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| Eco Art Handbags - Artist Bios - Eco Friendly Bags - Jasika Nicole, Jennifer Garant, Joanna Gregores, Raul del Rio, Sharon Watts, Shirley Novak
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Jasika Nicole Bio
 Despite having recognized a talent for visual arts at a young age, Nicole studied theatre, voice, and dance at a small private college in North Carolina before moving to NYC to pursue her career in acting. It was on the sets of theatre and film projects that Nicole picked up her former pastime and began to draw more often. Upon a friend's suggestion, Nicole created a website to display her artwork online and, due in part to the success of her first film Take the Lead (which prompted lots of googling of her name), she acquired a supportive and enthusiastic fan base. She sells original and laser prints of the images in her online gallery, and in between performances and film and TV productions, she does freelance illustration work for children's book authors, clothing designers, musicians and businesses. She has written and drawn an online autobiographical mini-comic entitled High Yella Magic.
Nicole continues working on the hit TV series, Fringe, which first aired on the Fox channel in Fall 2008. You can also find more of her work at www.jasikanicole.com.
Kiara Sausedo Bio
Kiara Sausedo was born and raised in Hawaii, surrounded by lush tropical landscapes and exotic plant life. She continues to draw inspiration from the natural environment and often returns to imagery directly related to her childhood surroundings.
Kiara received her Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and an Associate in Applied Science Degree in textile/ surface design from FIT in New York City.
When Kiara first began printing her designs on fabric she focused on keeping her materials as natural as possible, using organically grown fibers and non toxic pigments. She continues to develop eco-friendly designs on a free lance basis, while working full time as a textile designer designing silk scarves that can be found in major department stores throughout the country.
Kiara has exhibited work at The Gowanas Studio Space, Studios Open, Gallery 2, Overload Studios, The Museum at FIT, and in private settings.
Raul del Rio Bio
 Raul del Rio describes his painting style as "Modern Primitive". His work allows him to combine two main interests: Nature and Heritage. Raul grew up in the border towns of Matamoros, Mexico and Brownsville, Texas. He studied at the Acadamia de San Carlos in Mexico City, after exploring the field of Architecture at Texas A&M University. Raul studied art, photography and graphic design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
"His love for vibrant color and passionate design make his work so exuberant and distinctive." Raul's work has been commissioned by, and is affiliated with many Environmental Organizations: Greenpeace, Earth Island, Conservation International, Environmental Defense Club, Humane Farming Association, Animal Voice Magazine and National Wildlife Federation.
The San Francisco Zoological Society, Marine World Africa USA., The San Antonio Zoo, Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville Texas and Cribari Wines in California have commissioned his work for poster use. His art has been published in national and international magazines, books and reproduced in the Gift/Stationery Industry: Greeting Cards, Posters, Calendars and other formats. He has received several national and regional awards for illustration.
Raul has worked in various Art Departments in the publishing business as Designer and Art Director in addition to working as an illustrator. Currently, he resides in Novato CA, dividing his time between work, freelance projects and painting. You can also find him at www.delrioproductions.com.
SPECIAL INTERESTS: Nature, Folk Art, Native Art, Surreal Art, Exotic Art, Primitive Art, Color, Tropical Landscapes, Underwater, Coral Reefs, Whales, Birds, Lighthouses, Latino, Villages, and others.
Shirley Novak Bio
 The love of gardening and painting for Shirley Novak began as a child. These passions have evolved into a way of life that fills her days.
A creative spirit, the love of color and a need to grow flowers are the fundamental impulses leading Shirley on a clear path to her garden paintings. Shirley finds the color, graceful and playful stems, buds and seed pods of poppy plants endlessly inspiring and useful design elements.
With her work Shirley hopes to convey the emotions she experiences in the process of growing and painting gardens; love, joy, vitality, gratitude, peace and renewal. Every season Shirley's garden brings optimism, inspiration and new ideas for her paintings.
Shirley’s life is focused on art. She is married to Ralph Oberg a successful wildlife and landscape artist. Ralph's work has taken Shirley to many mountain ranges in the west where she finds the most delightful gardens in mountain meadows. She loves to paint these joyful places and just being up there in the summer.
Today she lives in Colorado and has designed and created an extensive garden of poppies, peonies, roses, foxgloves and hollyhocks. Shirley's work can be found in fine art galleries across the country and her prints are recognized globally.
