By Stacey Gregory

Send a touch of Tucson to your family and friends across the country and around the world with greeting cards by Yours Truly Notecards. The colorful, fun, and fabulous collections feature famous icons and oddities found around Tucson. Choose from the likes of the Paul Bunyan-like lumberjack statue on Stone Ave. and Glenn St., the huge Tiki head that sits out front of The Hut on Fourth Avenue, and the neon saguaro sign on Oracle Road. The florals and landscapes collection features a variety of vibrant flora found in the desert southwest.

Yours Truly Notecards also partners with local charities to create limited-edition notecards, with 100% of all the proceeds going directly to support nonprofits, including Youth on Their Own and Ben’s Bells. What’s more, this family-owned business showcases the work of other Southern Arizona artists who donate a design for a limited-edition card with proceeds benefiting their local charity of choice.

Each card is the creation of Enrique Aldana. The amateur photographer started his side hustle at the urging of his daughter Sophie. Notecards, stickers, and puzzles are available online, with greeting cards for sale at Barrio Books, Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, Chris Bubany’s Artist Gallery, Hotel McCoy, Ignite Sign Art Museum, Sona Tortilla y Bodega, Tucson Museum of Art, and the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

By Stacey Gregory

By day, Jerry Rockwell is a lab technician performing quality control and destructive testing for roof coatings, but his nights and weekends are dedicated to his passion—sculpting. Growing up in Tucson, he tried the artform from time to time as a way to give gifts to his family. His sister cherished his creations, so when one broke, she bought him the soapstone so he’d make her a new piece.

“I never pursued sculpting until 2017 when my sister commissioned me to replace a piece I had made for her,” says Rockwell. “I had not touched a chisel in years, but I picked it back up and created Kelpe. My wife and family insisted I continue.”

Since that fateful request, Rockwell has been sculpting out of his backyard studio. His favorite type of work is abstract, where he takes a stone and finds the image within it before bringing it to life.

“It’s like when you lay in a field and stare into the sky and see shapes in the clouds. Sometimes all of the creative work is already done for me. I follow the shape of the stone, removing the excess until the final artwork is revealed,” says Rockwell. “The designs are often a surprise to me. Sometimes I will stare at a stone for days. My wife sometimes joked with me, asking if I was staring at a rock. I’d say, ‘Yes. Yes, I am!’”

He can sculpt just about any stone, including marble, calcite, chlorite, and some onyx, but his favorite material is alabaster. He notes it’s softer than marble and available in various colors and visual textures. Some are even translucent, allowing light to pass through them, so the stone glows.

“Alabaster is not an outdoor stone because the color will fade. But putting them on display inside where they can get light once a day is just amazing,” he says. “I am still developing my style. As an artist, I think that is a constant. Right now, I like to do pieces that portray motion. I have been working on several designs, which show motion and seem organic, but still maintain an edge that shows the stone as it was before sculpting it.”

You can find his popular motion designs and the occasional dragon at Arizona art galleries, including Toscana Gallery, Oro Valley; On the Edge Contemporary Gallery, Tubac; and Anticus Gallery, Scottsdale. He also has his work on display in Tulsa, OK.

By Bellah Nelson 

Pen Macias is a mother and a muralist, with several pieces around Tucson and a growing collection of paper arts like stickers and prints. Originally from Alabama, Macias moved to Tucson at 19 years old and never expected it to become her forever home. 

The culture, the people, the community, and the art atmosphere make Tucson “a diamond place to live,” Macias said, “I found my roots and started a family, and now I’m here forever.” 

From a young age, Macias gravitated towards art and loved any creative outlet.

“I feel the most energized, alive, and myself when I am creating. No other endeavor has given me that fulfillment,” she said. 

A few years ago, Macias painted a mural in her own backyard: a purple prickly pear cactus with yellow flowers. Since then, Macias has received requests for mural commissions all around Tucson. “I guess this is my thing now,” Macias said. 

“Murals have one glimmer of magic that sets them apart from other forms of visual art: the large-scale size,” she explained. Because of this, Macias believes that murals can really create a “wow” factor. 

