Artist Amy Sheets – My Story.

I never thought that I could become a professional artist. It was just this crazy dream.

I’d chosen to settle into a (very practical) career in Law. I enjoyed this work and stayed with it until I retired from the District Court in Las Vegas, NV, in 2015 - when I married and moved to Flagstaff, AZ. I enjoyed travelling, working various short-term jobs in the scuba industry, and being a homemaker.

In 2020 (like so many others) I was struck ill and faced a long recovery.  My intense love of scuba diving was to be placed on hold for a while - or maybe forever – no one knew for sure at the time.

I was despondent over the news, and I had a good solid cry over it -- but I knew in my heart that I could not spend the foreseeable future pining away for what I couldn’t have.  I had to find something to pour my passion into; something that would feed my spirit, and that I could share.

 I made a decision; I would channel my passion into my artwork!  I dove in completely. I immersed myself in it. I sought out instructors. I tried every medium that inspired me. …and I practiced…and practiced, and practiced, and practiced…

A crazy-magical thing started happening then; people started asking to purchase my work! Others realized before I did that my dream was no longer just a fantasy.  A friend goaded me into submitting my work to a juried gallery; and

“Amy Sheets Studios” went from pipe dream to reality.

----- Dreams can come true! -

Today, I explore several different mediums and create evocative images that move my Spirit.

Whether it whispers of a memory, fires the imagination, excites your senses, or calms your soul; I believe that every image has a perfect medium ideal for its creation. My original works may be in Oil Paint, Acrylics, Gouache, Watercolor, Graphite, Charcoal, Ink, Oil Pastel, Colored Pencil, or even polymer clay – and in addition to the originals, many of my images can be purchased as a fine art print or Giclee reproduction.

Thank you for your interest in my story and my work!

P.S. - In 2022, just before my 50th birthday, I was given the OK to start scuba diving again!

Amy Sheets Studios of Northern Arizona

Amy Sheets, Artist

Amy Sheets Studios of Northern Arizona

Email - AmySheetsStudios@Gmail.com

(702) 860-3150

I have been metal smithing since the summer of 2016 when I found myself immobile from a skiing knee injury, when I had to take a season off the river.

I started apprenticing with an experienced silversmith, Jay Mcormick for six months, learning how to hand forge and stamp metal. I have since spent a lot of time teaching myself soldering and lapidary skills. Mostly all of the stones I work with are hand cut from raw materials by myself.

I am an outdoor advocate and find much of my inspiration from the peaks of mountains, whispering of the winds, rustling of the leaves and bathing in the soft silvery moon light. I work as a river guide in the Grand Canyon 6 months out of the year, one of my signature designs is a hand stamped shape of a wave, representing my connection to water and my admiration to the ebbs and flows, peaks and troughs of life.

FB: Ack Creations

IG: @ack.creations

(480) 603-6803

I am a fiber artist employing cotton, silks, thread, and various threads to create art. Addition colors and design elements are added with dyes, paints, pastels, and pencils with lots of machine stitching. I have loved drawing, painting, and sewing for many years and now combine these interests as fiber art. Cotton and silks are my preference to dye or paint. I usually work with the fabric as a ’whole cloth’ for more of a canvas style, fine arts look.

I dye or paint most of the textiles I use; commercially printed fabrics are used on occasion. The art piece is worked heavily through machine stitching, with thread selection being a key component to the overall design. With the help of sheer fabrics; layered, folded, and manipulated there is an additional visual depth and dimension incorporated onto a relatively flat fabric surface. The thread work is used as a drawn line to define, accentuate or build a texture or design element that is unique to each fiber art piece. Capturing the viewer's attention through unexpected details, bits of visual delight, these are rewarding aspects of the creative process.

When satisfied with a fiber art piece, the fabric is carefully mounted on stretcher bars, for a fine arts look. I love the look of the taunt fabric stretched snugly on the stretcher bars. The texture of the thread work reveals itself, the sheen of the silk captures the light, the dimensional aspects of the design come forward.

Nature and the night sky, ever-changing, are my constant sources of inspiration. I enjoy experimenting with various mediums on fabrics because it's all about process and exploring that keeps a creative spark alive.

Facebook: Stitch Happy

Email: armcolor@gmail.com

Phone: 928-814-9577

Coming soon!

Questions? Please contact the gallery HERE.

