KJASTUDIO CERAMICS SCOTLAND

KJASTUDIO NEW CERAMIC WORK

Some lovely new pieces coming out of the KJASTUDIO in preparation for Scone Palace POTFEST in June.  You can see more of Kirsty Jay Anderson's work here.  Well worth a visit!

Ceramics by KJA.ceramics

White and cobalt cup

Ceramic arrangements

Hanging planter

Lovely new work at KJAceramics, Scottish based maker - these are just a few.  Here's the Instagram link to see more.

Etsy Treasury

Post Holiday Etsy Treasuries

Creative Interviews : Alan Jordan Lew

World trotting with this great interview as I'm on holiday for a few weeks in Australia and Alan lives in the USA!  A great big thank you Alan for taking the time to answer these questions.

I’ve never been to Houston – what’s it like in terms of supporting art / design and craft?
I live on the edge of Houston. So living in the suburbs and not having a car that can make it downtown makes it almost impossible for me to be a part of that scene. Even though I was born here I don’t know my way around Downtown at all. I know my way around Los Angeles no problem. I just haven’t been to downtown Houston many times. Fortunately, there is one Gallery in the Clear Lake Area. Yes – just one. Since my move back to Houston from West Hollywood, CA in 2005 I have been active in that particular gallery. They have given me so much encouragement and showings over the years.

sksts number

How would you describe yourself in five words!

Nervous, inconsistent, creative, prime number (eccentric), nerdy

Give me the names of 3 objects or things you dislike most and why.

I hate human trafficking; personal profiteering for forced labour or sexual acts is completely immoral.
I hate Clear Lake. The area that I live in is a redundant, uncultured, Bible belt community.
I hate facebook. I really do. The funny thing is that I have been active on it for the last month, but have de-activated my profile over a dozen times. It causes nothing but drama in my life. Yet I suppose we all need a little once in awhile.

Tell me about something you've achieved?

Once won best of show at a themed juried event called Geek Art for some of my circuit board cities. (3-dimensional mixed media) So anyway, an interviewer (with the same last name as me) from the Houston Classical station wants to do an interview with me for a show they have called The Front Row. I was so messed up at the moment that I made a total ass of myself on the radio. I achieved a great review of my work, and achieved a horrible first impression from my words.

What’s your ideal working day?

Depends on when I actually get to sleep. Usually I like to work mornings till the evening. I always have music on in the background. I haven’t watched TV since early 2005 so I make a lot of time for myself creatively. No ringing cell phones and no knocks on the door makes things flow much easier. I will self medicate myself throughout the day. It keeps me going. Having a cat around is a huge plus. Without one lately it has honestly been harder to work.

Who influences you creatively?

W. Amadeo Mozart, Robert Johnson, Conlon Nancarrow, Iannis Xenakis, Quincy Jones, The White Stripes, Nine Inch Nails, Aphex Twin, cats and VST developers. Even though they are all musicians, they make a huge impact on my visual work.

Roots of Repetition

Are you usually late, early or right on time?

For some reason it is always different. It really depends on where you got to be. In the past I would make a point to show up late for a certain event. I really didn’t think it was cool to show up early. Haha. Now I tend to be a lot more responsible.

Holiday Owl

Do you like to shop?

I love to shop, but I haven’t in years. When ever I get a little money it seems to slip away pretty fast. If I had the money, I would most likely spend it on pro-audio equipment which was a trend in my past. I am always looking up new MIDI gear even when I’m broke. My art work budget is extremely small. All I really have to buy for that is cheap magazines, clearance books, glue sticks, and I will always have scissors. You can find wood being thrown out anywhere.

Where would you go in the world for inspiration.

I have always wanted to go to Vienna, Austria. When I was a child going to Mostly Mozart Festivals I would always enter their contest for a free trip. Never been, but it would honestly be a pilgrimage for me to walk the same streets as Mozart did.

Galvestone Girl

What piece of work are you most proud of

There is no particular piece or work that I have the most pride for. I just know (in my mind) which ones are presentable, and which ones are not.