Macias’ artwork varies from client to client, depending on their vision for the wall. Macias said she writes down adjectives that she hears to understand their dream. She creates a few sketch concepts, shows the client, and uses their feedback to finish the piece and apply color. 

“I don’t touch the wall with paint until we have a fully developed design that I’m confident the client is excited about,” Macias said. 

Macias has been able to fill her workload with mural commissions. Her inspiration changes depending on the project, but her favorites are always the ones where her creativity is exercised and she can follow whatever inspiration strikes.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Macias painted a mural honoring healthcare workers located at Broadway and Columbus depicting healthcare workers as heroes. 

“It was a great experience getting to celebrate healthcare workers in a small way,” Macias said. 

Macias participated in the art hotel, Hotel McCoy’s MuralFest, which gathered hotel guests and outside visitors to watch 5 artists do live paintings of colorful murals in the individual hotel rooms. 

“Tucson is so art-centric and supportive of artists. That’s reason one million I love our town.”

When Macias landed the gig to live-paint for the event, she was in Ireland. Her mural is based on the Irish goddess of dreams, but this Tucson goddess gives dreams of desert landscapes and vivid lightning strikes. 

Macias has also been involved in other types of art. She created cover art for the Ride Guide magazine for Sun Tran, Tucson’s public transit system. She has also designed t-shirts for local organizations such as Roadhouse Cinema and the University of Arizona’s Cooper Center. 

As a mother of three, Macias has also run a school-wide paint night at her kid’s school every year. 

“Basically, if there’s room for creativity, I’m here for it,” Macias said. 

You can connect with Pen Macias on Instagram and on her website. Be on the lookout for her work in local shops and on buildings around town. 

Locally sourced and handcrafted in Tucson by Aesthetic Apothecary

By Stacey Gregory

More and more people are switching to organic skincare products. When in Tucson, get your hands on the English Rose skincare line by Aesthetic Apothecary. Creator Tess Robin worked with Ricky English of English Salon Spa to develop the line from locally sourced Tucson ingredients along with lavender sustainably harvested at a Bulgarian farm. The result: a complete skincare line that feels as good as it smells.

Growing up in an active family, Robin loves being out in the sun. It was important to her to design her line for everyone, but with an active lifestyle in mind. She chose rose as her main ingredient because it's moisturizing and is suited for every skin type: oily, dry, combination and aging skin can all benefit from its properties. When it came to naming the line, English Rose was the perfect fit.

“Ricky's grandmother was actually named Rose, so it has a lot of meaning for both of us,” said Robin. “Everything revolves around natural, holistic products that are all ethically and sustainably sourced, including our florals from Evergreen Flowers in Tucson."

The line is exclusively available at English Salon Spa and is used in many of the facials offered at the shop in downtown Tucson. You can also purchase these products to take home for your self-care routine and thoughtful gifts.  

Bath Tea

Tighten your skin, prevent premature aging, and fight free radicals (reactive atoms that can damage cells, proteins, and DNA by altering their chemical structure) with the English Rose Bath Tea. Drop the actual English Rose Tea Bag into warm water and let it steep, turning your bath water into a large tub of tea. The tea bag is made from lavender, rose, ylang ylang, and natural black and green teas. 

“Arizona has a big problem with free radicals because when your skin is sun-damaged, part of the electron actually breaks off, and it bounces around because it's not attached to anything. That's what causes the skin damage. When you have a barrier, it helps to prevent those free radicals,” explained Robin. 

Lip Balm and Lip Scrub

It’s easy to neglect your lips but even easier to care for them with the English Rose Lip Scrub and Lip Balm. Robin hand tends the duo that works together for smooth lips and fresh breath. The lip scrub is made from a honey scrub, so it’s antibacterial to prevent bad breath or any smells that might stick on the lip. The balm itself is made from a thicker beeswax, so it has staying power without weighing your lips down. Both include aloe grown right in front of the salon. 

“Face coverings can make lip health suffer, unfortunately. I started the lip products during COVID, but it works for a post-COVID lifestyle,” said Robin. 

