Artist: Manuel Cortez
Business name: Organic Transformations
Location: Anaheim, California

Website:
Organic Transformations

Manuel, how do you describe your work?
I start with a coconut or a gourd and transform it into something totally unique. This is why I chose Organic Transformations as my business name.

What is your creative process like?
My creative process comes to me while I am in dream state. That means that even when I am sleeping, I am working on my art. During my dream, I work on this project from start to finish. When I awake, I put it down on paper. Before I even begin to gather my materials, I will know every step and every component required to complete my project and I will know what my finished product will look like.

Silent Warrior: Composed of foam.

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
My art training began at the age of five. My grandfather taught me how to sketch. I would sketch, draw and paint. When I grew bored of that, I moved on to mixed media. I have no formal art training. However, I use the skills learned while working at an autobody shop and in construction and apply it to my art.

Detail of Gourd Purse

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Glue. I love adhesives to create texture and to enforce. My top favorites are industrial strength super glue and Sumo glue.

What inspires you to create?
I grew up in an extremely abusive home. Luckily for me, my grandfather taught me how to draw as an outlet to deter me from the atrocities at home. I create for myself, my wife, my daughter and those around me. I am inspired to create to see and hear the reactions from those who observe my artwork.

Gourd Purse

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Persistence. Every project has difficult moments where it would be easier to just throw it away. But there is always that moment at the end, when you have your finished product right in front of you. The moment when it is finished and I keep looking at it finding every flaw and my wife comes in and just smiles and says that it is beautiful. Hearing her say that and seeing the smile on her face inspires me to finish the project.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
When you are finished with your artwork, really look at it. Look at it up close and fix any tiny flaw, add any necessary detail. Look at your artwork from far away and do the same thing. Don’t get lazy when you just want to be finished with your work. Your art is a reflection of you. Take the time do what you need to do. A cookie cutter on a stick with feathers glued to it is not art!

Manuel Cortez: working on gourd art.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
My wife and daughter, skateboarding and Kundalini Yoga

What’s your favorite comfort food?
I am not one who eats comfort food. I would say that skateboarding is my comfort food. I do love my wife’s vegetarian cooking to sustain me.

Post from: Blisstree

Artist Profile: Manuel Cortez

Artist: Alyice Edrich
Location: South Dakota

Websites & Blogs:

Alyice Edrich
The Dabbling Mum blog
Good Mourning Lord

How do you describe your work, Alyice?
“Art from the heart.”

Currently, I simply create with abstract intentions but as I learn and progress with my talents I’d like to be able to incorporate memorabilia from people’s personal lives and family histories.

Why did you choose to create art out of recycled jars?
Because I wasn’t very talented as a traditional painter and I wanted to paint. Seriously though, my daughter had this old root beer bottle that she wanted to keep. There was nothing fancy to it but she was attached to it for sentimental reasons. I had tried to paint canvases and I was horrible at it. I had the paints, I had the molding paste, and I thought, “I wonder what I could do to that jar with what I have on hand. I wonder if…”

I ran my idea across my daughter and she said, “Go for it!” At first, she loved the jar. But as I improved in technique she found another jar that she liked even more and told me that her root beer bottle had lost its sentimentality (not related to my altering it) and that she’d prefer to keep one of my newer bottles instead.

Alyice agrees that these weren’t her best attempts, but that jumping off point helped her release her perfectionism state and just start creating.

I created a few more bottles which my daughter proudly showed off to her friends and our neighbors and with their encouragement a new business was born.

I bet you thought I was going to say, “Because I am a recycling nut”. Huh? While I do relish in the idea that one less thing is ending up in the landfills and that energy isn’t be wasted to repurpose the glass into something else, the main reason is simply because I wanted to start creating again and I was blessed with a wonderful idea.

Her talent and technique is improving

At this stage in my life I create intuitively. I just sit down and create until the piece starts looking like something I’d be satisfied with. It’s not always the best practice but there is so much structure and order in my life, on a daily basis, that it’s nice to not have to “think” about creating a certain way. And it’s refreshing and relaxing to just play with my art.

