Featured Artists
Nicole Miyuki Santo
Designer | Letterer | Explorer
THIS IS WHAT I DO.
The most common phrase I probably hear now is "I don't know how you do it." And most people are referring to the fact that I don't just do one thing. I am not just a lettering artist like you might know me as. I am a graphic designer, an illustrator, a teacher; one day I'm up late lettering for a wedding and the next I'm designing for Wellen Women and then I'll hop on a plane the next morning to travel but squeeze in a yoga session right before that. Yup, that pretty much sums up my life and if you are reading this and can relate, we have got to meet :)
My background as a creative started when I was younger and found out that I was able to be free and express myself when I was drawing. Then I went to college at Chapman University for Graphic Design & Advertising; after graduating, I decided I didn't want to just do graphic design and went to FIDM for a year because I thought I wanted to "do fashion." I quickly found out that at the end of the day, I chose to spend my free time painting quotes with watercolors. Fast forward to this moment in time and this is now my career and I absolutely, one hundred and ten percent love it.
Meredith Sand
Previously, Meredith had a career in corporate marketing and communications after graduating from Southern Methodist University in 2005 with a degree in sociology. Without much formal training, she had always enjoyed creating art and experimented with various mediums including photography, ceramics and painting before discovering a passion for printmaking in 2011. What started out as a hobby, making cards as gifts for friends, quickly evolved into a business with the encouragement of her husband. Today, she sells primarily online and in local boutiques in her hometown of Winter Park, Florida.
Meredith describes her style as eclectic and bohemian. She has always been attracted to bright colors and bold graphic prints, which translates into the cards she creates. She finds beauty in things that are a bit "unfinished" and "imperfect". She specifically chooses the cards with the deckle edge to give it a more rustic, un-structured look, while the texture of the cardstock does not allow the ink to completely soak into the paper, creating a "worn" or "vintage" effect. She feels this adds to the authenticity of each card, you can tell it wasn't printed by a machine because each one is slightly different.
She says her favorite part about her business is how personal it is. "I'm honored that something I create is given to someone who then writes a personal note to people they love. "View more of Meredith's work at: www.meredithsanddesigns.etsy.com
Jake Weidmann
I am a professional artist and certified Master Penman and I live and work in Denver, Colorado. I received my Master Penman certificate through The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH) in July of 2011. I work across numerous mediums in art and calligraphy and I am most well-known for my use of flourishing and hand lettering in the context of my fine art pieces.
Learn more about Jake at jakeweidmann.com.
Benjamin D. Rinehart
Benjamin D. Rinehart specializes in multimedia images with a strong focus in printmaking, book constructions, painting and drawing. His socially charged work is a part of many public and private collections and has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Ben received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Herron School of Art and a Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University. He is currently an Associate Professor of Painting and Printmaking at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. He has taught in New York & New Jersey at Pratt Institute, Rutgers/Mason Gross School of the Arts, Long Island University, Fordham University, FIT, and Manhattan Graphics Center. He continues to teach as a visiting artist at various institutions around the country like the Center for Book Arts, Pyramid Atlantic, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and the John Michael Kohler Art Center. Ben is the author of a book titled, "Creating Books & Boxes."
For examples of his work visit www.benrinehart.com.
Teoh Yi Chie
I'm Teoh Yi Chie from Singapore. I'm also known as Parka online from my website Parkablogs.com, a blog where I post my sketches, art book reviews and some musings. My exposure to art was through comics I read when I was a kid. Since then, I have always been interested in art. I never had any formal art training and sketching is a hobby I picked up only in recent years.
I started sketching regularly after joining the Urban Sketchers Singapore group in 2009. Since then, I've learned a lot about the art of sketching and the places I've been to. I've also made many friends along the way – both sketching and non-sketching friends. It's great fun to hang out with people who share the same interest and enthusiasm.
What I like about sketching is that you get to connect with the place or the person that you draw. I'm able to remember more vividly things that I've sketched. That's a bonus when it comes to sketching overseas; I can remember places and events without having to refer to photographs. You know that heightened sense of awareness you get when you're overseas or visiting some place new? I get that when sketching, and maybe that's why I feel like I'm on holiday whenever I'm doing it.
My preferred medium is ink and watercolor. My favourites are technical pens for their predictable, uniform lines, and I have a small, portable, 12-pan set of watercolours. It's a lightweight and versatile combination that I've been using for years. Recently, I've been trying other media to experience drawing in another way.
