MARANDA SHEAR: VISUAL/TEXTILE ARTIST, INSTRUCTOR, ART AS A LIFESTYLE STUDIO OWNER
Holland, MI
Maranda’s work includes of a vast variety of subject and medium, while all staying in the realm or organic shapes and patterns with an overall connection to nature and humanity. Her largest body of work consists of her hand drawn designs on up-cycled clothing items. Drawing inspiration from various cultural textile patterns and natural elements each drawing is truly one-of-a-kind lending a truer sense of ownership to the one it is destined for. Shear also has a penchant for dabbling and has a variety of work including jewelry, ceramics, renderings, prints, paintings and mixed media work.
Shear is a Mix-Your Own master, mixing all of her products by hand in her Michigan classroom/studio. She creates custom blends for her clients in candles, lotions soaps and more. She has a true passion for creating the perfect scent for any occasion.
If that isn’t enough, Shear also teaches classes at the Holland Area Arts Council and other local businesses such as the Bluestocking Bookshop. She guides her students through the exploration of new mediums, cultures and specific artists from which inspiration for classes is gleaned. Private lessons are geared more towards those seeking to hone their skills through a variety of fundamental based exercises.
Maranda currently resides in Holland, Michigan with her significant other, fellow creative/author/artist Edgar Ellis Wolf (bio below).
EDGAR ELLIS WOLF: ARTIST | AUTHOR | DRUID OF THE STARS
Holland, MI
Edgar Ellis Wolf has just released his “Above Reality” series, a collection of 12 automatism state poetry pieces based on the deepest darkest aspects of human emotion. He addresses states of grief, depression, anxiety and addiction with a message in solidarity that you are not alone. These poems are available individually as 11X17 artist prints at both Not So Shabby Marketplace and the Bluestocking Bookshop. His first fiction novella “The Black Bard” will be released as a full book soon, in the meantime you can follow his instagram page for teasers, other short stories, poems and Bardic Quotes!
His second body of work consists of hand carved spirit sticks, each paired with their own anchor or link to the natural world, which acts as a spiritual grounding for the mind and body.
Wolf has a passion for nature and all of his work is a reflection of the natural world in some way. He only uses rudimentary tools and does not believe in using modern technology to create his art. He plans to hand sew an attempt to remain pure to the experience of the book itself, treating the work more like a piece of art rather than a piece of fiction. His resolve on his artistic vision is inspirational.
Wolf currently resides at the edge of the cosmos but can typically be found roaming around Holland, MI.
KELLY SHEAR: VISUAL/SPECIAL EFFECTS ARTIST
Grayling, MI
Kelly Shear is a humble master of creativity, throwing caution to the wind and following wherever the muses take her. Her talents include drawing, painting, ceramics, cosmetology, special effects hair/makeup/costumes, party themes/props/& décor; from art to zombies and much much more! Kelly is a window painter for hire, creating custom window scenes for local businesses and community individuals. Her current body of work consists of a variety of hand painted glass-wear that can be found at the Art as a Lifestyle Studio in Holland, MI
Kelly’s passions include gardening and raising awareness about our international Monarch butterfly populations. Each year she cultivates a milkweed garden, a plant specific to these majestic insects, which will act as shelter and food all the way through metamorphosis before they migrate Mexico. To learn more about how you can raise Monarchs at home, search the hashtag #fortheloveofMonarchs or message Kelly directly.
Kelly currently lives with her husband, Scott, owner of the Old Goat Garage, in Grayling, MI. Shear Oaks Farm is also currently home to seven goats, two cats, two dogs, four ducks, two turkeys, two geese, a parakeet, a tortoise and no less than thirty chickens.