Fara Thomas

Local Artisan  

Fara Thomas

farathomasart.com

Instagram page: fara.thomas.art

“My art is about life, with all its textures and layers, expressing love of the movement, energy and depth that exists in our everyday lives.”

There are people who wish they could pursue their dreams, while others simply listen to an inner passion that allows nature to take its course.  This kind of trust in the universe requires courage, confidence and a unique perspective to intuitively know that where you stand in the moment is fluid and ever changing, yet ultimately leads to exactly where you’re meant to be. This is what artist Fara Thomas is all about. Discovering a true calling to create beautiful paintings that mimic the movement and energy paralleled in her own existence, Fara’s thought provoking pieces are complex, vibrant and filled with a peaceful spirit that quiets the soul while lifting the spirit.  We asked her about her artistic drive, the process of creating and how intuition plays a role in her finished pieces.

You didn’t train to be an artist. How did this life change come about?

This decision did not come in a structured or carefully thought-out step in my life. It appeared spontaneously, and I cannot even define its timing with precision. This transformation was not driven by my educational background either. With years of graduate studies, and after extended years of professional experience in a totally different field of occupation, I have gradually discovered a true calling and realized my passion for painting. In my case, I guess, it was reflective of a natural flow of events and my life experiences.

You’re passionately connected to your work. What do you hope to communicate through your paintings?

I want to somehow communicate my sense of the world– that way of understanding, engaging, and experiencing the world as I see it. Something that resonates with life and speaks to our experiences as humans. That universal desire to connect with other people in some way, to tell them about myself or my experiences.  

Artistic inspiration comes from many places. Is there anything in particular that speaks to your creative process?

Nature is the core of most of my creations. It’s not only a theme of my work but, remarkably, a driving force as well. As an artist, I work hard to develop paintings that speak to me and others about the beauty that exists around us by combining color and texture to represent a liberating moment in time. My paintings include natural environments and objects, single elements of natural phenomena and geographical ambiance, panoramic view and wildlife. I try to embrace and show the captivating power that color lends to landscapes, desertscapes and seascapes, and the light refractions exhibited in the texture of flowers, mysterious fluctuations of water and deviational patterns of moving natural forms. I work from spontaneity and intuition to explore a variety of compositions from molecular worlds to the expansive rocky desert that surrounds us.

The visual stimuli of nature is certainly present in your work, but how does intuition play a part in the finished product?

I love to start a painting, that’s my favorite part! Finding the image, giving it life, living with it and then finishing the work is the hardest part, the exhausting and fulfilling part.

Sometimes I start a project with one idea, but my intuition and emotions lead me through the process. The paintings can start as chaotic and uncontrolled, using a contemporary palette and methodical layering technique, but as I continue, I become so focused on the present moment that things quickly settle into a calmness I can see in the finished pieces. It’s a function of creative originality, something that’s of utmost importance to me.  I think my process definitely ensures that my work is original. Since I work completely by intuition, there is no way that even I can copy a painting I have made.

Las Vegas has it’s share of glitz and glamour, yet you see something different. How does living here impact your painting?  

We live in one of the most beautiful areas of this country.  The natural beauty that lies just outside Las Vegas Boulevard encompasses acres of remarkable beauty and surprising diversity. The desert offers different stages of life, experiential intricacies, positive and negative events, advantageous or disadvantageous encounters, a living environment and people that surround me–all that shapes and forms our mentality and emotional state of mind. I am fortunate that my environment, my ambiance, is very positive and encouraging, with great support from Signature Galleries, located at the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, which displays my art and allows me to enjoy the creation process in a fully imaginative way.

David Nydam

By Rob Kachelriess

The allure of fine art photography lies in the opportunity to capture a unique moment in time and preserve it for generations to come. In mastering this skill, Dave Nydam has proven to be a true leader in his field, photographing waterfalls, forests, canyons, coastlines, and anything else that reflects the beauty of nature in its purest form — as well as wildlife and architecture in remote environments. Based in Las Vegas, the well-traveled Army veteran is especially fond of the southwest United States, but often ventures to scenic destinations around the world. His work is sold in dramatic, breathtaking museum-quality prints that make a bold addition to any home or office. We spoke to Dave Nydam about the inspiration behind his art and the secrets to capturing the perfect shot.

What inspired you to turn your passion for photography into a full-time business?

