Meet the ladies of the SACM

Meet the ladies of the SACM

click on picture for link to member's website

Art Kat Studio

Katherine Brown is a full time collage~assemblage artist from San Antonio, Texas.
Her work is very process oriented and creates layers of information within her work, as she compares to how dreams seem to be at times...capturing a touch of the surreal.
Much of Katherine's work is dream inspired...with the sometimes 'choppiness' and alluring nonsense sometimes found in the dream state. Katherine's work has been classified as enigmatic, dancing with old souls, Dada inspired, mysterious and surreal.
Katherine graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 1998 with a BFA in Fine Arts. She also had been a frequent student in Florence, Italy at The Santa Reparata Graphic Arts Centre. She has also been published in several issues of Expression magazine out of San Diego, California. She also teaches independent classes on collage art and found object constructions...as well as found object inspired jewelry.

Cabana Boy Productions

With bluntness, intelligence, and a sly sense of humor, artist Myriam Lanau likes to explore dreams, fantasies and mythology. Often Myriam’s work- everything from black and white photography to collage art- requires you to come in for a closer look. “I try to capture what’s hidden and really push certain limits.”

She’s shown work throughout Texas and has work in private collections worldwide.

She received her BFA in photography at UTSA after bouncing around from Kansas City Art Institute, San Antonio Art Institute and San Antonio College.

Her website serves as a way to exhibit her work to a larger audience. It not only is a showcase, but an online gallery where every piece is for sale.

She also does commissioned pieces for gifts and/or personal decoration.

Everything in the world around us is art. I have many mediums that I use for self expression. I create one of a kind jewelry, ceramics, paintings, and I dabble in some photography. My color combinations are inspired mainly by everyday life, nature, and computers.

Making jewelry is a skill that was first taught to me by my mother at the early age of nine. She entrusted me with her vintage tin filled with glass, seed beads, and other findings. As the years progressed I have learned my own techniques like wire wrapping and I have invested in more semi precious stones and crystals. On October 2004 PANDORA’S GEMZ was born.

In this short amount of time I have made a name for myself in the art community and PANDORA'S GEMZ has thrived. The fine quality one of a kind work has brought frequent customers that soon become great friends. I have shown my creations at art shows, fundraisers and silent auctions.

PANDORA'S GEMZ is still a blossoming young business but I guarantee I will be providing my one of a kind jewelry for years to come.
Thanks~ Stef Cmielewski

Aunt Patti's Closet

I make one-of-a-kind children's clothing from used and vintage materials mixed with new. Also a line of denim purses appliqued with embroidered & woven pieces from ethnic textiles. More denim purses incorporating Barbie's clothes and accessories. Create cell phone cases by knitting, embroidering, beading, using old upholstery, etc. I knit hats and scarves. I have been dabbling in using old toys in new ways to enhance home accessories, furniture, and jewelry. You never know what I'll come up with next!~ Patti Hinkley

Pepper Raefin's artwork is inspired by a variety of historical and spiritual sources. She is a painter, and also makes altar candles, jewelry, and totem statues that reference Shamanism, Animism, and the art of the Native Americans, including the Mojave. Her art also makes use of symbols and imagery present in various religions from around the world, with the concentration on tribal traditions. "I think the totems possess a kind of depth that resonates with most people on a profound level. Their diverse sources are fused and blended, making it difficult for people to clearly identify them as a specific animal. I find them magical, and each one that is created has a unique personality. I compare them to gargoyles. Some people may find them a bit dark, but when I look at them I don't see that at all. I see unity, diversity, and the spirit of life on earth... and it is a serious matter to me. I take my work very seriously. I feel that creating art is not just an activity, but an important responsibility. " Pepper Raefin's altar candles, jewelry, and other decorative items blend the same spiritual imagery together for an eclectic mix of earthy, tribal delights. She uses shells, feathers, clay, wood and textiles to create her modern-primitive pieces. Her expertise extends to oil painting, where she concentrates on figurative and imaginative work. Her paintings are inspired by dream and children's fairy tales. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Art from UTSA (concentration in painting and sculpture) with a minor in Art History. She also teaches Tribal Fusion Dance, and has been exposed to many cultures of the world through her academic career and personal spiritual journey.

Laurel Gibson
Laurel Gibson Art

Laurel lives in Pipe Creek, Texas where she maintains a studio and is a practicing artist. Her art education extends from Northern Arizona University where she received a BFA with an emphasis in ceramics (1997-2001), to a MFA at the University of Texas in San Antonio (2002-05). She acquired additional art education through The Art Institute of Chicago and through Arizona State University in a study abroad program in Avignon and Paris, France.

She is known for both her ceramics and embroideries on coffee filters. Laurel has received numerous awards and her artwork has been featured in national and international publications, as well as in many solo and group exhibits.

She consistently uses symbols from diverse cultures in her artwork, while keeping the integrity of their original meanings. In combining elements of Eastern and Western symbols, she creates new symbols to achieve a harmonious union. Laurel sees artwork as an instrument for uniting opposing views and representing an optimistic future. Her work projects yearnings for peace and joy that are changeless over time in any country.

The symbols she creates show how life is connected. Through different media, shapes, colors, and techniques, her art leads people to reflect on the transience of life and to appreciate the world around them.






