31 October 2011

Creative Interviews : Karen Ruane

I'm delighted to introduce you to my first UK maker whose specialism is embroidery. Karen lives in Blackburn and is a graduate in embroidery and surface design with First Class Honours. She is also qualified to teacher status. Karen's main love is embroidery, by hand, traditional stuff like our grandmothers used to do and her work has been exhibited widely. I'm delighted that she has taken the time to answer my questions and take this opportunity to thank her for contributing.
Carrie Hall
Describe yourself in five words and how would your friends describe you (in five)!! 
loyal, loving, obsessive, honest, calm (me)
obsessive, rebellious, opinionated, loyal, reliable (friends)

Sketchbook

How has work and this year been for you – anything new on the boil for 2012 
In the earlier part of this year work was dead. I felt I was working very hard and achieving very little. That changed in August when I took the plunge and launched my online classes. Since then it has been crazy!! Hectic and busy in the best way, I have loved every minute of it.

In 2012 I am hoping to take my classes forward and I also have a wish, (I hope it happens but time flies by so fast) to create a new body of work for exhibition, to approach galleries and make progress with my portfolio of designs for industry.
Buttons
What do you love most about what you do and is there a down side 
I love that I am in control of my day, my creativity and that I can embroider whenever I wish. Cloth and thread are my obsessions.....you will never hear me complain about embroidery....ever.

The downside...I make very little money but hey, money isn't everything!! If I do get down about that then I remind myself of the alternative....a classroom of 30 teenager's...........no contest! In your portfolio what are you most happy with That's quite a hard one.....I like everything in my portfolio, it doesn't make it into there if I don't like it. That is where my obsessive trait comes in. I throw things away if I am not happy with them.....
Embroidered Paper Art
What’s your ideal working day like 
My ideal working days happen when I can remove my housewife and mother head, If I don't have to do any cooking, cleaning or laundry. I would lay out pieces for a new project, enjoy tacking them together and then love the excitement of planning how I will embellish that piece. I probably wouldn't eat and I would definitely ignore the telephone.
Brooch
Who influences you creatively 
I am influenced by women throughout time who have used cloth as a means to enhance the lives of their families. My work is driven minute by minute by a strong love for both my grandmothers, no longer with me, whom I adored and who ignited my love of embroidery. 
Little Book of Words
Have you ever or do you have a PLAN B 
Oh yes, I had a plan B, I tried it, it ruined my life!!! 18 months working full time in a Secondary School. I had lots of money!! Yes really, but boy was I miserable. I left before it completely destroyed me.

Where’s your own favourite place to work and why
In my comfy chair, in the lounge. With hand embroidery this is possible. 
Detail
Are you a coffee or a tea girl -  Coffee, black please, no sugar!
Detail
Who do you think I should interview next 
Ah!! Annette Messager. Now if you could pull that off!!!!!
Annette Messager
Karen's Links

Blog
Etsy Shop
Facebook

25 October 2011

24 October 2011

Etsy Front Page


Just back from holiday to find out I made it on the Etsy Front Page! My first ever!

13 October 2011

Monique Janssen-Belitz


The Border Crossed Me - Migrants

The Border Crossed Me - Desert Landscape
 Monique is originally from the Netherlands and then grew up in Germany where she received her BA in art education from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in 1981. She moved with her family first to Maryland and later to Oregon. For twenty-five years she's been active as a painter and printmaker, showing her work both in the Northwest and in Germany. Monique's website.

12 October 2011

Jillian Tamaki



Monster Quilt
Jillian Tamaki is an illustrator and comics artist who grew up in Calgary, Alberta, on the Canadian Prairies. Jillian is currently living in Brooklyn, NY, where she teaches at the School of Visual Arts.

10 October 2011

Renathe Schneider

Wasp


Yoga Fly

Mosquito
Renathe was born in Sweden where she lives with her husband and little dog Fidella, a Havanese, in a town called Örebro.  She's been making and selling resin jewellery since 1990 and has recently started a new line of upcycled jewellery.

8 October 2011

Etsy Front Page


Thank you James for getting us all to the Front Page of Etsy - no mean feat!

