I managed to get a couple of pieces complete in time for yesterday’s photography session with David Bryson at Markeaton Street.
I was amazed that more of us didn’t turn up as this was a great opportunity to get our work photographed professionally for free.
I feel I learned a lot about the lighting set up, angles, ways to set up a mini studio at home.
I’ll try a home set up and see what results I get using my old Olympus SLR and my less than up to date digital camera. Might have to think in investing in something a little more solid if I’m planning on doing this myself in future.
I’m really excited to see the images and use them in my promotional materials, it is just a shame I didn’t have more creatures with me.
Filed under: inspiration, research | Tags: contemporary, craft, creativity, creatures, design, Donna Wilson, fair, favourites, Lustre, market, price, quality, toys
Lustre lived up to it’s name and reputation. High quality design and craft, all deliciously displayed for me to drool over.
I was pleased to see Donna Wilson’s creatures there, although sad they were in a glass cabinet and I didn’t get to meet her. I got to have a good look at her creature calendar and a Sleepy Pom notebook which I wasn’t aware was in production, they were lovely, creative and well priced. There were very few other ‘toys’ at the show, which I found interesting. Although I have had my fill of flower corsages – aren’t people fed up with these by now?
The quality is certainly very high and the prices reflected this – not your average ‘craft fair’. It gave me hope though, as my products are likely to come in priced at the higher end of the market, especially with the raw material being organic and therefore a bit more expensive than your standard wool. I think they wouldn’t look out of place.
I was surprised that there wasn’t more variety and creativity in the display of the work – some of it tried too hard and lost the products in the process.
Here are some of my favourites (i.e. I’d buy from them if I had the cash):
KEN EARLEY’s ceramics
Lauren Van Helmond’s little collage sculptures
David knight’s glass forms
SUILVEN PLAZALSKA’s contemporary jewellery
LYNSEY WALTER’s fun and fresh felt
Filed under: session | Tags: Chris Lewis-Jones, creatures, earning, fine art, ideas, money, workshop
I enjoyed CHRIS LEWIS-JONES‘ visit today. Whilst a lot of what he talked about was not particularly relevant to my own practice, it was still entertaining and gave me the opportunity to re-kindle a few of the fine art ways of thinking that got left behind after foundation.
It was interesting to hear him speak about how he has narrowed down what he is prepared to undertake to keep the money coming in compared to before his ‘Connect’ experience. The change from taking on any project someone asked of him to projects that were only related to his own practice makes a lot of sense and got me thinking about the processes and methods I use and how these could be shared / used to earn me money.
The interpretation of objects workshop was eye-opening and fun. It makes me happy that I am not asking people to try and read any messages into my designs other than what they see - ‘Oh look, a smiling creature’ ‘What a funny looking teacosy’. I might be lucky enough to get a ‘It looks like an alien seashell’ – but I don’t mind if I don’t.
Filed under: research | Tags: , business plan, competition, creatures, design, feature, websites
As a result of work on my business plan assignment thoughts have turned to what is already out there and why would anyone want what I make.
Firstly I found this lady: DEBI VAN ZYL – and I sort of wish I hadn’t as she is working along very similar lines to what I am envisaging. Interesting to note that she has sold out of all her creatures online. I am going for a similar handmade look but with a more commecial feel in relation to the additional features, such as the eyes. I love the proportions of body to legs in these!
SOFTIES CENTRAL – this place is great, I am going to get my creatures featured on here as I think they’d fit in really well. Brilliant to see what else is out there and get links to individuals websites.
Who doesn’t know about DONNA WILSON and her whacky creatures. I have to bear in mind she is well established and has been doing this for years but her pricing is useful and the online interview invaluable. It feels as though I read her article and then decided to follow suit… it’s frustrating when you find you’re not entirely unique!
