Rachel Fuld in her studio. Photo by Laura Jamieson.
Local artist Rachel Fuld contributed beautiful handmade Mahogany Wall Hooks to our current exhibition, Farmhaus & Friends. She was kind enough to tell us more about them and share her inspiration and photos of her process. Enjoy!
Rachel Fuld’s Wall Hooks in Farmhaus & Friends
Rachel says: Ossements were designed for a show, “Your Personal Hang Ups”, at the Center for Art in Wood on 3rd Street. The artists were asked by curator Gail Brown to “explore inventive forms inspired by their individual interpretation of “personal hang ups”- both as functional and conceptual ideas”. I took the functional route and created this series of hand shaped wall hung hooks that resembled antlers, though the actual form was inspired by another artist’s metal sculpture. For months the sculpture hung in a window of a gallery near my house. I walked by every day. It was a metal armature of differently sized Y shaped hooks attached to a grid maybe 3feet by 5 feet, very dense, like a forest. On each arm was a piece of cut wood. Somehow, I simplified the idea, into the single y shaped ossement.
Here are some photos to show how they are made:
Check out the pieces in person in Farmhaus & Friends, which closes this Sunday or online here.
This month’s edition of “In the Studio” features the work of ceramic artist Julie Moon. Julie Moon is originally from Canada & worked in the garment district in Toronto before she began her career in the field of ceramics. She received her MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2010 and is now a resident artist at The Clay Studio right here in Philly. Julie creates incredible sculptures but also has a production line of ceramic jewelry & skulls that we carry here at Art Star. Julie was kind enough to give us a little glimpse into her everyday studio practice through photos. Enjoy!
A snapshot of Julie’s studio at The Clay Studio. Love seeing all the sculptures drying on the side there!
Julie slip casts all of her skulls from a mold. Here they are drying before they can go in the kiln.
Here are some flowers in progress. These will be made into jewelry or used as crowns on some of the skulls’ heads. The skulls with flower crowns always sell out first here at Art Star.
A bucket of glazes. The next step is glazing.
Here they are after they have been glaze fired. The final step will be to apply the decals to the skull heads.
I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek. Here are some more pieces by Julie that we just added to the site!
Flower Stick Pins by Julie Moon, $40 each
Geometric Pendant Necklaces by Julie Moon, $80 eachButtercup Stud Earrings by Julie Moon $50
I think it is very important to show our customers what goes into the creation of all the wonderful handmade items that we sell in our shop. I think taking a peak inside an artist’s studio is a great way to learn more about them and their process. I decided to start a series on this blog where our artists can share snap shots of their studio. First up is Karin Persan of Better Than Jam.
Handprinted Oatmeal A-Line Dress
Karin creates women’s dresses, tops and accessories that are each pieces of one-of-a-kind art, yet comfortable and easy to wear. Each piece is made by hand by Karin from start to finish. All of her fabrics are first screen printed with a collage of her unique imagery, which are either created from a photo, drawing or just an item thrown directly on the scanner. She designs all her patterns & sews them up into a truly unique garment. Karin seems to treat each dress or top as a blank canvas for her art. I hope you enjoy this peak into her studio space in Brooklyn as much as I did. If you ever find yourself in Bushwick, feel free to visit b/c her stuido is also home to her own boutique, also called Better Than Jam, which stocks handmade fashion by many other local designers. Shop our collection of her A-Line Dresses here. I have one and I am obsessed with it! Stop in the shop to check them out in person and also some longer ones that aren’t yet on the site.
imagery to be printed on fabricsprinting the fabricsa burned screen ready for printingstacks of screens – each burned with an image that Karin will print on the fabric individually, creating her final collage of imagesPatternssewing all her beautifully printed fabrics into stunning garmentsBetter Than Jam Handmade Storefront
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Maryanne Petrus- Gilbert: Yes, I received my BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Tyler School of Art. I consider myself a maker more than a jeweler since I love to work with all mediums and build things. I spend my time equally making jewelry and clothing now.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
MPG: I will be selling my upcycled skirts and dresses. Every piece I make is completely unique since my materials depend on what I can find to upcycle.
