Artist Spotlight - Jill Craig

 

Tell us a bit about yourself

There was something magical that would always happen when the paints came out in elementary school.  The blank paper, the colors, the brushes, the freedom to let my creativity run wild was irresistible to me.  I knew this was the job for me, no question about it; I was going to be an artist!

But how could I support myself painting and drawing?  Although I graduated with a degree in fine art with an emphasis on painting and printmaking, the art gallery world didn’t seem a comfortable fit for me at that time.  Therefore, as I considered careers, which would provide financial stability, becoming an elementary teacher would probably be a much better choice.  Plus there were those summer vacations!  Yes, then I could spend those summers painting and letting all that creativity loose, perfect!

Unfortunately, summer was never enough time to explore this missing part of my life.  In my continued search over the following years for a career that blended creativity and challenge I worked within the interior design and visual merchandising fields. Both careers involved working with color, balance and form which was very creative and fun.  Yet still missing was the opportunity to play with a blank canvas, splash in the paint and give life to a vision only I could see.

Maybe painting and making a product that I could sell would be the answer?   Based on my love of textiles I developed a line of hand painted decorative pillows, tablecloths and napkins.  Shortly I learned the price I would need to charge per piece would far exceed what the retail market would pay. It was through my research into having these products manufactured that I stumbled into the world of surface pattern design.   Enrolled in a series of surface design classes in the mid 90’s I was fortunate to meet two other very talented designers.  We formed a studio, created our portfolios and off we marched to exhibit at Surtex.  What a grand and eye opening experience for us, this was exactly the career I had been searching for all these years. We exhibited together at Surtex and licensed our work for many years to manufacturers and retail businesses.

Due to my exposure at Surtex I was hired as an in-house designer for a ceramic dishware manufacturer.   While working with this manufacturer I also had the opportunity to work with many freelance designers in providing art direction, not only for our in-house line of products but also for custom designs requested by our retail clients.  Each October and May I enjoyed doing the visual merchandising of our showroom during the Tabletop Shows in New York, it was a nice little chance to revisit that creative expression. 

After about 10 years working in-house I returned to freelancing yet continue to work on a contract basis with my former employer.  Since my freelancing days of long ago the industry and Surtex have changed.   We have gone from hand painting designs on paper to now submitting digital files.   Licensing has also changed over the years with options ranging from limited use, exclusive use, and much more common now, flat fee and outright purchase.  Freelance marketing strategies now are more varied to include websites, blogs, print on demand, Etsy, as well as exhibiting at industry shows.  Becoming a member of artlicensingshow.com has been an invaluable source providing connections with manufacturers, sharing industry news and offering an open and supportive community of very talented designers.

My connection with other designers and various design blogs and websites help me navigate the waters, smooth out the ride and help keep me engaged and positive on this freelance journey. Those who admit to having their doubts about being talented enough to forge through the difficult times encourage me.  There are times when that little personal critic sits on my shoulder and tries to convince me to give it all up, tells me I’m not cut out for this business.  I cherish and flourish during the days that little guy has no words for me. Maybe success isn’t a measure of what I can do or create on a given day but more about what I learned during the process.  Maybe it was the way those colors merged together in that little corner of my watercolor, or how that texture over there created interest.  Relying on these examples as measurements of my success for the day, I stockpile them in preparation for the next conversation with that little demon.

Apart from a specific theme or subject I have repeatedly tried to identify my style and have wrestled with this issue all these years.  As it has been with my creative career choices, how could I choose just one area of interest? All these career endeavors have added layers of complementary elements, each supporting the other.  As far as branding a specific art style I skip along a narrow path between traditional and painterly to graphic and whimsical styles.  Trying to convince myself to let one go and concentrate on the other seems such an impossible task for me. In many ways this split personality of styles has been a positive in my work with manufacturers and retailers.  For now, a specific brand style may remain illusive for me but I enjoy having these options for the flexibility and diversity of design work that may come my way.

So many things can be the catalyst of inspiration for me.  Of course nature and our visual world bring countless opportunities for creative expression, but also a memory, word or phrase, even music can take me to the drawing board.  I am also inspired by the work of other designers and so thankful they are willing to share information selflessly and offer support when I fear I am off track.