Moonshine

What would you like to develop further or learn to do

To have peace of mind, and being a happier person. I do a lot of music programming, but would love to be a music software creator. That however is a different ball game.

Credit Control

Who do you think I should interview next

Perhaps 22 year old contemporary artist Jordan Sills. She lives in Downtown Houston, and is very active in the Houston Arts Scene. I have never met her, but would love to. Her work is very interestingly bold.

Ironic? by Jordan Sills

 Alan's links

Website - http://www.inwex.net

Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/fewbluehue

Artyzan At The Emporium

Debbie

Detail of Debbie's work

Marianne

Detail of Marianne's work

Jewelery designer Susan Urquhart

Exciting new creative adventure in Kirkcaldy's High Street - the opening of 'The Emporium' featuring Artyzan and other local makers, artists and designers.

Found on Folksy

Thank you 'Found on Folksy' for featuring Kirsty Cat with her favourite Scottish food!

Folksy Feature



Folksy Features in Blues

New Folksy Feature in collaboration with Pinterest. So I had a try out. It took a wee while to produce and I do find Folksy a wee bit slower to work with - it doesn't seem to have a colour selector. Has anyone else tried it?

Priscilla Jones : Creative Interview

Still on the trail of UK creatives, let me introduce you to Priscilla Jones who's a prolific artist and maker dividing her time between many engagements.  Once again Priscilla, thank you so much for taking the time in your very busy schedule to let us find out about who's behind the work.

So on with the questions.

Describe yourself in five words and how would your friends describe you (in five)!!

Friends - Creative, passionate artist, brilliant friend    Me - Manic mad bunny loving collector

How is work (and this year) for you at the moment. – anything new on the boil

Yes lots of new and exciting things on the go! I recently resigned from my part time teaching post in HE which will enable me to focus more on my work and running independent workshops.

I have just been teaching at a very special workshop in Richmond at Natural Retreats Yorkshire Dales, called structure and surface: creating 3D sculptures with wax, wire, fabric, paper and found materials Beth Nicholls the organizer of the event is just amazing a very special person who had a dream of running creative retreats in the UK and I was so glad to be part of the very first one…see www.dowhatyouloveforlife.com for more information.

This was an amazing new experience and gave me a longer contact time with a new group of creative individuals people attending the workshops from all over the world! I felt very honoured to be part of this experience. I met lots of interesting creative’s all on there own journey and this retreat has created so many really useful contacts for me with the possibility of running more workshops outside the UK

I am in the process of developing a mentoring group in the North Lancashire/South Cumbria area, this will be a more individually centred programme of workshops and tutorials, and anyone can join at any level in your practice from wanting to learn more practical techniques to developing your professional portfolio of work

I have other workshops coming up in Thirsk in May also Ribchester and Reading in July, check my web site for details www.priscillajones.co.uk

I have been selected to feature in another new book it’s a bit of a secret and I am not allowed to tell anyone yet what the book is about so will keep you posted on this one!

I am also going to have a range of rubber stamps launched in the USA later this year and a range of giclee print with a company in the North East called Jesmond Design Studio they have just launched a new retail space at Kendals in Newcastle. www.jesmonddesignstudio.com

I have also been offered a solo show in Spain for early next year so I will have a lot of new work to create for this…… very exciting and also showing work for the first time at the Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey in Devon in June. www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk

What do you love most about what you do and is there a down side
The upside is being able to do what you love the most all of the time and to see your work develop and grow.

The downside is it is hard to make a living from this and you sometimes have to compromise what you do to make your work saleable. Also many galleries are suffering because of the economic climate and so selling work direct to your customers and via the web is becoming a much bigger part of your working life. Many galleries are closing or changing what they sell so I find this part of the process is more demanding of my time where as in the past I could send work to galleries and they would do all the selling for me that was a great.

In your portfolio what are you most happy with

At the moment my larger scaled work is working really well, my large pieces are 100 x 70cm and it has given me the chance to really explore scale.

What’s your ideal working day

To get some good results from whatever I am working on and be pleased with the outcome, and not have to spend a big chunk of the day on emails.