AS: What materials do you work with?
MPG: I work primarily with preloved T Shirts. I love scouring local thrift stores for t shirts that have a great design or color. I also use corduroy pants, mens cotton dress shirts and wool/cashmere sweaters.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
MPG: I handpick every shirt that comes back to the studio. I pit stop at our laundromat and load up the giant machines for washing, then the clothing comes home and is hung to dry. Everything then gets sorted and cut. I have several minnows now that help with cutting and assembly so I can focus on the design and applique work. Every flower, skull, whale, bike or thing that hit my imagination that morning is done by me using a process called free motion applique. I draw with the sewing machine thread and then the “drawing” is cut out.
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
MPG: I have been doing this for 5 years now, Two years ago it became my full time job and I couldn’t be happier. I still love creating the metalwork for Polymer clay artists:Ford- Forlano, but most of my energy is in Sardine.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
MPG: I have been loving the new David Bowie, but I listen to a variety of people like My Morning Jacket, The Shins, Dr Dog, Dawes, Alabama Shakes….where do I stop? I am a music junkie, the computer is always on Spotify or iTunes radio in the studio and I love hearing new artists.
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years? MPG: In 10 years, I would love to see Sardine be nationwide. Every year I add a different aspect to the business. This February I took the line to the Buyers Market of American Craft and had orders placed by 12 new stores. I plan to continue doing wholesale shows and adding to the list of stores that carry Sardine. I am trying to grow Sardine slowly so that I never lose the handmade goodness that makes every skirt unique.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
MPG: I can’t wait to see what monsters Leroy’s Place has in store, I may need to add another to my wall, Gilbert and Leona, Rocks and Salt, Horrible Adorables…I really just like seeing everything!
Try on some of her skirts/dresses at the bazaar this weekend at booth #29!
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study? Jeffrey Brown: Yes, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, studying Interior Architecture.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? JB: Our hand poured candles, in unique packaging designed by us!
AS: What materials do you work with?
JB: We only use American made materials that are as all-natural as possible, including food-grade soy wax, all-natural fragrance (no icky synthetic perfumes), cotton wicks, recycled paper packaging and handmade paper boxes.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process. JB: We hand pour all of our candles in batches no greater than 35, in traditional warming pots. No hoses, no industrial equipment–the old fashioned way. Our candles are also all hand signed and numbered…
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? JB: We are lucky to be able to be busy enough to do this full time! If I had to work on the side, I would go back to decorating and photo styling…
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists? JB: I collect vintage and antique oil on canvas landscape paintings, most of which are unsigned, or signed by artists of little notoriety. I tend to gravitate to works that were clearly done solely for personal pleasure, and handed down and inherited through family members (until they end up on eBay or flea markets)… As for works of established artists that I covet and would LOVE to collect, I enjoy the work of photographers like Stephen Shore, Gregory Crewdson and Diane Arbus who transform people, places and things we see everyday, into extraordinary imagery.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now? JB: Sirius XM 70’s on 7. I’m old.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year? JB: I LOVE Twig Terrariums–their tongue-in-cheek humor is right up my alley! I have also always loved Volta Organics soaps when I come across them in stores, so am pumped to have their entire assortment in front of me (although I might implode with excitement). Additionally, I’m a dude that likes his small accessories, so am also intrigued to see Bregga & Co.’s leather goods up close and personal.
Thanks for Sharing Jeffrey! Visit him at the Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend at booth #101
Matt Eyer is the owner, founder, and creative director of Wear Liberty, a graphic t-shirt brand that is influenced and inspired by the art, history, and culture of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Previous to starting his brand, he was the Art Director of the Ropeadope Design Collective, a graphic t-shirt line put out through Ropeadope Records. Matt also writes about and reviews t-shirts for the most popular/read t-shirt blog in the world, Hide Your Arms.