I really got into fine art photography and providing my images to the public because as I went into galleries downtown, I saw some incredible pieces of art, but also incredible price tags too. So my goal was to create beautiful pieces of art, using the same printing and creation processes, in order to maintain the highest level of quality, but bring the prices down so everyone can enjoy it.

What drew you to outdoor photography?

I just love the outdoors. When you’re out exploring, you encounter so many different things. My goal is to bring back those beautiful moments and share them, whether it’s animals, architecture, or landscapes.

How did you develop your skills as a self-taught photographer?

In the early stages, it was really just a hobby — going out, taking pictures, and doing things all wrong — then learning from the mistakes I made. It was a lot of trial and error. The important thing is to learn your camera and the best way to do that is to experiment. Sometimes, I go out and try a new technique or experiment with a different setting and won’t come back with anything I’d want to share with anybody. Then, once the techniques are perfected, in combination with optimal lighting, I come away with a beautiful image that must be shared.

In outdoor photography, how important is the time of day — versus the shot itself — in capturing the perfect image?

It’s very important. Of course, everyone refers to the golden hours, right around sunrise and sunset, and being there during that time is optimal for shooting. However, it doesn’t mean other times aren’t good. After a storm or during a storm, you often get phenomenal light and real drama. If you’re in a forest or shooting waterfalls on a cloudy day, it can be the best time since you don’t have direct light or harsh reflections.

What are some of your favorite shooting locations?

It’s always the last location. My latest piece is always where my emotion is. I love to travel and explore internationally and domestically equally. In the past, my travels have been mostly overseas, so now I am concentrating on capturing the beauty of the United States. However, I still try to travel abroad at least once a year. I just completed a trip through Bryce Canyon in Utah; Jackson, Wyoming; Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks; then over to Washington State where I followed the coastline all the way to San Francisco and then headed back to Las Vegas.

Photography isn’t just technical. Do you think your enthusiasm for exploration and travel evokes an emotional response in your photos?

I hope so. I put a lot of hard work and effort into getting the right shot and presenting it in a way that will elicit emotion from the viewer. From the actual hike or climb to get on location to the considerable amount of time spent scouting the exact camera placement and perspective so that I can bring back and share truly unique and powerful images. I try to live unscripted. When I shoot, I generally know where I’m going, but I don’t use planning tools to find exactly where I want to shoot. I don’t want to go in with a predisposed image in mind because then you tend to be overly focused on just that image and you miss other, often better, opportunities.

Any examples of serendipitous moments in which you started out with a rough idea in mind, but then discovered something totally different that made for a great shot?

That happens on almost any shoot. I traveled to Iceland a couple years ago and it was a miserable day, pouring rain. I went out to the Ice Beach and the clouds cleared for a little while. I was able to get a really nice shot of an iceberg on the black sands with the waves crashing against it. Perfect timing on an imperfect day. Sometimes showing up is half the battle.

You do quite a bit of wildlife photography. As anyone with a pet knows, it’s not easy to get a good shot of an animal on film. It has to be tricky when you’re out in nature capturing these incredible photos.

It is. I ran into more animals in Yellowstone than anywhere else — bison, foxes, coyotes, elk, racoon, beaver, and eagles A long lens and plenty of patience is what you need, because they’re wild animals and you’re just waiting for them to not only show up, but also do something wonderful.

Any advice for up-and-coming amateur photographers?

Having good equipment is great, but it’s not what makes an amazing shot. It’s a combination of having an eye for what you like and being there in the right light to capture it. Practice, practice, practice, and try different techniques.

Visit davenydamphotography.com to learn more about Dave Nydam, view examples of his work, and order prints for delivery.

James Stanford

Website or site we can go to see your work:  JamesStanfordArt.com    ShimmeringZen.com

Standout Quote: “I can’t remember when I was unaware of the magic and power of art.”

A lifelong explorer of the visual arts, James Stanford has a storied history that has spanned more than five decades in the Las Vegas art scene. Educator, business man, activist, creative innovator and early adopter of the technological marriage that exists between traditional, straightforward modalities and the new world of computer manipulation, Stanford’s artwork uses stunning imagery to create movement and provocative visuals that challenge the eye. His latest project, a book and travelling photomontage exhibition entitled Shimmering Zen, draws inspiration from saved imagery from the iconic structures and signage of his Vegas youth. A kaleidoscope of visual excitement and spiritual reflection, Shimmering Zen pays homage to a life inspired by beauty, the beast, and a few things in between.