Peter Clark

Who influences you creatively

I adore Peter Clark’s collages and Elaine Pamphilon paintings.

What’s your PLAN B

I don’t think I have one, I am always trying different things to sustain a steady income but it’s hard to spread yourself so thin so I guess my plan B is not to teach so much but focuses more on my own practice and develop new ideas!

Where’s your own favourite place to work

At home in my studio, its very quite and I have all my materials at hand, we live very close to the sea so my environment is very precious to me the colours of buildings and changing light in the bay is a constant source of inspiration.

How is work (and this year) for you at the moment.

Work is great, I am loving the new scale I am working at and having more time to focus on what I am making rather thank have to spend so much time teaching.  I do want to explore new imagery too and hopefully I will have more chance to do this. I have some fantastic opportunities coming up this year and I am confident in what I’m doing, the future is looking very bright!

Any advice for Ziggy the rabbit
Make sure you have lots of kiddy kippers in the garden!

Here are Priscilla link's

wwwpriscillajones.co.uk

Priscilla has been entered for an award in the Craft & Design Selected Awards 2011 To vote for her, please click the link http://www.craftmaker.co.uk/priscillajones/ - Follow Priscilla

Tile Tuesday : stitchdraw



stitchdraw

 Rosie James Bio



matouenpelouche : Creative Interview

Australia's calling this week meeting great and interesting artisans such as Sam Battersby aka Matou en Peluche who's principally herself, chief artist, illustrator and drawing machine!


Sam is also assisted by a partner who's a technical genius and all round good guy - Matou en Peluche means Plush Tomcat and under this banner produces original drawings, cards, posters, prints and badges.


Sam's been drawing and making things enthusiastically since whenever. Favourite thing is to spend the day drawing - preferably lovely looking girls - drinking cups of tea and listening to music. She thinks she's a bit of a closet hermit! 

Mermaid Art

Why do you do what you do?

I've always enjoyed making and creating! I've worked in many different mediums, oils, clay, decoupage e.t.c. but I always come back to drawing. I think I like the absolute control you get with a pencil in your hand! I also find the actually process both rewarding and very relaxing.

A walk in Provence

Do you work in silence or music blasting or ......?

When I'm initially nutting out an idea, silence. If I've got the basics down and am doing the final bits then a bit of music never goes astray!

Cute Girls

What's your routine before you create ?

My routine is I don't have one - it's all a bit in the lap of the gods!

Who's your favourite designer / artist / musician or song at the moment?

I'm very inspired by Mad Men actually at the moment. I'm watching season 4 episode by episode on I-tunes and it's just the best thing since sliced bread in my opinion!

Ursula

Chocolate or cheese?

Cheese most definitely! Preferably brie, camembert, jarlsberg or blue castello!

What is your PLAN B?..

I teach English as a second language to students from overseas.

Queen Nefertiti

What have you learned about being a creative?

I've learned that you must above all be patient and persevere.


Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions and I wish you lots of success and happiness in everything you do!


Sam's links    

Etsy Shop


Blog


Website

Tile Tuesday

Top Left – girliepains

Middle Left – Michelemaule

Bottom Left – Leung Kayin

Top Right – Hollie Brown

Middle Right – Coramantic

Bottom Right – thewheatfield

Etsy Treasury

Thank you Brooke for choosing one of my artworks for this treasury!!

Tile Tuesday

Top Left – Art Angel 1

Middle Left – Matteo Cocci 

Bottom Left – Priscilla Jones 

Top Right – Elsa Mora 

Middle Right – In Your Space Collaborative Arts 

Bottom Right - Tolentinoed 

Tile Tuesday

Top Left - Anna Peach

Middle Left – Shellie Holden

Bottom Left – Chris Kenny

Top Right – Kyoko Imazu

Middle Right – Anahi Decanio

Bottom Right - Pookaqueen 

Kickcan & Conkers Interview

Creative Interviews takes me to France this week and a particular person that inspired me with her great eye for detail, style and dedication to producing one of my favourite sites on the web. I'm talking about a Yorkshire rose now living in France - Deborah Beau. I just want to thank Debs for giving up her time and great patience with my technical problems in uploading this. We got there in the end!