Aside from t-shirts, he is obsessed with pugs. Matt has a 6 year old pug named Oliver that lives with him in South Philly. He also got a pug tattoo at the 2013 Philadelphia Tattoo Convention. Ask him to see it!
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Matt Eyer: I did not. I did live in Germany for a year in between high school and college though, and I think my experience there definitely plays into my inspiration.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
ME: T-shirts! My brand is centered around graphic t-shirts. I have a few hoodies too.
AS: What materials do you work with?
ME: T-shirts! haha. and inks to print on them. I mostly use American Apparel shirts, as they are great to print on and very comfy to wear. I use 100% cotton, a 50/50 Poly-Cotton blend, and a super soft Tri-Blend shirt.
AS:How are your items made? Describe your process.
ME: All my designs are my ideas that start in my head and sometimes on paper with a very rough sketch. I then share these ideas with the artists and designers I work with and they beautifully craft them into print-ready designs. When the finished pieces are set to go, they are hand screen printed onto t-shirts and then I have custom hem tags that I sew on myself.
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? ME: Not yet, unfortunately. Hopefully soon though! My “day job” is actually a night job. I’m a server at one of Philly’s most delicious Mexican restaurants, La Calaca Feliz. If you like Mexican and margaritas, I highly recommend coming in. And ask for me of course.
AS:Who are some of your favorite artists?
ME:Wotto is definitely one of my all time favorites. He has an incredible style that you can always recognize as soon as you see one of his designs. Yema Yema is also at the top of my list. She creates some of the best characters I’ve ever seen. (She designed my Ben Franklin tee and I will have a new one from her this year!) againstbound is another favorite. He has a very unique style that stands out from the crowd. And one of my more recent favorites is Colus. (He just released is first ever dunny with kidrobot!)
I also recently discovered these two wonderful ladies: Anita Inverarity and Lea Barozzi. I just put a deposit on one of Lea’s original pieces!
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now? ME: Always listening! Local Natives, Tame Impala, Beach House, Father John Misty, Vacationer. All those bands have released really awesome records over the past year and you should definitely check them out.
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
ME: 10 years is a long time from now…but in the next few years, I would like to get my shirts into more stores and shops in Philadelphia and hopefully open my own store one day! I’m also planning on creating a Wear Liberty pet line for all of your Philly loving cats and dogs.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year? ME: Gnome Enterprises always has some awesome shirts, so I’ll have to check them out. All the stuff from Mad Knits, Gearforms, and Cutesy but not Cutesy looks great (especially the dog monster hoodie!), so I’ll definitely be stopping by all of their booths. And one of these days, I’m gonna have to pick up one of Jordan Elise’s Horrible Adorables. They’re just too awesome not to.
This is Matt’s second year doing the Art Star Craft Bazaar and he is super excited! He will be releasing 5 new designs, which is the most he’s ever done at once with his own brand.
He was featured on Comcast/Xfinity On Demand for the month of February for an interview he did with the website Philly In Focus. Each month, their top 3 most popular videos are featured on On Demand under the “Get Local” section. Check it out here
For sneak peeks and updates, follow Wear Liberty on facebook and twitter.
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Meera Lee Patel: I did not go to art school; I graduated from Rutgers University with degrees in English & Journalism.
Pillow by Meera Lee Patel
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? MLP: I’ll be selling original paintings (watercolor & gouache), along with hand-sewn tea towels, pillows, and a slew of illustrated paper goods.
AS: What materials do you work with? MLP: I work primarily in watercolor & gouache and the tiniest of brushes.
Superfood Tea Towel by Meera Lee Patel
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process. MLP: Every item starts with a loose pencil sketch, followed by a tighter sketch in color. Then I begin blocking large areas of color in, adding light layers until the painting is finished. My favorite part of the process is the last one, where I use tiny brushes to add little flecks of paint that become the detail & life of each piece.
the artist’s studio
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists? MLP: I love the work of Carson Ellis, Diana Sudyka, and Teagan White, to name a few, but the list is pretty long and ever-growing!
