From wood shop classes in middle and high school, to his grandfather and uncle who were carpenters by trade, working with wood isn’t new to Norman Bloom III. It wasn’t until last year, though, after the death of his grandmother, that he began building and creating pieces for friends and family. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Loss of beloved grandmother propels island artist

Norman “Snooze” Bloom III has always loved working with his hands and creating things with wood or other materials. [Read more…]

Jennifer Nichole Head stands with some of the art she created from cigar boxes at Havana Alley in Galveston. Head sells her creations online and at Havana Alley. Photo by Kelsey Walling

Islander puts creative, coastal touch on cigar boxes

With Jennifer Nichole Head’s hand-decorated cigar boxes, the smokes aren’t the main attraction. [Read more…]

Shaifer Goalen, left, is a budding young artist working with mentor Amy Owens, owner of Clay Cup Studios in Galveston. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

How an island mentorship program helped a young artist sell her first work

“Andromeda” draws you in. Its whimsical subjects — an octopus, fish and ocean flora — conjure up a fantastical world below the sea. The painting is named after an Ethiopian princess, who in Greek mythology is saved by a sea monster after her parents try to sacrifice her to save their kingdom from the wrath of god Poseidon.

The painting’s textural, three-dimensional quality and vibrant mix of consciously chosen colors beckons to be touched. It recently sold at ArtWalk in downtown Galveston for $225. [Read more…]

Graffiti artist Gabriel Prusmack works on a mural titled “Sunrise to Sunset on the Dike” at the Texas City Dike. It is one of several of his spray paint murals around Galveston County. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Once a rebel tagger, artist finds success in painting murals

Gabriel Prusmack exults in his faith, professing a belief in God that he credits for transforming him from a repentant tagger to a gifted artist. [Read more…]

Kent Sollenberger, a Sugar Land-based artist, found his inspiration for his latest exhibit “Color Coded Painting” from the large bar codes on Amazon shipping boxes. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Artist’s work is inspired by fascination with physics

Kent Sollenberger’s idea for his latest art exhibit came from his wife’s enthusiasm for online shopping while she was bed-bound with a leg injury. [Read more…]

League City artist Jeff Hamachek’s paintings are heavily influenced by his love of Galveston. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Artist lends a modern touch to Impressionist style

Jeff Hamachek notices the little things in life — the steam rising off a fresh cup of coffee, the shadows of children cast over the water as the tide rolls in, and the shapes, contours and twists of a freshly peeled orange. [Read more…]