I also tend to work in spurts. My day job is working at home as a freelance writer. Sitting in front of the screen can be taxing on the eyes, the neck, and the back. In the past, I had a bad habit of not moving from the desk until I completed x number of projects or at least four hours of work. The strain it caused often left me with severe neck pain. Since getting back into my art this year, I’ve discovered that if I allow myself a little play time in between projects—say five minutes here, 20 minutes there, I feel better physically and the migraines I once experienced on a weekly basis have pretty much gone away. And since the type of art I do needs drying periods between steps, it’s perfect!

There are days, however, when I’ll work on several projects at once—all in various stages. I do this on days that I have to review videos for The Dabbling Mum. I will watch the videos while I am creating. That way, I am multi-tasking but doing so without stress and before I know it, I’ve either completed a project or the video is over.

This is a jar Alyice made for her son, who loves Japanese things

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I don’t have any formal training. I do, however, enjoy a good training video. In fact, I prefer them over magazines and books. I think it has something to do with my need to multi-task. I can sit down with a jar, molding paste, and paint or some yarn and a need and create something while I watch the videos. I can also re-watch them or simply listen to them as I do other things, like cook a meal, clean the house, or exercise. Another reason is that I am very visual. I learn better and faster when I see someone actually performing the steps.

Some of the videos I’ve acquired are:

• Painting Trees & Leaves by Susan Scheewe
• Mixed Media Painting with Timothy Ufuomaefe Orikri
• Design With Figure by Polly Hammett
• Acrylics: Textures, Layers, and Metallics
• Telling Stories With Collage & Paint by Ann Baldwin
• Exploring Art Materials with Mary Jo McGraw

Then there are the gracious artists that share so much over at YouTube, such as my short list here: Simply Amazing

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Molding paste. There is literally no end to what you can do with molding paste. And thanks to the various types of molding paste available, you can even use it as a plaster to form and carve out designs.

Attempting a little grundge art on her bottles

What inspires you to create?
The joy of giving of myself to someone else. The world is full of objects that were made solely for the bottom line—the income. In essence, they’re heartless. But when you create something from your heart and you give it to someone else, it’s like giving a part of yourself to that person. And when you are commissioned by someone to provide a truly unique gift for someone else, it’s like helping someone less gifted give something they wish they were gifted enough to create–it’s like giving two-fold. The giver may not have created the piece with her own two hands, but she has to sit down and share about the receiver so that the gift is “perfect” and that’s what makes it truly special.

I have been creating in one form or another since I was a young child. I recently posted a serious about the various phases over at my blog: What’s With the Phases?

Creating has helped me when I was a shy, lonely child. It has helped me heal from tragic losses. And it saved me from myself when I couldn’t find a way to de-stress and relax without guilt.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
Trust yourself. Believe in yourself—even when no one else does. And practice—lots of practice.

At one time, I had stopped creating altogether. At first it was because I got distracted with life. When I found it again, I had kids. We created together and built beautiful bonds. But after experiencing too many deaths, the grief consumed me and the creative part of me died again. Then a few years ago I realized that a part of my life was empty and my days were far too hectic and stressful. I thought becoming creative again would give me a renewed sense of purpose and at the same time help me find some time just for me—time to relax and be stress-free.

The sad part is that I had a person in my life who knocked down everything I created — pointing out all the little flaws. And believe me the little snide remarks add up. Soon, I felt too embarrassed to show this person anything I created, too afraid of being told how much I needed to improve, tired of being told that I’d be better off doing something else. And before I knew it, I had once again buried that part of my life. That person made me feel horrible about myself and had convinced me that I was untalented—even though deep down, I knew that I was talented and creative, even though I knew that with practice and trial and error, I would get better, and even though I knew that art is subjective in nature. I’m not sure why this person had such a hold on me or why I allowed this person to tell me who I was or who I wasn’t but once I let go of that person, it was as though a new me had been reborn. And slowly, my confidence grew and my art improved.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with criticism. We all need it to grow. We all need constructive criticism to help us improve in our art and as human beings. But there is something totally wrong with criticism that’s meant to belittle someone or hold someone back from being all he or she can be. So my best advice is to listen to the critiques with a grain of salt. Realize that art is subjective and only take the advice that will help you improve as an artist, a business entity, and a human being.

