Fine Art Photography Prints and Digital Art Posters Exclusively at Urban Islands, a New Etsy Shop

PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 11, 2008 – Chicago, Illinois -- Fans of arty, out-of-the-box photography prints and posters will enjoy photographer Viqi French’s collections of sometimes offbeat and esoteric images at the new Etsy shop, Urban Islands (http://urbanislands.etsy.com). This emerging artist's photo gallery uniquely showcases often ignored aspects of big-city life – its complex textures, shapes and colors – much of which goes overlooked by today’s bustling city dwellers.

“Every second of every day, we zip by too much beauty,” says French, whose eye for nature, landscape and architecture photographs is distinguished by unusual angles, close-ups and digital enhancements. “Sometimes we look, but don’t see,” she adds. “So I champion the little and forgotten detail in what surrounds us. I’m inspired to magnify or present them in compelling, new ways.”

Based in Chicago, a favorite haunt for French is Jackson Park, site of the 1893 Colombian Exhibition (also known as the Chicago World’s Fair). Located in the city’s Hyde Park community, highlights of historic Jackson Park include its breathtaking and often foggy lagoon, the Osaka Garden, and the Bob-o-link Meadow - all of which provide intriguing fodder for French’s dramatic nature and landscape captures.

French’s Etsy store also includes an array of images from popular Chicago attraction Navy Pier; summer activities along the beaches on Lake Michigan; and abstract art close-ups of the Second City’s world famous architecture.

A native of St. Louis, French also finds plenty to showcase from the home of the Gateway Arch. Her photographs showcasing St. Louis often are marked by unwitting settings along the Mississippi River. For example, the long-abandoned and graffiti covered St. Louis Southwestern Railway (or Cotton Belt) Building is among this photographer’s favorite subjects.

“The Cotton Belt is a photographer’s dream,” says French, who first studied photography while attending the city’s acclaimed Metro High School in the eighties. Unique urban art such as this, she says, will sell at Etsy as limited edition prints.

The new photo gallery at UrbanIslands.etsy.com also showcases scenes from Cement Land, a bizarre outdoor museum of huge cement mixers by visionary urban artist Bob Cassilly.

French also offers scenes from St. Louis’ Jewel Box, the Art Deco floral conservatory in Forest Park. Bursting in summer months with dragonflies and water lilies, its reflecting pool is a site the photographer frequents – digital camera in tow.

Considered a Chicago fine art photographer to watch, Viqi French is a public relations and marketing professional with over 10 years of advertising agency experience. Her professional photography interests started as an avid hobby.

For more information about Urban Islands, write: info[at]petleopard.com. Or contact Viqi French directly at the Etsy shop: http://urbanislands.etsy.com.