Etsy shop finds...a chat with Alison Willoughby

This months etsy shop interview is with Alison Willoughby.
An Australian based graphic designer and artist who creates art and art inspired stationery.
Abstract shapes and colourful combinations are the order of the day in Alisons bold and playful designs.
Lets get to know a little about her shall we....

1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your background... 

I loved the art and design subjects in high school and went on to study graphic design at TAFE and Uni. When I was studying I was always keeping busy with little side projects, like making jewellery or collages. 
It was a super creative time for me, I was at design school every day and was excited to be making things and sharing to the early days of Instagram. 
I experimented a lot with different products I’d make for myself that my friends or other people were interested in - that was around the time Etsy was starting to really take off, so I created a shop on there to sell my little projects for some extra income. 
Once I graduated I spent a while interning as a graphic designer before landing full time work. 
I still kept up my Etsy store and started to create prints and artwork, as well as stationery like greeting cards. 
Even though my products were evolving, I have always had a strong focus on colour and colour combinations.

In the last year I have switched up my routine, and now work in house as a graphic designer three days a week, and then freelance for myself two days a week. 
On these days I either do graphic design work, textile design or work on my own products.
I have been doing a few more markets, have seven lovely stockists of my pieces and am loving the balance of it all!

2. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?

Sitting on my coffee table are 2 books at the moment, ‘Eames - Beautiful Details’ and ‘Mid Century Modern Complete’

My boyfriend and I visited the Eames house in Santa Monica last year and it was the coolest experience!
I got him this book for Christmas as we are both really into mid century/modern design and Charles & Ray Eames are just so inspiring.
Also the cover is beautiful so its a great one for the coffee table.

3. Who are your design heroes and what inspires you?

I’m inspired by heaps of different people/designers/artists/fashion etc.

Marimekko is definitely a huge inspiration to me - the Finnish design house, for the bold and bright textiles that stand the test of time. It was founded in the 50's and was created and run by women, which is really cool.
I love Dick Bruna’s illustrations and the bold colours he used in his work.
Yayoi Kusama, of course for her amazing colourful artwork but also for her inspirational story of how she got where she is today - check out ‘Kusama: Infinity’ if you haven’t already!

4. Tell us about a typical day for you...

On one of my freelance days I usually start by going through emails and making a plan for the day. Sometimes I won’t have any urgent deadlines or projects so I just spend the day painting, creating collages or packing any orders for customers or stockists.

By lunch time I either create some strange concoction from my kitchen (CC: https://www.instagram.com/studio_snacks/) or sometimes I go for a walk to meet my boyfriend for lunch, he works close by to home, where my studio is.
I try to fit in some exercise and finish off anything else in the afternoon.

Most days aren’t the same which is the fun of it - I am quite routine driven as a person but am really trying to let that go and enjoy working for myself.
I’ve also been trying to put less pressure on myself to stick to a traditional 9-5 timeframe, because sometimes I am just feeling it more at nighttime and I just roll with it!

5. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

My work usually starts from a physical place, I like to collect paint swatches and create colour combinations and compositions using collage.

Sometimes that is the finished product, or sometimes I scan or trace the shapes on the computer. These days I often just illustrate from the get-go on the computer too, it just depends what is working!
I kind of collect colour combos in my head, or take weird photos of stuff to document the colours.

For my painting work, I often have quite a strong plan going into a piece - I am still new to painting and really can’t go with the flow of it yet - the designer in me needs a solid plan. I usually rough sketch up the composition, and plan colours before starting.

6. Where do you work? Describe your studio/work area...

I work at my home studio, in Collingwood - in inner city Melbourne, Australia. I’ve got a big desk, with all my inspo books sitting above me on the wall. 
It’s usually an absolute mess in there but sometimes I try to tidy it up and it looks pretty again!
I often move around the apartment and sit wherever the light is nice. I’ve often got podcasts on to fill the quietness of working on my own - lately I’ve been listening to Bobo & Flex, all about relationships and the Wowee! Podcast by two Melbourne creatives, interviewing other creative people.

