Interview for Artful Home

********See the real thing here******************

The Artful Home is going to do a small feature on my work for their online newsletter.  Here were some of their great questions and my answers.  Wonder if I can hammer an artist’s statement out of this……

1) Please provide a few details about the inspiration behind, and the techniques used to produce the “Fiery Denim Rose Scarf.”    

The Feiry Denim Rose was born from the blend of playing with geometry and poetry.  It is a scarf that naturally expands and the wool and raw silk fibers are felted around a silk chiffon core, which allows it to spiral like a piece of fusilli pasta.  The edge on it was very evocative of a flower petal edge and one day it just struck me that it looked like a Rose when wrapped around the neck, which I then worked on refining until it was just perfect as a scarf and as an art piece.

Technically, the Feiry Denim Rose Scarf is made with a wet-felting technique referred to as “nuno.” “Nuno” refers to wool that has been felted through a lighter woven material, in this case the silk chiffon.  This technique allows the wool to be more expressive, creating form and character, in combination with the silk that gives it more drape and movement.  It is really the best of both worlds.  

2) What is your studio like?

Much of the time, the studio is like a small sauna: lots of steamy water in the air and the smell of Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lavender soap.  It is a small studio, about 35 feet by 25 feet with high ceilings.  It is nestled in the middle of the warehouse of 2 working folk musicians: one a singer and one a luthier, so there is always music in the air.  I recently installed with the color-corrected florescent lights which have made it much easier to appreciate and work with the wool colors.  There are also many stacked storage bins of fibers and small wool tumbleweeds everywhere!

3) What do you keep in your studio to inspire you?

I have a number of photographs and original art by other artist friends to keep me company.  

4) How did you get started as an artist?

Art has always been something that has kept me involved, early on from school days.  I attended a magnet arts high school which instilled a strong sense of dedication and professionalism in me.  Since then, I have studied studio art, art history and craft throughout my schooling and work experience.

5) What do you do when you’re not making art?

Since starting my business 3 years ago, there has not been much time for other things than the art of running it and making work!  I do love movies and visiting natural spots for day-trips around California.  I am also studying pattern-making and draping to develop my skills to make clothing.

6) Where do you get your best ideas?

My degree in art history provides a vast mental library of images and styles.  I use different styles and methods from this library to create my own language in felt.  I am also inspired by natural forms and modern design principles.

7) What do you love about what you do?

How it combines painting and sculpture in a wearable form.  Another thing that I love about wet-felting is how it is transformed in the process into something substantially different from the original layout or plan.  This makes every piece a bit of a discovery, which keeps things interesting to say the least.  I learn to go with it and respond creatively to what the felt is doing.  It keeps me on my toes!

What luxuries do you allow yourself?

I love high-design clothing!  It is a fun to be expressive through my clothing.

9) Describe a breakthrough moment.

Discovering the Rose was a “eureka” moment.  I had noticed the ruffle and edge and one day tried to layer the scarf, wrapping it inside of itself to allow all of the edges to show and suddenly I was looking at a wool rose.  It is a bit like a trompe l’oiel (trick of the eye) effect in painting where there is that magic moment where you believe it is real.

10) Who or what has influenced your art the most?

Art history has influenced my work the most, especially the work of modern artists such as Alexander Calder, Isamu Noguchi and Joan Miro’ as well as contemporary craft masters such as El Anatsui.  I am also influenced by contemporary fashion designers such as Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons, Miuccia Prada, Vivienne Westwood and Missoni. 

11) What’s next in your work?

I’d like to bring the felt further into a high-fashion context with an emphasis on fine design and materials.  This would be balanced by pushing the subject matter and shape of the felt by creating sculptures, installations and environments.  These directions would naturally continue to merge in the realm of wearable art, where I see the main body of my work going.

12) What do you do when you need inspiration?

A trip to a museum , art gallery or sculpture park always does the trick to inspire me to produce!  Following up with a nice walk in nature to give some time for reflection.

13) If you weren’t an artist, you’d be…

 

a very different person!  Maybe a poet or an architect-though, of course, they can be artists too.