Students' artwork, including paintings, prints, jewelry and pottery, were all available for purchase during the Herron Winter Market.
Photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana University
Nearly 40 student vendors recently showcased their artwork at the Herron Winter Market, an annual event hosted by the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Indianapolis.
Pieces were created throughout the year, with some new artwork specifically aimed for the market. This year brought in a wide mix of all mediums, with students creating jewelry, shirt designs, art prints, stickers, keychains, ceramic art, crocheted plush toys and more. One student even created and designed a card game equipped with original packaging.
“This event is an incredible opportunity for students,” said Emma Cremeans, Herron Student Council president. “They receive invaluable experience in vending in an art market and making their own sales.”
She said the market, held Dec. 3 in the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hall, is popular with students, faculty and staff from across campus, as well as with the Indianapolis community.
“The winter market brings in a huge crowd; it’s always packed with vendors and customers,” Cremeans said.
Elise Howe, a Herron School of Art and Design student, sold her prints and stickers at the Herron Winter Market. Photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana UniversitySophomore Elise Howe displayed creativity and passion for art from an early age. Her preschool teacher suggested she should take art classes at 5 years old; her mother credits the advice for helping catapult Howe’s love for the art world. Howe said it was the only thing she’s ever wanted to do.
This was her first experience in the Herron Winter Market. She said she had looked forward to the public’s reaction to her art the most. For people to be excited about her work, saying phrases like “I need to buy that! I need that in my room or on my wall,” was a wish come true, she said.
Howe said she had been worried that people wouldn’t purchase her products, but she was thankful to make back the money that she put into it.
“I was really, really nervous; I’ve been preparing for like a month,” Howe said.
Although Howe said she enjoys creating original work, she focused on what she thought would perform better in the Herron Winter Market, such as paintings and stickers of singer Chappell Roan.
“The practice of an art market is super important for communities, especially for the Indianapolis community,” Howe said. “This is such a good place for people to gather and see small businesses, see students and have the opportunity to support them. I think it’s really special.”
She said her first Herron Winter Market gave her confidence about the future of her work, and she wants to participate in other markets throughout Indianapolis. Howe said her goal is to one day design book covers for a publishing business, but she wants to keep the door open for any opportunities that may come her way.
Sophomore Hayden Serrano discovered his unique niche while planning a personalized Valentine’s Day gift inspired by his girlfriend’s love of moths. One year, he drew moths on her favorite water bottle. The next year, he decided to raise the bar by laser engraving his designs on wood.
Hayden Serrano, a Herron School of Art and Design student, sold his laser-engraved wood carvings of moths at the Herron Winter Market. Photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana UniversityAs students began to take notice of the intricate designs on rustic wood, they encouraged him to create copies to sell. That was when Serrano realized he enjoyed creating moth art just as much as others admired it. He said he’s a moth guy and has an appreciation for the diversity of species and appearances.
Serrano shows his deep passion for his art through all of the small details and time he dedicated toward perfecting it. He said he enjoys what he does and hopes his audience can see that.
“I do things I don’t have to do for my art, like I round all the edges, I sand it down, I put two coats of stain, I polyurethane them,” Serrano said. “I like doing efficient work.”
With previous art market experience under his belt, his goal was to increase his profits this year, so he said he created as many pieces as he could to increase his chances. One by one the pieces began to sell, and he surpassed last year’s sales.
Serrano said he sees his art being taken to new heights after college. He enjoys the freedom to choose how he practices his art. He loves public sculpture, traveling, and the idea of passing on his own knowledge as an art professor one day.
When asked what the students would tell their younger selves starting in art for the first time, Serrano said, “Be less afraid. You know when you’re drawing the other eye in art? I would be so afraid of messing up that I wouldn’t even try. Don’t do that; draw everything!”
Howe had similar advice for her 5-year-old self.
“Girl, just keep going,” she said. “Don’t stop; practice every day. Keep drawing, because the only way to get better at drawing is to just keep doing it. You can’t just magically siphon the knowledge.”
