Monday, August 3, 2009

An Interview with Papermockingbird...




I am excited to present this interview with etsy jewellery artist Papermockingbird. I have admired her unique pieces for some time and have wanted to know the story behind her work.

1) How long have you been selling on etsy?
Since March 2009

2) Do you have advice for etsy newbies?
Take some time to really initiate yourself with the Etsy site - It's so easy to think that once you've set up your shop that all you have to do is sit back and wait for the sales!
Chat with other etsians and get them to critique your shop for you - they will pick up on all the things you missed. It's good to get an objective point of view - your own view point is too emotionally attached.... oh and last thing - good clean photos! (it's taken me a while to get minimal but I'm getting there)

3) What are 3 fave etsy stores and why?
AAAAAAAGGHHHH!!!! How can I only pick 3????!!! there are hundreds which I absolutely love! ok well these are just from skimming through the favourites I have hearted but at the risk of spending days trying to decide - there are others which I love equally as much!! So:

Copperinc - because his/her work is so adorable and appeals to my dreamy and sentimental side.

Yellena - because her drawings STUN me and INSPIRE me! I WISH i was this talented!

Katwise - because when I saw her shop and read her blog it reminded me to add a bit of impulsive craziness back into my everyday life and everything I do. An amazing and memorable woman. I'd like to meet her!

4) What are your fave pieces in your shop and why?

I love my "Hundertwasser" necklace. Its sort of my signature piece and I will be sad to see it go if I ever sell it. It reminds me of drawings and buildings by Friedrich Hunderwasser and I thing it is just a beautiful object which I am proud to have made. I also love wearing the "wish it was summer" bracelet because it's so dainty and cheerful and I remember it putting me in a good mood when I finished it!

5) What plans do you have for your shop?

I make hats and other objects using crochet. They're kind of a little different from your regular crochet hats - I use a lot of textures and colours which you wouldn't expect to see. I need to get a good sizing system right though - so far I've been using my own head as a template but I've realised my head is way too big and the hats dont fit anyone else!!!
So anyway, come this winter I'll hopefully have some ready to sell.

6) How long have you been creating art?
All my life. I loved art at school, I went to art college when I finished school, I studied design at university... I love to paint and draw and sketch. Jewellery making is only a recent thing which started last year when I found myself living in france with no job and in need of some money - so I set myself up a little market stall and my small taste of success gave me the confidence to enter the Etsy world where, so far, I haven't experienced the same luck. I write poetry too but thats not something I share with many people. I find it extremely therapeutic though.

7) Who are your art heroes?
In no particular order: Freidrich Hundertwasser, Egon Scheile, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Picasso, the Fauves...I'm easily enticed by colour!

8) Where do your ideas come from?
I have boxes and boxes of broken jewellery, beads, shells, buttons and other treasures. I spend hours rummaging through them and finding bits n bobs which look interesting and go together...I never start out with an idea - they emmerge while I'm creating something. Sometimes I start with 1 button or bead as the central focal point and then work around it.

9) What do you do when you have a creative block?
Go for walks in the countryside, see some large open space, meditate, cycle, sing. I find that a "block" of any sort boils down to needing to release some pent-up energy - bad thoughts, stress, anxiety, worries etc so anything that helps me shed those things helps me out of my block. (if that makes sense)

10) What other interests do you have that feed into your art?
I am passionate about music of all kinds...I like learning about unusual musical instruments from all over the world and the origins and evolutions of different types of music...for example: traditional african music to blues and jazz; and indian nomad music to djano reinhardt and gypsy jazz...everything links together. I like discovering lyrics to hundred year-old folk songs and trying to understand what inspired someone to write them.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

nice interview! I love the answer about picking 3 fave etsy shops! :)