When I started thinking about taking the blog in a new direction last year, it was clear to me that I did not want to get away from the community I had created. If anything, I actually wanted to get closer and be more personal with you guys. Blogging everyday about art started to get kind of lonely and honestly exhausting. I also noticed that the sites I gravitated to most, all had a personal voice and that really appealed to me.
With the new direction, I decided going forward it was important for me to engage and invite the community of readers to be more involved with the posts as well. I wanted to give you guys a platform to ask some of your favorite artists things that you want to know. So today I'm starting a brand new (and experimental!) feature; twitterviews!
How it works is I tweet out on twitter that I'm planning on interviewing a specific artist and ask people to tweet back at me q's for them. Twitterviews are normally conducted on twitter, however my fulltime job makes that a beeeet difficult. I love twitter and it seemed like a perfect way to really engage you, readers. I hope you guys like it! Next week I'll be interviewing Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching. Tweet at me!
SO enough of my yammering! For my very first twitterview I asked Lucky Jackson to take part.
Lucky is a crafty maven who's been making beautiful embroidered art, selling in her Etsy shop and attending many of the craft fairs we love. She's also working on a 365 day embroidery project, that is simply incredible considering each piece is made in one day. One day!
I love how her work is really centered around pop culture, friends and family.
I thought she was ideal to twitterview since she crafts, makes art, runs her own business and has a family too! Keep in mind for after your reading, Lucky has just opened a shop to sell her 365 day pieces.
Let's get started!
How did you transition from working a regular job to being a full time artist? What were the steps you took? question from: @AshleyMSheppard
When my first daughter was born my husband entered me in an art show. I had nothing to show at the time. He told me to get started and I did. I fell in love with making art. When I was on maternity leave and Ellie was little I painted all the time. I really want to show my kids that you can have a career that you love. I kept doing shows and opened an Etsy shop. I just kept going...
How do you "make time" to produce beautiful intricate personal pieces daily whilst still doing a real job (running your business side of things)? question from: @leecrutchley
This is the part I find really hard. Making art is easy, but juggling emails, orders and shows...I am working on a system but haven't quite figured that part out yet. I do find that people are pretty patient with me as they know that I am at a loss for time.
I also have two little girls 4 and 6. I try to only work when they are at school and at night. I really try to steal snippets of time whenever I can to just get a bit of work done. The business part is an ongoing "work in progress". I hope by the end of it I will have it down to a fine art.
What do you do when you get stuck? Do you keep a sketchbook? questions from: @czarcastic
I keep several sketchbooks! I am constantly sketching out new ideas. I can't say that I am ever at a loss for new ideas. Just the time to make them!
What non-art things influence your practice the most? question from: @czarcastic
My family influences me a lot. Having kids is a constant inspiration. My friends are all really creative and they always give me new ideas.
I also am a book nut. I am constantly scouring illustration periodicals and art and craft books. Music, Movies... you name it.
What continues to drive you to create? question from: @russty
I am in love with art. I really honestly like making something new every day. I look forward to coming up with new ideas, sketching them out, assembling the work. I will be sad when the project is over. It might sound trite but this is what I was meant to do. It took me a long time to realize it but I am glad others recognized it and are so supportive.
How did you get your work seen by larger audiences? question from: @auralaniK
It happened pretty suddenly. I guess Uppercase Magazine tweeted about it and that was then mentioned by Miss Modish who then passed it on to Bleubird Vintage. Miss James wrote a wonderful piece and that was really the start of people knowing about the project.
How do you handle the uncertainty of earning an income as an artist; especially in tough economies? question from: @Meyertron
The last few years I have just been making very affordable art. When I do shows I have small pieces that start at $15. You just have to think like a business and not overvalue your work. My father once told me "It's only worth what someone will pay", a bit harsh I know but I am finding that there is truth in that. I challenge myself to make art that is accessible to everyone.
I have been doing the craft show circuit for a couple of years now so I have a pretty good idea of what people are willing to pay and produce items in a wide range of price points.