Chas completed his MFA from Wichita State Univ in 2004. He has worked as a professor/potter/soccer coach since then in AK, NV, GA, AZ, and KS. " I had a great upbring and decided to create a life doing the things I have loved as a child"

I work in clay for the tactile quality of the material and the versatility the spectrum of working with clay has. I can be sculptor, painter, drawer, tiler, potter. I have had a visceral connection with the material from the first touch and decided it needed to remain.

IG @ChasArts

Email chasarts101@gmail.com

(678) 485-8642

Neon Viking, aka Dane Kulpa, is a hiking, rock climbing, and hockey enthusiast. He prioritizes communing with the mountains to learn from their teachings, settle into their energy, and tap into their profound gifts. After completing law school in 2014, Dane began cultivating his relationship with the mountains of Arizona. At first, this included morning hikes and sunset walks. Soon, this bond grew into an everlasting commitment of trust and patience. Although giving in nature, Dane needed this communion with the mountains to learn how to receive the blessings present in his daily life. Today, Dane works under his artist title to bring bright colored, majestical landscapes to life for viewers to experience the beauty he sees. With a medium of predominantly alcohol markers and acrylics, Neon Viking is delighted to bring his beloved pieces for display for those in his Flagstaff community.

Website: NeonViking.Shop

Instagram: NeonVikingArt

Phone: 480-242-5226

Email: NeonViking35@gmail.com

Denise Edwards started her life with a profound love for animals, especially horses. This is very evident in the pieces she currently creates. Her early love of horses initially manifested in pursuing a career as a Farrier. Many of the techniques she learned in building specialty shoes for horses are key in the pieces she creates now.

Denise retired from the Farrier business and now has her own Blacksmith business in the outlying rural area of Flagstaff. All of Denise's work is done by hand, using small tools. She uses a propane forge, anvil, numerous hammers, tongs and punches. There are pieces that Denise creates that are unique to her work such as her hand-forged dog. This piece evolved from her great love of dogs. She owns, trains, and races sled dogs. Animals and mother earth are very important ingredients to Denise's life and inspires all of her work. She has spent most of her life working out in the elements. Taking time to stop and watch the occasional elk, eagle, hawk, antelope, and other wonderful animals that choose to enter into her space has been a priority and inspiration.

Facebook: Coyote Forging and Metal Works

All of our jewelry is created in our home studio in Flagstaff, AZ. Our inspiration tends to come from all around; from nature, from other art, even from left over materials we find on our work benches. But we have found that one of the best sources for inspiration is in the search for materials. On our travels around the country we visit rock shops, metal fabricators, jewelry supply stores, museums, gem and mineral shows, and have participated in field trips with the local lapidary club. Our only problem is trying to not collect more than we could possibly use in a lifetime.

The best part of the creative process is being able to share our work with others. Jewelry is a great medium for sharing. It is worn everyday and is shared with all the people the wearer meets. It is mobile art that continues to provide pleasure for years.

I am a multi-faceted creative from the Hopi village of Shungopavi and the Tewa village of Khapo-Owinge. My work reflects the virtues, values, and sometimes vices of my Puebloan culture. Inspired by the artistic heritage handed down to me by my father and grandfather, my creations take the form of overlay jewelry, watercolor paintings, stippled drawings, and multi-instrumental, tri-lingual compositions. It is my mission to strengthen the communities of my nativity through creative expression. By the mediums of art and music, I endeavor to share the courageous stories of my people.

As long as I can remember, I have always been drawn to the creative process. From drawing and painting as a child, to musical composition and writing as a young adult, I have always had a passion for creating something new. I was born and raised in Arizona, and have lived most of my life here. The stark beauty of the southwest, as well as the plants, animals, and people who live here have always been a source of awe and inspiration for me. After graduating from Metropolitan Arts Institute in Phoenix, I first began working with metal by taking classes in jewelry and silversmithing at Northern Arizona University. That began the path towards working with other metals as an artistic medium.

Though it can be challenging, I thoroughly enjoy the process of creating wall art and sculptures of metal, while also incorporating wood and stone. While I will occasionally paint my pieces, copper and steel produce many wonderful colors through heat and chemical oxidation, so I try to maintain the integrity of those colors as much as possible. When not working, I enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible. Taking in the beauty of the natural world is what restores my spirit as a human being, and inspires my creativity as an artist. Thank you for your interest in my work, -Elias

I understand jewelry as wearable sculpture and I am open to the use of any material. From this perspective, the possibilities of creation are infinite and the field of jewelry making is much more fun than ever imagined.

