First Annual Holiday Handmade Gift Guide

by Bill

Welcome to our holiday gift guide!

The guide is a listing of:

artists whom we have had the honor to feature during 2009;

member artists who who submitted work and were juried into the guide;

non-member artists who also were juried into the guide.

The mission of The ARTISTScenter.com is to help artists get their work out into the world so the world can become a nicer place to live.

Consequently, this gift guide is dedicated to each of the artists in order to help them increase their visibility, and help you as potential buyers, easily find some of the best artists around.

Each listing includes links(when provided by the artist)to each artists' web site, sales venues, and contact information, including Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more about our Featured Artists, just click o the badge below each featured artists name. The link will take you to the featured artist section of this site were you can read more about them.

Christy DeKoning

Christy DeKoning grew up in Sydney, Australia. With formal training in singing and classical ballet, Christy worked as a vocalist on the Vancouver music scene in the early 90's, and then as a Certified Makeup Artist for several years before finally concentrating her career in Fine Arts.

In the past several years, Christy has completed over 200 commissioned watercolor portraits for clients worldwide. Christy now lives in Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband, two sons, two cats and a backyard full of squirrels (but no mice!).

Web Site

Etsy

Artfire

Boundless Gallery

Jane Campbell

Jane Campbel is a Folk Artist living in Northern California right in the heart of Gold Country. Her home is just miles from where apples are grown, wine is made & gold was first discovered. She was born in South Carolina & spent her early childhood there before moving to Japan , Arizona & finally California. Her travels add to her varied taste in art. There isn't any style that she does't like! I love painting angels, mermaids & mermaid angels.

Web site/blog

Altered pages

Twitter

Robin Pedrero

Robin Pedrero began fine art studies at the age of thirteen. She rode her bike where Foxwoods casino now sits near her hometown of Norwich, CT. Her early exhibitions began at The Mystic Art Association, the seaport town where she met Julia Roberts and cast during the filming of "Mystic Pizza". Acknowledged for her luminous and captivating work Pedrero has since become an established award winning artist; published in magazines, newspapers, documentaries, and news broadcasts.

Pocket Full of Colors

Gallery 523

Etsy

1000 Markets

Books, Calendars

Facebook

Facebook Fan page

Twitter

Liese Martin

Liese's aim is to use simple lines and shapes lines and shapes to create artwork that is both bold and serene. She feels that a piece has turned out well when it has a flow similar to that of music or dance. Her hope is that her work brings some of that rhythm to the spaces it adorns.

Liese is a self-taught artist living and working in Manitou Springs. She has created art as a hobby since childhood, but becoming a professional artist was like falling down the rabbit hole. After a knee injury put her out of her job in retail management, she screwed up her courage and tried to put her creativity to work. Mountain Living Studio in Manitou Springs was the first gallery to accept her work and just happened to need an experienced sales person at the same time. Before long she was managing the gallery and it remains her most successful brick and mortar venue. Her paintings and illustrations are now in homes and businesses all over the world.

Web Site

Etsy

Mountain Living Studio

Planners, Calendars and Diaries

Twitter

Kristen Stein

Kristen Stein is a Contemporary Artist living in the Philadelphia region of Pennsylvania. Kristen's works are currently available on a variety of online venues, or through her websites Kristen's paintings are in public and private collections within Australia, Canada, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Japan, the United Kingdom, and throughout the continental United States. Her cubist work appeared in promotional logos for the Ferndale Fine Art Show and appeared on the cover of the Allied Social Science Association's annual meetings. Her whimsical art appeared on the cover of the Bulldog Club of Greater Seattle's 2002 Specialty Show. Her painting "The Birth of Venus 2002" won first place in a themed contest held by the emerging artists group "ESR@". Her painting "The Jazz Club" appeared on the American Economic Associations Annual Meetings in January 2008. Kristen is the author/illustrator of the “The Vegetarian Lion” and the author of “Kristen Stein Contemporary Paintings”. She is also the illustrator of “Stacey McDuver’s House”. Kristen's work will appear at the Straube Art Center during the Winter Fine Art Show in January - February 2009.

Web Site

Etsy Online Shop

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes

Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes is an award-winning fine art photographer and digital artist from Philadelphia, and her work has been featured in venues, that include the Tiberino Memorial Museum (PA), City Hall (Phila, PA), and the Straube Art Center (NJ). Her photography appears on the cover of the 2009 "Paws for Charity" Art Book, and her whimsical collection of nursery art called "Alphabet Soup!" is now available as children's book by the same name. She photographs everyday things in extraordinary ways

Web Site

Etsy

Twitter

Jan Blencowe

Practically born with a crayon in her hand, Jan Blencowe considers visual art her first language. She has been drawing and painting for as long as she has been talking. Her formal training began in New York in high school, all the basics coupled with an unusual beginning at a young age painting in the abstract expressionist style. The fine art program at Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ followed where she received a BFA, magna cum laude, in 1984 with concentrations in painting, color and art history. Her college years also included an internship at the Montclair Museum, Montclair, NJ.

Her most artistically significant continuing study is engaging in painting en situ, outdoors on location learning under the care, nurture and guidance of the greatest, most profound mentor, Mother Nature.