I love watercolor and it’s surprises, but all paints and inks are good for the cause.  Chalk and colored pencils have a home here in my studio, add a bit of collage material and stamping tools and the day is never long enough.  Needless to say, digital art has slipped in and adds a whole new experience to my creative life.   The variety of digital brushes, tools, filters and techniques are so numerous I often feel overwhelmed but am continually curious and anxious to explore them. 

I tend to be a night owl especially if I am working on my own collections, sometimes I just get lost in the process of creating, that rather obsessive drive you just can’t stop. If there is a deadline looming I can be found in the studio early and eager.  I guess this goes along with my split personality of style, the chameleon freelancer striving to make it all work.

Chocolate will always remain a favorite choice to satisfy a moment of craving, just as putting the final touch on a design satisfies the joy of being an artist.  I look forward to continuing on this unique journey, with the challenges, the new experiences and especially to breath life into the countless designs dancing through my mind.

You can find Jill:
Email:  jillcraig2@comcast.net

Website: www.jillcraigdesign.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jillcraigdesign

Member: artlicensingshow.com

Want to be spotlighted? email me info@AnnGraphics.com. I am looking forward to your comments and thanks for sharing this great information on social media.

 

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Agent Spotlight - Brenda Manley Designs

How long have you been in business and how did you come to be an agent? 
I worked 16 years for a paper tableware manufacturer in multiple positions.  Started as a graphic designer for catalogs, then promoted to designer, senior designer, assistant manager and finally design manager.  I created trend briefs, art directed and was an art buyer/licensee.  I had been attending Surtex for 10+ years.  At each show without fail, I was in complete awe of all the insane talent oozing from each booth. The creativity was intoxicating!  I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit so I decided to switch sides of the proverbial table. Since I am an artist first, my original intention was to freelance on my own.  Along the way I met emerging talent who had little experience in this industry. In my attempts to help some of them my agency developed organically. Some may see me being an artist as confusing while being an agent at the same time.  I reassure them that my art directing skills are stronger and that my creative output is rather infrequent. I truly feel being an artist combined with 16 years of manufacturing experience is a win/win situation.  I understand the demands of manufacturing deadlines and know the challenges designers face.  I thrive being the conduit to both sides!  So while we are in our 3rd year of business I bring over 28 years of design experience to the table with 19 of those years specializing in the social expressions/surface design industry.  

(Editor's note: you can click images to view larger)

Angel Gerardo - AG_0042_Joy to the World_CS

Who are the manufacturers you work with - how did you establish those relationships?

Relationships have been established via exhibiting at trade shows.  I have had the pleasure working with many outstanding manufacturers, some of which have requested to remain anonymous.  However, the following have granted permission to publish:  Amscan, Apache Mills, Claire’s Accessories, Clever Factory, C.R. Gibson, Demdaco, Design Design, Design House Greetings, DesignScapes, LLC, Groupe-Editor, Hallmark, Igloo, International Greetings, Michael Miller Fabrics, Mohawk, National Imports, Northcott Fabrics, Jillson Roberts, Lenox, Pier 1, Seaman Paper, Sterling Brands, Sullivan Paper, The Lindy Bowman Co., TJX, Unique and Wigwam Mills.

Do you have employees/help? 

I have recently been employing the help of a contractor who helps with admin and accounting.  This frees me up to do what I do best - support my artists, art direct, network and secure projects for our talented team!

Alyssa Kays - AKD_15C001_Candy_Christmas_Train_Card_OP

How do you market artists? 

Many ways!  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, newsletters, advertising in trade publications and exhibiting at trade shows. Oh, and several interviews here and there ;-)

What do you look for in an Artist? 

Passion, design style, originality, color sense, technical skills (PS and AI expert level) and authenticity as an individual.

Amiee Sue Malott - ASM_16078_Baby Collection

How much work do you expect an artists to create? 