Creative Interviews : alyoisiusspyker

Welcome Kate aka alyoisiusspyker all the way from Sydney, Australia. In her Etsy bio Kate mentions that she likes to work with silkscreens, pencils, cake and very often sharp scalpels. Kate did a fashion degree but is always in jeans and sneakers. She's originally a Londoner who's getting a stronger English accent while she's living down in Sydney. It's over to Kate now ......

Balloons
What’s your local area like in terms of supporting creatives
I live in Sydney, where there's a vast array of creative disciplines like any city in the world. The arts festivals are fantastic and diverse but it's very hard to find affordable studio space in the same way that it is available elsewhere. In some ways this has benefited me in terms of treating my work as a business and all that it encompasses. My support system is made up of other creatives rather than local or city wide help.
1950000 more ...
How would you describe yourself in five words
I leave that to others.
Rita and the Guestimate
Give me the names of 3 objects or things you dislike most and why
Nylon, snakes and the terror that is clowns. Dear God, I hate clowns and I have no rhyme or reason why I dislike any of those things. Snakes is an especially weird one as I grew up in inner city London.

Tell me about something you've achieved
30 lengths of the pool this morning and no nap at lunch as a consequence!
All new Parrot
What’s your ideal working day
Breakfast and coffee in bed (made by someone else), 5 hours of thinking time, lunch with friends, swim at the pool, 4 hours of more thinking time, 2 hours of 'me' time, dinner with friends, send out an invoice and be paid immediately. Well, you did ask for 'ideal'.

Who influences you creatively.
There are so many amazing people out there it'd be hard to name names besides my fantastic husband and my mother. I can be influenced by a stranger at the bus stop from the colour of their eyes to the conversations we have. People are amazing and wonderful creatures. Most of the time.
Heart Strings
Are you a coffee or a tea girl
Both, especially when served with a slice of cake or a tunnocks teacake.

Where would you go in the world for inspiration
My bookshelf or the tv, especially if Miss Marple's on.
Winking Muskateer
What piece of work are you most proud of
Some of my commercial work which is yet to be published.

What would you like to develop further or learn to do
I'd like to be tidy all the time rather than shoving things in the dustbin once a month.
Work 2011
Who do you think I should interview next      Lovely Emma or equally lovely Anna and Gareth
Emma : benconservato
Anna and Gareth : ableandgame

Thanks for the great interview Kate and giving me some of your time in your busy working day! Hope it's stopped raining - last time I was there it rained torrentially for 2 solid days but that gave me a chance to go to your lovely art galleries and the big casino with the running water steps!

Kate's links:-


Work website

Etsy

7 October 2011

Scottish Food Cards

Yum!




Slurp!
Breakfast!
Yer Dinner!
Lick!
Chew!
Can't believe I've been drawing these for over 20 years and they haven't changed much - I love that! I'm popping these wee observed drawings of Scotland's favourite treats into my shops in the form of blank cards and accessories! Have I missed any? Let me know what's your favourite Scottish sweet or food?  You can find the ones I've illustrated so far here  - Etsy and Folksy

6 October 2011

Creative Interviews : honeycup

I'm still in Australia and have headed off to the lovely city of Melbourne this time. Honeycup is a web designer by trade and she recently had an epiphany that she needed to try and make the leap to creating my own products online, to utilise ALL her skills and talents.

Honeycup actually found out something new about herself - she loves designing her own products and she's beginning to think that she's a bit of an artist. So let's get to the questions as I say a great big thank you!
Bunny Rabbit Girl
What’s your local area like in terms of supporting creatives
Well I live in Melbourne, Australia. It's a very artsy city. We have lots of arts initiatives, and I think we have a very supportive community.

Now having said that my, 'very local area' is a very small suburb, but it still has creative initiatives. I have a local handmade shop in the next suburb and there is a craft market down just around the corner from me.


Fox and Deer
How would you describe yourself in five words
Kind, easy-going, perceptive, quick-witted and creative.



Give me the names of 3 objects or things you dislike most and why
I really dislike people cracking their bones. Aghh, sends shivers up my spine!


Bunny Bird Creature
Tell me about something you've achieved
My illustrations... I went on a quest to find something that I am good at, I think I have found that - he he!

What’s your ideal working day (I like to clean my house!)
I wish I started with cleaning the house, but cleaning is something I leave till the very end. It really depends, just like my personality, it's hard for me to stick to a routine. I need variety. Sometimes I will be writing class notes, sometimes I will be working on freelance design work, other times I will be updating my shop and orders and then some days I will decide to draw.


