Love Archives - Page 4 of 4

Carrie moved from Long Beach, CA to Quincy, MA about a year ago. She’s now just south of Boston and can be there in a matter of minutes. Providence, RI is also very close, and while “It’s like a different world here.“, she likes it very much and her dog, Francesca, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, loves the snow!

Carrie describes herself as an artist, animal lover, some-time nihilist, and some-time optimist. Carrie says, “I wish I could say that I had all kinds of free time for fun stuff, but I also work full time as a picture framer to help pay the bills. Between my job and keeping things organized at home, I don’t have much time. I do however make sure to spend lots of time walking my dog at the beach down the road.”

Carrie likes to play ice hockey. She says she’s terrible, but loves it. Check out all her wonderful illustrations at her store SepiaLepus.

SL_4

How long have you been creating?

Drawing dinosaurs was my thing when I was about 4. That’s as far back as I remember. I also had an obsession with drawing Sperm Whales battling Giant Squid in 2nd grade. I still love to create images involving creatures with tentacles. I was always drawing and that was what I was known for from elementary through high school.

SL_5

Do you have a favorite type of art style you do?

I don’t really have a favorite style. I do try to mix things up from time to time. It’s great to experiment and see how your work evolves. You take in so much in your day to day life and it influences you even if you don’t really notice it.

SL_15

Why did you start?

Good question. I can’t really remember! It’s been so long.

SL_14

Where do you get your materials?

I have tons of art supplies that I still use from when I was at art school. We had to use so many different mediums and techniques that I ended up with a surplus. I’m only now starting to have to replace things. Luckily, my frame shop has a pretty good array of supplies. I did get my Print Gocco and I continue to get supplies for it from Etsy sellers.

SL_13

Can you tell us a little of your process?

My sketch books are a constant source of material. I have so many books filled with doodles and quickly sketched out ideas. I often go back to something that I drew years ago to turn into a finished illustration. Something small like a little character study can turn into a whole series of paintings.

SL_12

Do you have a dedicated work area/room?

My small studio is just too small for me now! We are moving next month to a much larger place where I will have my own studio room upstairs and a basement. I have big plans for the basement. Metal arts and ceramics studio. We really lucked out with this new place.

SL_9

Is this your full-time job? Hobby? Fun?

I have a great time creating and I wish it was my full time job. I am working on making that happen. Maybe this will be the year for me!

SL_11

Where do you get your ideas?

Animals and nature. I love everything that creeps, crawls, swims etc! One thing that I have always been grateful for was the fact that I have never had a problem coming up with ideas. I only wish I had the time to finish more of them!

SL_8

Do you have a best seller?

I think that my best seller is my print called Arctic. It’s one of my favorites.

SL_1

What is your favorite?

Right now my favorite is Runnnn! because it makes me laugh.

SL_2

What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?

Making a living doing what I love. I hope to have my freelance career up and running. I would love to illustrate children’s books and of course keep creating and selling my prints.

SL_10

Have any advice for people trying to start their own handcrafted business?

I’m usually looking to others for advice! I would say don’t limit yourself to one venue. Etsy is great but it’s so easy to be buried especially now that there are so many shops. Get out and book some craft shows. There are some great indie arts and crafts fairs out there. I have only recently started doing some smaller shows and I have had pretty good luck. I’m hoping to make it a regular part of my weekends. I’m lucky that my husband likes to go with me!

SL_6

Favorite quote?

“Quo me amat, amat et canem meam. “Love me, love my dog.” St. Bernard

SL_7

I began my study of Japanese language in grade 9. Here in Canada we are required to take French until grade 8, and let me tell you the moment I was able to leave French behind, I jumped at it! I found French and I didn’t mesh well ;) My grade 8 French teacher was constantly poking at my inelegant pronunciation and telling us crazy stories about getting stuck in elevators or in traffic jams and desperately needing to go to the bathroom. (The poster above is from Nan Lawson’s Etsy shop – all proceeds from the sale of this poster will go to benefit Japan.)

Remember print from Etsy shop Design Twenty Six – 100% of proceeds to benefit Japan.

Japanese classes were like a breath of fresh air. My brain loved the logical structure of the language, and miraculously most of my Japanese teachers were delighted at my pronunciation. To top it all off our teachers introduced us to Japanese culture and taught us so many fascinating things about the country and its people. Amongst other things we learned about manga (Japanese comics), street culture, and origami. I was particularly struck by how the Japanese conception of the self was so different from our Western one. Here in North America I know many of us (myself included) are strong and opinionated individualists who express our feelings fairly openly. In stark contrast, most Japanese people do not speak of their opinions and feelings as openly as we would, and find their primary identity in groups.

Print donated to the Love for Japan Shop by Calamari Studio

This past week, as tragedy struck Japan, I learned a new word – “gaman”, which loosely translated, means strength and stoicism. This word has been a kind of glue that has helped the Japanese define themselves in the face of suffering – “It means that you have to suffer, you have to hold it in, not let it out” says Robert Brasch, a Japanese American businessman and president of Pacific Partners Inc. (source: LA Times. Learning this word gave voice to a feeling and understanding I already had about the people of Japan. What struck me at my core this past week were the voices of the Japanese people that I heard on the news, the emotion and fear that I heard. Hearing these uncharacteristic bursts of raw emotion was so much more poignant as it told me just how bad things are there right now.

Etsy shop, Mondo Felice is donating the proceeds from these party printables to Japan.

I know though, that that should not be my focus. Instead I have been inspired by so many individuals who are finding ways to give and help Japan heal and rebuild – either through giving via the Red Cross or through non-traditional methods. On Etsy right now, a number of tags have been designated so you can find items whose proceeds are going to Japan. Here are three I know of: Japan Relief, Artist Aid and Joy for Japan Also – at least one charity shop has sprung up on Etsy, Love For Japan. Throughout this post, you’ll find items from various etsy stores that are donating the proceeds from select items in their shops to benefit Japan.

Postcard donated to the Love for Japan Shop by Calamari Studio

I would love to hear if you are donating items from your shop to Japan or if you know of other unique ways we can donate to help Japan – please note this in the comments below.