Featured Guest Artists at L'Artiste²

L'Artiste² is grateful to feature a select group of artisans and their creations. While all of the artists' work is unique, the majority of the items created by them are "one of a kind pieces". Please view the depicted pieces as examples of their creations, indicating their respective price ranges. We will gladly provide you with more details once we learn about your items of interest. We welcome your inquiries about commissioned work.

		Batiks by Sherri Tracey :: Sherri Tracey obtained her BFA from the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and has worked in various areas of the media field including advertising design and engineering graphics. Sherri has spent the last several years exhibiting her work nationally, internationally as well as in galleries and fine art shows. Her two-dimensional mixed media is a combined process of batik (applying dyes and resists on cotton) into a contemporary mix of different elements. The batiks are enhanced with charcoal and acrylic paint and are then stretched over a hard surface and mounted on a piece of wood that has been covered with silver leaf and wire grid. This particular style compels the viewer to experience different levels of texture and feelings. The pieces are 11 1/2 x 11 1/2" in size and can be made to your specifications of color, form and shape. Delivery time varies. Price is $150 each, quantity discount applies on 15 squares or more.
		Porcelain Pottery by Anne Gary :: Anne's exploration of stoneware and porcelain with different surface treatments led her to her primary form of porcelain and celadon glazes. Each piece has some attributes that date back to early Chinese, Korean or Japanese vessels. Ceramics is an outlet that represents serenity in Anne’s life. Her goal is to create pieces that when viewed, allow you to capture a moment of serenity. All of Anne's pieces vary in size and can be made to your specifications of color, functionality and shape. Delivery time varies, prices range from $25 - $100.
		Jewelry by Kari Heybrock :: Kari studied furnace glass at Hastings College in Nebraska. After having been introduced to torch work and bead making, her love for this ancient and beautiful art form was solidified. Kari individually flame works every bead from colored Venetian glass. After the beads have been kiln annealed, they are crafted with silver and gold into individual pieces of wearable art. Kari hopes that you enjoy wearing these "masterpieces" as much as she has enjoyed making them. Kari offers a broad spectrum of available colors and we welcome your inquiries about commissioned work. Prices are: small hearts $26, medium hearts $45 - $55, large hearts $75 - $85. Delivery times vary.
		Jewelry by Susan Hamilton :: Susan began designing jewelry on a trip to Colorado. Her pieces are one of a kind, born from the characteristics of the raw materials in which she chooses to work with. She works primarily with mineral rocks such as turquoise, jasper, and agate, much of which she finds in Colorado. Her goal is that every customer is able to obtain a truly unique piece of jewelry. Susan offers a broad spectrum of available colors, shapes and styles and we welcome your inquiries about commissioned work. Prices for earrings range between $20 - $40 and for necklaces $50 - $200. Delivery times vary.
		Jewelry by Barbara SilverStein :: In 1995 Barbara fell in love with braided stainless steel and brought it into the world of jewelry. She knits stainless, sterling and gold and combines that with fresh water pearls, mother of pearl, washed jade and semi precious stones to create her jewelry. Barbara understands and appreciates minimalism and classic lines thereby creating the purity and intrinsic beauty of braided stainless steel. Her designs can be found in major museums and galleries throughout the U.S. and Europe. Her jewelry ranges from $50 - $250 in price. Delivery times vary.
		Custom Frames by Cindy Fields :: Cindy Fields has been a full-time artist for over 20 years. She works with mixed media, focusing on texture and color and the expression of a message in each of her pieces, ideal for birthdays, anniversaries and memorabilia. Each piece is multi-layered asking the observer to look deeper than what is first seen on the surface, to recognize and feel the emotion. All of her frames are custom made taking your specifications (names, dates, places, colors etc.) into consideration. The sizes of the frames are 7 x 9" with an opening to accommodate a 4 x 6" photograph, and 12 x 12" with an opening to accommodate a 5 x 7" photograph. Prices for her frames are: Small Frames 7 x 9” @ $45: Large frames 12 x 12” @ $75. Delivery about 10 – 14 days for creation plus shipping.
		Murano Glass Candlesticks :: Today, as back over the centuries, the main ingredients of Murano glass are silica, lime, soda, potash and lead oxide which are mixed with other ingredients to create the rich colors which are fused at over 1,400 degrees centigrade in open pots. The specific characteristic of glass is the way in which it solidifies, passing from liquid to solid by increasing the viscosity and passing from the rigid to the solid. During the process the Glass Master can give shape to objects, the finished products, which will retain the rigidity of a solid body while maintaining the transparency of liquid. The glass is blown by mouth and cut by hand and can never be perfectly uniform. Slight differences in thickness, width or height, tiny bubbles in the crystal etc. can not be entirely avoided. As a matter of fact, all this increases the value of a single piece, as it indicates the genuineness and uniqueness of the hand made glass. Each piece is custom made and imported from Murano, Italy. Available colors are: Red, orange, blue, green, amber, yellow, clear and black. Sizes and prices are: Small 9" @ $200, Medium 11" @ $220, Tall 13" @ $240. Delivery time: 4-6 weeks if not in stock. Please check for availability. For a purchase of three or more a quantity discount of 10% applies.
		Afrika Karvings :: Out of all the nations in Africa, the large varieties and abundant supplies of rock formations present throughout the Zimbabwe landscape provide artists with a medium for sculpture and carvings unique to their country. The Shona art sculpture of Zimbabwe combines the wonderful varieties presented by the stone with images drawn both from reality and abstract symbolism. Prices range from $60 - $875 and sizes vary. Please indicate the price range desired for your purchase and we will gladly provide you with availability and further details.

Gift Items at L'Artiste²

While all the items on our web site are meant to fulfill your needs of providing a special gift for a special occasion, we feel that the ones listed here are particularly suitable to be given for a broad range of these occasions.

		Amethyst Crystals :: Amethyst is a form of quartz which receives its distinctive coloration from the presence of manganese oxide and ferric iron. These crystals are from hollow geode cavities formed when silica-bearing aqueous solutions crystallized inside large gas pockets. Traditionally, Amethyst Crystals are well known for their healing and cleansing properties and characteristics. The depicted cavities were found in a large igneous lava deposits in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Please indicate price range desired for your purchase and we will gladly provide you with availability and further details. Price for the small pieces is $45 and the large pieces range from $375 - $600.
		Onyx Hearts :: Onyx is formed from dissolved carbonate minerals when limestone or dolomite sediments come into contact with hot water. Heat from recent volcanic activity causes this hydrothermal alteration and dissolved minerals are then precipitated when these fluids reach the surface. Precipitated carbonates from these hydrothermal solutions are called "flowstones", or travertine, as well as onyx. Red, green, and orange colors result from small amounts of impurities. These relatively soft rocks are cut, lathe-turned and polished by skilled artisans in Pakistan and are about 3 x 3" in size. Price is $19.50 each or 3 for $50.