Welcome to the weekly Feature and Giveaway! Every Monday, we’ll be featuring a lovely craftsperson, artist, or  artisan – and every week you’ll have the chance to win something from their shop!
This week we welcome Natasha – who has invented a new way of painting with light!
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Where do you live?
Bend, OR
Where do you do your work?
I work out of my home, where I have my art studio and darkroom.
What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?
I love being under the ocean (scuba diving). It’s a magical and mysterious world, completely foreign and beautiful – a feeling like no other!
Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business, family, hobbies…
I live with my husband, Tony. I teach photography at Central Oregon Community College. I am a professional belly dancer.
What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?
I wanted to be an artist!
How did you first get into your craft/art?
During the time I was pursuing my photography based art degree I witnessed meteoric changes within the photographic world. While the once commanding darkroom was being replaced by the newest computer lab, prosperous photography businesses were closing their doors forever. I both embraced and questioned the digital world photography was being assimilated into. I delved further into the basic concepts of photography; where it came from, what it meant, and where it was going. Pondering the root words photo meaning light and graph meaning to write, I began exploring the concept of literally writing with light. I developed various methods of painting using light on photosensitive paper, and designed a tool for this purpose. A US patent is pending for both the tool and process by which I create.
What do you make?
I create light paintings and photograms. Light paintings are a patent-pending art form created using beams of light on light sensitive paper. Working in complete darkness, I create using beams of light with a tool I invented. By manipulating the color and the intensity of the light onto light sensitive paper, I literally paint with light. After photo-chemical processing, the painting is revealed. All artworks are unique pieces. No camera, film, or computer is used in the creation of light paintings. Photograms are an art form created using beams of light over objects on light sensitive paper. All artworks are unique pieces. No camera, film, or computer is used in the creation of photograms.
What are you most proud of making?
I most proud of the light paintings. I have patented the process because they are quite unique, unlike any other art form.
What do you like the most/least about selling your wares online?
Most – the exposure to and access for people all over the world. Least – my work is best seen in person. The colors and depth do not come across on a computer screen.
I love…
peanut butter and chocolate –together!
It drives me crazy when…
I run out of coffee.
If you could sum yourself or your work up in one sentence, it would say…
art created with an innovative medium.
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Visit Natasha Online:
Shop:Â www.luxart.etsy.com
Website:Â www.luxartwork.com
This week, Natasha is offering a 10% off 1 item + free shipping. Happy shopping!!
The winner of last week’s giveaway is Kerri – congratulations!
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