As I have been doing as series of interviews of various Artist and Crafters, I thought I would give it a bash and answer my own questions. Its a bit cheeky really ,as I still have a couple of people who have sent me interviews that I haven't covered yet.
Sorry I do as always have a lot to say, so hope it doesn't go on to much and of course as always are the links to my Facebook page and Folksy shop
What is the main, Art/Craft you are known for?
Painting and teaching in both watercolours and acrylics.
Is this a full time job?/Second income/ Or hobby for you?
This is now my full time job, although I can't say I make a living at it, just yet, but I have been doing ok
How long have you been doing it?
Painting.......... just about all my life, I can't actually remember a time I didn't paint.
Being full time..... a little over 3 years
Could I have a little potted history of your creative life please?
I have always painted and drawn and did go to college to study Art as a 16 year old, but then my lovely husband arrived on the scene , we got married, had children and so it got put on the back burner.
I was then fortunate when my children were just coming into their teens, to be able to do a Foundation Art course, which led to me doing a Fine Art Degree. This then led onto a PGCE in post compulsory eduction training and I taught at a couple of colleges. Unfortunatley finances wouldn't allow me to work in the colleges for just the couple of hours a week, I was offered and I soon discovered that I was in a long line of people waiting for full time jobs to become available. So I went back to work in administration and NVQ assessment.
I did what I always do and jumped from job to job and then when my last job at the BBC came to the end. I decided, now was the time to throw all my energy into my Art work. I got a little studio at Clevedon Craft Centre and then 6 months later moved into a bigger one and taught Art lessons. The teaching was so popular I just ended up working full time teaching, and my Art work suffered, so last year I made the difficult decision to give up my studio and concentrate on my Art again. Thats where I am now, trying to find the right balance of teaching a few workshops and still being able to paint.
What do you love most about what you create and the process of creating it?
My enjoyment always comes with the challenge. I have never been able to paint the same subject over and over again, although I have found a subject that continually inspires and that is water, especially the sea. If I feel like I am repeating myself, I freeze and become unable to paint so for me it the learning process of painting, rather than the finished item that I love the most.
Is this your total creative output or do you also work in other areas and if so what are they?
Not by a long shot, I have my fingers in a lot of creative pies, an expression my father used to use springs to mind, Jack of all trades, master of none. In my time I have made jewellery, leaded glass, handbags, embroidery, crochet, lace, tatting, glass etching, pottery, sculpture... Oh the list is endless. One of my latest ones is Leather craft, which I have just done a course on with my Husband... Oh and I just did a day of stained glass painting.
Do you think that its important to specialise in one area or to have lots of creative outlets? Can one impact on the other, in positive or negative ways?
I used to worry about this a lot, I never seemed to settle to anything, but then I realised I actually always return to painting, once I realised that was my true passion, I can now indulge myself in all the other things as and when the mood takes me. But what I also know is, that all creative tasks feed into my painting, Its amazing how I can be wiring a piece of jewellery and suddenly see a light or reflection that makes me want to paint it in something, sometimes my paintings are made up of lots of those little moments, that I have put together in a scene.
What gets you out of bed in the morning and motivated to create wonderful things?
Actually thats a bit of a sticking point at the moment, my motivation has been very low since my Dad died in January, but slowly its coming back. But generally I just like the feel of paint and sploshing it around, I over think things sometimes and I should just concentrate on technique, as thats what keeps me awake at night.
Do you have the support of friends and family when crafting and do you and they value what you do?
My close family are amazing they all support me and what I do. My husband is my rock and I couldn't do what I do if he didn't work so hard to allow me this freedom. But I think some of my more distant family find it hard to understand. A lot of my friend have arrived in my life though some form of creativity so they are always understanding.
Describe what your prefect Art/crafting day would be like?
My perfect day would be my rucksack on my back full of paints and boards, walking along a beach with my husband and pup Fin, I would stop when I see something magical to paint, and while I was painting, I would also be able to watch my husband play with the dog along the beach and in the water.
What are your aims and goals for the future
That is the hardest of all questions, I just want to paint, but in order to do so I have to be able to sell it to pay for the next paints and canvases. I want to approach some Galleries and have a solo exhibition, I had hoped that would have been this year, but life has thrown a few curve balls at me recently so, I may give myself a bit more time. I think I am taking one step at a time and seeing what appears on the horizon.
