraged my creative endeavors.

Where can your work be viewed? 

www.LiamShardJewelry.com

What shows have you displayed in?

Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts, Chicago One of a Kind, New York One of a Kind, Southwest Arts Festival, and the Tempe Festival of the Arts.

What do you most enjoy about the art scene in St. Louis/Metro East?

I’m just getting my feet wet in this part of the country, but I’ve found people here to be genuinely interested in the artistic process and appreciative of craftsmanship.

Artist Highlight: Mary Hummert

Hometown: St. Libory, IL

Preferred Mediums: Broken and Discarded jewelry pieces, architectural salvage and furniture hardware, to name a few.

How many years have you participated in the Art on the Bluffs, Inc. Art Walk? This will be my third year.

Where did you go to school, earn a degree, or formally study art?  Self taught other than fine art courses at SWIC. 

What is your art about & what inspires your work? My art consists of upcycled one of a kind wearable art and home décor pieces which are greatly inspired by the Victoria era, nature, history, religion and other oddities with a small nod to the growing steampunk genre.  My art is very “green” as I use elements and materials destined for the landfill and/or recycling bin.

What is your creative process like?  I become inspired by nature, fashion, thoughts, people, etc and when the inspiration becomes an obsession I turn that into a piece of wearable art in the form of a fine art belt buckle or headband or one of my statement necklaces.  Most recently a lot of my inspiration has turned into small wall sculpture.  Very cool, odd - yet whimsical and interesting. 

How or when in your life did you know you wanted to be an artist?  I’ve been a creative soul all my life but recently really focused on my creative side 4 years ago.  

Where can your work be viewed?  My work can be viewed on line at www.pairabelles.com and at several local retail shops.  Also I am an artist at the Foundrie in Chesterfield Mall, an artisan boutique. 

What shows have you displayed in? I am a proud member of the St. Louis Craft Mafia and display my items at most, if not all, of the St. Louis Craft Mafia events such as “Green with Indie”, “Indie Craft Revolution” and Strangefolk Festival.  I’m also privileged to be one of the hand picked artists at Kay Weber ‘s Art and Craft Show in Belleville as well as Country Treasure shows throughout the year.  I’ve been an award winning artist at the Clinton County Art Guild Show and vend at numerous art/craft shows in the greater metro area.  I’ve also been featured on Great Day St. Louis (next airing is August 1^st).

What do you most enjoy about the art scene in St. Louis/Metro East? The appreciation between the artists and their individual art is amazing.  There is great effort to alert each other of the “good” shows and speedy internet advisement of any upcoming events that would be a good fit for each other’s individual art.  The advertisement for sponsored events is awesome .  Such great pride in the St. Louis artisan community and the shared respect is simply untouched.