Interview: RJ of Bailey Doesn't Bark
Friday July 11, 2008
I’m very pleased to kick off our interview series again with RJ of Bailey Doesn’t Bark — I’m in love with her beautiful black and white lines that she paints on home wares — the lines oftentimes look like ink dispersed in water and frozen in time. Magical.
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Suffocation I and II, a black and white print
Name: Re Jin Lee (RJ)
Location: New York
Website/Shop: www.baileydoesntbark.com, Etsy shop
Blog: www.baileydoesntbark.blogspot.com
Media: brushes, pens, ink
Tell us a little more about yourself.
I was born and raised in Brazil. Moved to L.A. for a bit after college and finally planted a few tiny roots here in New York City – which I love. I studied fashion design – designed denim for a few years in L.A. and I realized I was unhappy because I was doing something that wasn’t in me. So I switched to fashion styling, which I adored. I packed my bags and moved to NYC. Styled for a couple of more years and soon realized that was not me either! Finally, I decided it was time to do what I really have the passion for and that I knew was in me: draw. So here I am.
How did you get your start in illustration?
I’ve been drawing all my life… I believe it’s in my genes – My mother is an artist, my father can doodle and my brother as well. I still have sketch books from when I was about 7 or 8. They are quite wild and scary, as in: how can a child think of such things and draw them! Probably just trying to express my emotions – rebel child :) Anyway, I’ve taken tons of art classes, played with watercolor, oil painting, mosaics, etc. It was only just a few years ago that I discovered my favorite technique: lines. I started drawing lines to interpret my dreams…
Look Up Sometimes, a set of 5 Wall Plates
…And how did it progress into painting on homewares such as cups and plates?
I wanted my drawings to be in things that are useful… I’m still experimenting. Home wares are my favorite canvases as of now :)
What do you think about when you put pen to paper? Is there a thought process behind your art?
The ideas come out of the blue. Once I have it I need to write it down or start drawing immediately, otherwise, I forget. Just like dreams. If you want to remember your dream, you need to write it down as soon as you wake up…
Sometimes, I can just start drawing on a piece of paper without having anything in mind. Most times it turns out terrible and I tear it apart.
The Four Seasons Wall Plates
What or who inspires you?
What: Life
Who: Harry Clarke, Kay Nielsen
What keeps you motivated?
Love for creating.
What’s your favourite tool?
A really good pen and/or brush.
Are you a full-time artist?
Yes and loving every minute of it! (this was a recent change, hence the excitement)
Original Series Tea Bag String Cup
What advice would you like to give people who would like to sell their works online?
Just do it, now. I really mean it. If you’ve already had the thought of selling online, then your product must be great, so why wait? There are a few great places to set up your online shop. There are amazing + helpful communities in these websites.
Shhh Series It’s Crowded Bowl and Tea Cup Set
Where do you see yourself within the next few years?
Doing the same thing I’m doing now, drawing, but in a much bigger space with much bigger projects :)
What message do you want to send out to people about your work?
I’m not much of a writer, nor a speaker, so I draw to share with you my thoughts and my dreams.
I hope you enjoy them, I really do!
{ Thanks RJ! }
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If you missed our earlier interviews, see here for other wonderful artists that we have profiled so far!
Comments [6]
Leafty
Tuesday June 24, 2008
Clockwise from top left: Cloud People; Earthworm Love; Felicity Speckled Robin; and Sunbloomer miniature art toys
Have you seen the adorable miniature art toys made from reinforced paperclay by D.Platypus and Cocoakoala (yes, those are their monikers!) at Leafty?
You can see more at their Flickr and also read their blog for more cutesy goodness.
Comments [1]
LONO Japan
Thursday June 19, 2008
While I was in Japan, I was constantly searching for beautiful things to photograph, and sometimes, I do stumble into small, pretty and quaint little shops helmed by the creator themselves. Although my Japanese is poor (VERY, VERY poor), I do manage to make enough sense to tell them how much I love their work.
This little shop here is called LONO, and is created by Kazuyo. She makes each little doll by hand and paints them in her little studio in the Duce Mix building on Sanjo Street. She does wedding dolls too, and she paints on almost anything that can be painted on!
Ateliers in Japan are usually small in size, so I was very inspired by how she used her space — it is her studio (although I didn’t manage to take a shot at it, she has a small table with a iMac on it, and a lot of acrylic paint bottles with brushes), and also a small little mini shop-front.
A small table with her painted goodies — dolls, shakers and other toys
A close-up of her painted toys — she pays great attention to detail
A wall of softies!
I’m going to be sifting through my photo pile in the next coming weeks, so stay tuned! (The pile is BIG, and sometimes I forget what I have in there!)
Comments [3]
A stuffed bear
Tuesday June 10, 2008
Ok, so this isn’t a stuffed bear (thank goodness!), but this hand-painted bear plushie by Mary Catherine Garrison of Little Red Fox sure does make a convincing plea to be taken home. :)
PearsonMaron
Saturday May 17, 2008
Blue Monster Fish – Mini Sculpture on Wheels
Chupababra Joins the Circus – Magnet
Funny, adorable magnets and more at PearsonMaron’s Etsy shop. The shop is a collaboration of artists Quincy Pearson and Adam Maron. They specialize in monster magnets, unique knobs made from recycled metal, and lots of other interesting kitschy stuff.
Read their blog and buy their fun stuff here.
Carla Pessoa
Sunday May 4, 2008
Carla Pessoa is a Portuguese crafter who dabbles a lot in drawing on her blog and she has her own shop too, where she sells her art-infused crafty creations (here’s looking at you Kajsa!)
I rediscovered her flickr pages again last week and I am in love with her illustrations which are mostly collage based.
pick of the day: A lovely day
Thursday April 17, 2008
I am loving this cheery Lovely Day Plate by wonder-girl Lynda Lye of Forestprints in Singapore.
Comments [1]