We Are Made of Stars Postcard by Meera Lee Patel
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now? MLP: I am reading Crush by Richard Siken for the seventh or eighth time, and listening to Paul Simon perpetually and probably for the rest of my life.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
MLP: I’m especially excited to see work by Andrew Cho, Betsy Olmsted, and Foxglove Factory.
Thanks for sharing Meera! Follow her work on Etsy, her website, & her blog. Visit her at our craft bazaar next weekend in booth #65
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study? Lauren Rossi: I went to a liberal arts college for my undergraduate degree and followed that up with art school for my graduate degree. I received my Bachelor of Arts from Scripps College in Claremont, California majoring in Studio Art. My Master of Fine Arts was earned from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan from the Fiber Department. After completing both academic programs I spent a year at The Fabric Workshop and Museum as an apprentice before beginning my own studio practice and business.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
LR: I will be selling products for home: Tea Towels, Napkins, Pillows, Table Runners and Tablecloths and personal accessories: Envelope Clutches and Totes all made from my hand printed fabrics.
AS: What materials do you work with?
LR: I use a variety of materials to make work. To list a few: architecture pencil, water color, India ink, gauche, tracing, watercolor and drawing paper, paint brushes of all sizes, a scanner, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, mylar, emulsion, silk screens, duck tape, spray adhesive, nail polish, masking tape, linen, burlap, leather, cotton and hemp fabrics, digital camera, t-pins, squeegees, water color textile pigment and twine.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process. LR: I keep notebooks and lists everywhere that are a collection of print ideas to be. When I begin working on a new design this writing is translated to sketch and then original drawing. From paper I scan and then trace my drawing using a Wacom tablet, adjusting shapes, adding color layers, rearranging each component until the composition is complete. Each color layer is printed out onto mylar film and then the corresponding screens are “burned,” a process that exposes the light sensitive emulsion coating, transferring the image to the screen. I often proof colorways digitally before mixing ink, and then I print test squares of each color on fabric. There are many steps in the print process, including color tests, registration, scale and the translation to finished object. I love to experiment when I design and print, by considering the repeat to be more like an endless painting, pushing boundaries of the traditional and the process. I usually have an end use in mind before I begin the design and print process, but I have fun in the studio by keeping an open mind about what the fabric could turn into. The last step is to produce the finished products using the printed yardage. I use a number of local sources for sampling and production including sewing, upholstery and digital printing.
Photo Credit: Andrew Nicholas
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? LR: I get to print and design full time!! And I am so grateful for it. When I am not in the studio I love to spend time with my husband and great dane. I also love to cook (I was a line cook and pastry chef for a short time).
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
LR: To name a few off the top of my head: Marimekko, Lotta Jansdotter, Hable Construction, Hella Jongerius, Studio Droog, Issey Miyake, Louise Bourgeois, Jean Claude and Christo, Draga Obradovic, Joseph Beuys.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
LR: I am slowly reading “The History of Love” by Nicole Krauss and hope to have my hands on Julia Child’s book, “My Life in France” immediately following. In the studio I am listening to a lot of Mumford and Sons, Ratatat, the Roots, Talking Heads and First Aid Kit Pandora mixes.
Photo Credit: Andrew Nicholas
AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 5 years?
LR: I hope to expand my collaborations with other businesses, employ 2-4 people, begin doing Saturday workshops and have product available in a variety of locations and shops.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year? LR: I look forward to meeting them all!
A list of a few of my favorite things: Huevos Rancheros, Peonies and Wisteria Vines, flip flops, vintage bangles, pink and orange combination, oysters, artichokes, avocado and mochi ice cream
Thank you Lauren for telling us a bit more about you & your incredible work. Check out this video portrait of Lauren by Andrew & Jenn Richey Nicholas. Be sure to bookmark her website + Visit her at our upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar at Booth #20!
Art Star: What materials do you work with?