Using an old peanut canister. It’s perfect for holding paint brushes, pens, and even small house plants.

As someone who’s run a successful business as a freelance writer, what will you take over into your art business?
There are so many things I could pass on. So many things that even I am having to relearn, thanks to our struggling economy. So my first tip would be that if you were making good money in the past, and you’re struggling to make a single sale now, drop your prices. With grocery bills nearly double what they were a year ago, and gas prices nearly triple, there isn’t a lot of money left over for luxuries. So art, being a luxury, is the first thing to go—as is anything in the “service” industry. The key is to drop your prices just enough to get sales back up again but not so low that you find yourself in the red each month.

Business is all about profits. You must take into consideration the money that leaves your bank account so that you know how much you need to make each month to pay your bills, buy new supplies, and have a little extra money left over. It’s tempting to want to charge peanuts for your art because you want that first sale, because you want sales to pick back up, because you want repeat business, or because you see others charging so little for their work and you think others may feel you are overpriced. It’s tempting to undercut yourself. But you cannot live on negative dollars.

Another tip would be to not allow your discouragement to stop you from marketing your business, your art, or your services. It’s easy to want to walk away when things aren’t going as planned—believe me, I’ve been there several times over the past 16 years—but it’s only going to make matters worse. If you’re not burnt out with your business, your service, or your art then work through those burnt out phases: take on less work, but still take on work; make less art, but still make art. If, however, you are burnt out and you no longer want to work that particular type of business, but still want a business of your own, allow for change. Whether it’s changing the type of art you create, or whom you sell your art to.

Post from: Blisstree

Artist Profile: Alyice Edrich

Technique Tuesday!

I just can’t help it! As soon as the leaves start to turn, I’ve got to go outside and gather them up. You’d think that I’ve never seen colored leaves before, the way I have to hoard them.

I realized that I’ve done a lot of projects in the past that used the colored autumn leaves, so just in case any of you are as nuts about them as I am, I thought I’d gather up some of the tutorial links for you

Transparent digital backgrounds

A photographic collage

Flowers from colored leaves

Chlorophyll prints

Leaf silhouette paper, part 1

Leaf silhouette paper, part 2

Twig lettering ok, not leaves, but twigs are pretty cool too!

Post from: Blisstree

Projects using leaves

Artist: Pallas Vititoe
Business name: Threads In Time by Pallas
Location: Hemet, CA and Rineyville, KY

Website & Blog:
Threads in Time
Threads in Time blog

Shy Girl

Pallas, how do you describe your work?
I describe my work as vintage fabric and mixed media art quilt collage. I love to work with old fabrics, lace, buttons, sewing notions, ephemera and photographs. I chose to name my creations Threads In Time by Pallas, not only to reflect the physical threads of the old textiles, but also to reflect the threads in time each piece travels in an imaginary journey. I added my name, Pallas, to personalize each piece that I create.

What is your creative process like?
My creative process usually begins with an old photograph or an interesting piece of fabric. Sometimes the photograph is of a relative or other known person, but quite often it will be a photograph of a total stranger that I have ‘adopted’ from an antique store. I wonder why these photographs aren’t with their families any longer, and I bring them home because I think they have many stories to tell. Sometimes I like to tell ‘old’ stories with new photographs of old places, as in the Hemet Stock Farm series or the Kentucky series that I am working on. I print each photograph onto cotton fabric, and then choose vintage fabrics or other textiles and various embellishments to compliment each photograph. I like to lay the elements out in a trial collage before cutting anything. If I want to work on several collages at one time, I snap a digital picture of each trial collage so that when I go back to it I can easily begin where I left off. I often work in silence or with background music, and I always like to work alone without conversation. I find that I usually work in spurts that last a few hours to a couple of days in succession.

