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.
———————————
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! }
———————————
If you missed our earlier interviews, see here for other wonderful artists that we have profiled so far!
Comments [6]
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]
cristina sitja rubio
Monday May 19, 2008
Cristina Sitja Rubio was a photographer for 10 years before finally trading in her camera for a pencil. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, studied Fine Art in Montreal and is now in Berlin.
I love her pencil lines and the ideas behind her illustrations. They’re always tinged with subtle color that really makes her work pop.
You can buy her buttons and shirts here, and read her blog filled with her drawings here.
Emily Ipolani
Saturday May 17, 2008
Bird Day – 8’ x 10’ Print
Out of Order – Blank Card
DollyGagging is a shop helmed by Emily Ipolani and footed by Erik Stein in California, where she recently put up her limited edition ACEOs and postcard prints for sale.
Read up on their blog, where there’s more of Emily’s art, and check out her portfolio too — you should read her About page (it’s inspiring AND funny!)
Olle Eksell
Saturday May 17, 2008
I love my new Olle Eksell book I got from Kyoto’s Kinokuniya. Everything is in Japanese, and it’s published by PIE Books. The colours and compositions are beautiful!
I first heard about the book from Happy Mundane, and it was also covered by Julia.
You can see a flip-through of the book here.
{ISBN: ISBN4-89444-547-6}
Comments [2]
Mattias Adolfson on Interviewr
Friday May 16, 2008
Have you read an interview with Mattias Adolfson over at Interviewr?
He’s my moleskine hero! :)
{Image from Mattias’ flickr site}
Comments [1]
Interview: Amber Alexander
Sunday May 11, 2008
Amber was one of our lovely contributors for our PikaPackage Project, where she sent in her watercolour prints and cards. This interview was done some time ago, but I never did get around to putting it up, until now {sorry Amber!}.
Enjoy!
—————————————————
Name: Amber Alexander
Location: Middlesex, Vermont
Website/Shop: amberalexander.etsy.com
Blog: no blog yet!
Illustration media: watercolors, acrylics
Tell us a little more about yourself.
I live in Vermont, which is a little state in New England, USA. Some refer to it as “next to New York”. It’s considered the “Green Mountain Street” and we are surrounded by beautiful mountains. I live with my husband and two insane standard poodles, Olin and Izzy ( brother and sister) who are just over a year old. We live on 5 acres in the country in a house we had built a few years ago. It’s beautiful here… if you can stand the 6 month long winters…
We adore trees and nature. We are tree-aholics and are constantly collecting and planting new trees every summer. :)
Soon, we’ll have an arboretum!
How did you get your start in illustration?
I’ve always loved to draw. I remember in high school getting very excited to get a new sketch book and the possibility in a blank white page! When I was very little, I drew lots of kitties in clothes. The kitties are back, and they are (again) clothed ! I worked for a while at a teddy bear company but grew tired of drawing only stuffed bears. :)
What’s your favourite tool?
A watercolor brush, and water, of course ;) I love being able to make the water and pigments move around the paper and take on a new life.
Are you a full-time artist?
No, right now I am also employed as a paralegal (snore) which will hopefully soon end so I have plenty of time to PAINT MORE!
What or who inspires you?
In short, nature. The long answer: animals, trees, wind, water.
I am a true animal lover, through and through. Beatrix Potter and Maurice Sendak inspired me as a child and still do. I’ve always loved animals, loved drawing animals, loved painting animals. Finding human qualities, quirks, personalities in animals also inspires me.
I imagine animals having full lives, with little houses, doing housework, expressing jealousy, (like my two standard poodles, who are siblings and compete with each other constantly for our affection).
My family and all the amazing people I’ve met selling my artwork also inspire me. I’m happy and honored to have people all around the world who can relate to, and enjoy my art.
What keeps you motivated?
People. Good, honest, supportive people. People who love art, people who love animals, people who appreciate the work and energy that goes into creating. I’m constantly thrilled and happy to meet new people who love and support ART.
What advice would you like to give people who would like to sell their works online?
Be persistent. Stay focused. Try not to let negative thoughts take over.
Put yourself out there.
Create what you love, “do what you love”.. and people will find you. Corny but true. Nothing is instant, but if you are inspired and being true to yourself, others will see it.
Where do you see yourself within the next few years?
Painting more, creating more and growing!
What message do you want to send out to people about your work?
Respect and appreciate animals. They are amazing creatures. They have lives that matter. Respect and appreciate Art, and of course, respect and appreciate people!
—————————————————
Thanks, Amber! :)
If you missed our earlier interviews, see here for other wonderful artists that we have profiled so far.
Comments [2]
Jill Bliss on My Love For you
Saturday April 26, 2008
Meighan has an interview up with one of my favourite artists: Jill Bliss. I’ve been a fan of hers for more than four years now, and am so inspired by her work.
{ Image from My Love For You is a Stampede of Horses }
Nami K
Friday April 25, 2008
Beautiful illustrations & photographs by Nami K.
————————————————
And I DO feel better! Thank you for the sweet thoughts that you’ve all been sending my way! :)
Comments [1]
Heather Smith Jones
Wednesday April 23, 2008
A Rainbow Reflection
Stickin’ Together
I’m loving the work of Heather Smith Jones, especially her original one-offs that employs the use of the pinhole technique — a method that she started during her research into Australian Aboriginal art. She translated their use of painted dots by piercing tiny needle sized holes through paper to create pattern, text, and image in her own work.
Right now, she and Alicia Alferman are running a daily photo blog called the Noticing Project where they post photos and imagery from fragments and moments of their lives.
You can see more of Heather’s one-off original drawings – signed, dated and titled here.