I ask that they produce 12 new designs a month.  While this may vary per designer due to design style, it is a suggested guideline.  This helps them develop as an artist (the more we create, the more we develop).  It also helps keep our portfolio fresh so we are relevant to manufacturers who have little to no development time. 

Any great news you would like to share?  

We have a very desirable booth location this year at Surtex.  We are in booth 2707 - right in front of the entrance!  I’m so excited I can barely stand it!  Oh, and I also I have some very exciting news but it’s too soon to share.  Stay tuned!

Emma Schonenberg - ES_EXG16_005_Exotic_Garedn_01_OP_B

How has the Art Licensing business changed over the years?

I’ve seen a shift in manufacturers moving away from licensing and procuring artwork via purchasing artwork out right - full buy out.  This works well if manufacturers are equipped with an in house team to manipulate the artwork.  However, on the flip side, there are still many viable licensing opportunities available.  Each has it’s advantages and disadvantages.

Any advice or information you would like to share? 

I would say the most valuable piece of advice is to show up everyday no matter the circumstances.  Release the outcome of what you think it should look like. Just keep creating, dreaming, journaling and keep doing the necessary actions to achieve the next level on one’s goal/bucket list DESPITE the challenges, mistakes and disappointments.  For it is in these trying times that our character develops.  One with character, preparedness, and quality content rarely relies on luck to succeed - THEY FLOURISH!

You can find Brenda Manley Designs:

website: brendamanleydesigns.com
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brenda_manley_designs/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brenda.manley.102/

Want to be spotlighted? email me info@AnnGraphics.com. I am looking forward to your comments and thanks for sharing this great information on social media.

 

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Agent Spotlight - Debby Leggat, Blue Sky Art & Design

 

How long have you been in business and how did you come to be an agent?
My career as a licensing agent began in 1994 when I started the licensing division at Wild Apple Graphics. Wild Apple was an established poster publisher, and a licensing division was a natural extension since, with a treasure trove of art, manufacturers were already approaching them with requests to use images on their products. It was a wonderful opportunity for me. My first choice would have been licensed artist myself, but a decided lack of ability disqualified me so I got to do the next best thing, which is to find licensing partners for the very talented artists I represent. Before becoming a licensing agent I worked at House & Garden magazine, sold advertising at Travel & Leisure, and handled public relations for an international trade group. All my prior experience has been very useful in what I do now.

What do you love most about the art licensing business?
There are so many things! Among them are:
• Finding talent that I believe has licensing potential and being proved right;
• Sending (big!) royalty checks to artists. Really, the bigger the better. If the artists are doing well, so is Blue Sky;
• Putting artists and manufacturers together. It’s extremely satisfying to find the perfect fit between image and product;
• Developing relationships and friendships with artists, manufacturers, and other agents. There are a lot of wonderful, talented, interesting, and hard-working people in art licensing, and I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy getting to know them through working together.

What do you like least about the art licensing business?
No question, dealing with copyright infringement. It quite literally makes me sick. I’m happy to say that often we have been able to convert a piracy to a legitimate license. There are times when infringement is inadvertent and not malicious, and the manufacturer is usually anxious to making things right.  However there are also those times when the infringement is deliberate and there’s a ‘guess we didn’t get away with that’ or a ‘we dispute your claim and will keep the dispute going forever until you go away’ attitude, or a ‘we’re too big for you to fight’ approach which is infuriating. Art Licensing is a relatively small field so word can travel pretty fast about the bad actors, but there is still far too much.

Who are the manufacturers you work with - how did you establish those relationships?
We work with manufacturers across the board from stationery to decorative accessories, wall décor, rugs and mats, tabletop and ceramics, gift. Many of our relationships are long—standing, established years ago and are on-going. For the most part they began at a trade show where the licensees were exhibiting or through cold calling and e-mailing. There’s no magic or trick to finding licensees: perusing trade publications, shopping the stores, both big box and small gift shops, and attending the trade shows are the obvious ways to find prospects. After that it’s a matter of perseverance.

How do you market artists?
By attending the gift and trade markets in Atlanta and New York, which gives us the opportunity to meet face-to-face with our licensees. We exhibit at Surtex, but sporadically. Last year was very good for us, so we’ll be there again in May, but we evaluate after every show to determine it’s worth.

