Get Booty! Meet Loopy Boopy.

Sally has a home!

As of 5/18/08, the winners of this contest are Emily & Adam Moe. They wrote a great haiku about Sally, which you can find in the Treasure Chest. Feel free to read this awesome interview, even though the Giveaway is closed.

Sally woke screaming
perhaps she was dreaming
but it was a nightmare
it was big and hairy
really scary
did anyone care?

 

One of my favorite things to do is scour Etsy looking for artists to interview.  Sometimes, luck brings them my way. Other times, I find what I am looking for through a diligent search.  I wanted to highlight a sculptor, as I am fascinated by people who can make three dimensional things that have such life and personality to them. My husband sculpts, and I love watching him mold the clay from a blobby lump of nothing into a work of art. There is a fine line, in my critical eye, between cheesy, cutesy knick-knacky figurines and artfully executed sculptures. 

Colleen's quirky figures scoff at that thin line, because they are so far from it. They would probably kick a cutesy figurine's ass if left unsupervised on a shelf with one. When I stumbled upon her shop quite by lucky fate in the forums, I nearly fell over. Loopyboopy is everything an Etsy seller should strive to be. Original, true to herself, her shop and banner is classy and clean. And how about those photos?! Stellar. I think the thing that really makes me go nuts about these kids, besides the fact that they seem torn from some facet of my childhood soul, is those marble eyes. I am a marble freak, and the eerie personality the vintage marbles give to Colleen's sculptures makes me crazy. I love them. 

 

Meet Sally's Maker:
Tell us the story behind the name loopy boopy?
Well, my daughters nickname is boopy, or The Boopster as she is referred to now. When I was coming up with a name for my shop loopyboopy just seemed to roll off the tongue so well, it's fun to say and I think it fits my work well.

Who is behind loopyboopy? How did it start? How long have you been sculpting? Give the world a little background.
I live in New Orleans with my husband and my beautiful 8 year old daughter. I have been sculpting for over 20 years. Since I was a young girl art has always been my outlet. I don't remember a time that I didn't feel compelled to create. I am self taught, never having had an art class beyond high school. My first medium of choice was papier mache but once I found polymer clay the days of the goopy messes and time consuming projects were over. People, figures are pretty much all I sculpt. The human face and its plethora of expressions are an endless source of inspiration for me.

What inspires you?
Well, like I said the human form but specifically my daughter is my greatest inspiration. Most of my kids and their little stories come directly to me from my daughters daily wonderment, fears, nightmares and dreams. Her imagination is amazing and I love to draw from it when I'm creating. Also, my experience of being a mother is like none other. One of the things that I find amusing is the silly little rules a mother feels compelled to enforce. "no jumping on the bed", "don't go into the water for a half hour after you eat" these little universal rules make no sense to an 8 year old and I frequently have to giggle at myself and think the same, "why not?" Many of my dolls are inspired by this experience of motherhood.

Where is your work sold? Where can people find you?
Currently I am only selling my work on Etsy.  The ease of the internet just fits my busy lifestyle at this time.

What's your bestseller? Or, if you do mostly one of a kinds, what sells the best?
Definitely the kids are my best seller. I think people connect to their little tragedies personally and are perhaps drawn to them for this reason.

What are some of your favorite materials to work with? What do you find yourself drawn to most often?
Definitely the polymer clay is my favorite medium right now. I would like to get into working with clay, but the expense and burden of a kiln is just not possible for me at this time. I use vintage and newer marbles for my kids eyes and I think this unusual component makes my pieces unique from other doll makers.

Show us your studio! No cheating, as-is!

What's your favorite piece that you've ever done (and is it still for sale)?
I honestly do not have a favorite piece. I guess I would have to say it is the last piece I made at the time. Really, I love coming up with new designs and every time I do that is my new favorite piece.

What's one piece of advice you wish someone had told you when you started?
Believe in yourself and your work. Art comes from inside and as long as you have the basic skills for your medium, true art will emerge.

What's the best piece of advice you can give someone starting out?
I guess it would be the same. Believe in what you do. Keep creating and create what is true to you, never stop or be discouraged by what others say. If I had listened to my mother I would be a pretty unhappy doctor or lawyer right now, perhaps wealthier but nonetheless miserable.

Looking ahead a bit, what's upcoming for you?
I am looking forward to getting back to gallery work and art fairs as my daughter gets older. Perhaps a website. Mostly I just want to keep creating and continue to thrive as an artist.

What else do you want the world to know that I didn't think to ask?   
I love Corona beer and funky music.  I secretly (I guess no longer:) watch cheesy afternoon crime shows while I work.

Recommend three artists the world should know about (but doesn't).
One of my favorite artists on Etsy     www.dancesippydance.etsy.com
My whacky sisters fabulous clothing  www.avantegarb.etsy.com
My daughters funky jewelry             www.marbutt.etsy.com

And finally, what is your favorite word? 
loopy..it's just fun to say!

Comments

[BabyLyons]

inspired by her
crime shows and a corona
kids with marble eyes

[BabyLyons]

loved reading this interview by the way :)

[Emily and Adam Moe]

Why does Sally frown?
Is she truly that down or
is it the sweater?

[Matilda Sue]

the crab holds his nose
hostage? the ransom is what?
corona will do

[Danielle S]

Just create and thrive
I am Compelled To Create
LoopyBoopy Love!

[julie]

adorable yes
inspired by silly little rules
vintage marbles cool

[mannequin]

cute as a button
sally is not. marble eyes
is what she has got

[alamodestuff]

not creepy but cool
in one expressionless face
her eyes tell it all

[Ellie]

Eyes with cataracts.
Sad, or just contemplative?
Only Sally knows.

[Naomi]

not cutesy but cute
is sally sad or sullen?
loopy boopy girl

[Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland]

creepy creatures aah!
very cute in a strange way
would love to love them

Great giveaway, thanks!

[desi]

cutey patooty
or just hairy scary
gimme gimme mine!

[Karla W.]

endless expressions
loopyboopy polymer
believe in yourself

art come from inside
never know who will emerge
new favorite kid

[cocoromo]

So much attitude
about to lose her marbles
clouded soul windows

[Erin]

Polymer clay made
how expressive their eyes are
marbles new, old say

[Doreen]

Colleen rawks the clay
Cool expressive creepy kids
I want to own one

[Elizabeth M.]

giant eyes express
mom wisdom, funky style
clay in human form

[Kirk Williamson]

Sullen marble eyes
Gleam smiles of a mother's muse
"Boopster" giggles on.