For the last 10 years I have been extensively travelling by motorcycle in South America, Mexico, US, Europe, and Turkey. OVERLAND JEWELRY is inspired by the beauty of places and people I have experienced during my motorcycle journeys and by the materials I have found along the way .

I am originally from Spain. I moved to USA in 1986, to Syracuse, NY, where I got a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature, and then worked as a university professor for 20 years at Hamilton College, Utica College, University of Northern Iowa, and Northern Arizona University (NAU). I retired early from NAU and moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I took my first class on jewelry making...

For contact and additional information:

email: elisarosales@outlook.com

Phone: 928 235 7296

website: www.overlandjewelry.com

I started my art journey at an early age, doodling in the margins of my homework rather than studying. Now, many years later, I have morphed those doodles into watercolor, acrylic and soft pastel paintings of my favorite subject matter- subjects which seem to be as varied as my moods.

I enjoy doing portraits of people on a commission basis.

EMAIL: jsm101104@gmail.com

Hello, and thank you for taking interest in my artwork. My Name is Jason Nelson and I'm a flagstaff local, born and raised. I’ve been an artist at heart for as long as I can remember. My choice to create with leather was inspired by the longevity, beauty and functionality of the craft itself. Leather seems to take on its own character in relation to its owner. It forms to fit your shape and is polished by your lifestyle. The potential projects you can undertake with leather are far too numerous to convey in this bio especially when you add leather tooling into the equation. Tooling designs into leather adds an entirely unique and visually appealing element to each leather project. It was this process of carving, stamping and molding a 3-D image into leather that really stoked the creative fires and attracted me to leather work. By combining the durability of a well made leather item with the fine art of leather tooling the end result is always beautiful.

Painter of Passions and Joy

I find beauty everywhere. The hardest thing is choosing to paint just one fascinating subject at a time. When I paint with my oils, I naturally simplify what my eyes can see and accentuate what my heart feels.  Painting is my way of processing emotions and balancing my soul. My painterly style is somewhat abstracted with dreamy shapes of intense color and personal expression.  I often create in a meditative or trance-like state and am surprised by the finished results.  This mysterious process gives me a sense of anticipation and joy that is addictive. 

An essential part of my process is the creative flow that is nurtured by patrons who collect my art.  I have sold hundreds of paintings to collectors all over the world and am grateful to them for supporting the arts and for fueling the fire in my soul to paint more!  

I have been drawing and painting since 1969. I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor in Architecture in 1985. I have been showing in art galleries since 1989 and have been honored with one woman shows in two galleries on Main Street in Scottsdale.  I live and paint full time in Flagstaff. When I am not painting, I am walking in the forest with my husband and 3 dogs, gardening, fly fishing, visiting friends or art journaling.

Email: JeanneWelnick@gmail.com

My present work focuses primarily on quilts and painted silk. I am fascinated by color and pattern, which has led to dyeing and painting yarn and fabric. Quilting is my current passion. Because of my interest in color, pattern, and texture, making quilts is a natural extension of my work in fiber. Presently my focus is on large quilts and small wall hangings, utilizing more traditional patterns with non-traditional color ways. The quilts are machine-pieced and quilted, made of 100 percent cotton, and functional. When painting the silk scarves I prefer to apply the dye directly onto the silk with a brush, though I sometimes use shibori techniques to create resist patterns in the silk, then injecting the dye, which adds an element of surprise to the final product.

I am interested in creating work, which is functional as well as beautiful. I believe that fine craft should be present in our lives and homes, that it is important in these days of mass produced, shoddy goods to allow ourselves the pleasure not only of appreciating, but using beautiful things, made by hand. I believe it is a reflection of our culture and who we are as human beings.

FB: Cliff Rose Studio

cliff_rose_studio@msn.com

(928) 525 1239

I first came to the Colorado plateau well into adulthood and I immediately felt a deep resonance with this landscape that I had never experienced before. I felt more at home here than anywhere I’d ever been. My photography since has primarliy been an attempt to understand my emotional response to and relationship with this area.

My preferred tool is a Chamonix 45F-2 4x5 film camera, a beautiful, elegant highly impractical, heavy, slow film camera designed two centuries ago, but whose large negatives provide unmatched detail.

email: hartmann.edward@gmail.com

Insta: @john_hartman_takes_pictures

I make Stoneware and Raku pottery. The lion’s share of my work is functional. I do that because I love knowing that my work is being used daily by people all around the world. Sipping from my mug or eating a salad from one of my bowls. I make my own glazes and throw my own pots, so I consider each and every piece one of kind. They are three dimensional art pieces that you can use. They are fired to 2300 degrees, and are lead free and will serve you well if you treat them with a bit of care.

