Search results (tags) for: "evolution"

Oeuvre Evolution: annarubyking

2009-02-13T15:05:00-05:00

This month Anna from annarubyking tells us about how her flourishing shop started with Christmas cards sent to family members and friends. She became a professional card-maker in two years, and had to learn the same lesson that our previous Oeuvre Evolution artist, Tabitha from ThePairaBirds, was faced with: how to simplify one's own design.

When did you start crafting with paper and textile? Why did you choose this medium?
I think paper is where every artists starts: it's affordable, accessible and you can do so much with it. At university I majored in printmaking, so basically all the processes of print media (etching, screen printing, photography, lithography, graphics) involve paper. In my minor, painting, there was a whole wonderful unit on creating and preparing canvases, as well as making gessos, temperas and varnishes. While this was one of my favorite classes, spending 3 hours making and preparing a canvas really didn't suit my style of work. I was also rather frightened of drop saws, band saws and staple guns.

My interest in textiles comes no doubt from my mother. She quilts, sews, knits, and crochets. I do none of these things. I tried to learn but it just didn't fit. However, I do covet the raw materials, especially fabric. My mum and I would go to fabric shops together, and she would buy fabric and wool for her latest projects, and I would buy fabric just to hoard. I love the colours and patterns and textures.

When I started to make my cards, I decided I needed to incorporate some of my fabric. My stash was growing and growing, and it was time I started using it for something.

How do you evaluate the change between your first piece and the works you do now? In what way did your style change, and why?
The first set of cards that I made was to send to my family and friends for Chistmas, 2006. It was my first Christmas living in another country, and when I went out to buy cards to send that November, there really wasn't that much to choose from. I decided that since I had time to spare, plus an arts degree, I really should be able to make my own.

The cards that I made turned out really well. Everyone told me they loved them, and I decided that I could make some to sell and earn myself a bit of money. When you start wanting to get paid for something, though, you start to rethink how you make that thing, how much the supplies cost and how much time you spend making the item. These cards I made must have taken me 30 minutes each, which is just too much work for a gift card. I had to think about how to simplify my designs and find faster methods. I also started thinking about how my cards would look, as a product, in a shop. I wanted to create a "look" for my cards, so that even if I used different designs and motifs, all my cards would look like Ruby King cards.

In which area do you think you evolved a lot?
I'm really happy with how I managed to simplify my designs. The first cards I made had so many elements. When I look at them now, I think there is too much going on. I was using too many techniques, with no direction. The thing is, I am still using all those same techniques that I used in those first cards. However, in my cards now, I have learned how to be more selective in the ways I use those techniques.

You use a lot of birds in your cards. Why did you choose these flying animals?
Well, birds came about thanks to more product development. I know I'm supposed to say birds are my favorite animal, and I did have many, many pet birds growing up (most were called Oscar or Ernie, if you are curious), but they are not my favorite animal (horses, followed by Labradors).

But I digress. Using birds came about for two main reasons. First, I wanted to have some sort of cute creature as a motif on my cards, and it had to be something that was suitable to many occasions. Second, it had to be something with a shape that was easy to cut out in fabric. All my bird shapes have either one or two sides, making them much easier to cut out than horses or Labradors, for example. I know this process sounds very cold and business-like, but by going through all this design work using birds, I have actually really become quite fixated with them, as you can see by my other artworks — they might now have moved into the third favorite position (sorry, tigers).

What kind of evolution do you see as necessary in the future? What are your plans (if any)?
I still want to try and reduce the amount of time I spend making my cards. I've pretty much halved the time I was spending before. Learning to make things in multiples was a fine revelation, although some of the designs, like the fabric squares cards, have no quick method. I really want to come up with some designs that are a lot speedier so I can have some lower priced options available.

Also, I recently made the decision to stop buying new fabric altogether, and only use recycled and off cut fabric, so once I get through my collection of bought fabrics (okay, that might take a year or more...) my cards will be made of 90 -100% recycled materials, which for me is something really important.

See other Oeuvre Evolutions on the Storque. Vadjutka highlights many more artists' evolutions on her blog, Craftsthenandnow.blogspot.com. How has your craft changed over the years? Post in the comments below!

Top 10 Birthday Wishes for Darwin!

2009-02-12T15:00:00-05:00

Some of us are fans of biology, others are just amazed by his gloriously bushy eyebrows. (Apparently he once ate an owl?) Happy 200th birthday, Charles Darwin. You've got monkeys on my mind!

1. living toy series note card - LITTLE MONKEY GIRL and CHARLES DARWIN

By teriko, $2.50.

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2. Frozen in Flight - TtV

By dsbrennan, $30.

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3. Fish Flower -- Art Print

By LeLapinTriste, $18.

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4. Charles

By hisss, $14.

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5. Crane Flies (Tipula)

By dsbrennan, $30.

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6. Darwin Coral Tusk Necklace

By urbanheir, $90.

