Pictoresca Design by Lina Suarez

This Friday, October 14, ARTE will be popping up at Times Square Center, Dubai from 11am – 6pm. October is breast cancer awareness month and ARTE is thinking pink. Come check out the exclusive pink art on offer. With Halloween just around the corner, you will also find spooky Halloween crafts sure to put a smile on your face.

This week’s artist is Lina Suarez ( Facebook, Instagram @pictorescadesign or email : pictorescadesign@gmail.com).

Lina is originally from Medellin, Columbia but has lived in Dubai for 2 and a half years. She has been a member of ARTE for  a little over a year. Lina sees the artists and customers in ARTE as a community and hopes to engage everyone in  our community with her art.

When Lina first came to the UAE, She volunteered at her husband’s job but soon realized she wanted to start her own business. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, but she knew she wanted to pursue her artistic passion and creativity, as well as use her abilities as a graphic designer. She started by painting mugs, which she had started doing during her visit to the US back in 2012.

Her mugs were popular with friends and family and as her designs grew more intricate, she knew she was on to something.

Lena began to customize her mugs. All of her mugs are hand painted and she is happy to put sayings or pictures on her mugs for you.

Lena wanted to showcase her talents on more than just mugs so she began experimenting with fabric designing. She then had her designs printed on silk. Once she had the designs, she began making cushions

pencil cases

scarves

And coasters.

As we live in the UAE, Lina wanted to give an Arabic feel to her work, but at the same time give her work a whimsical, almost iconic feel. To achieve this, she took the Russian nesting doll and melded it with Arabic dress and her gorgeous doll cushions were born.

These cushions really reflect Lina’s optimistic and vibrant personality!

Lina also wanted to bring her love for travelling into her designs, like the cushion below. Lina is happy to exchange the picture for one of you and your family. What a great memory that would be of your time in the Emirates!

In fact, Lina is happy to design a special pillow for you like this baby cushion she handmakes

or like this one she handmade for friends.

Lina’s  creativity is never ending. She is always looking for ways to push her creativity. Here is a Mona Lisa make up case with a twist.

Lina also likes to give classes which are perfect for birthday parties or coffee mornings. She can even organize them in the craft corner at ARTE. Just stop by her table when you are at ARTE and work out the details with her.

Remember to stop by and say hi to Lina and Pictoresca Design the next time you are at ARTE!

#wemakewhatwesell

#handmadeintheUAE

#ARTEthemaker’smarket

Want to see previous ARTE artists? Just click on the names below:

Chetana Badiger (Craft Paper Nest)

Darcy (The Camel Lady)

Suzan (Glass Art – Hand Engraving)

Hollie (Phlox and Two Bunny Bracelets)

Mehwish Riaz

Natalia (Handmade Gifts)

Eva (Eva’s Cats)

Katrina (Petite Lamb)

Sharon (Shataz)

Manuella Garfia (Ever Charms)

Uzaan (Hang On)

Glass Art – Hand Engraving by Suzan

Welcome back to ARTE! As summer winds down and we get ready for cooler autumn temperatures, what better way to get back into the art of UAE living then by visiting one of the ARTE pop up markets – this month ARTE will be at:

The Oasis Center, Dubai, Friday, September 2, 10am – 7pm

Times Square Center, Dubai on Friday, September 9 and September 23, 11am – 6pm

Al Hamra Mall, Ras Al Khaimah, Friday, September 16, Noon – 9pm

The Mercato Center, Jumeriah, Friday September 16,        10am – 10pm

Did you know that this September ARTE turns 11 years old? To celebrate, ARTE  will be serving cake and a party atmosphere on September 23. Hope you drop by and celebrate with us!

Plus, one of the artists who will be celebrating with us on the 23rd is this week’s artist Suzan Kamande of Glass Art – Hand Engraving. (suzan.gathoni@gmail.com, Facebook:)

Suzan comes from Kenya, but has lived in Dubai for 7 years and has been an ARTE  artist for the past 2 years.

Suzan’s passion is  engraving, especially on crystal.