Website: www.elfuegopottery.com

I have been working with fibers all of my life. In my youth it was knitting and crocheting along with sewing. During college I tried a small tapestry loom and I knew I was hooked on weaving. It was not until 1985 that I began to weave on a floor loom.

I have taken a variety of lessons and workshops though much of my learning has been from books and chatting with other fiber folks.

My fiber work tends to focus on the color blending employing simple structures to create functional pieces. My finished work includes household textiles, fabric lengths, garments, and wall hangings. Hats are my favorite small item, though scarves, shawls, and table runners are also in my repertoire. Sometimes I combine woven fabrics with knitting to create sweaters and jackets.

Recently I have renewed my interest in quilting and have created some table runners along with wall quilts, a few baby quilts, and very functional hotpads.

Phone: 928-556-0567

For over 75 years I have been surrounded by the myriad beauties of this world; the curl of water over river stone, the drip of water off an oar, the sparkle of beach sand, mountain snow against azure skies, the twist of blossom edge, and most of all, the pure hearts of the teenagers I teach. If I could only be granted 75 more years to paint what I have known! Each of my paintings humbly approximates but celebrates the ineffable in the familiar. My work consists predominately of watermedia florals, figures, portraits, animals and birds.

I have participated in Flagstaff Open Studios and several local gallery showings for the past fifteen years. I am a Signature member of Northern Arizona Watercolor Society and have won five awards at NAWS’ Annual Exhibitions.

Contact me at kathi_baron@msn.com

View my work at The Artists’ Gallery, Flagstaff, AZ.

Website: kbaron.artspan.com

Email: kathi_baron@msn.com

What started out as making mud pies in childhood has evolved into my full time profession as a ceramic artist (as well as an avid garden enthusiast). While my love of the earth has translated into working with ceramics, my past as a dancer is also evident in what I create.

More recently, "raku-fired" work has captured me. I am drawn to the coppery tones and the process always creates surprising results.

I hope to convey a feeling of energy, movement, spirit and joy in the clay and glazes of my dancers, angels, figures, jewelry and masks. It is a blessing to have all these various interests in my life join in the making of my living.

www.celestialearthart.com

Facebook: Karen L. Myers Ceramic Art

Email: info@celestialearthart.com

Phone: 928-779-5430 or 928-773-0958

Landscape photography has been an integral part of my life since 2010. Living in Flagstaff allows me to immerse myself in the beautiful, unique landscapes in this area, and to bring what I capture to you. My photos have appeared in landscape magazines (including Outdoor Photographer), national calendars, and I have been a contributing photographer for Arizona Highways since 2021. I have had 2 cover photos to date.

My photos are printed on high definitions metallic paper and mounted on 1/8” Tru-Life Acrylic or ChromaLuxe. Both are museum grade and developed specifically for photos to give them a three-dimensional quality. Tru-LifeAcrylic is anti-reflective, provides 99% UV protection, is lightweight but resists scratching, and is shatter-resistant. The result is a photo with exceptional color and depth that will last over 50 years. To see more of my work visit: www.laurazirino.smugmug.com

CobbWood owner, Lee Hughes, sees more than just a piece of wood. He envisions bowls, candlestick holders, platters, vases, coasters and just about anything else. Lee is self-taught. He has worked with wood in one form or another throughout most of his life. His passion is turning. Lathe work allows the wood to "speak" to him and stretches his imagination. He loves working with local Ponderosa, Aspen, Elm and Mesquite. Exotic hardwoods such as Bubinga, Zebra, Canary and Purple heart woods challenge him yet the products are truly a work of art.

Just as nature's wood is unique, each piece Lee produces is unique with no two pieces exactly alike. Born in blustery Missoula, Montana, Lee has spent the last thirty plus years in Flagstaff with his wife and two children. He has a Bachelors Degree from Northern Arizona University in Radiological Technology and retired from Flagstaff Medical Center.

Linda Russell has resided in Northern Arizona since 1964, painting landscapes for the last forty years. Living in Northern Arizona, with it’s breathtaking scenery has offered her an abundance of motivation and challenge. The Grand Canyon being her favorite.

With warm colors and even light, she welcomes the viewer into the Canyons natural wonder. Depicting the Canyon vistas with a bird’s-eye view that opens the painted space to a wider horizon. Her mentor, Viola Babbitt, once said of Linda’s work, “With wide open spaces, noble forests and majestic mountains of snow, she reveals the generosity of her own soul.” Her recent inspiration comes from fellow artists at the Artists Gallery where her art has been on display for the past 26 years.

