1. How did you get your start in the artistic community?

Fresh from school I escaped the icy tundra of Pittsburgh, and started my professional Phoenix career, in the massively growing architecture field as an architectural graphic designer.  My extensive knowledge in 3-dimensional design dovetails nicely into my current passion of painting fantastically bold, graphic, and colorful artwork.

2. What or who inspires you?

The Southwest Sonoran Desert is a never -ending source of inspiration. Both the "Mars like"plants, and the super fast desert animals, (running for shade) fascinate me! 

3. How do you come up with your creations?

Although proficient in all mediums, I enjoy the spontaneity of acrylic... But, the smell of oils! Sometimes, watercolors, too.

4. When do you feel the most creative?

My Zen happy place is with a canvas in front of me, a brush in my hand and a fantastic song in my ear! I live and breathe art 24-7!

1. How would you describe your style?

Steam Crow (me and my wife, Dawna) are a weird hybrid between cartoon and graphic design. We love vintage advertising, old time Cub/Girl Scouts, friendly monsters, and propaganda/WPA design.

2. Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?

Well, sure! We love: Mike Mignola, Alphonse Mucha, Tony Diterlizzi, Dungeons & Dragons, Arthur Rackham, Tom Waits, the Arts & Crafts movement, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Halloween, antiques and more than we can list here.

3. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 

We infuse our own quirks, personality, and viewpoint into our stuff. Some of it's funny, odd, and weird... but it's all US and it makes our work unusual. Most of our stuff has an "old meets new" feel.

4. What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?

We're inspired by old movies, toys, cartoons, comics, Halloween, old signs, D&D, bands (Dawna and I were both in bands when we met), vintage illustration, kid's books... inspiration is EVERYWHERE!

5. When do you feel the most creative?

When I get to design Monster Scouts stuff. (Our odd-ball community.) I love drawing monsters, giving them a story, and sharing it with our Scouts.

. What's Monster Scouts all about?

It's our weird gang of folks who meetup, make stuff, do Monster Camps together, and even wear old timey uniforms. It's super-nerd (Scouts + Halloween) but it's been a ton of fun. We made up these "Spirit Badges" and the Scouts made up all of these other things that we're now doing. It's for anyone who wants to believe in Monsters.

7. What is your creative process like?

We're on the road an awful lot... so I sketch in the Vanotaur. The drawings are bad and all bumpy (because we're rambling down the highway) but it's where we just generate hours and hours of ideas. When we're back at the studio, we can select the best of them to take to completion. 

8. What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?

Use every single talent that you have.

9. Where can we learn more about you?

http://steamcrow.com/our-story/ and http://www.monsterscouts.com

1. How would you describe your style? 

Girly vintage whimsical! I'm an Interior Designer and retired to stay at home with my two littles. That need to create and work with colors was killing me so I dove into this full time. I LOVE pretty much ever style. So you will find I'm quite eclectic! However at the Boutique shows I try to rein it in to a particular theme.

2. What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

Because I'm not stuck on one style I find that makes me a bit unique. My styles are always changing with what inspired me that week or that season. 

3. What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?

Honestly it's like a hampster wheel in my head! I can get inspiration from anything! Something as small as a ribbon can excite me and then the wheels start turning. "This ribbon will work perfectly with my stripe skirts and I'll make a shirt to match!" I find myself dancing in Hobby Lobby a lot! 

4. When do you feel the most creative? 

In the morning with a good latte or at night...I'm a bit of an insomniac. 

5. What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received? 

The eye can make a color work. When I was in school to get my degree I bought a wine colored chair with intentions to recover it because my room was more orange, but the chair worked out amazingly to my surprise! A local artist and I were talking about this and she told me that,  "the eye can force a color to work even if they don't match perfectly." This is so true and it actually makes things look more interesting if everything is not matchy matchy. I've used this thought in my creations all the time! 

6. Where can we learn more about you?

My Instagram is the best place to learn more about me at: Lollipop Chic Bowtique. 

Bunky Boutique is a neighborhood shop that has been a central Phoenix staple since 2007. Rachel Malloy is the owner and buyer, she specializes in blending well known lines along with local and indie designers and artisans.  Bunky has it's own in-house line, Arizona Love, which are hip and stylish Arizona pride products that are perfect for locals and visitors alike. 

Rachel loves traveling to the ocean and to brooklyn with her husband, exploring new coffee shops, exercising, spending time with her two kitties, and reading (Bunky even has it's very own book club!).

Being on the Jackalope Art Fair jury is a honor and so much for for Rachel because it allows her to have a first hand seat to the innovation and creativity of artisans and designers that are putting their art into the world. That vulnerability is beautiful and inspiring. 

Learn more about Bunky Boutique at www.bunkyboutique.com

The deadline for applications to the Jackalope Art Phoenix Holiday show on November 26th & 27th, juried by our start studded panel featuring Lindsay Viker & Rachel Malloy, is just next Friday, September 2nd.  www.jackalopeartfair.com/phoenix/

This exciting event taking place at WestWorld of Scottsdale will be an alternative to the chaos of Black Friday and provide an oportunity to #ShopSmall with over 150 artisans, live music, workshops and more!