Deer Boy
Who influences you creatively
It's hard to say. I would say my influences in my art have definitely been from my childhood. So people like Beatrix Potter and A. A. Milne would come to mind. I am sure I am influenced by lots of creative things in my day-to-day life from books, magazines, art, galleries and so on, but it's hard for me to say what exactly influences me creatively. However, at the same time, I try and not get too wrapped up in what others are doing, so that my work really does come from within.

A A MiIne

Beatrix Potter

Fav movie - band or book and why
Book - Chris Guillebeau’s book The Art of Non-conformity. It's a book about not accepting the status quo in life and defying normal convention. If you are someone that is quite entrepreneurial then this book will be for you.
Orange Girl
Where would you go in the world for inspiration
France. I have always had dreams of living in the countryside in France.



What piece of work are you most proud of
Hmmm, it's hard to say which one I am more proud of. It changes. All of my illustrations have challenges when they are been created and so I am proud when I finish them. I think 'Bunny Girl With Circles' is my favourite, mainly because of the colour palette and she just seems so sweet!

What would you like to develop further or learn to do
I would love to master the art of coding complex websites. That's an art I have never quite understood. I hate not been able to win a challenge, but so far I haven't been able to beat it!


Bunny Rabbit
Who do you think I should interview next
brillianttreescollective.wordpress.com/ She's a lovely lass :)

Brilliant Trees Collective
Honeycup's contact details :-

Twitter: @nomuu
Blog: http://ammiki.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/nomuu
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ammiki

5 October 2011

4 October 2011

Creative Interviews : withwallpaper

I'm down in Oz for my last question and answer sessions and I'm delighted that Mandy Horne from Adelaide has taken up my challenge.... so let's hear from Mandy.
Whisk
What’s your local area like in terms of supporting creatives
I think it's hard to work as an artist wherever you are & there is never enough support. However, I live in a city that is well known for its many arts festivals and they are very well supported by the whole community here.

Adelaide is also well know for its fine wine and good climate, so the combination of these three things makes it an extremely appealing place for artists to live, although these things can also somewhat distract you from your work!
Toaster
How would you describe yourself in five words
As Popeye would say, I yam what I yam.

Give me the names of 3 objects or things you dislike most and why
I dislike dishonesty, greed and broccoli.
I also dislike bad design.
I guess all of these things are self explanatory as to why I dislike them, but I know some people inexplicably really like broccoli.
Still Life
Tell me about something you've achieved
I'm happy that I work as an artist and have never really deviated from that path.
Sometimes it's a struggle to keep going, but the freedom that comes with is something I couldn't give up now, and it makes me happy.
Bon voyage
What’s your ideal working day
I have no specific routine except to try and achieve something every day. I do get distracted easily and so the challenge is to get to work and stay working.

Who influences you creatively
Other artists from the past, present and no doubt future. There are some amazingly talented and creative people in the world & they inspire me no end.
Pen and Ink
Fav movie - band or book and why
I have far too many to narrow anything down!

Where would you go in the world for inspiration
I'd like to visit any city where there is a Guggenheim museum, for both the art and the culture of the different places.

And I'd really love to go to the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. It has a collection of over three million works of art and the building has an incredible history in itself. You would need to spend days there to take it all in.
Keys
What piece of work are you most proud of
The first piece of art I ever sold. I was about 18 years old and had done a large oil painting at art school. It was included in a student exhibition and sold for (what I thought was) quite a lot of money.

Many years later the woman who bought the painting recognised me in a cafe & told me she still loved it and had it hanging over her bed. Selling my first piece to someone who appreciated it so much has always encouraged me to keep going as an artist.
Flying Fish
What would you like to develop further or learn to do
I'd actually like to go back to using some of the printmaking techniques I learned at art school - especially lithography and screen printing. It's very satisfying to get ink on your hands, and I'd love to develop some of my work into fabric designs.
Lyrebird
Who do you think I should interview next
There is an English printmaker living in Sydney, Kate Banazi, who does great silkscreen prints or American artist Vivienne Strauss - I love the humour in her work.
Kate Banazi
Vivienne Strauss
Thanks so much Mandy for taking the time to do this - would love to think that I could meet you the next time I'm in Oz and there's always a kettle on the boil if you're ever in Scotland.

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