Devin McNutt: I make jewelry from vintage tin canisters, boxes and trays. I’ve been collecting these tins over the years by scouring flea markets, yard sales and antique stores. Most of them were manufactured during the mid 20th century in England and Holland and were used to package loose tea, cookies and candy. They now line the walls of my studio and serve as a colorful paint palette of sorts, from which I draw my inspiration.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
DM: I start by breaking down a tin from it’s three dimensional form into flat sheets of metal. Then, based on the printed designs, I select an eye-catching portion, draw a shape to highlight it and cut it out. The edges of the tin are then carefully sanded and ground down to a smooth finish. Holes are drilled and the tin component is then used to create a unique piece of jewelry by riveting, wire wrapping or embellishing with beads and chain.
Devin at work in her studio
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
DM: One of my favorite artists is Alexander Calder. Better known for his famous sculptures and mobiles, Calder is, in my opinion, a wire jewelry genius. Every time I page through my 10 pound ‘Calder Jewelry’ book my brain is flooded with ideas and I can’t stop myself from running to my studio…
jewelry by Calder & Saffron Creations
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? DM: I’ve managed a bead store for the past 6 years, where I teach classes, help customers design jewelry and do lots and lots of repairs. Recently, I made an exciting (yet scary!) change to reduce my hours at the shop to only one day a week. With my full focus on my business, I hope that Saffron Creations will really be able to blossom.
Earrings by Saffron Creations
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
DM: With my recent career change I have so much more time to do what I really love: make jewelry. This spring, I am excited to have my biggest inventory of work… ever! There is sure to be something for everyone.
Check out Saffron Creations in person at the May 11th & 12th Art Star Craft Bazaar. She’ll be at booth #70!
Rachel Sherman makes impeccably crafted clothing and accessories under the name Malagueta. Her surface manipulation on each garment is pretty amazing. Learn more about her techniques & what inspires her. And be sure to check her out at the bazaar at Booth 48 – all of her items are always neatly displayed by color!
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study? RS: I went to Moore College of Art and got my BFA in Textile Design.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar? RS: Skirts, tops, dresses, and wristlets….all of which will display some type of surface manipulation.
AS: What materials do you work with?
RS: Lots of jersey and woven fabrics all of which are plain on the surface, nothing printed, and textures are kept to a minimum. Whenever there is any leftover, which there usually is, I save it and use it for appliques, piecing, etc.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
RS: I buy limited amounts of yardage that I first cut into the pattern pieces. Some styles I assemble COMPLETELY before I add any surface detail to them, while others can only be assembled AFTER the pattern pieces are cut then covered with surface work. The techniques I use are found in traditional folk textiles such as Kuna Molas, Rahasthani dresses, and Korean Bojagi cloth. Those techniques are reverse applique (layering fabrics then removing one layer at a time to reveal specific colors underneath), couching (sewing yarn onto fabric with thread, either by hand or sewing machine), piecing (gathering fabric pieces of different shapes and colors and sewing them together to emphasize bold color compostions or using the opaque seams to emphasize line compostions).
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job? RS: Malagueta is almost full-time work, however I do squeeze in block-printing one day a week, the occasional sewing project for someone, then top it off with a samba performance or a gig teaching design to high school students.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
RS: Chet Atkins, The Might Sparrow, Jorge Ben and other Brasilian Artists. I will be reading Bossy Pants as soon as my sister is done with it.
Check out the pieces in person in Farmhaus & Friends, which closes this Sunday or online here.
Porcelain Skull by Julie Moon
A snapshot of Julie’s studio at The Clay Studio. Love seeing all the sculptures drying on the side there!
Julie slip casts all of her skulls from a mold. Here they are drying before they can go in the kiln.
Here are some flowers in progress. These will be made into jewelry or used as crowns on some of the skulls’ heads. The skulls with flower crowns always sell out first here at Art Star.
A bucket of glazes. The next step is glazing.
Here they are after they have been glaze fired. The final step will be to apply the decals to the skull heads.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
