This week the portraiture, mixed-media artist Diana Bittar whose large canvases convey bold, uninhibited figures reflecting the artist’s new found confidence and expression. ‘I am constantly fascinated by faces, and how the personalities and thoughts of each individual inspire me to form delicate relationships with each canvas’, she explains. Diana was born in London in 1974, the middle of three children—she has an older sister and younger brother. Her father Doraid is Syrian and her mother Helen, a Czech, who met while studying mechanical engineering in Prague. Diana was born during her paren ..read more

American cinematographer Erin Haynes is making her way in an industry that she believes has a long way to go to increase diversity among its crews. Erin was born in New Orleans in 1999—one of two daughters to Denise and Joe Haynes. She grew up in the 7th Ward of a complex city as a young Black woman mindful of the challenges facing minorities. Erin attended Cabrini High School in the shadow of New Orleans Museum of Art where she was drawn to English Literature, writing, art and film. She developed a talent as a sketch artist and at Loyola University she studied Mass Communications; Journalism ..read more

This week the American equestrian artist, oil painter, landscape artist and retreat host Weatherly Stroh. Her unique palette and eye for horses brings a soft light to her work as she captures the gestures and movement of her subjects She says: ‘My paintings reflect the inspiration I find in the world around me, with a deep appreciation for slowing down to capture and appreciate the everyday magic that surrounds us.’  Weatherly was born and raised in Metamora, Michigan in 1974 the youngest of four children—including two step-siblings—to Gari Melchers Stroh (d) and Susanne Stroh. Her p ..read more

Carylon Cooper is an American contemporary artist whose work includes abstract, figurative, still life and animal portraits. Carylon was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1948, one of two daughters to Imogene & Herschel Cooper. She attended High School in Nashville and, since she was 19, she has called Chattanooga, TN home. Carylon’s art education began at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and she followed that by majoring in art at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga (UTC) where she audited classes in printmaking and mono-printing. She spent time as a model in New York City befor ..read more

English portrait artist and sculptor, Eleanor Cardozo, is known for her bronze sculptures and the dynamic movement in her work. Eleanor was born in London in 1965, the second of 10 children to Colonel Benedict Cardozo, a Military Attaché in the British Army, and Caroline Cardozo, an artist and musician. Her childhood was subjected to the typical adventures of a military family when her father was posted overseas to Aden, Malaysia, Germany, Malawi, Ghana, Cyprus and Gibraltar. Eleanor’s education began at a French school in Ghana, followed by boarding school from ages 8 -18 at St Mary’s Convent ..read more

This week's guest is the media artist Kasumi whose career ranges from musician, filmmaker, author, designer, illustrator and painter. Her work features short and feature length experimental films, live shows, VJ, and public art projection, creating looping electronic sculptures, designing motion graphics and animated gifs, producing immersive 360 virtual reality pieces and making fine art prints and wearable art. Kasumi studied music at the Stadliche Musik Hochschule in Cologne, Germany playing the lute. She then moved to Japan, where she lived for 12 years and taught Baroque music at the Toky ..read more

Anna Echols is a cake artist, designer and bakery owner who creates life-like cakes celebrating every occasion. With painstaking attention to detail, her goal is to produce a cake that is hard to decipher from the real thing; almost too good to eat. Anna was born in Wilmington, NC in 1984 to Douglas and DeLonna Echols. She has one brother Douglas Echols, Jnr., a custom home renovator. Her father, who passed away in 2006, was a Commercial Real Estate Developer and entrepreneur who loved cooking, and Delonna, a stay-at-home mom. Her father once owned the shopping center where Anna’s bakery busin ..read more

Tamar Cohen is a self-taught creator of miniatures and diorama. Her work reflects her passion for architecture, particularly European gothic, castles and art nouveau. Tamar was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1981, one of four children; she has an older sister who lives in New York, and an older brother and younger sister who live in Israel. She describes her parents as being crafty in an artistic sense; her father was an electrician by trade who enjoyed building furniture and her mother knits quilts and is an artist. As a child, Tamar studied painting, photography, sculpting and history of art. W ..read more

Marit van Ekelenburg is a macro photographer who specializes in photographing insects and spiders in their natural habitat. She seeks out her subjects in the early morning light creating colorful backgrounds that compliment each creature. Marit works as an editor and enjoys combining her skills as a writer and photographer to tell stories. But photographing insects is her favorite occupation. Marit was born in Udenhout, The Netherlands in 1988 to Henk, a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur, and Olga, a gardener. She has an older sister, Kim, a psychologist, and younger brother, Thijs, who is ..read more

Kerry September is a British Hair Stylist & Make-up Artist who has worked in theater, film, TV, music, fashion and beyond in her 30-year career. Kerry was born in 1971 in Bridgend, Wales. the oldest of five children; she has three sisters and a brother. Her father, Gideon September, emigrated to the UK from South Africa and worked as a service engineer. Her mother, Christine Blackwell was a housewife who, after raising her children, went back to school to become a psychotherapist. Most of Kerry’s family is in psychology and she says her work too is like being a therapist listening to her c ..read more