Hello you!

It’s that time of the week. You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s time to feature awesome people!

Today we’re going to have a chat with Rachael Ashe - an emerging artist that uses recycled materials and found objects to create altered books and collages. Did I mention she also loves photography? Yeah, total rad-o-rama over here!

By the way the long weekend is upon us, which means a possible road trip AND lots of delicious pics. Stay tuned for next week’s “The Week in Images”

Let’s get the chat with Rachael started:

Who is Rachael?

I am an emerging multi-disciplinary artist, working in a number of media such as altered books, mixed media collage, paper cutting, and photography. I love working with recycled materials and found objects as much as possible. I live in East Vancouver with an entrepreneurial technologist and a small yellow bird, both of whom constantly inspire and keep me laughing.

When did you start making art?

I was drawn to art-making from childhood. First it was drawing and painting, and then photography. Up until about four years ago I was focused only on photography, mainly creative portraiture. As I transitioned from film to digital, I felt drawn to more tactile work in the form of collage, and this eventually led to working with books. At the moment I am entirely focused on  paper-based work in the form of collage and paper cutting, as well as altered books.

What are altered books?

The term altered books covers any art form that uses old books as a material. I use existing hardcover books I either find or buy second-hand to create sculptural assemblage collage.

What’s your favorite medium to work on?

I love trying different things and experimenting, which is why I end up working in many different mediums. At the moment paper is definitely my favourite, and I’m contemplating ways I can create larger pieces than I have to date.

What are some basic tools we would need if we wanted to create some altered books?

All someone really needs is a book and creative thinking, because there are many things one can do that don’t require any additional tools. Scissors, glue, gel medium, an xacto knife, and a bone folder knife are the basic tools I work with most often.

How do you recharge your creative batteries?

I recharge my creative batteries by getting out of the city for a change of scene, spending time in nature, and visiting the studios of artists I admire. I also get a recharge by experimenting with new materials or process because it can inspire ideas and lead to new work.

What would be your advice for people that want to pursue a career in art but don’t know where to start?

An important part of being an artist is to reach out to other artists and engage your community. I’ve learned a lot about being a professional artist by participating in events that have brought me into contact with more experienced artists. Most people are willing to share knowledge and experience, and it’s important to any career type to create strong connections with the people in your field. Don’t expect anyone to just hand you all the answers though.

Holy laser-cut precision, Batman! (all by hand though)

Her work is a beautiful mix of patterns, textures and nature. Visit Rachael’s Etsy shop to get your hands in some of her collages or follow her on Instagram and watch the magic of mixed media unfold before your eyes (you’ll also get a few sneak peeks of her AWESOME little bird)

Happy weekend!

Guys!

Oh ma gawd. Friday has arrived, how did that happen? Don’t you feel time is just flying by lately?

Today I have a little interview for you with Malta-born artist Elisa von Brockdorff (she’s the funky gal in the image above!). Elisa totally caught my eye with her photographs; she loves to find beauty and colour in the ordinary. She can also transform doll houses into bright little fairy-like lighthouses, pretty cool, yah?

Before we jump to the interview, I just wanted to quickly share with you that I am the featured blogger of the month over at Blog Brunch! YAY! Thanks so much guys, so honored :)

Alright, interview time! Enjoy

Who is Elisa?
Elisa is a freelance photographer who currently lives in Malta. Three years ago, she completed an MA in Fine Art in the UK. Her work, be it photography or installation art is created by staging mundane, often colourful objects within spaces. These interventions display a contrast between materials and challenge the scale of the objects, whilst projecting irony or humour. She is also keen on fashion photography.

When did you start making art?
Ever since I was very little I can always remember being fascinated by the process of ‘putting materials together’ to create something else. Hence I liked craft books and would make my own little constructions out of objects I found at home. That was the start of my fascination for the ‘staged world’.

Who / what influences your art?
In general, I make it appoint to look at others’ creative work, be it art, photography, fashion and design on a daily basis. However I also get influenced by colour, repetition and light, as well as mundane objects and occurrences – for instance plastic goods in a shop might inspire me to create an installation.

Which tools do you use to keep track of your inspiration?
I have a large folder on my pc which is further subdivided into art, fashion photography, fashion design, interiors and graphic design. Whenever I come across an image that draws my attention, I make sure to save them and often make reference to them later. I’ve recently also started using Pinterest to keep track of images I enjoy. When it comes to documenting ideas for installations or photography work, I like to make a quick pencil drawing in my sketch book – sometimes the work evolves into an artwork, other times it remains a sketch.

