Saturday, January 23, 2010

Juliette Crane's Studio




What kind of Art/Crafts do you do?
My main focus is Mixed Media Paintings on canvas. I recently finished writing a children’s book, so my paintings are very much based on children’s story ideas-full of colour and imagination and adorable characters.

The paintings came about after my sister-in-law gave me some vintage wallpaper books. They are filled with beautiful textures, fabrics and designs. I knew I had to use them for something and went back to what I loved to do as a little girl with paper dolls and use the wallpaper to cut out lovely dresses for my characters, complete with matching capes and button-up boots. Then I add alchemy of materials from my studio-glitter, charcoal, pastels, acrylics, coloured pencils, and artist pens to make lovely collages.

Recently, I’ve expanded my production and started using reproductions of my paintings for note cards and Wearable Art. I delight in finding unique jewellery, so I figured I would start making the things I love to wear.

Where do you create?
I am lucky to have a studio in my house. I converted an extra bedroom. I have lots of cabinets and shelves on wheels, so that in the summertime I can move everything out into the backyard to work in the sunlight surrounded by nature.



How do you keep all your supplies organised?
In my studio, I have built-in cabinets with drawers that I label with blue tape on the outside. Each craft has its own drawer. Since I am constantly changing projects, I just apply a new piece of tape whenever I start something new. Right now the tape reads: Fabric, Paper, Cards, Prints, Jewellery, Labels, Stencils, Sparkles.

For paintings supplies, I have lots of tins and containers on my worktable for each thing-paints colorized according to the rainbow, everything I use for faces on one plate, a jar of brushes, a tackle box of glitter etc. I also use half of my workspace for painting and the other for jewellery making or computer work.

For paper, I keep a laundry basket for wallpaper and a sturdy Anthropology bag for tissue papers. I used to try and keep folders for each type of paper or colour, but I never bothered to put things away. This way it’s not organized, but all in one place so I still find whatever I’m looking for. It’s the sort of organized chaos I work best in.

How do you keep yourself motivated to keep your space tidy?
I can’t work if my studio is a disaster. That doesn’t stop me from trying though, but soon I’m tripping over wallpaper books and losing things, which makes it far too frustrating to create. That’s when I tidy-up.




Any tips for how to keep art spaces tidy or organised?
Having a studio and a space for everything really helps. It makes it easier to clean up or at least straighten up before I begin a new project. I also realized I need to make cleaning easy for myself so I keep a vacuum in the corner, already plugged in. That thing gets a workout sucking up paper scraps, but it keeps my studio clean, easily


Do you get stressed out when your space gets in a mess?
I don’t get stressed out, I just feel like there is a net around me and I can’t expand physically or creatively without running into something else.




If you could have your dream space tomorrow what would it look like?
It would be a greenhouse with garage-door walls that could roll up and hide on nice days, allowing me to keep my studio in one place no matter what the weather. It would also have high ceilings and be all windows so that even when fully enclosed it felt like I was painting outside. And, as long as I’m dreaming, it would have a soda fountain and espresso machine.

 
Do space limitations get in the way of projects you have in mind?
I would love to do more wood-working and welding in my own studio. I’d also like to try paper-making and weaving.




What is the next big thing on your wish list for your art space?
A sink just for art projects. Right now, I am constantly making a mess in the bathroom.




Where can people view your work or purchase it?

Etsy Shop: Juliettecrane.etsy.com
Website: Juliettecrane.com

Thanks to Juliette Crane for allowing me to publish her studio photos and for taking time to answer my questions! Thank you!

1 comment:

  1. I love the fact you have so much nature in your room i.e the plants, branches,and your tree.

    ...and beautiful art work btw, everyone should check out more of your work.

    ReplyDelete