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featured artists (6)

Call for Artists! Artsy Shark needs 48 artists

Posted by Connie Mettler on October 27, 2018 at 1:34pm

8869189866?profile=originalArtsy Shark is currently seeking 48 artists to feature and promote through individual portfolio articles in the coming months. Submissions are now open. We invite visual artists in all mediums to apply.

Deadline is November 1, 2018.

As a Featured Artist, you present your portfolio and in your own words, describe your inspiration, technique, goals and accomplishments in an article that is all about you.

Artists are selected through a competitive juried process that includes viewing your art website. Features are published for the purpose of sharing your portfolio, creating interest in your work, connecting readers with you on social media, and sending traffic to your art website.

A submission fee of $20 per artist applies. Artsy Shark receives no payment or commissions on any sales or contracts which result from featured artist exposure.

Learn more & apply: https://www.artsyshark.com/become-a-featured-artist/

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Featured Artists: Jewelers Barbara & Rick Umbel

Posted by Connie Mettler on November 13, 2013 at 8:11am
"Creating necklaces for mermaids"

1575.jpgA lifestyle to envy - living near the ocean in Maryland, South Carolina and now Florida, Rick and Barbara walk the beaches nearly every day gathering the sea urchins that are the inspiration for their designs.  

Returning to their studio, they use traditional metalsmithing techniques to create abstract settings that show off the natural beauty of their beachcombing finds.  

It comes as no surprise to the people who meet them at the nation's art festivals that each piece is hand fabricated out of 14kt gold and sterling silver, and set with natural seashells, freshwater pearls, and gemstones. Yes, they have a distinct style, but each shell is the beginning of a unique piece of jewelry, designed to complement what nature designed.

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Totally embracing the lifestyle of the nation's art fair artists, in the summer of 2013 they outfitted an RV to travel across the northern parts of the U.S., Barbara created work at a tiny jeweler's bench while Rick was set up outside at the picnic table, along with the polishing motor.  They called it "extreme metalsmithing."

Meet them November 15-17 in Winston-Salem, NC, at the Piedmont Craftsmen's Fair and November 30-December 1 at the Space Coast Art Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL.

 

Learn more about Rick and Barbara and see more of their work: http://www.artfaircalendar.com/art_fair/featured-artist.html

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Featured Artists: Maureen Roberts & Michael Lublin

Posted by Connie Mettler on August 24, 2013 at 10:00am

The design team ofMoMo Maureen Roberts and Michael Lublin's resume:

Maureen:

  • Ford model in New York, 15 years

  • design consultant for Givenchy

  • personal shopper for celebrities 
Michael: 
  • captain of the ultimate frisbee team at the University of Maryland; downhill skier; mountain climber
  • interior designer who also produced an original designer recliner for LA-Z-Boy

Together:   
  • Rock band for 21 years, writing all of their material and did the downtown New York music scene, including CBGB's
  • Created a weekend boutique at NYCs Antique Market for fashionistas, reinventing vintage slips and clothing and developing a unique look
  • Owners of an NYC boutique where they created and sold their designer clothing, producing fashion shows and selling their work around the world
  • Discovered by celebrities and their stylists  momo
Michael is the technician: he designs, cuts, sews. Maureen sources the fabric, manages the business, makes the colors for all of the dyes. They do all the designing, hand dying, making the patterns by hand, with muslin, the old fashioned way at the table, no computer. 
Our celebrity clientele was cultivated over years of designing, having a boutique in New York City, and putting on some pretty innovative fashion shows that created a buzz. One show was inspired by Gustav Klimt and each model was one of his muses. We built vignettes within our store and each model was instructed to stay in Character. It was a huge hit. We had Paris Hilton and Lizzy Jagger in this show.
 
 
Meet them on Aug. 31-Sept. 2 in Sausalito, CA, at the Sausalito Art Festival.
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April's Featured Artists - the "Art Stars"

Posted by Connie Mettler on May 12, 2010 at 1:30pm
Many thanks to these members who your votes chose as the most helpful and generous members at Art Fair Insiders this month. These three, plus all the rest of you who contribute to this web site, are bringing transparency to our business. Your willingness to share the "good, the bad, and the ugly" at the art fairs on the streets of America is making Art Fair Insiders THE place to be online.