Photo Collage by Zoe

So Deborah, a Yorkshire lass in France – does the mix work LOL

Well, it’s taken me over twenty years but I’ve finally found the right balance – a huge garden full of fig, pomegranate and olive trees surrounded by an old dry stone wall! The Yorkshire Dales meet The Mediterranean, that’s a good enough mix for me. After all, to quote Voltaire, maybe the key to happiness is to “cultiver son jardin”.

How would you describe yourself in five words and how would you like people to describe you?

“A bit of a dreamer”… or “Square peg in round hole”… How would I like people to describe me? Well, the French always call me “charming”, “elle est charmante Déborah…” , which I never quite know how to take. I’d much rather hear them say that I have “le coeur sur la main” (big-hearted / generous).

Give me the names of 3 objects or things you dislike most and why

I have to say that I dislike a lot of things. I’m a very difficult person to live with I think… If I have to limit myself to three today I would say Meat - I’ve been a vegetarian for almost thirty years, I really can’t stand the stuff! Waste, I hate wasting anything. Time, food, water, money, energy – the list is long. I am adamant that our children will grow up to respect our planet and its people. Let’s just say that I was more than happy to leave behind the inescapable, all-pervading British Class System.

Tell me about something you've achieved?

Well, I’d love to be able to tell you that I’ve finally passed my driving test but I’m 44 years’ old and somehow I just don’t think that’s going to happen! I’m working very hard to be myself, such a classic mid-life crisis LOL! I have a First Class Hons. French and Drama degree from Goldsmiths and up until I met my husband and came to live in France the theatre was all I lived for.

I love the smell of grease paint but somehow lost myself through years of translating monotonous technical documents, manuals and market research. I’ve finally decided to go back to being creative, to being myself, hence my blog and future shop.

Where do you get the time to maintain such a comprehensive and visually stunning site – your time management skills must be exemplary

I make time! I love Kickcan & Conkers, it’s as simple as that. We have three wonderful, demanding kids, a big house that we are renovating ourselves and a large garden in need of lots of tender loving care so I’m very busy but when you are motivated and passionate about something you always find time, don’t you? (Late to bed – early to rise seems to be the secret!)


Who or what influences your blog and do you have an absolute favourite you just can’t see past

I have very eclectic tastes I think. Kickcan & Conkers naturally seems to have become child-oriented (for big and little kids alike), with a strong emphasis on vintage finds, art, illustration, photography and design. My Tumblr is more experimental, more diverse. I like them both.

Tumblr

I don’t really plan anything, I just post whatever catches my eye. I go out of my way to find unusual artists, makers and designers, often living outside Europe. I have discovered so many wonderful, inspiring people, it would be hard to have to choose an absolute favourite.

Camilla's Photography

I get my daily art fix from Hazel over at the Art Room Plant and I love Camilla’s photography and reading about her life in Montana. Joel’s creativity never ceases to amaze me, he’s very talented and will go far I think.

Tonis & Marlen

At the moment I’m really enthusiastic about Tonis & Marlen , a creative couple from Estonia, Sérgio Dias, a toy designer from Portugal, Chris Theiss, a ceramist / cardboard-art making genius from the States and I love Jessica Quinn’s new work.

Sergio Dias

Where would you go in the world for inspiration

Ilkley Moors – I’m not going to start doing my Cathy and Heathcliff bit but nowhere inspires me more than Ilkley Moors, I have heather and granite in my veins I think. Other than that, I would love to go to India, Poland and Russia.

Chris Theiss

Are you usually late, early or right on time?

Oh I try, I really do, but three kids and near-round-the-clock enthusiastic blogging do not seem to equate with meticulous time-keeping. I’m always, always late these days.

Ilkley Moor

Do you like to shop and if so for what

I’m quite happy to shop online for most things these days (we live in the country) but I wouldn’t miss our weekend trip to the market in Sommières for the world.


Any advice for Ziggy  Be yourself, everyone else is already taken!


Deborah's links -

Kickcan & Conkers

Tumblr 

Twitter