Who is Monica Crandell?

I am proud to live in Holland, Michigan, where my husband and I are raising eleven amazing children. My work is characterized by a deliberately loose artistic style that leaves open ends for your mind to pull on. I feel privileged to be able to add beauty to the world through art.

Self-taught, but always learning, I create in various media including acrylic, fabric and fiber, watercolor, precious silver clay, surface pattern design and, of course, playdoh. Due to those eleven kids mentioned earlier, I've just recently found time to share my art with the world and have already been published in magazines, exhibited, and sold in a gallery.

When I'm not caring for children or doing art, the rare time that's left might be filled with reading, gardening, swimming in Lake Michigan or something involving coffee and friends.

What makes your art style unique?

I love creating with a deliberately loose style that leaves space for your imagination to wander. I believe art should invite you in rather than tell you exactly what to think or feel. My goal is simply to add a little more beauty to the world, one piece at a time.

Why are you selling your art right now?

I'll be honest - this isn't how I imagined launching my art business. Our son was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma this year, and while he's doing really well, the medical bills from surgeries, chemo, and radiation keep coming. So right now, every piece I sell goes directly toward his treatment costs. It means the world to me that people are choosing to bring my art into their homes while also helping our family during this time.

Do you use sustainable materials?

Yes! This is something I'm really passionate about. I make my jewelry pendants using 100% recycled silver precious metal clay - it fires into beautiful silver while giving new life to previously used materials. For my artwork, I love working with repurposed canvases, old frames, and vintage textiles whenever I can find them. There's something special about giving these materials a second chance to become something beautiful, and it keeps them out of landfills, too.

Why do you choose vintage and repurposed materials?

Beyond helping the environment, there's something magical about working with materials that have their own history. Each vintage textile or old canvas brings its own character to the piece. Plus, it aligns with how I think about art - taking something that already exists and transforming it into something new and beautiful. Those vintage textiles often have textures and richness that you just can't get with brand new materials.

What is precious silver clay?

Great question! Precious silver clay (also called silver metal clay) is one of my favorite materials to work with. It's essentially fine silver particles mixed with an organic binder that makes it feel like clay when you're working with it. I can sculpt it, roll it, and shape it just like regular clay, but when I fire it in a kiln, the binder burns away and what's left is pure silver. It's like magic, honestly! The clay gives me so much creative freedom to make organic, flowing shapes that would be really difficult to achieve with traditional metalworking techniques. Plus, I love that I can use 100% recycled silver clay, so each piece is both beautiful and environmentally conscious.