Hemet Stock Farm

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
My mother was a good seamstress and taught me to sew when I was young. She taught me not only how to pick out the patterns, fabrics and notions, but also how to prepare and cut the fabric, and then fit and sew the garment. I sewed my own clothes for years, but realized that what I liked the best about the whole process is the fabric itself. My mother grew up during the depression and didn’t like to throw anything away. When a garment was no longer wearable, the buttons and zippers were removed and saved to be used again, the fabric from a dress could become an apron or part of a new quilt. I like this concept and can’t resist reusing cast offs. I don’t see flaws when looking at frayed fabric and lace, but the beauty of a previous life they have had. Creating vintage fabric collage lets me ‘color outside the lines’ because nothing needs to be exact.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
My creative tools are my sewing machine, computer, scanner/printer and digital camera. I’m not sure that I could choose just one. I love to use photographs in each collage and print them onto fabric, and my sewing machine is used in nearly every collage.

Lucky Day Hat Lady

What inspires you to create?
I’m inspired by the old fabrics and photographs I have added to my ’stash’. I’m also inspired by the blogs of other fabric collage artists, as well as magazine articles featuring collage art.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Whenever I haven’t taken the time to work on a project in a while, I sort through my fabrics, buttons or photographs and an idea will develop.

Boy in Uniform

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
I like to keep a balance in life by spending time with family and friends, spending time outdoors with biking, walking or gardening, and all the other normal day to day activities necessary in life. I also enjoy spending time on my computer, and I belong to online art groups where we share artwork tips, swaps and challenges.

What’s your favorite comfort food?
I would have to say that my favorite ‘comfort food’ is Starbucks coffee with cream, and I also enjoy iced coffee in the hot summer months.

Forties Woman

Post from: Blisstree

Artist Profile: Pallas Vititoe

Artist: Molly Friedrich
Business name: Dangerous Detritus
Location: Underbridge Manor, Seattle

Website & Blog:
Porkshanks
Flickr album

Upcoming Show:
Anachrotechnofetishism, Sept 12 through October 3, 2008

The Essence Combi-matrix

Molly, how do you describe your life and your work?
Well, I was born and raised on a parallel Earth. I grew up in a time period you would consider the future, roughly equivalent to your early 2300s. Our society developed quite a bit differently than this
world and our Science Artists had created things like the Reality Engine which was a machine that allowed one to access and tweak the very laws of matter and energy itself.

I was born and raised as a Chordist, which are a sect of Science Artists that use a technology called chording to alter human perception. I hated chording, and I felt like it was dangerously manipulative, so I focused myself on the physical arts; the old science of building things with your hands was very alluring to me.

I have traveled with many wonderful people and been to hundreds of parallel worlds. Along the way I pick up little trinkets from one world and I sell them in another. I do have to eat occasionally, of course and trading goods makes the most sense since money looks and works different from one world to the next. Unfortunately importing goods between realities is considered dangerous by self appointed authorities like The Chrono-Corp and they have targeted me as a Tempus Fugitive. There is also a group of Chordists that is trying to capture me because I have left the order without having my mind wiped, and they consider that a bit of a no-no.

Nathan’s Amberic Array Violin

What is your creative process like?
I love music, I need a messy workspace. I usually pile a bunch of tools and parts on the coffee table and have at it for hours. I have a workspace, but its so filled with parts I can’t really use it. I can’t really stand tv, and we only keep it around because we have been Netflixing a lot of old Doctor Who episodes lately so my fiance can catch up on the show.

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I went to college for art, but I was already fairly accomplished, and I was hoping they would teach me the business side of things, how to work with galleries, how to price work; that sort of nuts and bolts stuff. But they never touched the subject so when I realized it wasn’t going to happen after talking to people about it, I left.

Aside from that, I got my start in sculpture doing paper constructions and playing with Lego constantly as a kid. I didn’t have much, so I had to learn to do a lot with what I had. I challenged myself to build things I didn’t think I could actually build.

I also grew up in a family of welders, my Grandfather owned a welding shop and I spent a lot of time there discovering metals, tool, and hardware.

Clockwork Fetus In Chamber

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Brass? hahaha… I’m sort of a brass addict. I also like copper and nickel. I still use my first pair of pliers I got when I was about 9 or 10, so they are a sentimental tool for me.

