Featured Etsian: Susan Li

About: Ever since I was young, I've loved art. I loved to draw, fold paper swans, and do all kinds of crafts. I just loved the feeling of taking paper, colors, and other supplies and making something beautiful out of them. Right now, I'm in high school. I don't really know exactly what I want to do with my life, what career path I'll choose, but for right now, I'm finding enjoyment out of running my own store here on Etsy. I've only had my store here for about 4 months, but so far my experience has been good. I'm learning a lot here and I've had a lot of support, so I hope that things will only get better in the future:)

To see Susan's shop: www.etsy.com/shop/SusiesBoxes

1. A little about yourself: I'm a full-time student, so I can't devote as much time to my craft as I'd like to. But I also find that making my boxes and stars provides a nice creative outlet to help me de-stress from school, since I take challenging classes.

2. What do you create? I create decorative boxes, with usually a wooden or metal box as a base. There's no real theme to my boxes--I have some that look like cupcakes or slices of pizza, some that are just decorated with natural items, and some that are just decorated treasure chests. I also have decorative origami stars with patterns ranging from zebra stripes and rainbow colors to polka dots and everything in between.

3. How do you get inspired? There's no specific place I go to or specific activity I do that inspires me. I don't know--ideas just come to me from every walk of life. I don't know how they come to me, but if I like them, I'll implement them in my items.

4. Last night, I saw I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry on TV. I love that movie. It's so funny. I love the cast too. Adam Sandler and Jessica Biel are great.

Also, about two weeks ago, I saw the 8th Harry Potter movie over a friend's house. The Harry Potter movies are so well made--amazing cast, great special effects, nice story--and under all that, they're actually really funny too!

5. Read any books lately? Right now, I'm reading Emma by Jane Austen. A while ago, I finished reading The Scarlet Letter. It's really nice literature, and as for me, personally, i'd really like to get to know more about the classics.

6. My family and I do celebrate Christmas. Every year, we eats lots of food over the holidays and do lots of baking. Usually we go on some kind of trip, like to Vermont to ski or to somewhere warm like Florida or Hawaii over Christmas, and so we only bring like one present with us on the trip. Most of our presents are left under the tree for us to unwrap after we return

Christmas is Almost Here

Christmas is almost here. Get some holiday inspired wall art!

Get your typography here: www.etsy.com/shop/BeckyTDesigns

Love

Get your typography here: www.etsy.com/shop/BeckyTDesigns

Christian Typography

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Featured Etsian: Alexia Rostow

Alexia Rostow is today's featured Etsian

About:
I am a woodblock print and letterpress artist. Instead of pursuing a degree in fine arts, I completed an apprenticeship of sorts to learn my craft. With a Master's in Art History, I draw my inspiration from all forms and periods of art.

Porcuprints is my in-house printshop in Portland, Oregon. I specialize in wood-engraving and letterpress.

All my fine art prints are 100% original designs, drawn onto blocks, hand-carved with engraving burins, and hand printed on acid-free paper. My letterpress pieces are all originally conceived, hand set and hand printed.

 To see more of Alexia's prints visit: www.etsy.com/shop/Porcuprints

1. A little about yourself...
I am actually a type A personality, but with a creative side, which probably explains why I do printmaking (it is a rather detail oriented medium).
2. what do you create?
I create wood engravings and woodblock prints. I also just fully restored a tabletop Kelsey Excelsior letterpress. So I will be getting into letterpress cards/posters/etc.
3. How do you get inspired?
I have a Masters degree in Art History, so I am inspired by all historical periods and styles. My entire living room is full of art books. Anytime I pick one up, I am inspired.
4. Seen any good movies lately?
I am weird about movies. I only watch comedies, or action films. Basically anything that is going to make me unhappy or cry is not cool. It is old, but one of my absolute favorite movies of all time is The Fifth Element. I watched it last week, again.
5. Read any books lately?
I read all the time, and all types of books. Inspired by my latest print, I recently read The Tattoo Murder Case. Written by a Japanese author, and translated into English, it is about Japan after WWII. Beautifully written, a great story.
6. What are your traditions for the holidays, if you celebrate?
I go home to visit my parents in D.C. Food is a big deal in my family, so I guess that is our tradition for the holidays. We always make a rum cake for Christmas morning and usually make or get sushi for dinner!

www.porcuprints.com
www.porcuprints.com/blog
www.facebook.com/porcuprints
www.etsy.com/shop/Porcuprints

5 Inspirational Female Graphic Designers

Although women are becoming more prominent in the field, men still control the graphic design field. Here are 5 powerful women from the field.

Marian Bantjes: Step Away From the Computer!

Based near Vancouver, British Columbia, Marian Bantjes‘ extraordinary way with communication begs to be called “graphic art,” in the finest sense of the term. Fabulous hand lettering is her trademark, demonstrating the power of a fine pen in a plugged-in world. A 2006 installation created with Stefan Sagmeister shows off her hand work in an ultra-modern context. Her spam email centerfold for the Vancouver Review will make you tear your hair out with jealousy. This is one hard-working lady, even when she’s riffing on a bit of junk mail!

 

Kristen Nikosey: The Art and Craft of Communication

Illustrator and graphic designer Kristen Nikosey’s work evokes Impressionist painting and Arts & Crafts style, with a distinctly California vibe. Her book illustrations are rich. Her pattern designs are meticulously casual, if such a thing is possible, with deep color that jumps off the page. In her packaging and identity work she blends today’s digital design techniques with her old-world sensibilities.

Janet Allinger: With Tongue Planted Firmly in Cheek
Irreverent humour in identity design? If you’ve got Janet Allinger to inspire you, why not! If the market can take it, this designer dishes it out. While she’s been known to do more traditional design, it’s her post-feminist comic stylings that will grab and hold your attention. Fun, funky, and a little bit in-your-face—this lady’s not afraid of being known as “edgy.”

Laura Smith: Reinventing Retro

While designer Laura Smith is at work, Art Deco will always find fresh interpretations. She’s done work for heavy hitters from Time Magazine to Major League Baseball to the U.S. Postal Service, and that’s just for starters. Classic, colorful, edited to only the necessary detail, her graphic images are nostalgic but never stuffy.

Deborah Sussman: Urban Legend

Art director and environmental graphic designer Deborah Sussman has been creating legendary work for public spaces for decades. Deborah and her firm, Sussman/Prejza, have done interior and exterior wayfinding and signage systems for Apple, Hasbro, the city of Los Angeles, and numerous others. She may be most famous for her comprehensive graphics program for the 1984 Summer Olympics. She has a keen eye for both client and community needs, creating work that is imaginative, spare, and crystal clear.