Colleen Cannon: Etsy Artist from Hawaii

Colleen Cannon is an amazing conceptual artist from the big island of Hawaii. I've had the pleasure of visiting her shop at Etsy and her other website on several occasions when I just sat gazing in wonder at her work. It turns out she's a pretty nice person, too.  And you can find out a lot more about her by reading my interview with Colleen Cannon...

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?

UV Light Studios Designer Boutique - I sell illuminated cosmic landscapes in various formats from photographs of the illuminated imagery to backlit prints incorporated in frames that actually light up. My latest creation is the QuantumLyte where the imagery is incorporated into an acrylic tube and lit from within. Many of my products function as both ambient light and abstract art. 

2. What is your shop URL?

http://www.uvlightstudios.etsy.com for designer discounts.

http://www.uvlightstudios.com is my home website where you can find more images, design and custom application etc.

3. What long series of events led to you doing this?

I joined Etsy after hearing about it over the summer on GMA. I checked it out and was amazed at the high level of excellence in both web design, interaction, information and sheer numbers of talented artisans from around the world.  I thought Etsy would be a great place to offer my imagery to the public for the same discount prices I offer to the interior design industry.

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?

I joined Etsy last August but didn't start listing until September 12. There is a  lot to learn about navigating the site and developing marketing strategies so I am still getting up to speed.

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

My favorite thing about Etsy is having access to so much worldwide talent, such a wide variety of “handmade” goods. 

Pretty astonishing! I also like the Treasury. I think its a great idea to have these curated pages. In fact, I just got selected for a Treasury for the first time.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?

My work is multifunctional and unique - cosmic art that lights up. When I figured out how to light up my imagery I was very excited because I knew I was on to something. I don’t want to get too esoteric but my work is highly conceptual. I have spent years studying physics and metaphysics and have sought to find visual ways to show the inherent energy that exists in all of matter. I have developed a proprietary imaging process where I create 2 or 3D prototypes that I cover with wet media including fluorescent. The resulting cosmic like imagery is photographed under ultraviolet light (that’s how I get the otherwordly color and amazing patterning) and captured digitally for use in a variety of formats. Because the images are digital they can be customized in color and shape to meet a wide variety of design 

applications.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?

My latest creation - the QuantumLyte is my favorite. I have spent months experimenting and developing prototype after prototype to come up with the winning design. It works as a piece of beautiful sculpture as well as a light source. Looks great lit or unlit. 

8. What teams do you belong to and what do you like most about 

them?

Design Style Guide

Artists of Color

Fashion, Design, Lifestyle

Mad Scientists

Photographers of Etsy

Visual Arts Street Team

I really like Etsy teams [because] they allow you to work in groups to broaden your marketing, promotional, and support efforts. I just joined these teams and am getting up to speed. I am very excited about joining the Design Style Guide and being on the new DGS website. I really appreciate all the work and effort made into developing this one stop shopping destination for interior designers and am glad to be part of the team.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?

Besides other things I recently joined Facebook to market my site. I’m not much into online social networking so its been an interesting experience especially since I have ran into old childhood, high school and college friends from decades ago.

 

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?

There is so much great stuff on Etsy that I love I will just name a few here:

formfireglassworks - great jewelry

amysfunkyfibers - beautifully crafted and funky knitwear

theivorymagnolia - delicious looking body products

frenchlandscapes - beautiful art

sweetiepiesdelights - the name says it all!

11. What do you do in your spare time?

I live in Hawaii so I like to go to the beach when I can. These days with gas being still expensive here I enjoy the sanctuary of my beautiful property in the Hawaiian Rainforest. This year I have been blessed, some very exotic and cute little birds - Java Sparrows - have moved into the crawl space in my attic. They perch on my eaves and I enjoy watching them interact and frolic in the trees. In these difficult times I seek some peace and solitude in the beauty of nature. I also like to enjoy local art and cultural events, spending time with good friends.

12. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

Yes, for the holidays I haved reduced the price of my QuantumLytes from $125 to $95 until the end of the year. A truly unique gift that is both beautiful and provocative. Art + Light = QuantumLyte!

I was delighted to do this interview.  Thanks Jay!

You are most welcome!

Arline Ostolaza: Featured Artist from Design Style Guide

Arline Ostolaza is a member of Design Style Guide. She is one of the more gifted artists I have come across in a number of years. She is a woman of few words, at least in my experience, but her art speaks volumes.