Beyond that we market artists largely through email: I believe in edited, tailored presentations designed to appeal to whichever category or specific licensee we’re targeting. I want my contacts to want to open the submissions that come from Blue Sky because they’re relevant to what the manufacturer is doing.  We’re conscious of not wanting to waste anyone’s precious time.

Finally, we use our website and facebook page as much as possible. Our website is up-dated frequently to reflect the newest images and facebook allows for regular up-dates on what’s happening with our artists and licensees.

What do you look for in an Artist?
We look for:
• Applicability of the artwork to a range of products. If I can’t easily visualize it on a minimum of three to four product categories it probably won’t work;
• The artist’s recognition that art licensing is a commercial venture. That means the work may have to follow trends, be altered to suit a licensee’s needs and might not be used at all;
• The artist’s commitment to licensing by producing new work regularly, ability to resist discouragement, and patience, since the payoff can be a long ways out;
• An artist that sees licensing representation as a partnership—neither of us works for the other, but we are working together to build something.

How much work do you expect an artists to create?
I’ve never understood this question. It’s a little like asking ‘How successful do you want to be?’ I know that every artist produces new work at his or her own rate, but the simple answer is the more art that’s produced the greater the likelihood of success. That said, one artist can produce ten pieces that don’t go anywhere, another can produce one that gets licensed all over, so in that case it’s a matter of quality over quantity.

There really is no short answer either, but I will say that Jane Maday, one of Blue Sky’s top artists is also the top producer of new work. She was already an experienced licensed artist when we started working together, but even so, she never stops pushing herself in new directions with techniques and approaches so her licensing program will move into new categories. She treats art licensing as the full-time job that it is and that discipline and ambition are largely responsible for her success

How has the Art Licensing business changed over the years?
When I started in art licensing there was a lot of resistance from manufacturers to using outside artists. Many companies had in-house design staff so they couldn’t see incurring additional expense for something they already had, they felt the accounting was going to be a hassle, and they’d have to increase prices to accommodate the royalty. Then, as it became clear that certain artists like Mary Engelbreit, Susan Winget and some others were selling a lot of product, those attitudes started to shift; before very long a lot of companies had given up their in-house artists and began to rely exclusively on outside artwork.

Then the internet provided a huge shift in the art licensing business. The advent of email and the now ubiquitous image software removed any barriers to entry for would-be art licensors. Many bloggers, Etsy shop owners and individual artists with computer connections are now successful art licensors. There’s more competition, but there are more opportunities as well.

What’s new at Blue Sky Art & Design?
There’s always great new artwork. Jane Maday is at work on a wonderful series of Vintage Journal Sketches that she’s painting in an old ledger bought online. There are already over 40 images of wildlife, Spring, coastal, inspiration, and holiday to name just a few of the themes. Veteran licensed artist Wendy Russell is adding to her Bird Dog series which got an immediate and enthusiastic response when first introduced.

In addition, Blue Sky has recently added several talented, experienced and FUN artists: Swirly Designs, comprised of husband and wife Paul and Lianne Stoddard make bright, colorful and imaginative ornaments from clay. Their work is already being developed for collectibles and gifts. Their images are also translated to flat art for multiple other uses; Nancy Archer is hard at work on new collections of patterns for stationery, fabric, tabletop and more; and artist Barbara Behr, well-known in Germany and new to the American market is making a big impression with her Victoriana collages and imaginative compositions. All this newness keeps things exciting!

You can find Blue Sky Art & Design
www.blueskyartandddesign.com
https://www.facebook.com/BlueSkyArtDesignInc/
Surtex 2017 booth #2824 May 21-23, 2017
debby@blueskyartanddesign.com

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Artist Spotlight - Beth Grove

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
I did go to art school, but I’d have to say my biggest teacher has been experience and PRACTICE - a lot of PRACTICE. I learned a lot about design from my first job doing page layout for a crop-dusting magazine. My second job using my skills as an artist was working in the art department of a greeting card company called Carol Wilson Fine Arts, Inc., where I put in a lot of hours painting watercolors. For the last four years I’ve been painting in my home studio, and licensing to home decor and gift markets.