7. In three words, describe your work...

Colourful, bright & bold

8. What makes you laugh?

My boyfriend Denny is pretty funny and so are my family & friends! 

9. What are you currently passionate about or fascinated by and how is it inspiring your work?

I recently went to see a documentary about the Bauhaus design movement for the German Film Festival, called Bauhaus Spirit - and it explored how this movement and its ideas are carried into so many different things today. I thought that was really cool and I enjoyed hearing more about the experimental nature of Bauhaus. 

I’ve been trying to experiment with collage pieces consisting of only 3 shapes lately, I guess sort of similar to the 3 Bauhaus shapes, and finding the beauty in the super simple and minimal - its actually really difficult! You can check out some of these on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/threeshapesonly/

10. What’s the most popular item for sale in your etsy shop?

Probably one of my greeting card designs! 

A huge thanks to Alison for taking the time to be part of the etsy interview series here on the blog.
If you'd like to follow her, here are a few links...

instagram | etsy | website

x x x

Etsy shop finds...a chat with Laura Bird.

This months etsy interview is with London based ceramicist Laura Bird.

With a background in illustration, her pieces have a strong narrative focus with character and beautiful pattern featuring heavily.

Her inspirations are clear in her work; ancient arts and stories from medieval, greek and roman times,  yet her ceramics and illustrations feel modern and fresh with wonderful colour palettes.

You can see what Lauras getting up to and have a nosey into her processes over on her instagram account.

Lets get to know Laura shall we...

1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your background... 

I studied illustration at Kingston University, graduating in 2009. 

It wasn’t until after uni that I considered working with clay and started an evening course at my local college.

I instantly loved the material and it opened up a whole new world for me to explore! 

It’s highly addictive and it was exciting to make pieces of art that could also be useful objects.

I love how endless the possibilities are!

I started selling my work on Etsy about two years later.

2. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?

I have some big books on ancient art of Mexico, medieval drawings and Celtic art that are always inspiring to me.

I don’t often buy magazines but I love interior design magazines such as The World of Interiors, Apartamento, Elle decoration.

3. Tell us about a typical day for you...

I usually start by doing any computer admin and email replying at home and try to get to my studio around 10am.

It’s in a big railway arch in Hoxton which I share with friends.

Each day is different but I will spend the day making, painting, packing orders.

I work until around 6 but usually later until I’ve finished my tasks for the day.

4. How would you describe your work?

My work is colourful, playful, illustrative, characterful.  I like the term “ceramic illustrations”.

5. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

Whenever a new idea pops into my head I try to get it down on paper as soon as possible.

I get a lot of ideas when I’m working on something else so I will stop what I’m doing and make a little drawing.

It only takes a second and will be an extremely rough sketch but it’s there so I can remember it later.  I tend to draw out ideas on scraps of paper rather than keep a sketchbook, so I have a pile of them in my studio to look through when I need inspiration. 

My ideas usually begin as one very rough sketch and then the making process is trying to realise it!  The idea can sometimes change and develop during this time but often the pieces come out looking like the tiny drawing. 

I usually have ideas for decoration when I can see the finished shape.

6. What are you currently passionate about or fascinated by and how is it inspiring your work?

I’m very into my garden at the moment and spending more time outdoors! I love nature and flowers which are often used in my work.

7. Who are your design heroes and what inspires you?

Dorothy Annan, Roger Capron, Lucie Rie, Ken Price, Stephen Bird, Anni Albers...there are so many!!  There are also loads of amazing people I follow on Instagram that keep me inspired.

8. What’s the most rewarding thing about being an illustrator/ceramicist?

Definitely when I meet people who own my work and selling directly to people.  It always amazes me that people want to buy my pieces!

9. What five things could you not live without?

Family, friends, my garden, nice food, my kiln.

10. What makes you laugh?

My friends! I have some very funny friends and we always laugh a lot. 

- - -

Thanks to Laura for taking the time to be part of the etsy interviews and sharing an insight into her world!

x x x

Etsy shop finds...a chat with Jenny Meilihove...

This months etsy interview is with illustrator Jenny Meilihove.

Jenny sells her beautiful art in her etsy shop 'Be Happy Now'.

