Kristen sells creative custom invitations and stationery. She says, "I try to think a little further outside the box when it comes to invitations because, to me, that is the first statement made to your guests about the event and you want that wow factor to happen."

Kristen enjoys living and working in Cincinnati. She lives with her architect husband and in a Cape Cod in Pleasant Ridge. "There is such a great and supportive community for the arts. There are a plethora of options - from small firms to worldwide companies. I have many friends dotted thruout various studios and it's fun to hear their experiences (or nightmares) and see how diverse and spread out the work is amongst the firms in town."

I recently came across local artist Andrew Neyer via Etsy and asked him to be part of the etsycincinnati series.

Andrew prints, package, and design everything himself. Everything is handprinted. Andrew says, "I try to make my work affordable, accessible, and enjoyable." Nothing in his Etsy shop is more than $30.

Andrew sells mostly prints of original art work in his Etsy shop. He also sells most of his zines in several comic/record stores. Krafthaus (Cincinnati) is a gallery that stocks his prints and other items. His favorite thing about being an artist in Cincinnati is his proximity to his friends & family.

After working for two local major arts institutions, Tammy begin painting again after about a 10 year hiatus. She was investing so much time in her work that she didn't have time for her own. Tammy recently quit her job and opened her own shop, called Pivot Gallery and Boutique.

Tammy says, "I have spent time trying to figure out my style recently and currently I'm really into pinup retro type paintings." Her medium of choice is oil paint - "it was a comfortable way for me to ease back into it by painting things I really love."

For Tammy, Etsy is just one of the ways she sells and promotes her artwork. "I do sell at my gallery located in Covington. My sister who is also a local artist and myself co-own it and we currently feature about 50 artists works. I also travel to art fairs around the country and sell my works." She recently traveled to Chicago for the Renegade art fair.

As for being an artist in Cincinnati, Tammy says she is surprised and excited by the people in the area that are eager to support local artists. She says, "I really had no idea. With the opening of Pivot I've had so many people come in and ask who we carry that are local. There is a real desire by the community to support them, which I find really amazing." 

Erin's describes her work as "very fun and light." She says, "it would look great on someone¹s wall." I was immediately attracted to her minimal, graphic and colorful paintings of shapes and natural elements.

"I think the unique thing about my shop is that it¹s very contemporary work that is accessible to a lot of different people." Much of Erin's work is affordable, usually around $20-$30. She says, "I think it¹s a great way for people to get work being done now and since it¹s student work it is well informed and affordable!"

Erin takes some of her inspiration from living in Cincinnati. She says, "It's very exciting being at the heart of the new development of OTR. Everyday there is something new moving in. Also the community of artists in Cincinnati is great, and there are a lot of opportunities to get involved from things like Final Friday and new CAC exhibits."

Elizabeth's shop exemplifies her belief "that you should view materialistic items such as jewelry light-heartedly, and that they should be inexpensive and simply make you smile."

She began making jewelry because she could never find any pieces that she truly liked. She says, "I was always looking for simple, fun and affordable earrings but could never find many. I began making anything I could dream up and soon boxes of beads and finished pieces were taking over my living space-hence Juicy Glass Jewels was born."


Don't forget to visit my shop, Kitsch Café for one-of-a-kind vintage items!
kitschcafe.etsy.com