What inspires you to create?
I like the attention to be honest. I also like inspiring other people, because I love seeing others grow and become more amazing people. I think a lot of people are too satiated by the world we are being handed by the older generations. Its a pretty screwed up place and I won’t accept it without a hearty fight!

Phase Frequency Adjuster

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
My wonderful partners have been very supportive, and I am finding more and more people who inspire me in the world. I just do what I do because nothing else has ever felt right before this. I am proud of
my way of life, even though many do not understand it. I try my best to have no environmental footprint, and while I still use some resources, I use far less than most. I do not own a car, we don’t heat our apartment, we recycle bathwater for flushing, and I am a vegetarian, that sort of stuff…

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
Look at lots and lots of art and try to figure out what you like about other people’s work. Do not copy them, but try to apply what they have learned to your own vision, no one works in a vacuum. Always
seek to communicate your voice in your art. Compete with yourself, competing with others will only depress you, as there is always someone better out there at what you do.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
I am polyamourous, so I have two boyfriends who I enjoy spending my time with. They are both very different gentlemen that I appreciate for totally different reasons, so its not threatening to either of
them.

Antihex Mysterium

What’s your favorite comfort food?
I like lukewarm V8, always have. I love ice cream, but I barely ever eat it because I don’t exercise enough.

Post from: Blisstree

Artist Profile: Molly “Porkshanks” Friedrich

Milk Carton Catchers from Replayground

There are so many clever people out there, and I’ve got such a backlog of projects and ideas to share with you that I’ll never get finished if I just take them one at a time! So, I’ve decided to share a bunch with you and let you decide which tickle your fancy the most. These links are all Cyndi-tested (for what that’s worth!), and this batch all consist of recycling projects

Milk carton catchers (shown above!)

Turn a soda bottle into a candy dish

Handbags from wooly blankets

Rag rug tutorial

Guy Marsden’s electronic artwork (this may be just for inspiration!)

Photo coasters from compact discs

Making china blossoms

Junk mail art

Recycled bottles become cute vases

Fabulous candlesticks from plumbing pipes

Post from: Blisstree

Recycled art links

Artist: Randy Hill
Business name: Art Foundango
Location: Salem, Oregon

Website & Blog:
Art Foundango
Art Foundango blog

Sanctuary (bird assemblage)

How do you describe your work, Randy?
I officially create assemblage art, but it’s something I’ve done since I was a young boy. I was raised on a farm in central Texas near Austin and I would accompany my father to the town dumping grounds on the weekends to get rid of our farm trash. While we were there I would go “treasure hunting” and find cool things that other people had thrown away. When I got back home, I would come up with little creations with the stuff I had found.

I call this particular style of artwork that I do (I also paint and have a graphic design business) Art Foundango. It’s a funny little made-up term that sounded kind of Texan and freewheeling to me. I use it to help describe the spirit in which I create these assemblages. Forty years of being drenched in Texan history and mythology and Tex-Mex cultures have had a profound influence on me.

What is your creative process like?
I rarely listen to music when I work. It’s kind of weird now that I think about it. I’m a musician yet I prefer to work in silence. I really don’t know why. I find it distracts me too much to have music playing in the background – especially if it has lyrics. If I listen to any music at all, it will some easy listening jazz or classical music, but if I’m really feeling the spirit, I’ll throw on some Led Zeppelin or ZZ Top.

Basically, my creative process starts with an initial idea that may come to mind either from a childhood memory of some kind or by the finding of a particular piece that will evolve into the final assemblage. I rarely plan things out on paper. Once I’m into it, I can work for hours at a time and if I’m really into it, I will keep going until the piece is finished. Of course having a touch of OCD helps!

I Saw The Light (guitar tribute to Hank Williams)

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I’ve been an artist since I was a young boy. I have had no formal training. I have tried to learn along the way through observing, through reading and studying and through interactions with other artists.
I believe that a person can achieve whatever he or she can dream up if they will just stick in there and refuse to give up. Be stubborn. Have as many interests as you can keep with. I’ve worked as a graphic designer, musician, radio show host, producer and magazine publisher. All these different interests will eventually influence my art at some point.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Does coffee count? I would be hard pressed to try to get along without a computer. And to think, I was once deathly afraid of them.