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
I mostly work in watercolors, but to keep up with the constantly changing trends in licensing, I’ve started creating watercolors in a new style. My newest work is a loose watercolor over a pen and ink drawing, or sometimes watercolor over graphite.

What inspires you. Where do you get inspiration from?
I love to create Pinterest boards. They are the ultimate in what used to be called mood boards. For every new collection I create, I start a Pinterest board with a color story and style concept. I refer back to it throughout the project to make sure I keep on track with what the collection needs to look like.

How did you start licensing your art?
While I was working at the greeting card company, I felt I needed to look into how an artist might make a living if they didn’t have a full-time position within a company. As the job market was changing, I saw a trend of artist becoming self employed, finding contract work and doing freelance jobs. That’s when I discovered licensing. To be honest, I don’t remember exactly where I first learned about it, but I quickly got to work looking for an agent, and have been working with Wild Apple Graphics for the past four years.

What are you working on now?
SURTEX!! I’m trying to create as much art as possible to send to the show with my agent.

Anything else you would like to share with us?
I’m very excited about a new contract for my Lilac Dream Collection. It will be used to produce boxes, wine tubes, journals, diaries, sketchbooks, and photo albums. Here’s a picture of the journal. 

Any great advice for our readers?
It works well for manufacturers when the art is in layers so they can move things around, and build the art in different formats to fit all types of products. I scan my watercolors as separate pieces and work in Photoshop to complete the art.

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
Early riser. I’m a lot sharper in the morning, and it’s a quiet time of day when I can get a lot of work done without interruptions.

You can find Beth:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistBethGrove/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Agent’s Website: www.wildapple.com
My Website: http://bethgrove.com
Email: bgrovework@aol.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/colorcollector/

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send an email: info@AnnGraphics.com

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Artist Spotlight - Anna Ramsay

Hope you enjoy Anna's patterns and colors as much as I do!

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
I have been running my own business, designing and illustrating since 2007. I recently started building my licensing portfolio and hope to work with more companies in the paper,  home decor and fabric industries.

I initially went to art school to become a painter but after being there a year my practical nature steered me to new paths where I eventually discovered and studied graphic design. Once working in the field I was introduced to illustration and started drawing again. Pattern and colour are two things that have always tugged at my heart. I love bright and bold but I also love intricate and interesting.

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
My background gives the ability to combine traditional and digital techniques. I love to experiment with new mediums and bounce back and forth between them. The medium I use most is ink, as it vectorizes well, and I spent some time this last year working on a series in guache paint called 'Back Yard Birding'.

What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
My interests in nature, gardening, history and craft tend to inspire my work the most, along with people watching and books - I listen to a lot of audio books while I work.

What are you working on now?
I am very excited to be collaborating with my husband on a line of ceramics that we will be launching in the new year. He designs and creates the forms and I create and apply the surface designs. The work can be found at www.ramsayceramics.ca

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
It depends on the projects I am working on! But I am mostly up with the sun.

What is your favorite food?
Anything we grew in our garden!

You can find Anna:
info@annaramsay.com 
annaramsay.com
ramsayceramics.ca      
ramsaystudio.etsy.com
twitter.com/#!/annastowe
facebook.com/axstowe

THANK YOU for stopping by my blog!

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send me an email: anntroe@cox.net

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Artist Spotlight - Susanne Kasielke

I met Susanne at Surtex last month - Can't wait to see what she does next!

(click photos to view larger).

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
For as long as I can remember I loved to draw and my favorite medium has always been pencil & paper. After finishing highschool I only dreamt of making money while being creative. I decided to study Mathematics instead - because that was the other thing I was good at. But let's put it this way: It wasn't for me. After one semester I knew I had to figure out a way of pursuing my creative dream.

