who you are and what you do?
I am a fine artist and illustrator, sometimes jewelry maker and designer. For the past 10 years, I've worked mostly with colored pencil on wood panel creating strange creatures and enchanting characters. I am currently in a transition from traditional media to digital media. Working digitally has allowed me to focus more on children's book illustration, product design/development, and animation. Look for fun, new items this holiday season!
how do you work and make the great things you make?
When working with ink and colored pencil, I generally put my pen on the wood and see what comes out. The characters and monsters that appear tell me their stories as I pile on layers of color.
My digital work is more planned. I start with ideas in my sketchbook, and import the page to my iPad Pro. I then add blobs of color and refine, refine, refine. It feels more like painting- without the mess. :)
How did you get started?
I began selling my art in 2007 when Etsy was first getting its start. It was a wonderful community of artistans and a no-pressure way to promote my work. My shop name was Unconventional Ida- based on a character I created whose parents were giants, but all she got were their eyes. Then came the first Holiday MADE fair in Missoula, a bunch of First Fridays, and before I knew it, I'd created hundreds of characters who now live in over 26 countries around the world.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Nature. The fluidness of art nouveau architecture. Well-crafted objects. Antiquities and times past.
What are you most proud of as an artist and business person?
I'm proud of my growth and development over the past 10 years. When I first started, I was so shy I could barely eke out a sentence to someone about my pieces. Participating in the MADE fair and First Friday shows over the first few years in Missoula pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to create more of a dialogue surrounding my work. Now, I have a public studio in Reeder's Alley (Helena) where I get to visit with people nearly every day.
And...watching people connect with my art will always have a special place in my heart.
Do you have any tips or suggestionsfor your fellow artisans and makers?
Patience is key. Allow your body of work to continue growing while taking the time to pause every so often and be amazed by the process.
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