Although I was an advertising writer by profession,
I am now image-driven. It's all about the visuals.
I'm a paper ephemera junkie and came to making digital collage sheets via my interest in Découpage.
I grew up in the age of LetraSet and the electric typewriter but just before the beginning of the new Millennium, one of my nephews said to me: "Uncle Mark, I think it's about time you learned how to use a computer!"... and I did.
And then I discovered Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and I have been besotted ever since !...
I can't seem to be subtle and muted (in my work).... My sheets are loud-vibrant and bold... (I can't help it!)....not overly commercial but I have found my own little comfortable niche here at Etsy with fabulous, loyal customers and regular newbies from Iceland to Brasil, New Zealand right through the EU, North America to Africa and Asia....
I'm an Australian where it is already tomorrow as far as the Northern Hemisphere is concerned. So while I'm asleep, most of my customers are up and at it, hopefully putting an order in to one of my shops..
With my breakfast coffee in hand, I power up and see what the rest of the world has been up to the day before...
Then I get down to work....
I never know what I'm going to come up with next..........
Some days I'll start with an idea and have it finished and ready to publish within the day.....
Other times I'll mull over an idea, play with it and not come up with a finished sheet for weeks...........
And sometimes I'll work and work on a sheet and it just won't gel and it will be discarded - but never flung into "Trash" - and maybe I'll pick it up again a month or three later and revisit.
Etsy is by far the most enjoyable "job" I've ever had.
And I had to officially "retire" before I found it !
Cheers Mark