Born and raised in Vegas, you got your Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting at UNLV, yet most of what you do now is digital. How did this come about?

I graduated with a BFA in painting in the first graduating class in the newly formed BFA program at UNLV, then was accepted into the Masters of Fine Arts Painting Program at the University of Washington. After graduating from Washington, I came back home to Las Vegas. I wound up taking a job as a black jack dealer to try and pay off some college debts. It was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. It was an opportunity for me to learn more about life. I started teaching drawing at UNLV, became a technical illustrator, then, in 1986, formed my own graphics studio. It was through this transition that I discovered digital art. I started the first graphics studio in Las Vegas to make the transformation from traditional skills to Macintosh computers. By 1987 we had abandoned chemical typesetting and copy cameras and had entered the world of Photoshop and Illustrator.

With your digital skills well underway, what inspired you to take this knowledge to create something that’s much more meaningful and artistic then practical?

I had been using my camera to gather images that I thought I might someday be able to incorporate into my paintings. Without realizing it, I had built up quite a body of photographs. By 1993, I began to concentrate on the digital montage. Through my progress as a practitioner of Zen Buddhism I soon discovered what I wanted to explore. Mandala had always interested me. I loved exploring mirrored images. Symmetry had been so difficult to create before the advent of the computer and Photoshop. So, I began to explore the forbidden and formerly impossible world of Perfect Symmetry. Infinitely repeatable patterns became a metaphor for Indra’s Jeweled Net, an ancient description of this holographic universe that we discover when we look within ourselves. My interest in transforming reality into imagined realms has taken many forms, including a photomontage series, Shimmering Zen, originally called Indra’s Jewels. The series takes as its point of departure the Hua Yen Buddhist concept of totality within the metaphor of Indra’s Jeweled Net.

Which brings us to Shimmering Zen, your newest body of work. What’s it about?

I realized that Las Vegas had everything I needed by way of subject matter. Everything was happening right in front of me. This self-awareness helped me to overcome all doubt.  Why not examine what is close at hand? Las Vegas, my home town, was certainly worthy of exploration. What better place to explore Pop Culture than in this city of neon signage? In Shimmering Zen, I use the iconic vintage signage of Las Vegas, where I spent my childhood at a time when the city was a small resort town. My layered images reflect a sense of infinite reflection. I have accompanied stories of my life and coming of age in Shimmering Zen, the book.  I also reveal the “elements” that were used to build each pattern, with a story of the sign or property associated with the final image.

Shimmering Zen is also an exhibition. Some of the pieces in the collection are “lenticular” images—several layers of the same image, each treated differently, backlit and viewed through a lenticular, or striated lens. They are the product of photography and Photoshopping—sometimes up to 30 or 40 layers each. The picture shifts as you move in front of it. So, when you move, the image shift, while brief, is pronounced, a disruptive flutter before the picture snaps back to clarity, albeit now in a different alignment.

The Las Vegas/ Zen connection is interesting. How did that come into play?

Today, I am concerned with the development of a visual expression of a philosophy which brings greater understanding to the concept of Unity of Polarity. I attempt to illustrate the fact that bad exists on the same pole as good. We know each in degrees. Like one coin with two different sides, heads and tails, it seems that we can’t know one without also knowing the other. I am trying to show that Las Vegas is a holy place. Just because it is full of Samsara (desire mind) doesn’t mean that it isn’t also full of Nirvana. Is anyone still surprised that a rose can grow on a thorny bush?

You’re quite involved in the Las Vegas arts community. How has living here impacted your art? 

I have seen the LV art scene go from the peg board walls of the Vivian Wood’s original Art Guild, to the Las Vegas Art Museum and back again. As a founder of the Arts District, and a former Las Vegas Arts Commissioner, I can assure you that it has been quite a roller coaster ride. However, I see the same interest and passion in our art community as I always have. Las Vegas and its environs are at the heart of my expression. I was born and raised here. At my age, I know a lot about this town that many people don’t know, and I am very proud of my hometown. We have some amazing artists living here, but the larger community needs

DAVID TUPAZ

www.davidtupaz.com  – YouTube: David Tupaz 

“I am fortunate that the universe has naturally gifted me with talent and creativity. I am honored that I am part of the never ending mystery of creation and that I am able to create beauty for others through fashion.  Being beautiful and loved is the ultimate quest, because    beauty and love is GOD made real.”