Blencowe’s creative goals include continuing the path forged by the great American landscape painters who so seamlessly merged the grand but temporal beauties of nature and the sublime spirituality present in every living thing. Her passion for connection continues to lead her into the ever evolving world of the internet and social media as a conduit for bringing together artists and art lovers all over the globe. Jan Blencowe, award winning artist, gallery represented, collected worldwide. Contemporary impressionist landscapes, daily paintings, abstract art, commisions accepted.

Web Site

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Lori Whittington

I specialise in drawing, painting, fibre art and photography using tools both traditional and digital: ink, pencil, pastels, paints, embroidery, photography. My work is generally abstract in nature and includes many artistic influences, from the Baroque to contemporary Pop Art. I take my inspiration from nature and the world directly around me. I spend a lot of time on the beach where I live and am inspired by the sea and all things without and within. I sell my work mostly online and privately.

From Friday the 27th through to Monday the 30th I am offering FREE worlwide shipping off marked items in my Etsy Shop. I have created a Black Friday Offers section, and all items which fall under the terms of the offer are in there.

I will be adding more items to the section over the course of the weekend, AND listing NEW art in there as well. Keep checking on the SALE section for new stuff.

Email

Website

Blog

Etsy

Deviant art

Zazzle

Artists & Illustrators

Art4sale

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Kit Eastman

I create stencil-dyed (katazome) textile works, using natural dyes on natural fibers. Each piece is an individual variation of my nature-inspired design. I am passionate about this traditional Japanese textile design technique, which is earth-friendly and yields a beautiful textile that will withstand the test of time!

Blog

Etsy

Twitter

MnArtists

Candyce Fitzloff-Westfield

Original jewelry inspired by the natural world featuring the use of beach stones and fine silver.

Email

Website

Etsy

Trunkt

Facebook

Jan Raven

Each piece of jewelry I create is made with Argentium sterling silver and 14 kt. gold-fill wire that I weave, braid, coil, and form entirely by hand. Much of my work is an exploration and expansion of an ancient wire weaving technique traced to the Vikings. Other pieces are created by applying various textile techniques to wire.

E-Mail

Phone: 651-247-2669

Web site

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

Kathleen Van Schepen

Right to left: Felted wall hanging inspired by Tuscany it features a rod pocket on the back surface for easy hanging;

Center, wet felted handbag, with needle felted embellishments. The beautiful daisy like flower was wet felted then beads added by hand to make it sparkle;

Right, The wristlets are perfect for those chilly days when gloves are a little too much. I love wearing them at the computer, while keeping me warm I can still do the necessary. But you will find a million uses for them, knitting, needle work, driving, sitting by the bonfire...Why not be stylish and warm???

Email
Phone 763-878-2964
Website
Etsy
Facebook
Twitter

Rachel Walsh

Handmade, eclectic jewelry inspired by nature, the elements and seasons. I also make many modern, simplistic pieces. I use many materials including Sterling Silver, Copper and Brass mixed with gemstones, glass, natural stones, vintage components and pearls.

Web Site
E-Mail
Etsy

Deborah Maxwell

Functional pottery is food, microwave, oven and dishwasher safe. Raku and Pit Fired pieces also available in the studio.

Email
Phone 810.367.7001
Website

Lindsay Iredale

I make bright, chunky, and funky resin jewelry. Mostly necklace pendants but I also have some earrings and bracelets. I also make double sided resin fridge magnets out of recycled bottle caps. All of the artwork in the jewelry/magnets is done myself, with the exception of the retro clipart. I enjoy my jewelry a bit quirky and bright...and I bet I have a little something in there for everyone

Email

Web site

Lori Lee Sampson

Custom Pet Portraits: Charming, hand-drawn illustrations of YOUR pet. Send photos by email, receive finished art by email! No shipping cost. My style is detailed with realistic undertones accented by line work and an artistic charm. Use your hi-res art file for anything personal. Print at any size for scrapbooking, making your own stationery, note cards, even upload the file online for custom items like a t-shirt, mug, jewelry, just about anything you can imagine. Get Creative!

Email

Website
Etsy
Facebook
Twitter

Mary Foster

Brighten someone's day with my beautiful note cards and calendars featuring images of flowers that I grow and photograph. They are perfect for hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, or small gifts for coworkers, teachers, friends, family, and especially for the gardener in your life.

The note cards are available in four different boxed sets of eight (Amaryllis, Garden Flowers, Roses, or Four Seasons) and a set of six (Perfectly Pink) assorted cards with envelopes. The desktop calendar contains 12 pages of botanical beauty in a cd jewel case that folds open to form an easel. Please visit my Etsy shop, MaryFosterCreative.etsy.com, for complete descriptions and listings.

Email

Phone 612-724-7583
Website

Jessica Clay

Indie jewelry made in fine silver and copper from precious metal clay. Designs inspired by nature.

Email
Phone 612-423-5498
Website
Facebook

Lonnie Ebertowski

PickleBerries features brightly colored jewelry featuring handmade fused glass. Expect to find ponytail holders, earrings and pendants. Most pieces feature millefiori, which resemble little flowers.