Linda’s medium of choice is Acrylic. “I love the fast drying qualities and also the use of a transparent gel to move the paint and give it life and luster.”

Linda truly captures the spirit of Arizona from her own experiences living here. She has spent the last 54 years raising her family in Northern Arizona and hiking Arizona’s many beautiful trails. In her most recent years, she spends time riding Arizona’s scenic roadways with her husband of 56 years on their Harley Davidson.

Email: linda_and_robert@yahoo.com

Phone: 928.853.1628

I love watercolor! The paint is rich and soft, the brushes snap to a perfect point, and the paper is clean, white cotton. When all this combines with varying amounts of water and an inspiring subject, some magic can happen that I wish I could take all the credit for.

I’ve spent 20 years learning how to handle this tricky medium – water ratios, the paints that play well together and when to get out of the way. Creating a balanced design with personal expression is a constant pursuit. When I put these wonderful elements to the subject of Western landscapes or cheerful still lifes, beauty can result. If it doesn’t then there’s always the back of the paper!

I get out often to paint the landscape in plein-air. It’s rewarding to capture these moments in time and place for myself and the enjoyment of others.

Website: http://www.owenwatercolor.com/

Phone: 928-526-0087

Email: h2owencolor@gmail.com

I like to paint very small paintings of animals, tame and wild, and landscapes. I use acrylic paints and very small brushes. I work from photos I have taken or been given by someone commissioning a special painting. Since I am a picture framer, I like to mat and frame my pieces to make them as visually pleasing as possible.

Email: gabriellapossum@hotmail.com

Phone: 928-380-1894

Art and music have been part of my life since I was born. My grandmother was a musician and music teacher. My mother and sister are painters. I was interested in drawing and music as a child. Eventually I was drawn to three dimensional art.

Once I visited a friend of mine whose roommate was a ceramicist. That really stirred something in me. When I got back home, I enrolled at NAU in the Ceramics department. While there, the Jewelry department put on something called the Great West Metal Show. I was hooked! Metal became my medium.

Most of my pieces have a sculptural quality to them. I love the ability of the metal to polish to a smooth, deep surface. I think it complements the sculptural quality of the pieces. I also love the ability of the metal to take on organic textures and shapes through heating, as in reticulation or casting.

At NAU we were given many opportunities to learn new techniques through workshops given by visiting artists. There was another Great West Metal Show which I helped to coordinate. There were juried student art shows in which I participated. I have had pieces in juried shows at the Coconino Center for the Arts and the Sedona Arts Center as well as the show that accompanied the Great West Metal Show.

I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors at NAU. I went on to earn a Master of Arts degree there too. Since then, I have worked at other jobs in order to make a living. But something was always missing. I am now coming back home to a career doing what I love. I am looking forward to discovering new things about my work.

I always wanted to express myself through art and discovered photography as the perfect medium.  I find that photography is a never-ending process of discovery – the composition, the play of light and shadow, and the feeling of place.  Photography allows me to slow down and enjoy the nuances of nature and deeply experience the beauty that surrounds us.  Through my photos, I hope to convey a small measure of the beauty of our precious world.

Email: m.mcmullanphotos@gmail.com

I’ve always been an artist. My first memories are of drawing designs of a boat or trailer so I could travel. I was seven. I’ve worked in charcoal, watercolor, oil, clay, and wood. I made jewelry for several years.

How I came up with the Faerie Door idea and designs: In June 2013, on my way to sell my jewelry at a weekly craft market, I heard a story about the Faerie Doors in Ann Arbor Michigan. My first thought was “I want a Faerie Door!” So that evening when I got home I checked them out online. They were really sweet, and I thought the concept of having Faerie Doors all around the downtown area was really cool! However, they were not quite the image I was expecting. So I went into my workshop and made a couple. By the next weekend I had 10 Doors to take with me to the Craft Market with my jewelry. I sold them all! The next weekend I took 20 Doors, Sold them all again. The third weekend I put the jewelry away and took 30 Faerie Doors! The rest as they say is history!

Over the years the designs have evolved; the first Doors didn’t open, there were only 3 shapes and then eventually I added Porch Lights.  

I still love making My Faerie Doors. I’m always imagining new designs. I love hunting up new charms to go on the Doors, finding new colors and keeping my eye out for new shapes.