Who are some of your favorite artists?
There are a lot of artists I admire though here are a few. David Batchelor for his colourful installations. Liz Wolfe for her playful, staged photographs. I really love Tim Walker’s photographs – in his work I see the two worlds of fashion and art merge together so strongly and beautifully. There are also many other photographers I find extremely inspiring, such as Miles Aldridge, Sophie Delaporte, Steven Klein and Lara Jade to name a few.

What would be your advice for people wanting to pursue a creative career but don’t know where to start?
As cliché as it might sound, first you have to believe and be convinced you can make it since there might the tendency for people around you to discourage you initially – claiming it’s not an easy career move since there is a lot of competition bla bla – and that’s not something helpful! Get to know what you are good at and do a lot of that. Don’t expect money to roll in instantly. It’s ok to do some unrelated work on the side whilst you work on personal projects to enhance your skills and portfolio. Market yourself – upload your work on social networks, exhibit your work and create a professional website. Then target potential clients in your niche – contact them and show them your work. Not all will reply but don’t get discouraged. Continue developing your skills within the field you chose and look at your contemporaries’ work… and keep in mind that good things will come to those who work hard!

Excellent advice Elisa! You gotta trust yourself and work hard, the rest will follow.

Thanks so much for your time Elisa and thanks guys for joining us for this interview. Don’t forget to drop by Elisa’s site and give her some love!

Happy Friday amigos!

Wow, this week went flying didn’t it? Monday came and first thing you know, boom! You’re already making Easter eggs.

Today I have a little interview for you with collage artist Jenny Brown. I found Jenny’s art while browsing through Mammoth and Company - a mega cool site where you can buy beautiful, affordable art. The colour, details and jellyfish-like shapes in Jenny’s work made my heart skip a beat – hence, she’s an Artful Friday-ee.

Sit down, get comfy and enjoy the interview!

T.A.D. Who is Jenny Brown?

Jenny: I am an artist living and working in Providence, Rhode Island. My primary mediums are drawing and collage, and I have a special interest in working with found materials.

T.A.D. When did you start making art?

Jenny: I began making art as a child. I loved drawing houses and creating my own blueprints and city maps. I got serious about my work when I was about 19 and a student at Bennington, and at the time was very focused on painting.

T.A.D. What or who influences your art?

Jenny: I am influenced by nature in the sense that I feel like I am always trying to “understand” the natural world in my work. My lifelong hobby of collecting antiques brought me to my interest in found papers, photographs and books.

I felt as I began to mature as an artist, I needed to find a way to bring these found materials into my work. As for artists, one of my earliest influences was the work of Philip Guston. Right now, I love looking at the work of Mary Delaney, a British artist who created an amazing series of botanical drawings in the 1700s.

T.A.D. What’s on your current playlist?

Jenny: the past weeks I’ve been listening to The Black Keys, Radiohead’s “The Bends,” Kate Bush and jazz works by Wes Montgomery. An odd collection, I know, but it keeps me going!

T.A.D. What do you do to recharge your creative batteries?

Jenny: When I get frustrated with my work, I like to step away and do something completely different…errands, clean, buckle down at my day job. And always, after a few hours away, I feel calmer. I remember how lucky I am to be able to make art, and that I need to remember it isn’t something to stress about, but rather, something to have fun with and enjoy!

Great advice Jenny! I think sometimes all us get trapped in the stress ball of “I HAVE to do [insert occupation/hobby here]” and we forget about the fun part. Whether you’re creating art as hobby or as a full-time job, you should always remember to enjoy it! If you don’t, then creativity will say laters dude! Gonna get a new mind to inspire, and you don’t want that right?

Lucky for you it’s the long weekend! So take some time for yourself – pamper your soul. Promise?

Jenny! Thanks so much for your time and sharing a little glimpse into your creative life.

Happy weekend everyone :)

Don’t forget to give Jenny some LOVE by sending her a tweet or visiting her site. Even better, get some of her beautiful art over at Mammoth and Company.

Desperados!

Prepare yourselves for a good dose of colour and digital collage. Seriously, go get a drink cuz this post is going to be intense – who cares if it’s early in the day – just go get some, it’s the weekend anyways.

Last week while I was away on vaca south of the border and in between siestas I became really addicted to Instagram (more than before! Oh and if we aren’t Insta friends yet, we should be – add me up yo @ArtfulDesperado). I didn’t know there was such a HUGE creative community in there! That’s how I found the art of Kristian Ingers. From tortilla experiences (yah! you gotta read the interview) to collaborations, Kristian enjoys every step of the creative process.

So, without further ado I give you Mr. Ingers!

T.A.D. - Who is Kristian Ingers?

