Monday, July 28, 2008

Meet The Boomers!





This week's interview is with Joan, from FairyFrond and SixSisters

1.What are the names of your shops ?

Sixsisters and Fairy Frond

2.What kind of items do you sell ?

Sixsisters sell mainly paintings and Aceos. I also have magnets. Fairy Frond is all fairy items but there are aceos, paintings, and small polymer clay items.

3.How did you find boomers and Etsy also ?
I found etsy in my local paper. There was a short article about a woman and what she was selling. I don’t even remember her shop now. Let’s see...BBEST I think I was looking for a way to connect more with people at etsy and heard about the various groups. The Boomers seemed the perfect fit for me and it was.

4.How long have you been engaged in your art / craft ?

You know that is very hard to answer because I have always been drawing for as long as I can remember. I have always thought of myself as an artist, even if I was not actively pursuing it. I have always seen myself this way.

5.Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftperson ?

I have never thought of myself as a crafts person. Now I guess I do a little. In the art world they like to separate the two. It is some kind of weird snobbery which I think is way off the mark. Artists can be crafts persons and crafts people can be artists. I consider myself primarily an artist.

6.What inspires you ?

People, memories and watching everything around me. I love to people watch, I always have. I study how they move and hold their heads or the shape of their faces or eyes. Music is another way I get inspired. It triggers something in my mind that brings all sorts of images to me.

7.Please share with us what a typical day is like in you workshop or studio ?

I open the door, turn on the ac and the light I use to draw by. Then the ipod or radio is turned on. I survey the disaster scene and either decide to clean it up or just sit amongst the mess and start working. If I have something to photograph, I do that. If not, I just start mulling over what is on my mind and come up with a sketch or just start working with no sketch which often happens. I always go with the feelings I get; if it doesn’t make me feel a certain way then
it won’t turn out well. I can spend hours that way; some days it is only minutes.

8.What keeps you company while you are working on a project ?

I have to have music. U2, Bowie, Peter Gabriel, some classical , some electronic. Sometimes it has to be loud.

9.What is your favorite task related to your art/craft ?

Getting the materials ready, clean paper, clean workspace (sometimes). anticipation.

10.What is the least favorite task related to your art/craft ?

I would have to say photographing my work. I have little patience with it and I guess it comes from being finished with a piece of work and my interest in it is at a low ebb.

11.Would you care to share any words of wisdom with other aspiring artists / crafters ?

The only thing I can offer is that if you don’t love what you are doing then you are in the wrong place, it shows in the work. You have to have a passion for the work.


Please leave comments for Joan on this blog. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you!

16 comments:

bookwraps by suz.com said...

well Joan, I would consider you a true artist after reading your interview and seeing your work !!! creativity is what makes a artist & you have that in abundance !!!

Mickey said...

Joan.....could I suggest as listening music.... the soundtrack (yes it's a soundtrack) of Center of the World.....it's one of my favorites for spinning glass to......you can hear snips of it on Amazon..to decide if it might be for you... GREAT article!!!!!

~*~Pearl~*~ said...

Oh I love Joan! We have lots of her fairies!!!

Beth said...

Joans work is amazing. I love her style and the colors that she uses.

AltheaP said...

Great. I love to imagine Joan working at her delicate fairies while listening to U2 and David Bowie! Rock on!

Night Sky said...

I love this whole interview, but the tidbit I didn't know, and am delighted to learn about, is that Six is a U2 and Bowie fan! My silly Noodle sings at the top of her lungs when Bono is on the stereo.

Joan, I'm enchanted by all your work, but the fairy cards you made for my daughters are my favorites. They are so personal and beautiful!

Nuvofelt said...

great article. I really enjoy getting to know the boomers.Keep it up, Joan, yes, you are an artist

Judy Nolan said...

How fun to read about your perspective on things, Joan!

joon said...

So... Six is a rocker AND a biker? Well, well, well ... I don't know that I've ever heard a Bono or Bowie album. How did that happen? I love Seal,though. I think you would, too.

What a great interview. We love Six and her art. She is a special person with character to spare. She stands as a role model and inspiration to all who are lucky enough to meet her.

Thanks, Van.

On a Whimsey said...

What a wonderful interview with a lovely person! A real artist!
Thanks so much for sharing with the rest of us.

Zuda Gay Pease said...

Great interview!! I love learning a little more about my friends! I love all of Joan's work!

Rose said...

Wonderful article about one of my favorite artists.. am in love with her NG series!!

Chauncey said...

I am a total six/fairyfrond fan and am glad to call her a friend. Her work is amazing and she is so much fun to be around. Great feature.

maryeb said...

These interviews are so much fun to read. Thanks for sharing a bit more of yourself with us!!

Jean Levert Hood said...

Joan is such a wonderful member of our team!! so nice to get a little peak into her life!

Diane ~ said...

what a wonderful article! Loved learning more about Joan. I smile picturing her making her lovely pieces of art with the music playing. Joan, I hadn't thought of it before, but you are so right when you said
" if you don’t love what you are doing then you are in the wrong place, it shows in the work. You have to have a passion for the work."
It was so nice learning more about Joan/Six... thank you Van for such a great article!