Website: myfaeriedoor.com

Email: myfaeriedoor@gmail.com

Randy “SQRL” Gray is an artist that sees the possibility in things. 100 year old train rail and old wood blocks from highway guard rails become wine bottle displays. Bed frames, metal barrels and barn wood become a unique gate. After 10 years in healthcare as an x-ray technologist, Randy has delved full time into making old things new again. Always searching for rusty gold and the next find, Randy is on the hunt for things that can be repurposed and brought back to life as something different and useful. Randy's mediums are primarily metal and wood and is self taught with a little help from the internet. Randy's work tends to be industrial or rustic with a flair for being a little over the top. Eye catching just like a dog spotting a critter, Randy's work will make you say SQRL!

Phone: 928-699-5027

Instagram: Sqrldesigns

My paintings are layered mixed media collages. I use a blend of papers, acrylics, watercolors, and oil sticks, creating my art on canvas or watercolor paper. My intention is to create a vibrant fusion of texture and color in each piece. Using my unique mixed media process, I often create my own collage papers and I also use found papers such as old books and letters.

As an artist, my intention is to capture the vibrancy, beauty, and joy I find in Northern Arizona. I draw inspiration from the ponderosa pine forests I hike in almost daily, and my garden, which is filled with birds, flowers, and sunlight.

More about my background —

After entering my first painting in a 6th grade art show, I was hooked! That love inspired me to take every art class I could growing up in New York City and then in Flagstaff after moving here with my family back in 1976! I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Northern Arizona University in 1986. In 1995 my husband and I started a small but thriving local printing business which we have owned for almost 30 years. Having spent much of my adulthood raising our daughters and running our business, I was overjoyed these past few years to go back to my art roots. I now dedicate most of my time to my sunny Doney Park studio, infusing my mixed media art with color and joy.

Thanks for your interest in my art. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

EMAIL: ruth@ruthgaustinart.com

Website: www.RuthAustinArt.com

IG: @RuthAustinArt

FB: @RuthAustinArt

Cell: 928.606.1720

Mail: PO Box 202, Flagstaff, AZ 86002

Exploration of art is more than mastering a medium. A finished piece echoes the artist’s inner spirit. I interpret my world by fusing contrastingmetals and gems. My designs are inspired by nature. Each hand crafted piece of jewelry is a study in function and fluidity. Combining these elements allows my work to to be coherent in concept, and diverse in nature.My spark ignited in Prescott over 20 years ago. I honed my craft at NAU, Flagstaff and my inspiration was born in Grand Canyon. I’m raising a beautiful family and loving life in Arizona every day. My passion-creating jewelry and sharing it with you, keeping wild places close to your heart.

Website: Evolve Jewelry Studio

Email: ryanne.sebern@gmail.com

Phone: 928.310.1195

I was given my first camera for my 17th birthday. I still own my Pentax K1000 and it is in good working order though most of what I do now is digital. I currently travel with a Canon 5D Mark ii which means I have had to collect super light backpacking gear to compensate for the weight of my camera gear.

I spend most of my free time outside, hiking, camping and working. Wherever I go, I take my camera. There is never a reason to leave it at home. It is my faithful companion. I shoot every week, every chance I get despite the fact that I work and I’m a full-time student. I find the moments in between to do what I love best.

I have a serious obsession with the weather and I always have an eye on the radar. I follow the Arizona Monsoon storms throughout the summer. When everyone else is excited about a mild, clear day, I’m anxiously awaiting a storm.

I am imperfect therefore I minimally edit each of my photos in order to retain the soul and mood of the composition. I would rather leave an “imperfection” than I would alter it through technology.

The thing that has shaped me the most besides being an artist is being a Midwesterner. The thing the people I grew up with value most is hard work. I enjoy working hard to find and capture the photos I take. I want to present my “audience” with something familiar but unique.

Much of what I do is done in harsh environments and extreme weather. I seek places and subjects that are rarely viewed and I work to frame the “ordinary” in an extraordinary way.

My photos represent more than a fraction of a second, recorded while the shutter is open. They are composed of the day’s events or even years of settling into a landscape. Sense of place is the single most important element of my being therefore it is the most important aspect of each photograph.

My paintings often require you to fill in the blanks with your own story, to look closely and discover something new. Perhaps they only cause you to reflect for a moment on the comical antics of ravens. If you stop and look, I've accomplished something. Technically speaking, I prefer understatement and well-designed white spaces in watercolors. Areas of contrast and images that convey a sense of place are especially important. Even as I experiment with expanding traditional watercolor using gesso, collage and fused fiber, these elements of visual design remain a reliable guide. Ultimately the finished mixed media pieces become altered watercolors with images inspired by the written word and the natural world.