Designer David Tupaz is the only established couturier designer in Nevada, representing Las Vegas at all the major Fashion Week events from Los Angeles to N.Y.C.  Crafting spectacular clothing designs that have coiffed women from high society and celebrities to royalty, his take on classic, “Old Hollywood” design sensibility intrigues women with a strong sense of self and style. Empowering women through fashion, David’s devotion to splendor is evident.  Yet, despite his love affair with haute couture, it’s his desire to immerse himself in community and philanthropic endeavors that truly feed his soul. We talked to David about his designs, the need to give back and his love for this glamourous city he calls home.

How did you get started in the fashion industry and what influences your design?

I am an Interior Design graduate but did not pursue it professionally. I realized that fashion was more interesting as it is the only industry that changes throughout the year. The idea of creating something new each season was exciting.  I didn’t have any formal training and am self taught, having mastered and researched everything about fashion, including its history, techniques, the great design masters–from haute couture to ready to wear–and the business and commerce of it all.  I’ve always felt that American Design, an area of which I focus on, was influenced by Hollywood from the days of silent film to the present. Valentino and Armani became designers because of the allure of Hollywood and its movies, and it is in that tradition that my design aesthetic is based on. My muse is Audrey Hepburn. She was the example of a classic American style icon. Every time I create a new collection, I have Audrey in mind and everything is created around her image.   

Tell us about your involvement with LV Fashion Design Council, how and why you founded the organization, and what it has done to help local designers.

I’ve met many design students and have worked with fashion schools around town and wanted to pioneer an effort to recognize the local talent and give the industry a chance to develop here. Afterall, 85% of American made apparel is done in California, and the proximity of Nevada to California is so close that why not bring the industry to our city?  Knowing that we have tax incentives, affordable real estate, and are the shopping capital of the world due to three million tourists every month, why not? I always say “The whole world is represented in Las Vegas, except Las Vegas” and feel that needs to change!  We have talented people who, given a chance, can create world class products. The Design Council assists young talents who cannot afford to go to fashion school to foster their creative growth. We have programs and workshops we give for free. A few of the designers I’ve mentored are already in business today.

Giving back means a lot to you. What other organizations have you been involved with?

I grew up in a culture of “it is what you can give” that matters, so life has always been a form of service for me.  My mother always told me that if you want to be happy in life, make other people happy first!  I have been privileged to give time, talent, and treasure and have raised funds for many charities, including The Lung Center of Nevada, Nathan Adelson Hospice, Keep Memory Alive, St. Jude, Catholic Charities and many more. Every Monday, rain or shine, I feed the homeless in Downtown Las Vegas. With the help of many different organizations, we provide the items and human contact they need. It is easy to write a check and just give to any charity, but being physically there and meeting these unfortunate brothers and sisters is much more rewarding. I believe that good work has to be hands on.  

It’s evident you LOVE Las Vegas! How has your move here impacted your life journey?

When I decided to move here in 2010 everyone thought I was crazy. I didn’t know anyone. But by 2012, I was already dining with Steve Wynn and Mayor Goodman! I think Las Vegas welcomed me. Being the only established fashion designer in Las Vegas made me feel like a big fish in a small pond, but I want to share my successes by establishing a local fashion industry. Las Vegas is the last frontier! It is the last glamorous city in America that has potential and opportunities for design, as I feel New York and Los Angeles are saturated. Why can’t the future Calvin Klein come from here?  

Bob Tibolt

Website:  artmapmaker.com

“I am a cartographer who learned his craft from a master. Having loved maps for as long as I can remember, I’ve been making them for over forty years. I enjoy the design process and the application of fine motor skills needed for their execution, and use traditional techniques of pen-and-ink, mechanical lettering and coloring with colored charcoal to create my pieces. I enjoy working with clients to come up with a map that makes them happy and exceeds their expectations.”