For more of her work and life visit www.shirleynovak.com.
Jennifer Garant
 Jennifer Garant, one of the most highly licensed artists in the world, is launching with Eco Art Productions' handbags. Her Signature Chefs have been distributed world-wide on a variety of licensed products for the home. Her art has been distributed on posters in over 50 countries as well as on thousands of products for the home. Each year her collector base grows as well as the companies that license her art for their products.
Her figurative paintings capture the essence of whimsical charm and humor.
There is a huge demand for Jennifer's original art work and her collections are owned by Hollywood celebrities, sports heroes, business icons and world renowned chefs. "I guess the best thing for me to hear when someone looks at my work is that it makes them smile, whether the characters are thin or larger than life, they exude humor, charisma, and charm", Jennifer muses.
At the age of 27, Jennifer was commissioned by the Vancouver General Hospital to paint what would become the largest mural in North America at the time. Jennifer has done numerous sold-out shows and currently resides in La Quinta, California.
In January 2006, Jennifer's painting "Faux Paw" was featured on the cover of Art Business Today. In the March 2006 Decor Magazine, in an article entitled "A League of Their Own", Jennifer was named top five women making a difference in the art and framing industry.
Jennifer works on heavy weight French paper as well as canvas, where she employs a special old world texturizing technique which gives a contemporary image a look and feel as though it was painted a long time ago. You can recognize her attention to detail and in many of her artworks, her flair and love for scarves, shoes and fabric. "My artwork comes from the spirit of good food, good wine, good music, good laughter and dancing and a good life . I love what I do and I hope that it shows."
www.jennifergarant.com
Joanna Gregores
 Joanna Gregores shares her love of life, color, people and places by bringing the interpretation of her paintings to items we use on a daily basis, including our handbags. She believes art should not just be hung on a wall but is part of daily life reflected in the smallest of details. This deep appreciation comes to her naturally.
At the Academy of Art in San Francisco and The Arts Students League in New York in the 1970's and 1980's, Joanna gained the skills allowing her to interpret her vision. That vision was expanded with the 10 years she lived in Vietnam before moving to Paris.
Joanna brings you a sensibility drawn from the vibrancy of the USA arts scene, visions of the world as seen from the eyes of an emerging country, and an appreciation of the old world.
Not only has Joanna been able to bring us this colorful view of life interpreted in her art, she has also raised her daughter in both Vietnam and Paris.
Southeast Asia's tradition of handicrafts in combination with unique materials has acted as an inspiration to the new line of home accessories created by the artist Joanna Gregores.
Joanna uses mulberry paper and lacquer to create interpretations of her painting in new mediums of artistic expression. From the centuries of fabric weaving and printing in Lyon, France, she creates exciting prints used in pillows, duvets, placemats and other useful items.
The products created by Joanna reflect a true social responsibility that is continually evolving.
Her products hopefully will bring you the same enjoyment she has had in creating them for you. www.joannagregores.com
Sharon Watts
 Maybe because her mother taught her how to draw her first princess (complete with ruffled neckline) at an early age, Sharon still leans toward the feminine and chic when it comes to her trademark characters. She grew up in a small Pennsylvania town and moved to New York City to study fashion design, only to discover that creating a French bodice wasn't nearly as much fun as drawing a live model, especially one dressed n a feather boa, fishnet stockings and platform sandals!
Sharon adapted to and even helped initiate many styles and trends over the decades, landing her retail and fashion/beauty clients such as Henri Bendel, Macy's, Estee Lauder, Lancome, and Burberry. Then she forayed into the world of children's book illustration, licensing, and artful calligraphy.
Working traditionally with pen and ink and watercolor, then a quick clean-up at the sink, Sharon often has the company of her two cats, Mi-ro and Tizzy, lending their "help."
www.sharonwatts.com
She has also compiled a book about her close friend who perished in the WTC on 9/11: Miss You, Pat: Collected Memories of NY's Bravest of the Brave, Captain Patrick J. Brown www.missyoupat.org
Continuing to exercise her many creative outlets: whimsical illustration, collage, writing, photography, and sewing with vintage fabric; Sharon views the world as one to be inspired by and treated with respect. She has the heart of an archivist, living as comfortably as possible with the Buddhist aspiration to "let go."
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