Since high school in Portland, Oregon, watercolors captured my imagination because of their ethereal quality. In Phoenix I received instruction from artists gifted as painters and teachers, Lilly Ham and Dick Phillips. Additional workshops as well as teaching painting in Flagstaff continue to challenge and inspire me to explore the creative process.

My attraction to bright shiny things led me to a career as a gemologist. I spent many years chasing gemstones in exotic places. Glass has an appeal because of its many gem-like qualities—brilliant colors, textures, and optical possibilities.

With glass there are infinite possibilities for creating functional glassware and decorative objects.  My glass art is done with fusible glass which comes in large sheets which are then cut in various shapes of colored glass.  These pieces are then unified by placing a clear colorless piece of glass over the colored glass pieces.  Additional glass trim pieces may be added on top of the colorless layer.  Glue is used to hold the pieces together.    When I am satisfied with the design, the pieces are placed in an electric kiln and fired to 1460 degrees F.  At this point the pieces of glass melt together and a flat, solid piece is the product.  If the piece is to be shaped it is put on a mold and fired to 1260 degrees F, which cause the glass to slump into the form of the mold.

Inspiration for glass designs comes from many places.  I do my best creative thinking hiking and walking around Flagstaff which provides a rich landscape of color and texture.   My cats, Latte, Baby, and Blue are perfect models for my “cat pieces.”  My floral pieces are abstractions from nature.  Some of my geometric pieces suggest the beautiful local mountain landscape.

From the now defunct town of Ray, Arizona, Sonja London-Hall is a native Arizona glass artist who works with one of the oldest forms of art expression. Glass is a versatile material that has been used for centuries to showcase creativity and artistic expression. Sonja is a true artist whose work reflects her creative spirit and her ability to take an unconventional approach to glass making. Her work involves many processes including stained glass, casting, fusing, and flameworking. She often combines these techniques in her pieces, creating intricate and unique designs. She experiments with different types of glass, such as mirrored, textured, laminate, tempered, rod, and colored glass, to create various effects in her work. In addition to her technical skills, she was also known for her innovative and abstract designs that pushed the boundaries of traditional glass art. For Sonja, glass is the most versatile art form, compelling light to work its magic through it. It represents mood, dimension, history, time, and potential. With glass, she explores the many dimensions of creativity, and she continues to develop her craft within a unique community of glass makers.

See her work in the upcoming “Women in Glass” issue of THE FLOW magazine.

Artist Statement

I have been a teacher and an artist for a very long time. My art journey started in 1995 with post-partum depression. My husband gifted me a stained-glass class with Judi Hartman. I fell in love with the medium. Ove r the next 10 years I jumped into learning everything I could about glass. I found it a relaxing, explorative art form that really helped in the early years of depression. The next 15 years I explored art residencies, public art, and instructing art glass classes in the Southwest. I have been on many art boards, served in committees, and promoted art any where I can. I truly believe if you have a creative “thing” that you do, pursue it.

“It is my goal as a lifelong teacher to instill in learners a fascination with the creative process. It is in that creative space the human spirit can rejuvenate and rediscover itself. Art and music merit contemplation and has always been my source of inspiration.”

Sonja london-Hall is a mixed media, glass artist specializing in contemporary design while also embracing her love for nature and organic possibilities..  This month she will feature designs which incorporate flat glass, fused glass, beadworking/torchwork, and imagery. Her works have recently been published in Fusion Art Artists Choice 2nd place, The Flow Magazine, Women in Glass, and Signs and Symbols International exhibition

BEAR series

Sometimes we take ourselves way too seriously. The month of November marks an exploration of bears. The works completed are a combination of techniques; fused glass with airbrush accents, flameworking, fused polar bear ornaments and magnets. All glass works made in my studio. If you are a bears fan (glass, not the team) and would like a custom bear, just let me know.

Facebook: London-Hall Glass

Email: londonhallglass@gmail.com

Phone: 928.853.8468

I am a Navajo silversmith. My clans are Towering House, Bitter Water people, Tangle Hair clan, and Edge Water people. I currently live in Flagstaff, AZ and as an artist I have worked hard in developing and refining my skills in my work in contrast with my cultural heritage. I'm inspired by many things in my life that reflect into my artwork, with being a river guide, father, artist, and cat owner.