	SACM \| See What We're Creating! \| SACraft Mafia Members \| Press \| The Family \| Resources and Cool Links


		*Meet the ladies of the SACM* *click on picture for link to member's website*



		Katherine Brown *Art Kat Studio* Katherine Brown is a full time collage~assemblage artist from San Antonio, Texas. Her work is very process oriented and creates layers of information within her work, as she compares to how dreams seem to be at times...capturing a touch of the surreal. Much of Katherine's work is dream inspired...with the sometimes 'choppiness' and alluring nonsense sometimes found in the dream state. Katherine's work has been classified as enigmatic, dancing with old souls, Dada inspired, mysterious and surreal. Katherine graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 1998 with a BFA in Fine Arts. She also had been a frequent student in Florence, Italy at The Santa Reparata Graphic Arts Centre. She has also been published in several issues of Expression magazine out of San Diego, California. She also teaches independent classes on collage art and found object constructions...as well as found object inspired jewelry. Myriam Lanau *Cabana Boy Productions* With bluntness, intelligence, and a sly sense of humor, artist Myriam Lanau likes to explore dreams, fantasies and mythology. Often Myriam’s work- everything from black and white photography to collage art- requires you to come in for a closer look. “I try to capture what’s hidden and really push certain limits.” She’s shown work throughout Texas and has work in private collections worldwide. She received her BFA in photography at UTSA after bouncing around from Kansas City Art Institute, San Antonio Art Institute and San Antonio College. Her website serves as a way to exhibit her work to a larger audience. It not only is a showcase, but an online gallery where every piece is for sale. She also does commissioned pieces for gifts and/or personal decoration. Stef Cmielewski Pandora's Gemz Everything in the world around us is art. I have many mediums that I use for self expression. I create one of a kind jewelry, ceramics, paintings, and I dabble in some photography. My color combinations are inspired mainly by everyday life, nature, and computers. Making jewelry is a skill that was first taught to me by my mother at the early age of nine. She entrusted me with her vintage tin filled with glass, seed beads, and other findings. As the years progressed I have learned my own techniques like wire wrapping and I have invested in more semi precious stones and crystals. On October 2004 PANDORA’S GEMZ was born. In this short amount of time I have made a name for myself in the art community and PANDORA'S GEMZ has thrived. The fine quality one of a kind work has brought frequent customers that soon become great friends. I have shown my creations at art shows, fundraisers and silent auctions. PANDORA'S GEMZ is still a blossoming young business but I guarantee I will be providing my one of a kind jewelry for years to come. Thanks~ Stef Cmielewski Patti Hinkley *Aunt Patti's Closet* I make one-of-a-kind children's clothing from used and vintage materials mixed with new. Also a line of denim purses appliqued with embroidered & woven pieces from ethnic textiles. More denim purses incorporating Barbie's clothes and accessories. Create cell phone cases by knitting, embroidering, beading, using old upholstery, etc. I knit hats and scarves. I have been dabbling in using old toys in new ways to enhance home accessories, furniture, and jewelry. You never know what I'll come up with next!~ Patti Hinkley



		Pepper Raefin *Missing Doll* Pepper Raefin's artwork is inspired by a variety of historical and spiritual sources. She is a painter, and also makes altar candles, jewelry, and totem statues that reference Shamanism, Animism, and the art of the Native Americans, including the Mojave. Her art also makes use of symbols and imagery present in various religions from around the world, with the concentration on tribal traditions. "I think the totems possess a kind of depth that resonates with most people on a profound level. Their diverse sources are fused and blended, making it difficult for people to clearly identify them as a specific animal. I find them magical, and each one that is created has a unique personality. I compare them to gargoyles. Some people may find them a bit dark, but when I look at them I don't see that at all. I see unity, diversity, and the spirit of life on earth... and it is a serious matter to me. I take my work very seriously. I feel that creating art is not just an activity, but an important responsibility. " Pepper Raefin's altar candles, jewelry, and other decorative items blend the same spiritual imagery together for an eclectic mix of earthy, tribal delights. She uses shells, feathers, clay, wood and textiles to create her modern-primitive pieces. Her expertise extends to oil painting, where she concentrates on figurative and imaginative work. Her paintings are inspired by dream and children's fairy tales. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Art from UTSA (concentration in painting and sculpture) with a minor in Art History. She also teaches Tribal Fusion Dance, and has been exposed to many cultures of the world through her academic career and personal spiritual journey. Laurel Gibson Laurel Gibson Art Laurel lives in Pipe Creek, Texas where she maintains a studio and is a practicing artist. Her art education extends from Northern Arizona University where she received a BFA with an emphasis in ceramics (1997-2001), to a MFA at the University of Texas in San Antonio (2002-05). She acquired additional art education through The Art Institute of Chicago and through Arizona State University in a study abroad program in Avignon and Paris, France. She is known for both her ceramics and embroideries on coffee filters. Laurel has received numerous awards and her artwork has been featured in national and international publications, as well as in many solo and group exhibits. She consistently uses symbols from diverse cultures in her artwork, while keeping the integrity of their original meanings. In combining elements of Eastern and Western symbols, she creates new symbols to achieve a harmonious union. Laurel sees artwork as an instrument for uniting opposing views and representing an optimistic future. Her work projects yearnings for peace and joy that are changeless over time in any country. The symbols she creates show how life is connected. Through different media, shapes, colors, and techniques, her art leads people to reflect on the transience of life and to appreciate the world around them.