In a world that relies on digital directions to get us to our destinations, we often miss out on the road we traveled to get there. Specific landmarks, geography, streets and even political boundaries all but vanish from the journey, allowing for an arrival that, while ultimately efficient, sometimes lacks memorability.  This is the beauty of maps.  Placing visual emphasis on the particulars that lie along the way, maps allow us to consume the details that make getting to our end point an unforgettable experience.  Cartographer Bob Tibolt brings his love and appreciation for the art of mapmaking to Las Vegas. With a skilled hand and artistic flair, he creates maps that are not only beautiful to look at, but remind us of where we’ve been and where we’ve yet to go.

Map making isn’t exactly common. How did you begin this unusual artform?

I spent the first eleven years of my life growing up in Massachusetts then moved to Nevada. I returned to New England for college where I took a senior seminar in cartography at Dartmouth College from Geography Professor Van English. He was a renowned cartographer; of his many credentials he served as the personal cartographer for General George Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, in World War II. It was from him that I learned the meticulous attention necessary to make a map. He also put an artistic flair to his maps, and I have tried to emulate this in my own designs. For my final project of the class, I made a map of my travels in Europe and the Middle East, based from my experiences my junior year studying abroad.  From then on, I have made maps.

You haven’t always made maps as a business. How did that begin?

I was a physician in Oregon for thirty years, during which time I made maps as a hobby. I bought my first drafting set in a pawn shop in Reno. I started with rudimentary tools and built up my studio so that I now have a professional environment in which to work. My wife and I moved to Las Vegas last year when I retired, and I have set up my studio and showroom here. I’ve started a small business, ArtMapMaker, to market and sell my maps. I’ve “retired” into cartography so now my passion is my new career.

Where do you draw inspiration and what kinds of maps have you created?

I have a sizable map collection that provides me with many basic forms, but also get ideas from people, travel and customer assignments.  I recently made a map of a Windward Island Cruise sponsored by the Friends of Dartmouth Football and the Alumni Travel office. I had received a brochure announcing this cruise, and I made a map that was distributed to the tour leader and travelers. I also recently made a map of a vineyard in Paso Robles, the winemaker of which is a friend of a friend. I am always on the lookout for mapping ideas. Because of the infinite body of geography that the world represents I have no limits on availability of subject matter. I incorporate different mapping styles related to each projection, the way the area of interest is put to paper, and in using submaps within the main map to show detail of particular places, such as neighborhoods or cities. My favorite pieces are the custom maps that I create for people, usually their travels, including honeymoons, and the large format maps of my “Great American Cities” series.

What does the future hold now that you’re in Las Vegas?

Las Vegas is a unique city of the world. The creative expression that exists here is unparalleled, as are the resources. My wife Susan and I are thankful to be back in Nevada. I am still in the building phase for my new business, so that’s my main focus. I hope to have regular receptions at my showroom to show people what I do. I also hope to make travelers, travel agents and wedding planners aware of my custom travel mapping services, providing a way for my clients to have lasting memories of the events and destinations that make up their lives.

Jole Nikac

Anyone who has lived in our city for even a short period of time has had a breath or two stolen away by our sunsets. They are a work of true art that bring with them a powerful and humbling feeling.  Local artist, Jole, seeks to capture this brilliant amalgamation of color in our desert in his abstract paintings –from the ground to the lines of the horizon.

Zip Code Magazines Local Artisan – Jole 
“I am an Abstract Impressionist Artist with painting on canvas sizes ranging from 8ft – 16ft that I stretch myself. My love for nature is the passion behind my paintings. It comes from deep inside of my heart and soul. I express myself best on a large canvas with explosive vibrant colors of nature. I allow viewers to see and connect with what the painting says to them personally. Everyone sees something different. This is what is so unique about my paintings and that is why I refuse to name them. I feel complimented when someone asks me, ‘What is it?'” 

Website: www.jolenikac.com

Q. Tell us a little about yourself
A. I was born in Yugoslavia, Albania in a family of seven children. I loved to play soccer, and thought that one day I would become a famous soccer player. When I was 9 years old, I painted a portrait of president Kennedy and won a local kids art show. I never thought that Art would be my true destiny.  

Q. What made you interested in painting? How did your childhood in Yugoslavia affect your interest in art?
A. My beautiful hometown was surrounded by mountains, lakes, forest and flowers. I would sit next to the lake and draw pictures of nature but my paper was always too small to capture the scenery of the whole lake. My brother would point out to me that I was missing parts of the scene. That was when I knew I needed a large surface to paint on.

