Featured Artist of the Week

Our featured artist of the week is TANISALEXIS. She has two on-line locations, one of which is her Etsy shop that she shares with Babs Bird from London -

and the other is her own website - www.tanisalexis.com

This shop is shared with another artist. Our features are going to take a different direction from now on and we are going to present an interview with our featured artist - and let the artists speak for themselves!

We are speaking with Tanis -

WHAT DO YOU MAKE?

I make art. I love to paint and draw, my first mediums, and like to keep my hands busy. Fibre art & handmade felt have been a recent adventure for me in creativity.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

Naturals;
Fibre- wools, veggie fibres, silks, curly locks-
Wood, glass, stone, paper,
metal, leather, plant, mineral,
recycled, reclaimed, re-loved, thrifted, salvaged, vintage
colours, paint, inks, dyes, & I never leave home without a black felt tip pen.

How long have you been creating craft?

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a pencil, piece of paper, or a paintbrush in my hand. Both of my parents were artists and designers, so I’ve had the creativity-bug in me since I was very young.

How did you get started?

I think it was an inevitable and gradual process. I attended a high school for the arts, took design/visual communications in college, and spent a few years of wandering about the world travelling, working in art departments for film & t.v, retail window display & events coordination. I wound up on the west coast of Canada where I met my husband; he encouraged me to follow my dreams to be an independent artist. I launched my online portfolio, www.tanisalexis.com in 2005. and it’s been a dream come true since.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

www.mwahcreations.etsy.com
Mwah! Creations was opened by Babs Bird, of London, U.K. in 2005. I am the Canadian half of this ‘international venture’.
Babs and I met online a few years ago and have been very close friends since. We’ve never met in person (yet~) but that doesn’t stop us from co-running an etsy shop together. We collaborate through the mail & online, and have a synch in our own personal tastes that jive together--plus Babs has a seriously dark and wicked humour to boot so she keeps me laughing.
The Meaning of Mwah Creations; I think Babs and I have a big love for each other and for being creative. We sign a lot of our correspondence to each other with a big Mwah! xoxo
I’d like to believe our shop name sounds like two friends sharing our love with you through our creative goods.

What would you most want people to know about your work?

My work comes through me, not from me.

If I create a piece, I usually have a sense of knowing that there is someone, somewhere, out there that the piece already belongs to.

If my work inspires hope and joy in others, and I can continue to be a full-time artist, I am eternally grateful.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Always trust yourSelf.
and never take yourself too seriously.

____________________

Tanis's work is beautiful. Follow the links and take a look. Visit shared Etsy shop and treat yourself to art!

While visiting etsy, also stop and look at