You can purchase prints, original paintings, postcards and mobiles.

Her art is bold, colourful and full of gorgeous characters going about their business in their little worlds.

A few of my personal favourites below, but be sure to check out her website and shop for more!

Lets get to know a little about Jenny shall we...

1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your background...

Hi, my name is Jenny. I am an illustrator from Israel.
I have been drawing from a very young age - about 5 years old.
I studied in the illustration department of Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem (2004-2008).

After the academy I worked in a design studio as a designer but I wasn't so good at it, so after that I wanted to concentrate only on illustration.
I already had my Etsy shop and I started to make much more art for this shop.
Later I created a corporation with my good friend Tali Yalonetzki

(https://www.facebook.com/TushTush-by-Tosya-423815397650169/), who is a great artist.

We sell our products together in Israeli shops. It’s very nice to combine pleasure and work.

We travel together to different shops, taking coffee breaks on the way.

It’s much easier to do this together. Most of our work is separate, we each create our own art, but we meet to create new products, or to get to know new shops and deliver our products to them.
These days I am also illustrating children’s books, games and magazines, and still making my own art for my Etsy shop.

2. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?

I have many children's books by illustrators I love. Some of them are for my son, but others are just for me. I’ve also had the book "Hygge" on my coffee table for a long time; I am enjoying reading it slowly.

3. Tell us about a typical day for you…

Well, every day is different. I just get really bored if my days look the same.
I always start with coffee :), then emails, instagram, facebook, news updates.
After that, if it’s a day in my studio, I decide what I will be working on: it can be a children’s book or something for my Etsy shop.
Other days I may have a walk to the printing house (making new prints or postcards etc..) or sometimes I’ll be meeting with Tali and going together to our shops with new products.
Some days I just go to a café with my sketchbook to think of new ideas.

4. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

Sometimes I make some sketches of the idea I have for the illustration - checking the composition and the character, or the idea for the illustration.
After that I paint it with acrylics on paper, then I scan it into my computer and, if needed, I make very small corrections. After that I share my new work with the internet world (facebook, instagram, etsy), and then I make prints or postcards of it.

5. What’s the most popular item for sale in your etsy shop?

And your personal favourite?

The most popular item is the yokoo portrait series:

My own favourite is this one with little children: 

6. How would you describe your work?

I make simple, colourful and naive illustrations.

7. What’s the most rewarding thing about being a designer/illustrator?

To hold the book I made in my hands and read it to my son :)

8. What are you currently passionate about or fascinated by and how is it inspiring your work?

Mobiles!
I just discovered the world of mobiles, and it is so magical, full of fantasy... and it flies :)
I found that "iclay" is a perfect fit for this, so I am making many dolls like this: some of them are dancers, or sometimes it’s a strong man from the circus. All of them look so charming in the air.

9. What makes you laugh?

My son! He is almost 3 years old. He has many funny ideas, and it is nice to see him trying to copy his father.

10. Where do you work? Describe your studio/work area...

My studio is in my home, and I like that I can do my work at any time of day. It’s very comfortable for me. I like that I have a window with a nice view in my studio.

x x x

Etsy shop finds...a chat with Meenal Patel

This months etsy shop interview is with Meenal Patel.

An illustrator, childrens book author, designer and ceramic artist based in San Fransisco.

Making art is Meenal's happy place and it most definitely shows in her playful, modern artwork.

Inspired by nature, everyday life and her Indian-American heritage, Meenal loves to create patterns and draw people in her illustrations. 

Meenal also has a published childrens book 'Neela Goes to San Fransisco' inspired be her niece, available in her etsy shop, along with prints, cards and ceramic pieces.

So let's get to know a bit about the artists behind the shop...

 1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your background?

 Hi there! I’m an illustrator and artist living in San Francisco with my husband and pup. I’ve loved making art in various forms since I was a kid. 

I went to college for graphic design in Minnesota (where I grew up) and then worked as a designer at a design and branding agency for 10 years where I worked on a wide range of projects from brand design to illustration to surface design. 

I went out on my own last year and have been focusing more on my illustration practice along with working on my next children’s book.