I found a wonderful college which highly valued original fine art techniques & at the same time offered a graphic design education. Until that point I was convinced that working on a computer was a necessary evil to make a living. I couldn't have been more wrong: It took a while but I got completely hooked: I realized how much fun & how many endless possibilities working digitally offered. I do think that it's important for artists to know & understand old painting techniques; I was very lucky to have been taught by incredible & inspiring teachers.

A Master's degree in fine arts & graphic design and 5 years later I started as a graphic design intern in a big advertisement agency in Munich/Germany. Just to show everyone that I've tried the agency path but that it wasn't for me. I ended up staying for 4 years, because surprisingly I really liked it (most of the time). I've worked with wonderful people and learned incredibly much. These  years of professional experience showed me what I'm capable of, what my strengths are & how the business works.

When I moved to DC in 2009 it was the perfect moment to start fresh, work freelance & focus on my art. If I had known how many endless possibilities for creative people existed I would have made this switch sooner!


What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
I think that all my artwork – painting, pattern or drawing – shows my love for antiques. I'm fascinated by old & vintage objects, because they carry so many memories & always tell a story. My inspiration is basically everywhere – by noticing a broken chair in the streets, by strolling around flea markets or by seeing an old wall with paint coming off. Once upon a time I started to collect vintage objects (preferably old suitcases & books). Old things represent the past. Without the past we wouldn't have precious & important memories and we wouldn't be able to grow & learn. I personally like to link memories to objects. It's very important to me to remember and appreciate history – It's what brought us to this moment.

But despite all things vintage, there are so many incredibly talented designers, artists & crafters out there – every day I'm inspired & amazed. I can't get enough of following them on their creative paths. They are the ones who teach & introduce me to (creative) possibilities that I haven't thought of. I am learning every day & I am so thankful to them for inspiring & helping me pursuing my creative dream.

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
I live by the motto: Do one thing every day that makes you happy! For me that means to being creative: to paint, illustrate or design.

I work in very different mediums, but at the end there's always a digital connection. For my DC LOVE illustrations & products (above), I use my all time favorite medium: pencil. As a next step the finished drawing is scanned and digitally colored. The same goes for my repeating patterns. I usually start with hand-drawn sketches & doodles. Once digitalized I bring the different elements together by collaging & layering. When I paint, my way of expressing is abstract. I work with canvas & handmade paper by using gesso and different layers of paint (oil and acrylic color). Between those layers I use sandpaper to bring out structure and texture. The combination of sanding, scratching and applying layers of paint emphasizes special areas but at the same time it brings out unexpected shapes and forms.

What are you working on now?
As I mentioned before I'm working in very different mediums and I've been struggling with integrating the abstract paintings into my patterns. That's why I was especially over the moon, when DENY DESIGNS (http://www.denydesigns.com/collections/artist/ar-susanne-kasielke) chose to license 16 vintage inspired patterns including my Dictionary Love series. In March my designs went live & I'm super excited about my art on their wide range of products: There's something for everyone: from bedding sheets to jewelry boxes to dog pillows. It's really fantastic to see on how many different products my art can be used.

Did I mention that I LOVE leggings? I can't believe there are people who think leggings aren't pants. I couldn't disagree more! I'm so happy that my brand new abstract art leggings are now available at ArtofWhere (http://www.artofwhere.com/shop/artist/susanne-kasielke). And believe me: I'm my best customer.

Living in my favorite city ever – Washington DC – made me create my DC LOVE series (http://www.susannekasielke.com/dc-love/) consisting of souvenirs like magnets, pocket mirrors, bottle opener & postcards. The illustrations are based on my original pencil drawings which are digitally colored and reproduced. I am super excited that starting this week they are available in two stores at the DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). My plan is to extend my souvenir collection to many other cities, first within the US but eventually I'll take over the souvenir market of the world. (A girl has to have dreams, right?)

After Surtex is before Surtex, right? I just walked the licensing trade show for the first time in May, because I plan on exhibiting in 2015. The experience was incredible, I met so many talented & inspiring artists (finally in person!) & got many valuable tips. It showed me how much I really want to succeed in the surface pattern world. I can't wait to be an exhibitor next year. It seems a bit far away still, but there is so much planning ahead involved – It's never to early to start...  