In my jewelry work I use traditional Navajo silversmithing techniques such as stamping, hammering, forming, and use of stone cabochons. I also use elements of newer contemporary styles such as married metals, casting, hollow forms, and traditional spiculum forming which I have learned from the Northern Arizona jewelry program. You can wear precious art works to self-glamorize and enhance beauty with art. Thus in traditional Navajo saying, "To Walk in Beauty".

Website: Ty Metalsmithing

Email: tymetalsmithing@yahoo.com

Two and a half years ago I purchased my first lathe. Actually, my mother bought it for me as she took a gamble on a potential hidden talent of mine that only she knew of, moms are great at that! You see, I have worked in wood for over 30 years but never in this medium. Early in my career, I dabbled in most of the construction trades over some years looking for a niche, I finally settled in custom cabinetry as my profession. This decision led to me owning and operating my own cabinet and furniture company in Colorado for over 20 years. As I departed from cabinet making a while back, I never lost my love of working with wood. While I still do some work with custom cabinetry, my primary focus has shifted toward making wood turnings and custom furniture. I find that working with different types of unique wood, designing badass wood turnings and furniture is very satisfying. I continue to push my creative meanderings to their limits, bringing distinct artistic designs and unique pieces to my collection of art. I hope you enjoymy works as much as I do creating it.

Steve

Email: rhythmsofwood@gmail.com

Website: rhythmsofwood.com

Sydney Francis, MFA-IA

I earned my MFA in Interdisciplinary Art in 2001 with a specialization in how art can be used to induce transformation, combining the fields of visual art, psychology, and religious studies. 

For many years after graduating I worked as an art teacher at the elementary, secondary and college level, as well as pursuing my own art. Both of my parents were artists. My dad was a painter.  My mom, Sondra Francis, currently does fused glass, but was also a jewelry designer by profession.

My background is primarily as a painter, but I also work in drawing, sculpture, and installation.

My current focus is working with Scott Moore to make collaborative pieces out of painted and engraved wood.  We work together on the inspiration, design and execution of each artwork. Scott and I also recently innovated some light boxes using layers of painted wood and LED lights framed in a box.  Our light boxes open a new medium for using light, space and color to play with artistic ideas.

Scott Moore

I have been a woodworker for over 15 years.  I come from a family of woodworkers, including my grandpa, dad, and uncle.  My mom is a prolific artist and architect.  I was encouraged to explore and develop my creativity and skill in art and woodwork from a young age.  

I recently decided “to be an artist.”  I have always gravitated to 3-D elements in my work.  For example, I recently built a treehouse and I have also designed constructed a variety of storage solutions from wood.  I have always been interested in space and how people feel in a space.   

My current art practice is to make collaborative pieces out of painted and engraved wood with Sydney Francis.  We work together on the inspiration, design and execution of each artwork. Sydney and I also recently innovated some light boxes using layers of painted wood and LED lights framed in a box. The light boxes have layered and painted panels of wood with the lights nestled between each layer.  In this way they are more like sculptures, rather than paintings, combining color, light, and space in the resulting art work.  

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/liquiterra​

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liquiterra​

Website: www.liquiterra.co​m  

Email: liquiterradesigns@gmail.com​  

Link to Flagstaff Live article:

My Name is Tom Yazzie I am a Navajo, born and raised on the Navajo Reservation. I am of the Bitter Water clan born for the Water Edge, my maternal grandparents are Towering House and my paternal grandparents are Red House.

I received my Bachelors of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Classical Guitar Performance from Northern Arizona University in 2000. I continued working at NAU then decided to recommence my education and began taking classes for my second degree. I received my second Bachelors in Fine Arts with an emphasis on Metalsmithing in spring of 2012. I am now enrolled to receive another Bachelor in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Sculpture.

My designs come from interpretation of the world around me. I continue to challenge my abilities with metal by discovering new ways to create a piece that is uncomplicated and multifaceted. This approach allows me to maintain the traditional styles of my Navajo heritage along with a more contemporary twist to my finished wearable work. I enjoy the visual effects of coupling hand cut gemstones and minerals with my metal designs. I utilize hand selected raw materials and shape them to perfectly fit each piece. This allows me creative freedoms to design forms from beginning to end.

While I utilize a variety of materials and processes in each piece, my methodology remains consistent. My intent is to bring into fruition my personal ideas with an underlying theme of traditional yet contemporary Navajo Jewelry.

Website: Ty Metalsmithing

Email: tymetalsmithing@yahoo.com