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Body Butter & Bath & Body Oil

Feed your skin by nourishing it with authentic English Rose Body Butter. According to Robin, a lot of body butters are actually falsely advertised. Body butters should be anhydrous, which means without water. Look at the ingredients on many popular body butters, and you’ll often find the first ingredient is water, not with English Rose Body Butter. 

“Moisture is great for your body, but your skin is your largest organ that needs food. We're putting a lot of vitamins and minerals, shea, and a lot of great butters in there that mixes into a really creamy, rich texture. It’s not heavy on the skin, so that you can use it day or night.”

Add in the English Rose Bath and Body Oil for even more moisture used alone or with the body butter. The versatile product can be put into a bath or used directly on the skin before applying body butter to lock in all of those good elements.

Soaps, Scrubs, and Air Fresheners

The line includes even more products, including a sugar scrub great for exfoliating, full-size bar soaps for daily use, as well as tiny cube soaps perfect for guest rooms and host gifts. Plus, Robin created air fresheners. 

“A lot of our guests were sharing that they leave their English Rose Soap in their car because it smells so good, so we developed an air freshener. It’s not made with perfume, but with oils, I extract and infuse myself,” said Robin. “These are actually a lot healthier for you because ylang ylang and sandalwood are natural purifiers. They give you a great sense of calm and Zen while you're driving, so we help to prevent road rage.” 

Ethically & Environmental Sustainability and No Preservatives 

Recycling and being ethnically, economically, and environmentally sustainable is also important to both Robin and English. All of the packaging used in the skincare line is recycled, including amber glass, which only recently became reusable and is the only preservative used in any of the products.

“I do not put sulfites or parabens into my products, so the amber glass is one of the only things that is preserving them. We also have zero plastic options for zero-waste lifestyles with our tins that come in travel size, and you can reuse and refill your jars and tins right here to reduce waste,” said Robin. 

You can get your hands on this locally produced skincare line exclusively at the first all-in-one full-service salon and day spa conveniently located in the heart of downtown, English Salon Spa, 27 N. Scott Ave., 520-777-8997.  

By Megan Ewing

As a Tucson native, Keegan Rider grew up surrounded by the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. From spending his childhood living on the Tohono O’odham Indian reservation to moving throughout South and East Tucson, Rider found inspiration in the everyday, focusing on the vibrant hues of the desert to influence his art.

“Each of these locations was very influential in developing my own personal artistic style. I was drawn to colorful traditional Mexican and Native American paintings,” Rider said.

Rider has always found art fascinating, but it wasn’t until high school that he focused on nurturing and developing these skills.

“I mainly worked with acrylic and oil paints on canvas but also focused heavily on pen and ink drawings and illustrations. It was during this time that I truly began to define my personal artistic style, and I even had my first solo art show when I was 15 at a venue called The Livingroom on 4^th Avenue,” Rider said.

Rider’s roots have given him a deep love and connection with the community. Not only has the city of Tucson provided inspiration for his art, but its people provide endless support as he pursues his passion.

“The Tucson community is absolutely amazing when it comes to supporting local artists, and I have had the immense pleasure of working with a combination of businesses, non-profit organizations, local individuals, and the general public,” Rider said.

Murals bring beauty and joy to a place, and Rider’s mission is to spread happiness through his artwork.

Rider has painted a plethora of murals for private residences, but you can view two of Rider’s murals on display at 415 S. Meyer Ave, 85701 in the Barrio Viejo neighborhood and the southwest corner of Olsen Ave. and Helen St. in the Blenman-Elm neighborhood. The first mural is at a business called the Lash Factor Studio and the second is located at a private residence but can be easily seen from the street and is happily shown off by the homeowner.

As for what’s next? Rider will continue to look forward to his next commission.

“I would say that my favorite mural is the next one that I haven’t done yet, because with each new mural comes new opportunities to display and expand my artistic skills. Each mural I complete is unique and customized to my client’s vision, and it’s always a refreshing and interesting challenge to blend my distinct artistic style with their ideas,” Rider said.

Interested in connecting with Keegan Rider? Check out his website or find him on Facebook, Instagram, or Etsy.