2. Tell us about a typical day for you…

 I start my day with breakfast and a cup of homemade chai. 

Play with my puppy, Dosa, for a bit before settling into my home studio. 

I fire up the music or podcast and spend a quick bit of time organizing my day and giving email a once over.

I do my best work in the morning so I try to start with something that needs a solid chunk of time. I’m trying to get in the habit of starting with the thing that scares me most like a brand new project that has a big blank page. 

That way I feel like I’ve accomplished something by lunch and don’t have that looming feeling that comes with pushing the hard stuff to the end of the day. 

I usually have an early lunch at home and then take Dosa for a long walk in the park. Everyday is a little different and filled with some combination of illustrating and designing for clients and my own products, prepping orders, handling nitty gritty business needs, meetings, sketching, writing. 

In the evening I like to cook dinner, go for a walk with my husband and Dosa. 

Recently I’ve been sitting back down for some work on some evenings but the necessity for that ebbs and flows.

3. What's your favourite item listed for sale in your shop? And the most popular item? 

Right now my favorite item is the Hold Hands Together print. The most popular is my children’s book, “Neela Goes to San Francisco.”

4. How would you describe your style/ work? 

My style is playful, modern and graphic. I think my background in design instilled an appreciation of quiet space and bold graphics. By contrast, I love patterns and intricate details. I like to merge these two things together – moments of graphic simplicity layer with textural patterning. I also love playing with color. In terms of subject, I love to draw strong women, kids, little joys in life and most of my pieces have a nature element to it. 

 5. Can you give us an insight into your creative process? 

I almost always start with a small pencil sketch. I have a bunch of sketchbooks in different sizes floating around so there’s always one close by that I can grab to make a quick sketch when I have an idea. Sketching has been an important part of my process for a long time and it never fails me even when I get stuck. It’s the best way for me to get my ideas out of my head quickly. From there I either move to the computer and use Illustrator and Photoshop. I also like to use ink, pencil and have started playing more with gouache and watercolour.

6. Where do you work? Describe your studio/ work area… 

I have a small room tucked in the very back of our home that I use as my studio. It’s a little space but has a bunch of windows, which makes me so happy! I love being able to see the fog roll in and to look out at trees.

7. Who are your design heroes and what inspires you? 

I’ve always loved Mary Blair for her sweet illustrations that are full of so many happy details. 

Another favorite is Sanna Annukka - love her artwork and how she creates worlds in her art that weave in her family’s heritage. I love Julie Morstad’s work too – she’s such an incredibly talented illustrator! Her work blows me away.

I’m also inspired by kids (most especially my nieces!), nature, strong women and my Indian-American heritage. And ice cream. Always ice cream.

8. Tell us ten random facts about yourself… 

1. I love uncoated, toothy paper

2. I love bunnies

3. Frogs make me nervous because they are too easily squishable

4. I can speak Gujarati (my grammar is pretty poor but I can get by)

5. I love reading and love my bookclub

6. I am shy and sometimes have a hard time in large groups

7. I love hiking and camping but hadn’t done either until I was an adult

8. I’m from Minnesota but can’t ice skate

9. I love vintage cookware

10. I love animals and nature – can never get enough of the Planet Earth series!

9. What are you currently passionate about or fascinated by and how is it inspiring your work? 

I have been down-the-rabbit-hole thinking about family, heritage and the ways we keep our family cultural traditions alive. My next children’s book carries themes around those things and it has made me think really deeply about my family and our culture. It has also made me even more curious about other people’s experiences. All of this is inspiring my new children’s book that will be out in 2019!

I also love nature and have always been fascinated by the magic of the natural world. That one is a forever passion that continually inspires my art.

10. What's the most rewarding thing about being a designer/ illustrator? 

When someone smiles, feels joy or connection to something I’ve made. When someone has the opportunity to see a part of themselves represented in my art. Love connecting with people like that. And generally, making art is my happy place and I love the act of doing it.

- - - - - - - - - -

A huge thanks to Meenal for taking the time to be part of the etsy interview feature.

If you'd like to see more of her work, be sure to follow Meenal over on instagram.

x x x