The Baby Ate Your Dingo (alien baby)

What inspires you to create?
I’m frequently inspired by my memories of growing up in Texas. Movies, books and old TV shows may even have an influence and show up in my work. The old “Twilight Zone” TV series definitely had an effect on me. When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a movie set prop designer. That is probably the root of what led to my love of assemblage.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
My wife Dawn, has been a big encouragement to me over the years. When I was unable to believe in myself, she did, and gave me the kick in the rear that I needed on many occasions. I’ve also learned to talk myself out of the “black spells” when they try to descend on me. It takes a lot of work!

Rocket Ship #7

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
At this stage in my art “career,” I feel like I don’t have much to say to anyone, but if I did, I’d say to never, ever give up. Get stubborn about your art and your passion and don’t let life pass you by. Try new mediums. Get out and meet other artists. Get involved on a local level. Just keep moving.

Randy Hill

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
I’ve been a professional drummer since I was a teenager. As a musician, I’ve traveled the world and seen places I would have never dreamed of seeing as a boy growing up on a farm in central Texas back in the late 50s and early 60s. I recently started a western swing band called The Oregon Valley Boys which is keeping me busy. After that, I love to go traveling to new places with my wife. I want to experience as much of this world and life as I can before I leave it.

Post from: Blisstree

Artist Profile: Randy Hill

Artist: Angela Mabray
Business name: Crafty Goat
Location: Yukon, Oklahoma

Website & Blog:
Crafty Goat store
Crafty Goat blog

Two-sided magnetic dishwasher sign

What is your creative process like?
In life, I’m a pretty organized person. In art, not so much. I think that’s part of what attracts me to art — the freedom and release. I’ve never been the type to sketch out what I’m going to do at my clay table… I just sit down with a vague idea and go!

I find it very easy to get into the flow of working, and very frustrating when I’m interrupted from that flow, to the point that I sometimes avoid getting started if I know I can’t spend sufficient uninterrupted time on something.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
I love polymer clay & all its possibilities. I love that it can mimic so many other materials. I love that if you can imagine something, you can create it with clay. And I love that it’s so many things to so many people: sculptors, caners, jewelry makers, crafters & artists all have their own ways of using it. There’s just so many different things you can do with it.

Tin can pincushion

What inspires you to create?
I’m most inspired by “What if…?” and “I wonder…” I like trying new ideas — wondering if something can be done and then doing it. While I do sell my work, I tend to find it a bit stifling to make the same item over and over again. I feel like I’ve already figured that thing out and I’m ready to try the next thing.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
There’s an amazing amount of information available online, in books, in classes, etc. These can be a wonderful source of knowledge and inspiration — but don’t spend all your time on that. Sitting down and
experimenting for yourself, learning by trial and error — these things will grow you much more than learning things second-hand.

Mosaic clay box

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned, so I spend about equal time creating and blogging. My blog has lots of tutorials and other helpful hints for polymer clay crafters.

What’s your favorite comfort food?
Nutella, straight from the jar.

Spearmint lip balm tin

Post from: Blisstree

Artist Profile: Angela Mabray

The Recycling Rag, the newsletter of Eco-Artware is a lot of fun. If you’re not receiving it, you’re missing great pieces like this:

Moth by Michelle Stitzlein

Visit the link above and sign up for the newsletter…you won’t be sorry!

Post from: Blisstree

Do you get the Recycling Rag?

Artist: Anitra Cameron
Business name: Coffee Pot People
Location: Portland, OR

Website & Blog:
Coffee Pot People blog
Coffee Pot People etsy shop

How do you describe your work, Anitra?
Quirky and funny, most of the time. To me, it’s high praise when someone walks up to my booth at a show and starts laughing!