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7. White Bronze Fossil

By AchAchLiebling, $45.

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8. Monkeying Around - evolution glass set

By BigHelmetHead, $8.25.

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9. Evolution of Humans Darwin illustration on Denim Blue T-SHIRT SIZES - S,M,L,XL

By isotope, $14.

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10. idiot brain pendant - hangs on 18 inch chain

By bethtastic, $15.

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Geekery Items | View More Science Related Posts | Top 10 Lists

Oeuvre Evolution: thepairabirds

2008-08-18T13:11:00-05:00

A month ago PamelaAngus found an early piece of hers hidden in the drawer. Now Tabitha from ThePairabirds is delving into the past to show us her beginnings. The Chicago-based illustrator came a long road from manga-styled figures to pop-art, and she is still evolving.

When did you start drawing and painting?
I started drawing regularly when I was eleven. I became interested in comic book art. I didn't begin painting until 2001, when I started college.

How do you evaluate the change between your first drawings/paintings?
My early drawings were inspired by Japanese manga work. I was really entranced with the use of line-weight and light and dark contrast. My style began to take on its own when I started art college. In school, I had the chance to experiment with different media, study different cultures, and learn and share with my classmates. This blending of cultures encouraged me to blend the beautiful linework of Japanese manga with nostalgic American pop culture.

In which area do you think you evolved a lot?
I think my use of linework has evolved. I used to add so many details to a piece that it became over-worked. I am drawn to clean and uncluttered design (which is ironic since I am a pack-rat), particularly in interior design. This look is finding its way into my pieces more and more.

What kind of evolution do you see for yourself in the future? What are your plans (if any)?
I think my art is beginning to focus on the juxtaposition of human and nature. I think the most beautiful relationship is the one between humans and their environment. I am intrigued by people and how they relate to their environment, specifically their homes. So it is interesting for me to see how art and furniture is arranged in the sacred place of "Home."

Can you live on selling your drawings?
At the moment, yes. I'm single and child-free. It means going without an iPhone, a lot of social events, and having to live with family. But, those are some of the sacrifices I have to make right now that will hopefully change over time.

See other Oeuvre Evolutions on the Storque. Vadjutka highlights many more artists' evolutions on her blog, Craftsthenandnow.blogspot.com. How has your craft changed over the years? Post in the comments below!

Oeuvre Evolution: PamelaAngus

2008-07-18T10:48:00-05:00

I am sure that from time to time, every artist and crafter finds an early piece of theirs hidden somewhere in a drawer. They look at the piece and ask themselves, "Who made this?!" Sometimes it is good to stop and look back to see where we started. PamelaAngus, Irish glass artist, started with traditional stained glass in 2003, and ended up making three-dimensional pieces inspired by Asian textiles.

When did you start crafting with stained glass?
I took a traditional stained glass course with David Walsey in England in 2003. I was not a particular fan of stained glass but I had been working on very detailed black and white pen and ink work and thought I needed to learn to use colour again. Also the idea of learning such a traditional craft was appealing. I moved to France shortly after finishing the course so it was about a year before I started to experiment with making pieces.

How do you evaluate the change between your first piece and the works you do now?
My first piece was made in the traditional method of lead came, which is great fun to construct - lots of messy putty, chalk dust, etc. I'm still very proud of it: David encouraged us to design our own pieces rather than take a copy from stained glass pattern books. I took my inspiration from a rhinestone hairclip and I still use jewelry for design ideas now. However, I found that the work I wanted to try out was not possible with lead and I started using copperfoil because it's lighter and more versatile and allowed me to experiment and make the sort of stained glass I’d want to live with myself. It has enabled me to put movement into the pieces and also for the overall shape to be more organic. I want the work I do now to be beautiful first and stained glass second if that makes sense – I want the pieces to be tactile and I hope they make people want to stretch out and touch the beads or ribbons or whatever.

Which area do you think you evolved a lot?
Well I’m still learning technique, but I think my designs have evolved. When I started, I bought pattern books and searched the Internet for designs like everyone does when they are starting out and haven’t found their groove yet. But it was only when I started to look at non glass work for inspiration that it all clicked for me – hand embroidered textiles from India, collected trinkets, knitwear, etc. – if I love something I’ll look at it and think how I can interpret it in glass. And I think my use of colour has evolved – which was the whole purpose of the exercise!

What kind of necessary evolution do you see for yourself in the future?
I’m always looking to try out new ideas and want to work on more 3D pieces such as cups and saucers and start adding my own etched patterns to the glass. I’ve also recently started experimenting with glass sewn onto painted stretched canvas and I’m using ribbon and tiny bells there too, so that you can brush your hand gently over the work and there’s just the gentlest of noise and slight movement in the glass pieces. Who knows, it could be a total disaster, but you have to try these things.

Vadjutka highlights many more artists' evolutions on her blog, Craftsthenandnow.blogspot.com. How has your craft changed over the years? Post in the comments below!