21 SECRETS

Our Spotlight Artist of the week is none other than Jan Avellana. Jan’s sweet, magical illustrative work has been tickling my soul for years, and as I write this, a glass of water sits to my side on my desk, atop a quilted “mug rug” that I created several years back from fat quarters that came from a line of fabrics she designed. In that way, her cheerful style greets me every day!

Our Spotlight Artist of the week is none other than Roben-Marie Smith. Roben-Marie’s playfully-edgy, highly-graphic work is something I’ve been familiar with for quite a while, as she was a contributing artist in many of the books I edited over the years. However, having never personally watched her “in action” before viewing her 21 SECRETS Paper, Glue, Scissors workshop—Snipped to Art Bits—I was thrilled to finally get an intimate look at her composition thought process. And I’m excited to share more of her own thoughts with you, here.

Artist, author and (previously-practicing) art therapist Amy Maricle is this week’s Spotlight Artist. I’ve been following Amy on Instagram for a little while now and I am always enchanted by her explorations in simple, but visually provoking patterns, so I was giddy to see her include pattern exercises in her 21 SECRETS Paper, Glue, Scissors workshop—Paper Cuts. I love that she intentionally introduces joy and playfulness into the practice of . . . well, of practice. I have to say, I’m also a bit dreamy-eyed reading about the environment in which she enjoyed her young-adult years.