I'm always looking out for new surface pattern & licensing opportunities. The best thing for me is to see my art on products. Every new product with my art supports my dream & brings me one step closer to succeed as an artist.

Anything else you want to tell everyone?
Some little facts to get to know me better:
- I write & paint with my left hand but anything else I pretty much use my right hand for (playing pingpong for example)
- I always carry a (lucky) penny with me (got that from my Grandmother)
- Never talk to me when I'm hungry (I have many friends who can confirm that)
- (Because of the above) It doesn't matter where I go, I always have something to eat in my bag
- I love Mini-Golf
- My favorite band ever: Take That
- My crafts are totally inspired by my Mom – as a kid we used to make detergent boxes pretty by collaging wrapping paper around them
- I like going to bed early (I need a lot of beauty sleep)
- I love Snugglebumms - I think that's the first thing I've ever bought from my pocket money
- I've never met someone who loves Washington DC more than I do

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
I'm definitely the early bird type - If I don't get things done in the morning, I won't accomplished anything in the afternoon or the rest of day.
The best time to work for me is when the beautiful morning sun is shining into my apartment. After breakfast I sit at my desk with a hot cup of tea and start my work day well rested and relaxed.

What is your favorite food?
I have two favorite dishes actually: Spaghetti Bolognese and Chicken Quesadillas.
My Spaghetti Bolognese obsession started many years ago while I was living in Munich. A very close friend would make the best Spaghetti Bolognese that I've tried until then. (Many years & probably 437 Spaghetti Bolognese later I modestly think I've perfectionized the dish myself - Hopefully she doesn't read this...)

The Chicken Quesadillas are kind of a 'new thing' for me. The more I eat the more I like them (also: the more guacamole comes with the quesadillas the better).

You can find Susanne:
Website: http://www.susannekasielke.com
Email: info@susannekasielke.com
Phone: +1.202.288.2676
Blog: http://www.susannekasielke.com/blog

What did you like best about Susanne's Spotlight? ME, "I'll take over the souvenir market of the world. (A girl has to have dreams, right?)" RIGHT ON! :-D

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send me an email: anntroe@cox.net

THANKS for stopping by! - make my day and follow this blog :-D

Artist Spotlight - Jessie G

A peek into a surface pattern artists life.

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
I attended Edinburgh College of Art from 1994-97, where I studied Interior Design plus Stain Glass. Since then, I have worked as an Interior Designer in London and Sydney. As a designer, I have always had a keen interest in the relationship of form and colour within an environment. I have recently graduated from the 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern' E-course, following completion, I am now focusing on a career in SPD.

What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
Oh, I can get inspiration from anywhere, there is always something to catch my eye! I love to potter around the city, walking through the streets and parks. Your visual senses are overloaded with inspiration; from a shadow created by a building, a coffee cup or the delicate pink petals of the cherry blossom trees. 

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
I take many (many) photos on my iPhone which I use for reference, for forms and colours, when sitting down with my sketchbook. Once I am happy with the sketches I have, I transfer them onto the computer and set out the motifs, playing with scale and layout, to create a colourful pattern. I also love screen printing and the results you can achieve with the ink prints on paper and fabrics.

What are you working on now?I am currently designing a new collection, based around photos and objects I have found on beaches here in the UK. I am having fun sketching and experimenting with mark makings. I am also contacting companies with my new portfolio for possible work collaborations.

http://issuu.com/jessi3g/docs/jessie_g_spd_portfolio_2014

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
I love to get up early and wonder off for a walk on the way to one of my coffee shops. This really sets me up for the day and gets the creative juices (and the all important ‘to-do-lists’) going for the day ahead.

What is your favorite food?
My favourite food, home and especially in it's native environment, is Japanese. While travelling around Japan, I found so many lovely little Inns that offer fresh and tasty food; and they make it look so stylish as well!

You can find Jessie:
http://www.jessie-g.com  
info@jessie-g.com
www.etsy.com/shop/jessiegdesigns
www.moyodirectory.com/jessieg
www.instagram.com/jessiegdesigns

 

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send me an email: anntroe@cox.net

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