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!
