Featured Artist - Julia Crossland

After my last post full of sadness I thought there was no better time to blog this interview I did with the fantastic artist Julia Crossland.  Her images are pure joy!  So here is my interview with her, I hope you enjoy it :-)

Hello Julia, tell us a bit about yourself ...

My name is Julia Crossland, I am a 37 year old artist and illustrator and I live in a small village just north of Sheffield. My house is very old and very small and it sits by a river, I live there with my other half and our daughter. I also love to crochet when Im not painting, and baking/cooking, gardening, walking and being by the sea are other favourite pass-times of mine.

I know you create the most fantastic paintings, how and when did you start painting seriously?

Ah thank you! Well it was around 2006; I had been working as a freelance signwriter for several years and working away alot in Ireland. I felt that particular lifestyle was becoming pretty draining so we found a house to live in and I gradually began to find more local work which meant I could find little pockets of time to paint too. It all started quite gradually in the beginning and I started off with a small website which led to my first overseas commission and a few sales. I then discovered I was expecting my daughter, and after she was born the painting took a back seat again. I've started painting more again now she is a little bit older.

So, what is your favourite medium?

I am absolutely smitten with acrylic paint. I love that it drys fast and you can work in layers - you can also thin it right down with water for a lovely transparent effect, a bit like watercolour. The colours are bright and I enjoy the texture of it too, on both canvas and paper.

I really must try out acrylics!  Are there any other crafts you enjoy?

I really like freestyle machine embroidery work, and of course crocheting! The sewing is something I would really like to devote more time to in the future as I miss it, working with fabric is a really tactile way of creating something which I love.

Crochet is something that relaxes me at the end of the day but I have way too many projects on the go - and didn't I just see the most divine crocheted waistcoat in a magazine this morning...Im thinking - yep, I could do one of those (along with my shawl, my two blankets, a cushion...list is endless).

Yes, as a beginner I am rather jealous of your lovely Crochet :-)  When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell?

I think it was about 2001/2 when I sold a painting at the Great Sheffield Art Show.  Today I sell my work through my website: www.juliacrossland.co.uk , my Folksy Shop: http://www.folksy.com/shops/Jool and I also have work for sale at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in Lincolnshire, Andrea Willis Designs in Scarborough and Abercorn & Co in Yorkshire.

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job?

My main job is being Mum to Carys, and painting is my other job.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I am inspired hugely by the coast, by people, nature, children. Things like islands with lighthouses on them in the distance, rows of ice-cream coloured beach huts, sea birds, harbours, boats, hares, moonlit skies, flowers, sunsets - I could go on and on!  I'm also inspired by other artists and crafters.

You say you are inspired by other artists, who are your favourite artists/crafters e.g are there any great folksy/etsy/artists blogs or shops you can tip us off about :-)?

I really like the work of the following people:
Kirsty Elson Designs (driftwood and textile artist), Penny Bhadresa (lino print artist), Babette Cole (illustrator), Karen Davis (illustrator), Brenda King (artist), Dear Emma (textile artist), Andrea Stokes (artist), Catherine Hyde (artist). 

Oooh fantastic, I am off to check them out now :-)  What is your favourite music to craft to?

It all depends what mood Im in as I have quite a diverse taste in music, but you can catch me listening to anything from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Take That, Jack Johnson, JJ Cale, The Beatles, Abba and Ben Harper to a spot of Eric Clapton, Simply Red and even classical!

You create so many gorgeous paintings, which is your favourite piece?

That's a hard question because I have a small love affair with most of my completed work!! I think right this minute, I would have to choose Harbour.

 

So, where do you do your crafting (specially built studio - sofa) ?

I am very much a woman with a Table for a Studio. When we are not eating at it, I transform it into organised chaos with paint tubes, palettes and other mixed media everywhere. I long for the day when I can have a special work space of my own, the luxury of closing a door on it all and not having to tidy it all away in time for tea would be just lovely!