Q. What does your average day look like, and when do you find time to create your art? Do you have a process for creativity that you can share or is it something more impulsive?
A. I usually start my day by taking a walk and checking out our backyard, to see how the trees and flowers are doing. Sometimes I go to my friend’s café, TrufflesNBacon, for breakfast. Cooking is one of my hobbies and I love to invite friends over to dine at our home. There is never a set time to create my art, it starts with a feeling to paint, whenever that is…

Q. What (or who) inspires you?
A. I see everything in nature, especially color.

Q. Do you have other artistic outlets besides painting?
A. Gardening, painting, cooking and playing soccer.

Q. What do you do for fun around town? What’s your favorite part about living in Las Vegas?
A. I love wide-open spaces, warm weather, mountains and city views that I see from our backyard, which is very peaceful. Las Vegas has fantastic entertainment, like the Smith Center, one of my favorite places and also great restaurants. Most everything is open 24 hours, this reminds me of living in New York City.

Q. Does living in Las Vegas have an impact on your craft? If so, how?
A. The vibrant colors capturing the essence and beauty of the desert make for an inspiring canvas.

Local Artisan: Suz Hinton

Wire cutters, round nose pliers, chain nose pliers and crimping pliers all grace the list of traditional jewelry making paraphernalia. Except if you’re Susan Hinton. Suz, for short, makes jewelry (and more), but not with the type of tools you would expect. Instead she uses technology for a look all her own.

I’m passionate about making things, whether virtual or real. In particular, I love 3D printing and other CNC manufacturing techniques. The design process starts out digital, and the final result is something that you can hold in your hand. I think there’s a certain magic to that. I make 3D printed jewelry, from materials such as stainless steel, gold, silver, plastic, and resin. 

Website: owlposse.com, noopkat.com        

Q: How did you get where you are now?

A: I was always that kid who was recycling toilet rolls into rockets one moment, and learning to code on a Commodore 64 the next. Somehow that manifested into becoming a professional front-end software engineer. I love the problem solving aspect of it, and it pays well enough for me to pursue other hobbies and endeavors in my spare time. I cannot remember a time when I didn’t have something I work on outside of my day job. I spent a few years sewing, some time in print design. Nowadays I’m mostly interested in 3D printing, and hacking hardware.

Q: What got you interested in 3D printing?

A: I was making laser cut wooden jewelry for fun a few years ago, but I quickly became frustrated with the flat limitations of the material. Around that time (2009), I first heard about 3D printing, in the context of medical advancements. It was causing waves in the medical world due to cost saving and improved recovery times for patients. After some online research, I discovered services that made 3D printing accessible to anyone.

Q: You’re a hobbyist. Any other creative outlets besides jewelry making?

A: These days I’m doing more hardware hacking than jewelry, so I’ll often be coding something that talks to a real piece of hardware. Right now, my spare time is split between a few projects. One of them is a bracelet that measures your pulse periodically, and sends you a picture of a kitten to your phone if it senses you’re getting anxious or stressed. I guess this is technically a piece of jewelry! Another is a pair of shoes that let you sequence sound loops into music via pressure sensors. You can dance out a song with your feet, which is pretty fun.

Q: What do you do for fun around town?

A: Oh man, wrong girl, wrong town! Las Vegas is great for introverts like myself too, though. I love spending time in SYN Shop, the local hackerspace. They have awesome classes and tools to use. Sunrise Cafe near the airport is a great mecca for bumping into creative and interesting people, and for getting work done in a relaxing environment. I love spending a long Sunday afternoon there. I also love catching up with a best friend over some boba tea and sweet butter toast, that’s a real treat for me as we make funny jokes about our week. Tea Station on Spring Mountain is delicious for this!

My favorite part about living in Las Vegas has to be the now thriving and welcoming tech community here. It’s fledgling, in that beautiful stage of opportunity and fresh leaders. Everyone wants to keep it that way as it grows, so it’s really encouraging to see that.

Q: Does living in Las Vegas have an impact on your craft?

A: Las Vegas has definitely opened my eyes to a lot of new things. Color is one of them. I tend to like neutral colors such as black, white, grey and brown. Since I started living here, the vibrant entertainment scene and hodge podge style of downtown Las Vegas has really bled into everything from my fashion sense, to my creative endeavors. I definitely include more color into things I make these days, and no longer dislike fluorescent colors either. I am terrible at color theory, but having fun learning!