Many thanks to:

Mark Zurek for his thought-provoking blog posts, in particular his thoughts on "Sitting it out for a Year" that explored the whole modus operandi behind this business - member since April 2009

Holly Olinger for her on-the-spot no-nonsense and helpful take on the business behind this business that is refreshing to hear. You may not like what she says but you know she is on target - member since October 2008! She must be one of the original 100!

Geoff Coe for his excellent blog posts, helpful contributions to discussions and especially for the excellent online tech information he has sent my way. I definitely need backup in that area - member since July 2009

There were great nominations this month. Luckily former "Art Stars" continue to contribute volumes of helpful information. Many thanks to all of them.

Keep your reports and questions and answers coming. Today we almost 2700 members strong, hosting 5685 photos and the discussions are about all aspects of the business in over 600 topics and 900 blog posts.

Who knew we could do this? I am so psyched every time I visit the site -- I love the show review posts from this past weekend. They are about art fairs in Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Virginia and New Jersey, and Nels Johnson wasn't even doing a show this weekend ;)

If you haven't done it yet, please join the ArtFairInsiders.com Facebook "fan" group. Help keep this site alive and well! Visit here: www.facebook.com/artfairinsiders
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February's "Art Stars"

Posted by Connie Mettler on March 9, 2010 at 4:02pm
Many thanks to these members who your votes chose as the most helpful and generous members at Art Fair Insiders this month. These three, plus all the rest of you who contribute to this web site, are bringing transparency to our business. Your willingness to share the "good, the bad, and the ugly" at the art fairs on the streets of America is making Art Fair Insiders THE place to be online.

Many thanks to:

Linnea Lahlum for her insightful comments that go way beyond the facts - member since February 2, 2009
Larry Berman who "has been there and done that" on just about all topics and steps up to the plate with quick answers - member since March 22, 2009
Bob Stuart for his initiative in starting the first "regional" group, bringing answers to all the Carolinians online with us, and his continued presence - one of the very first members - November 19, 2008!

Last month's winners Nels Johnson, Paula Johnson (not related) and Michelle Sholund, continue to be vital to the communications on the site. Many thanks to them!

Keep your reports and questions and answers coming. Today we are 2241 members strong, hosting 4941 photos and discussions all aspects of the business in over 400 topics.

If you haven't done it yet, please join the ArtFairInsiders.com Facebook "fan" group. Help keep this site alive and well! Visit here: www.facebook.com/artfairinsiders
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March's Art Stars

Posted by Connie Mettler on April 14, 2010 at 6:00pm
Many thanks to these members who your votes chose as the most helpful
and generous members at Art Fair Insiders this month. These three, plus all the rest of you who contribute to this web site, are bringing
transparency to our business. Your willingness to share the "good, the
bad, and the ugly" at the art fairs on the streets of America is making
Art Fair Insiders THE place to be online.

Many thanks to:

Munks - I guess especially (for me) for the laughs. This member continues to stick pins in the pompous and view the art fair business with a cynical, yet reasoned, eye. Thanks for keeping the dialogue rolling along and asking the right questions. (Member since 9/09)

Chris Hoyt - for his always "think about that another way" when discussions get off track and for not believing the promoter is out to get you! His business like manner teaches us all that this really is a business. (Member since 7/09)

Dave Hinde - for his always helpful answers to newbie questions and bringing new events to our attention. If you have a question you can always count on Dave to help you find the answer. (Member since 4/09)

Many thanks to all of you who take the time to help one another whether it is a tip for credit card processing, a way to look at a jury score, a place to buy supplies or share expertise. Oh no, I was just about to say "it takes a village!"

This site is really growing beyond my imagination -- soon we will have 2500 members. I'm trying to plan some grand celebration. At the very least - leave a comment below about how the site has been helpful to you. The best comment will receive a copy of my e-books on the Business of Art Fairs.

The art fair season is bearing down on us -- be sure to share this site with your friends and ask them to join us here.


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