You can find Julia's work in the links above, be warned you will want to buy some of her work, it is all so lovely :-)  

I hope you are enjoying my little bloggy interviews with artists :-)  If you want to be featured send me a message - go on, don't be shy :-)

xxx

Another gorgeous buy - featured artist.

Hi everyone,  I hope you are all having a great week :-)  Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last post, I will try and remember to tip you all off next time there is an Amy Butler sale :-)

In this post I am featuring the lovely Becky's work from Red Bird Jewellery.  My Mother-in-Law had her 60th recently and I wanted to get her something a bit special for it.  I had looked around the usual shops but nothing really appealed to me and it all seems so mass produced nowadays :-(  So, I popped over to Folksy for a nose and remembered about Becky's pretties.

I ordered a gorgeous flourite and silver necklace as seen above, the photos really don't do it justice, it was stunning.  In fact I was hoping my Mother-in-Law wouldn't like it so I could have it back and get her something else but she loves it and wants to wear it on the cruise she is going on soon :-)  It came packed in a lovely little box tied with ribbon - there are no high street shops that offer that service as far as I know - another reason to buy direct from the artist.

 

I have decided to feature artists on my blog every month or so to share these gorgeous creations and to help support buying hand made.

Becky kindly let me interview her (in fact she also interviewed me a few days ago, click here to see), I hope you enjoy it :

Tell us a bit about yourself ...

My name is Becky, I live in a little village nestled under the North Downs in Surrey - but am originally from a little town in Derbyshire. I got to Surrey via living in London for a while, and it's great to be back in the countryside again.

What do you make?

Jewellery, using silver, copper, gemstones, and crystal. I also dabble with silver clay.

Why do you use that medium?

I love silver, but it is ridiculously expensive at the moment. I also love using copper, it's such a rich colour. Since I bought my torch, I've really enjoyed experimenting and seeing what I can do with a little fire and some metal.

When/ how did you start crafting?

I've always liked to try new stuff, I've tried so many crafts from applique to upholstery, but one day a few years ago I went on a jewellery making class in a bead shop and got completely and utterly hooked. The great thing about making jewellery is, that there is always something new to learn - and so many different methods and materials within the field, which appeals to my constant need to learn new skills.

When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell?

I've been selling online on Folksy and also on Etsy since September 2009. Both are great places to sell (and shop!) and I've really enjoyed being part of a marketplace, but at some point I'd like to set up my own online shop - and also sell in a bricks and mortar shop.

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job?

Not any more - I tried working 3 days in my old job as a research manager for a publishing company, but couldn't manage it once I had 2 children. I was always stressed out and exhausted, so I made a break - became a registered childminder and now look after a couple of friends' children for a few hours a week and work on jewellery the rest of the time. Life is a lot more balanced and happy now!

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My designs tend to be quite clean and simple, and I  get lots of inspiration from nature. But I also get inspiration from particular gemstones - sometimes they just cry out for a particular design.

What is your favourite music to craft to?

My taste is pretty eclectic - I'm not averse to a bit of Dolly Parton, or some jazz but at heart I'm a 90s indie kid - so I like to listen to The Stone Roses, The Smiths, The Pixies, Throwing Muses etc.. To be honest though, mostly when I'm making I like to listen to Radio 4!

What is your favourite piece of your own?

That is so tricky - at the moment I am wearing a pair of these and a matching necklace that I made (but haven't made to sell yet).

Where do you do your crafting (specially built studio - sofa??)

I use the spare room at the moment, BUT we move into our new house at the end of February, and we're planning to build me a little studio - hopefully sometime this year......eeeeeeeeeeeeeep (am a little excited!)

Thanks for that Becky, I am rather jealous of the fact that you will soon have your own studio! 

Keep your eyes peeled for future artists appearing here and if you want to be featured then just send me a message via my profile area, I am sure all my followers would love to read about your work.

Have a fab week everyone.
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