Kristian: I am a 32-year old Arts and Crafts teacher from Malmö, Sweden. I also work with exploring digital craftsmanship. 

T.A.D. - When did you start making art?

Kristian: After school I started working in a tortilla factory, sorting tortillas. Bad burnt ones in one pile and white pale ones in another pile. The minute I was done for the day I would rush home and paint all night.

The painting kept me sane despite staring at the round tortilla shapes in front of me all day. A year later, I went to university and was involved in some film projects. I got more and more interested in the possibilities within digital media.

My illustrations I sometimes see as sketches for paintings. I now have small kids running around at home and it´s hard to bring out paint and start working so it’s much easier to do it with a laptop and a Wacom board.

T.A.D. - What online tools do you use to connect with other creative minds?

Kristian: I post a lot of my work in the Instagram community. I like all the creativity from other users and the feedback.

I have done collaborations with other Instagram users, the process is fantastic – different media like drawing, painting, collage and digital editing in a non-profit enviroment, just for the fun of it – is very inspiring.

T.A.D. – What do you do to boost your creativity?

Kristian: I read books and magazines about architecture and art. I get a lot of inspiration from architecture. I also try to see a lot of art shows. There are some great institutions and galleries in Malmö. Across the bridge is Copenhagen, with an even greater scene. I have a lot of creative friends and I also get a lot of input from my wife, Sara.

T.A.D. What are some of your favorite Swedish artists?

Kristian: For colors Jens Fänge, for lo-fi Jockum Nordström, for geometric lo-fi Torsten Andersson and for scenery and landscape Karin Mamma Andersson. These are just a few, there are so many.

Art by Jens Fänge

Art by Torsten Andersson

T.A.D. – What’s your favorite meal?

Kristian: It’s called ”Flying Jacob”. Chicken, nuts and bananas, served with rice. Classic 80′s dish!

That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Guys, if you are around Kristian’s area (which would be freakin’ fantastic!) you can check out a show he’s having with other friends for Easter. For more info you can email him: kristian (at) artyartwork.com

Thanks so much for your time and awesome inspiration Kristian!

So what you say guys? Did this post make you feel all energized and inspired? Of course it did, right? Always remember when you’re feeling a bit under the weather (from either sorting tortillas or doing other daily duties you don’t necessarily like), there’s a creative community out there waiting for you!

Happy weekend everyone :)

Kristian’s instagram: @kristianingers

Site: ArtyArtWork

Hello desperados!

Roombaaa..another weekend has arrived. How was your week? Mine was a bit too busy for my taste – but that’s why we have Fridays, right? To recharge and bitch about it while having drinks with friends.

For this edition of Artful Fridays I prepared a post that will hopefully give you some ideas to get your next creative project started..and funded! All with the magic of Kickstarter of course. For those of you who don’t know what that is, I’ll give you the lowdown: Kickstarter is a social juggernaut that helps creative people like you to fund their treasured projects, all with the love of friends, family and artful strangers.

Without further ado – I give you Dwight from Decoder - a magazine that will come to life (yes, it will!) through Kickstarter.

T.A.D. – How did the idea of Decoder Magazine come to be?

Decoder Magazine has been in development for months now, but it happened for a variety of reasons. I’d been writing for our co-editor Jheri Evans’ old site Get Off the Coast and my wife Liz had joined us in running our tape imprint Crash Symbols. “Get Off the Coast” was an old name that Jheri had been tempted to retire, so when the nature of the project changed so radically with our involvement and the addition of the imprint, we knew we had to create “a new identity” for what was by then an entirely collaborative group of projects.

T.A.D. - What do you do to keep track of all the things needed for this project?

Lots and lots of lists!

Christian Filardo

T.A.D. - What tools are you currently using to promote the launch of Decoder?

The internet is the primary outlet for promotion… we’ve had a great deal of support from friends, readers, and even professional contacts… bearing that in mind, facebook and twitter have been particularly useful. It’s surprising how much of the excitement we’ve been able to share through those mediums.

T.A.D. – What’s key when working with friends?

I guess I would have to say know your friends!

Claire Pestaille

T.A.D. - What excites you the most about your project?

The content. After spending so much time gathering material and now preparing it for layout, I think we’re most immediately excited about finally seeing it presented the way we’ve been imagining for months!

T.A.D. – What do you want to achieve with Decoder?

To document to some extent something of our cultural moment in a meaningful way… part of our “stated goal” is to draw out some of the connections between old and new media, the role of the analog in a digital world, etc. I like to think that better understanding our own reality can allow us to better understand the transitions that society makes across history and at the very least promote sensitivity during the change!

Hunter Mack