Hello,

I'm Anne Kinter, owner of Kintera Arts. I am also the artist that designs and creates all of the beadwork displayed and sold on this site. Through art shows and this web site I make my art available to the world.

I have been creating jewelry and artwork ever since I can remember. Whenever someone asked what I wanted to be when I grow up, the answer was always "an artist". I went to summer art camps and took every art class available. My bachelors degree is in art and includes intensive studies in oil painting, art history, jewelry and metalsmithing. I even studied art in France for a short while.

Somewhere along the way somebody convinced me that it was impossible to make a living as an artist. So when it was time for a career I turned to my computer skills and became a web designer. I could still create things visually but something was missing. I wasn't happy anymore. Being a web designer didn't satisfy my need to create by using my hands. I began creating whatever kind of art or craft caught my whim.

Before long I had to start getting rid of finished pieces to make room for the new things I was creating. I started selling to friends and co-workers. Then a friend asked me to do a craft show with her. It was so much fun I was hooked! Kintera Arts was born.

After a bit I realized all those different kinds of art in my booth made it look like a garage sale. It wasn't the kind of booth that makes people think "now that's an artist". I needed to focus on just one thing.

I took a good look at all the different mediums I like to work with and tried to pick just one. Boy was that ever hard! Then it hit me... beads! I can make the beads into jewelry. I can still do silversmithing and combine that with beads. I can "paint" pictures with the beads. I can embellish objects with beads. I can create anything with beads and they tie it all together.

I now have my own business doing exactly what I love to do. I love coming up with new designs and finding new and unique ways to use my beads. I love creating custom work for my customers. I can't wait to wake up each day and start beading. Life is good.