Sat 25 Aug 2007
Who inspires you?
Maureen Carlson by far is my biggest inspiration… the faces she creates on her characters are just amazing… really inspirational. And her techniques make the art of sculpting faces seem so effortless.
What inspires you?
Oh gosh… everything really. But mostly any kind of fantasy art. Brian Froud’s work is a BIG influence with me… if I had half the talent he does. Wow… the creatures his mind comes up with, never in a million years would I think of doing some of the characters he designs. Now even though I say this… I can look at one of his sketches and start off with a specific goal in mind, but then by the end of the process my creation looks totally different than I originally expected. My critters just kind of form out of the clay as I work on them, personalities and all.
Where do you create?
At home. Sometimes on the kitchen table watching TV or mostly in my craft room listening to my “newage chant till ya die” music. The repetition of the sounds really puts me in the zone. I completely tune out to what is going on around me and before ya know it… an hour and a half have gone by.
How long have you been working with polymer clay?
Well I used to use it to make faux glass eyes for the teddy bears I was making. But that was well over 3 years ago. I was reintroduced to clay, this time more than one color, back in November of 2006. I was laid-off from work and was looking to keep myself busy, and to make some holiday ornaments for the season. I decided to use clay to make reindeer, snowmen, Santas, and elves. It was a big hit. Everyone loved them and said I should sell them… Well… I kept making more and eventually had enough to put in a display case at the local library. I just wanted to share with the kids and parents in the community to show them and say “look what I did”… That was also a big hit. The librarians had so many positive and encouraging comments. So… it was at that point then that I decided to make a go of it… and start seriously selling my little critters.
