Maren Owens of Mimi's ole Nickel creates whimsical Halloween and Christmas characters overflowing with personality. Each sculpture speaks to her during the creative process, letting her know who they need to be. Her characters run the gamut of emotions. They can range from serene to sassy, or perhaps even grumpy. All are beautifully dressed in antiques and carefully chosen found objects. Maren draws inspiration from folklore, the Victorians, Old World Europe, and everyday people.

After studying art in Chicago, Maren shifted from the traditional gallery world to sculpting holiday characters. Whether it's potion-testing witches, vigilante vampires, or mischievous elves, her creations are layered with meaning, humor, and conversation. Her time working at a makeup counter sharpened her understanding of facial anatomy and even inspired her unconventional sculpting tools.

"Once I sculpted a face, I just couldn't go back—it's so much fun because the characters start telling me who they want to be." - Maren

Mentions:

• Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween (Marshall, MI): http://www.bewitchingpeddlersofhalloween.com
• North Penn Holiday Art Show (Lansdale, PA): https://northpennifc.org
• Vampa Museum (Doylestown, PA): https://www.vampamuseum.com

Visit Maren at "Mimi's ole Nickel" on Facebook and @mimisolenickel on Instagram.