Art Star: Did you go to art school?  If so, where did you study?
Meera Lee Patel: I did not go to art school; I graduated from Rutgers University with degrees in English & Journalism.

Pillow by Meera Lee Patel

AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
MLP: I’ll be selling original paintings (watercolor & gouache), along with hand-sewn tea towels, pillows, and a slew of illustrated paper goods.

AS: What materials do you work with?
MLP: I work primarily in watercolor & gouache and the tiniest of brushes.

Superfood Tea Towel by Meera Lee Patel

AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
MLP: Every item starts with a loose pencil sketch, followed by a tighter sketch in color. Then I begin blocking large areas of color in, adding light layers until the painting is finished. My favorite part of the process is the last one, where I use tiny brushes to add little flecks of paint that become the detail & life of each piece.

the artist’s studio

AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
MLP: I love the work of Carson Ellis, Diana Sudyka, and Teagan White, to name a few, but the list is pretty long and ever-growing!

We Are Made of Stars Postcard by Meera Lee Patel

AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
MLP: I am reading Crush by Richard Siken for the seventh or eighth time, and listening to Paul Simon perpetually and probably for the rest of my life.

AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
MLP: I’m especially excited to see work by Andrew Cho, Betsy Olmsted, and Foxglove Factory.

Thanks for sharing Meera!  Follow her work on Etsy, her website, & her blog.  Visit her at our craft bazaar next weekend in booth #65