As a child, Suzan had never seen anything that had been engraved because this is not a common art form in Kenya. In college, she had an art teacher from the UK who introduced her to engraving.

From the first moment that Suzan saw it, she was hooked. She learned the art of engraving and has worked as an engraver ever since.

In Suzan’s beautiful work, you can see the influences of Kenya. Her animals and nature scenes are very realistic. Suzan believes that engraving is similar to painting in that your pictures are not identical to your subjects, but capture the essence of them.

Suzan loves what she does. This and her years of experience really show in her work.

Suzan’s heart may be in Africa, but since coming to Dubai, she has begun to explore desert themes in her work.

Suzan  is motivated by new challenges which is why she loves commissioned work. Do you have an idea, a loved ones portrait, or special date that you would like immortalized in crystal? Then you need to see Suzan right away!

Each piece that Suzan custom makes takes time. Handmade is NOT made in a factory. True craftsmanship takes time, but the results are well worth it!

Suzan works mainly on crystal and she can do coasters, plates, vases, glasses, tumblers, jugs and plaques. A very popular item is her champagne flute. These flutes make great wedding or anniversary gifts and you can get names and dates engraved on them to add that personal touch.

Suzan can even do jewelry.

Just look at how delicate and intricate her art is. Can’t you just feel this fish swimming on this glass. Simply gorgeous!

Suzan loves coming to ARTE because of all the wonderful people she meets. For Suzan, ARTE is more than just selling art – it’s about connecting with people, sharing a smile and having a chat.  Next time you are at ARTE, stop by Suzan’s table and say hi.

#glass art – hand engraving

#ARTE – The maker’s market

# we make what we sell

#handmade in the UAE

Phlox and Two Bunny Bracelets by Hollie

Good morning ARTE fans! Today, Friday, June 17 ARTE will be popping up at the Mercato Center in Dubai from 5pm – midnight and the Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah from noon – 9pm. Looking for a special Eid gift? Heading home and want to have that special memory of the UAE? Need a gift that fits in your suitcase? Then why not come out to ARTE today! Today’s artist is just one example of the wonders waiting for you at Al Hamra  Mall in the morning and the Mercato Center later this evening.

Today’s artist is Hollie and she has been with ARTE for two years now. Although Hollie was born in England, she grew up in Bahrain, where she lived for 20 years before moving to the UAE 5 years ago.

Many of you will know Hollie from Two Bunny Bracelets, the jewellery  company she started a few years ago. Hollie takes gemstones, silver and charms to create lovely bracelets and necklaces.

Don’t see what you like? Hollie will custom make you a creation in real time at ARTE.

Recently, Hollie has started PHLOX a company dedicated to skin care.

I asked Hollie how she went from bracelets to skin care. She told me she had been making sugar scrubs for herself for awhile. Then, one Christmas she wanted to give her mom a unique gift so she made her some body products. Of course, she did not want to just give her mom an untested gift so she brought in samples for people in her office to try. In the end, it turned out that her mom and office mates loved them so much that a demand was created.

Hollie realised she had found her passion so she signed up to do a diploma in organic skin care formulation and was hooked.

Knowledge is key to making her all natural handmade skin care products. Hollie not only wants to give her customers a safe product, but she wants a product that does what is says it will do. To make sure her products are safe, Hollie has gone on to get  certifications in aromatherapy for natural living and face mask therapy. She is currently doing an advanced diploma in organic skin care formulation and is working towards becoming a licensed aroma therapist.

Hollie loves animals, especially her bunnies, so no product is ever tested on animals!

Hollie can make custom cosmetics! This is great news for those of us who have sensitive skin, skin allergies or you just want the right fit for your skin needs!

You can find Hollie tonight at the Mercato Center but she can also be reached on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phloxbyhollie/ or visit her website: www.phloxbyhollie.com

Hollie’s dream is to one day move to the Lake Ditrict in England and open up her own shop, but until then, she will continue to make her all natural handmade scrubs, balms, body butters, anti-ageing serums and body mists exclusively for ARTE.

Whenever you are at ARTE, drop by Hollie’s table and say hi!