Arline Ostolaza is my Featured Artist.

1. Hello, Arline. What is your shop name?

ArlineArts.

2. What is your shop URL?

http://arlinearts.imagekind.com  

(I'm working on a website (www.arlinearts.com), which will link to imagekind.

3. When did you start selling online?

Can't say exactly when.  However, it hasn't been much more than a month.

4. What is your favorite thing about selling online?

I don't have to concern myself with shipping problems.

5. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?

I've always enjoyed all aspects of art-making, and I particularly enjoy drawing.

6. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?

My computer.  It allows me to explore the work of other artists here and abroad, and supplies invaluable information in this regard.

7. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?

Visiting museums and galleries via the computer.

8. What are some of your favorite things about other sellers online?

Unusual points of view in the works of other artists.

9. What do you do in your spare time?

I read a great deal, visit museums/galleries, botanical gardens, zoos, I exercise, and I cook for family and friends.

10. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

I'm having my art work redone in order to offer larger prints of my work to the public.

The Drawers of the World... or at least the garage... Phase one, in which Doris gets her oats...

A good friend of mine named Clay, who wishes to remain anonymous, brought me over to his house recently and showed me a collection of eight drawers and an old door. He asked if I could build two cabinets to house the drawers and use those same cabinets to support the door, on it's side, so he would have a sort of work bench in his garage.

Now, Clay is an artist. In the classic sense. He paints pictures. He doesn't need the sort of work bench I have in my wood shop. So this idea of his was certainly sound.

And I can, indeed, build just what he's asking for. Thursday afternoon I'll be purchasing a ton of 3/4" birch plywood with which to begin the previously mentioned cabinets. Along with the sheet goods I'll get eight casters, four of which will have brakes on them. I'll worry about the drawer slides after I pick up the drawers from Clay this Saturday.

This will be fun. Once again I'll be building something I've never built before. I know I can build it, but it's still something new for me. That's exciting! When I was a graphic designer I took on jobs all the time without knowing exactly how I would complete them. I never missed a deadline in 13 years and my clients were happy folks and loved the results. When I see some possible obstacle in my path a solution always presents itself. And I like working on the fly.

I'll document this adventure here, with photos, just as I did with the lectern. Speaking of which, I'll be building another lectern at the same time as I start the cabinets. A teacher from the intermediate school has already paid for it.

Barbara Haviland: Etsy Artist from Texas

Barbara Haviland is an artist I have become ever so slightly acquainted with over the last several weeks. Her work is luscious and inspiring, and you can own some of it! Her shop at Etsy is filled with beautiful originals just waiting for you to buy them.

On the personal side, Barbara has been very interesting to "converse" with, even if that conversation has only been by e-mail. I'd love to meet her some day and, since she lives right here in the great state of Texas, that might actually be possible.

Anyway, I asked a few questions, she gave me a few answers, and here's the resulting interview, all typed up just for you.  Enjoy!

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?

My shop is Barbsgarden and I sell fine art.

2. What is your shop URL?

http://barbsgarden.etsy.com

3. When did you start selling on Etsy?

About 2 years ago.

4. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

I like the low fees and all the people I have met.

5. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?

I am afraid that I love all my items, because they are painted with love.

6. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?

Each piece that I create was done from some experience I have had. I mainly paint from photos I shoot. I love it when the piece I am doing comes together. I guess my bayou paintings are my favorites. I have always loved the mysterious bayous.

7. What teams do you belong to and what do you like most about them?

Design Style Guide, Etsy Texas Crafters, DAWG (Designing Artists Women's Group), WWAO and EBSQ. I have met so many wonderful caring people online in the groups. They are artists of some kind and we can relate.

8. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?

That is one of my major problems. I am not good with promoting myself. I am trying to do that more as I started a blog and am posting every day.

She also has a web site.

9. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?

Oh, I have found soaps, earrings and bunches of items I would like to trade with. RoseofSharonAcres.etsy.com for soaps. Monica is a gem. Leisab.etsy.com for jewelry. I like to trade and we traded their items for my art. Everyone won.

10. What do you do in your spare time?

I like to spend time with my husband, family and friends. I also like to read. We travel and play board games and have cook outs and watch baseball. My grandsons play baseball and that means lots of tournaments.

11. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

Life is short so make each day count. Do something for someone.