About the Creator
My name is Angela R. Sasser and I’m a painter, artisan, and creative writer. I’m best known for my book, Angelic Visions: Create Fantasy Art Angels in Watercolor, Ink, and Colored Pencil.
I work across various media, digital, traditional, and 3D, trying to capture the beauty of the world in its many different forms. The Art Nouveau style drew me in because of its way of combining decorative beauty with symbolic beauty across jewelry, paintings, and so many aspects of life. Beauty in art is refracted through every aspect of our lives!
The Story of the Gemstone Goddesses
I was compelled to do this series as a homage to my favorite Art Nouveau artist, Alphonse Mucha, whose Precious Stone series has inspired me since I was a young student. The very first entry in the series was the Lady of December painted as a gift for my mother. For her gift, I wanted to try my hand at a similar painting to Mucha’s Precious Stones, but with my own personal interpretation using the months of the year for inspiration.
Now, years since its inception, this series has evolved as a way to inspire others to embrace their inner Goddess, their divine feminine aspects, and to bring that positive beauty into their everyday lives.
This series allows me to explore my love of mythology, fashion, and symbolism in a multimedia project that combines my varied skillset as a painter and mask maker in new and exciting ways!
Creative Process
The Paintings are created in watercolor and ink with metallic liquid leaf accents. I do a lot of prep work with thumbnails, fashion design plates, and sketches before I even move to inking the final line art on illustration board.
The Masks are created out of 8 oz. leather which is carved and tooled with special leatherworking tools. The leather is then soaked in water and hardened by baking. It is then decorated with leather dyes and acrylic paints. Finally, the masks are sealed with satin varnish for a protective final touch. They are affixed to the face with organza ribbon.
To learn more about my creative process, join my Patreon for Behind the Scenes glimpses, watch my YouTube’s tutorials for Art and Mask-Making, and check out my tutorials on Gumroad.