>

>

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

The artist: Gail Ahlers, 45

What she does: Ahlers is the founder and creative force behind Ahlers Designs (ahlersgifts.com), a Pawtucket design studio specializing in innovative products for the home and office. Bestselling items include luggage tags, business-card cases, leather checkbook covers and a line of heavy-duty clip magnets designed to cling to everything from filing cabinets to refrigerator doors. For the fashion-obsessed, there’s also Ahlers’ “Gem Collection” — a line of home and office products bedecked with faux jewels from Swarovski.

In her own words: “Basically, our goal is to make affordable, well-crafted products that people can actually use. In a disposable world, we’re committed to making things that not only look great but last pretty much forever.”

Where to find her: Foundry Artists Holiday Show

The artist: C.W. Roelle, 31

What he does: A draftsman with a difference, Roelle is known for his elaborate “wire drawings” — three-dimensional works of art that he creates by using a pair of needle-nose pliers to shape and crimp lightweight steel wire. Often based on old photographs, Roelle’s drawings range from small portraits and landscapes to more complex scenes with multiple figures and lots of background detail. A panel of experts from the Rhode Island Foundation was so impressed with Roelle’s work that it awarded him one of this year’s $10,000 MacColl Johnson arts fellowships.

In his own words: Roelle says he got the idea of drawing with wire while taking life-drawing classes at the Maryland Institute College of Art. “If I made a mistake, I’d get frustrated because I couldn’t just reach down and move a line to where I wanted it. Eventually, I started working with wire because it allowed me to move the lines wherever I wanted them.”

Where to find him: Craftland

The artist: Andrea Valentini, 45

What she does: An artistic multitasker, Valentini has won acclaim for a wide variety of products, ranging from fabrics to furniture. Still, this Rhode Island-born designer is probably best known for her distinctive line of totes and handbags, which are sold through exclusive stores such as the MOMA Design Store and Takashimaya in New York and the Institute of Contemporary Art’s museum shop in Boston. Actually, make that two lines of totes, since Valentini’s bags are available in two styles — the Sport Collection, featuring a special molded-vinyl “bump fabric” that Valentini designed herself, and the more expensive Luxe Collection.

In her own words: “As a designer, my goal is always to balance innovation with style. I love materials that feel luxurious but are still durable and affordable enough for everyday use.”

Where to find her: RISD Alumni Holiday Art Sale

The artist: Greg Stones, 33

What he does: Based in Smithfield, Stones is known for his deadpan postcards and illustrations starring, among other things, buxom nudes, gun-toting penguins and friendly zombies. Why nudes, penguins and zombies? On his Web site (gregstones.com), Stones has this to say about his choice of subject matter: “Zombies, penguins, blue aliens, naked people, people flashing animals, barns, landscapes, UFOs, quiet human interactions — all these different elements of my works strike chords with enough people that I am actually able to do what I love to do every single day of my life: watch television.”

In his own words: This year, Stones self-published his first book, Goodbye, Penguins, about a herd of penguins menaced by zombies, aliens and other dangers. “Now, all I need to do is find a real publisher for the rest of my books,” he says.

Where to find him: Foundry Artists Holiday Show

The artist: David Allyn, 34

What he does: A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Allyn makes striking ceramic mugs and teacups using a combination of traditional and high-tech methods. On the traditional side, Allyn works mainly in porcelain, a material that has long been prized for both its lightness and durability. But in a high-tech twist on traditional china patterns, Allyn’s cups are decorated with “digital decals” — basically, digital photographs that can be applied directly to a clay surface, like a glaze. A resident of the historical Monohasset Mill complex in Olneyville, Allyn is especially partial to pictures of local mill and factory buildings.

In his own words: “For some reason, I really like the idea of putting these very gritty looking images on something as elegant as porcelain. It’s like getting a little history lesson while you’re sipping your tea.”

Where to find him: RISD Alumni Holiday Art Sale

The artist: Suzanne Tanner, 36

What she does: Tanner is the founder and owner of Tanner Glass, a 10-year-old glassblowing studio in Cranston. A former extreme skier and rock-climbing enthusiast, Tanner now devotes her time to less perilous pursuits, such as designing and making products that, as she says, “put the fun in functional.” Popular items include blown-glass bottle stoppers, bud vases, oil candles and holiday ornaments, all available in an array of vibrant colors.

In her own words: “Everything I make is designed to be easy to own and to use. They’re colorful and lighthearted, but also functional — fun and functional.”

Where to find her: Foundry Artists Holiday Sale