Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location,
affiliations, personal stuff).
My name is Janine Golbert and I came to Israel from Panama more than 30 years ago. My life is a blend of different origins, places and languages. I was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. My parents are from Egypt. When I was still a child we moved to Switzerland and later to Panama!
At the age of 19 I left my family and came alone to Israel to study Architecture. At the time, I already spoke 5 languages and lived in 4 countries. All those journeys left a deep mark in my personality. The need to be able to adapt myself to changes, to start all over again every time and to adapt to new people, new languages and different forms of thinking. All those changes have a good and a bad side. The bad side is the constant saying good bye to friends and persons you love. The good side is that your mind opens itself to different world visions, and nourishes itself with the richness of different people and ways of life.
I got married in my 20's and I had three children. I changed my major from Architecture Design to Graphic Design and worked for many years as an Art Director for a commercial firm here in Haifa.
About 5 years ago I left my job as an Art Director and dedicated myself to my own studio located in a beautiful area about 20 minutes drive from my home in Haifa.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
Besides creating things I love Theater. For many years I've been part of a theater group and it is wonderful for me to relate to different kinds of people of different ages and to express myself in this way.
I also laugh a lot and I love sitting with a friend, have a drink and talk about life... And dancing! I love dancing too.
What first made you want to become an artist?
I remember myself always doing things, sawing, making crafts. Materials and textures intrigue me and I have an almost obsessive need to create... I did not consider myself an artist until lately. I didn't decide to be an artist, I wanted to be a designer. In my opinion to be an artist is something much deeper that involves many aspects of your life.
Please describe your creative process (how, when, materials, etc).
I spend most of my daily (and nightly!) hours creating, it is almost an obsession especially since last year. When I have an idea and start developing it, before I finish what I am doing more ideas come to my mind and sometimes it is very painful to make a pause and restrain myself. I have to remind myself: finish this before you jump to the next piece!
I find inspiration in forms and materials. The moment I touch something my imagination flies and I wonder what I can do with it… Maybe the issue here is that I am a stubborn person and I don't rest until I am satisfied.
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
A few few sketches my children made for me with "I love you mom".
Name your top five books, movies, songs/musical groups, and web sites (besides Etsy).
The books I read lately and liked a lot are Norwegian Wood and South of the Border, West of the Sun, both written by the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and The Shadow of the Wind written by the Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
I am new to Etsy myself! And it is wonderful for me. I think that this contact we can have with so many talented people is amazing! I still have a lot to learn about Etsy but already in this short time it surely opened for me a lot of new doors.
What are your favorite features on Etsy? What new features would you like to see?
I think that Alchemy is a very interesting feature.
How do you promote your work?
To be sincere I didn't do much to promote my work. I think I am lucky that people like my store and visit!
In ten years I'd like to be...
This is the must difficult question... In 10 years I want to be still asking questions and looking for answers.
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