Bios & Blurbs

Maggie Sullivan

The serving trays I design are one-of-a-kind treasures using pressed and dried flowers on recycled trays. Some trays are refinished, some are left with that shabby chic look, some are painted and some are covered with hand-made papers. All are coated with an acrylic resin to protect the surface.

They are made with flowers from my or my brother's garden and pressed by me. The serving surface becomes my canvas and the dried flowers and petals are my medium to create a unique and functional piece of art."

Gary Brown- fused glass

Fused glass is an amazing medium! It's often said that you don't find your artistic style, it finds you. In mid-2005 I was working with small jewelry-sized pieces of fused glass melted together in a used dental kiln...something to go with a pendant I was working on. The fused light that I started to discover as I worked with the glass pushed the silver-work to the side and took over. Over the next few months I worked my way from little 1 inch piece up to the plates and bowls that I currently spend most of my time on. That silver pendant that started it all? It's still not done! Many years ago I trained as an engineer. The sense of proportion and "rightness" that all engineers seem to have inside has re-surfaced in totally unexpected way...in the geometry and patterns in my glass.

Deb James – functional wood sculpture

Art is a joy; it is my balance, and my ground. No matter where I am in my life, or what I am doing I am always guided by art. Painting, sculpture, and designing have brought me through many tough times. It had also enhanced my joys.

This print is available at Lisan Gallery

Jodi Hills

Through my line of original artwork, prints, greeting cards, journals, magnets, and books, I explore the days we thrive and the ones we survive...finding the beauty of both the tears and laughter along the way.

There was a time when I thought I had to be the only one feeling, laughing and living this way...but once I started sharing my thoughts through my artwork, I realized that the whole world is going through all these emotions, all the time...whether you're searching for your lipstick, your life-long love, or your possible dream, we're all just trying to have a good day and get to the next one. I hope my work can play a small part in helping you do both!

Daniel Lager

Studying at the Minneapolis College of art and design in the early 80s was the beginning to my full artistic approach to this unique style. My art involves the ancient technique of reverse painting on clear Lucite with an abstract style.

Painting in reverse means my first color used is the first color viewed. A clear piece of Lucite is faced down while I paint in reverse on the backside

I frame my art by mounting the original piece of art on top a custom made solid wood black frame.

Todd Peterson- pastel / pencil & charcoal

My earliest art memory is of my mother sitting my brothers and I down at the dining room table putting on classical music, and telling us to draw whatever the music made us think of.

I have no formal art training, but I did draw or doodle daily until I was about 30 years old. I then hit a wall, was busy earning a living, whatever? But, I just quit.

Recently my two beautiful Granddaughters told me I needed to be doing something with what talent I have. So now I have all this art that I’ve locked away inside me, and I’m just having a lot of fun listening to the music, unlocking the door, and letting it out

Karla Mae

The Designs for my notecards are all hand-drawn from my imagination. I use prismacolor marker inks for a vibrant wash of color and then add a bit of sparkle with sequins to accentuate specific details. Finally, each card sports a playful statement about how to live with STYLE, SUBSTANCE, & PLEASURE, my lifestyle philosophy, for living with vitality.

On canvas, I love to work in mixed media collage. This medium allows me to cut and paste to my hearts content and use any material I choose: oil pastels, acylic paints, colored pencils, foreign stamps, photographs, art papers, old postcards, interesting baubles and beads, bits of vintage ephemera, and found objects. Nothing is off limits!

As I choose colors and materials and begin adhereing them to the canvas, elements of the story begin to unfold. It feels like the moment one awakens from a mysterious dream and tries to piece together all of those intriguing images and phrases. Suddenly it all comes back in a flash - aha! I remember now! That's how my dream went! When I am working, each canvas is like a dream where the images and objects become the clues and symbols that tell a story to the viewer.

Brandon Keuhn- oil

“There are many with the gift to see the beauty in nature, and the world all around us, especially here in Minnesota. Having lived here most of my life I have tried to seek out and share my vision with these people. But I wanted to bring more to my work than a landscape. I wanted to bring a story, maybe even part of a story. I wanted to draw the viewer in and let them tell me the story, given the scene I have laid out before them. So please, tell me your stories.”

Brandon has studied fine art since a young age. He received his BFA from the University of Minnesota in 1997. Since then he has shown in several galleries around the country including Boston, Des Moines, and Omaha. Here in Minnesota, he has show in Minneapolis, Duluth, Red Wing, and now, St. Paul.

www.brandonkuehn.com

Genius of Ann Taylor available @ Lisan Gallery

Susan Opitz- acrylic Tempera

I am a Minnesota artist originally from Rochester and have live in Minneapolis for several years. During the day, I work as a Program Director for adults with mental illness.

I am a self-taught artist and like to work primarily with tempera, ink, oil, and digital mediums. I enjoy each mediums ability to express a unique voice. Color is an important choice and much of my work contains a vibrant and energetic tone. Abstract images are a favorite as the carry a lot of information and remain open to interpretation. Working with an image to create a visual evolution is full with interesting and exciting possibilities.

Heather Villars- handbags

Heather Villars is a professional writer by day and a crazed purse maker by night. Inspired by the need for a handbag large enough to carry around her sketchbook and by the amazing fabrics available at a chic fabric store in Seattle, Heather began designing her own handbag patterns--and dreambird designs was born! Heather's handbags feature fun exterior and lining fabrics, a love for pockets, and decorative top-stitching with contrasting colors. After sitting in a gray cubicle for 40 hours a week, Heather's bags have truly become her playground.

Raven Hanna- jewelry

My stuff is unusual, beautiful, and meaningful. I make quality silver jewelry based on neurotransmitter molecules that affect emotions, like serotonin (happiness), dopamine (love), and acetylcholine (dreaming and learning). These items don't just appeal to the science-savvy. These molecules are getting more and more coverage on the news and in woman's media outlets. With the popularity of SSRI anti-depressants, serotonin and other neurotransmitters are household words.

www.madewithmolecules.com

Lisan Gallery of Art and Design