I chose the name because that’s what I was making at the time–Coffee Pot People. Now, of course, I’ve added Tea Kettle Characters, China Blossoms, and Mega Blossoms. I also have greeting and note cards, some of which feature jointed paper dolls made from images of the Coffee Pot People.

Harold Angel

What is your creative process like?
It depends on my mood, I suppose, and also how much time I have, or where I am.

Sometimes when I’m away from home an idea will come to me, and I’ll sketch it out, just because I can’t rush over and start working on it. Mostly, though, a particular piece I’ve collected will inspire me. I’ll think, “What a great hat that would make!”, and then set about finding the head and body to go under it. Other times, I’ve spotted, say, a lamp that would make a shapely body, and taken it from there. Once a Coffee Pot Person is completed, I set it where I can see it often. Eventually, it will tell me its name, what it does for a living, his/her hobbies, etc. All that goes onto its tag, so people will have some idea who they’re “adopting”.

With the China and Mega Blossoms, a beautiful piece of glass can get me going, but usually I’ll cover a table or two with plates and saucers, and just start experimenting. It amazes me sometimes just how difficult it can be to find the “perfect” combination, but I do love the process.

When it comes to background sound (not to call it noise), it’s sometimes mood, and sometimes what I’m willing to do. I like to listen to music or books, but that takes setting up the laptop in the shop, and sometimes I just want to get out there and create and can’t be bothered with anything else. Silence is soothing and peaceful, and sometimes I revel in that, while other times I sing, whistle, and talk to myself.

As far as time is concerned, I like to have a couple of hours at a whack, but I’ll use what I have. If it’s a shorter span, I’ll take it any time over not getting to do anything at all.

Tea Fairy

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I had a semester of art in college, but really, I think what trained me was watching my mom and my aunts. They’re so creative! And since they always had more brainpower than money, they used what was at hand, or what could be had for cheap. That really opened my eyes to see beyond what things were to what they could become. Loveliest of all, they included me in their arts and crafts projects, so I got to grow up making art.

Then there was a day, about seven years ago, that my husband and I were at an estate sale. Whether the coffee pot was upside-down already, or I turned it upside-down, I don’t remember, but I looked at its spout, and blurted, “That’s a nose!” After that, I simply had to buy it, and took it straight home, making my first Coffee Pot Person, Pierre, that very day.

I’d made several for fun when a girlfriend convinced me I could sell them, and since she did crafts, too, we signed up for a nearby sale. I was standing near one of my characters when someone excitedly asked me, “Are you the artist?” I said, quite calmly I think, “Yes,” but inside I had this mental image of myself, fingertips to the center of my chest, saying, “Why, yes. Yes, I am!” It was the first time anyone had called me “artist”, and I was thrilled down to my very toes.

After that, I juried with the Cracked Pots group, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Floyd

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Ooooh. My electric drill, I think. Most of the Coffee Pot People are bolted together. Hard to do without drilling. (There’s always the hammer and progressively larger nails, but…nope. Gotta have the drill.)

What inspires you to create?
In general, I can’t help it. I get a little crazy if I don’t have some kind of creative outlet.

Specifically, unusual pieces of flotsam will get my juices flowing. Deadlines work, too, really really well!

Amber Arachnid

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Well, my husband says I’m the stubbornest woman he’s ever met. That can’t hurt. But I do give myself permission to just walk away and do something else. Usually, the solution will eventually come to me, and I can go back to the problem piece.

Barefoot

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
Just do it. My first pieces were so clumsy! The more I did, the more I learned, and hopefully that won’t stop, because there’s definitely still more that could be better. My Uncle Walt often recited this little poem:

“Good, better, best,
Never let it rest,
‘Til your ‘good’ is ‘better’
And your ‘better’ is ‘best’.”

It is, for me, the perfect motto.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
I’m addicted to the internet! I’m also a wife, mother and stepmother to seven wonderful children, and Nana to seventeen beautiful grandchildren, who are all, needless to say, geniuses, so family takes up a lot of space in my universe, although not as much as I’d like to give it.

Anitra with her China Blossoms

What’s your favorite comfort food?
Cookies!

Post from: Blisstree

Artist Profile: Anitra Cameron