myth & symbol preview

Not trying to insult the intelligence of any readers here, but I feel the need to remind you Texas is really big. So big that I'm not even close to seeing a fraction of everything worth seeing here despite having spent most of my life living here.  With that in mind, I figured it's long overdue for us to start featuring nice places for local readers to check out and maybe even tempt out-of-staters to visit if we do a good enough job! Texas love forever.

Wren, Samatha Pleet, and Ace & Jig dresses.  

First up is a preview of Myth & Symbol, a shop which will be opening very soon in Houston and stocking clothing and accessories from emerging designers such as Feral Childe, Uzi, and Dusen Dusen as well as printed, home, and beauty goods.  It's not hard to imagine that the future customers are a lot like me when it comes to buying clothes...girls who focus on a wardrobe consisting of a small rotation of pieces truly special to them from sources they feel good about supporting.  

The obvious benefit of the shop stocking plenty of designers whose work hasn't yet be sold in Houston (and in some cases, all of Texas) is that it will give customers the opportunity to check out the fit and feel of pieces they might have only admired online or possibly never would have been familiar with otherwise. I think the appeal of Myth & Symbol goes beyond that, though. When I stopped by to check out the shop while they prepare for their launch, Trang and Chau Nguyen (2/4 of the Myth + Symbol team) were equal parts enthusiastic and informed as they showed me pieces from the store, sharing tidbits they had learned from their Brooklyn studio visits such as which designers share space and the inspiration behind certain prints.  Eventually, they plan to use the space to host events such as jewelry making workshops to foster Houston's own creative community.  

Be sure to check out the shop for yourself when it opens if you're in town, and until then, enjoy my preview shots and read what Trang had to say about how it came together and some of her favorite pieces.

The fitting rooms feature an impressive amount of yardage of hand-dyed rope.  

Your store is being created by a group of people with a diverse group of talents.  What made opening a retail store seem like the best idea to combine your interests?  

There are many aspects to operating a boutique so it's really beneficial having a team with diverse backgrounds. You need someone who knows the business and the creative side. All four of us (Ameet, BJ, Chau and myself) contribute our own unique talents and each bring different skills to the table. Chau is actually my sister. BJ is my brother-in-law and I've known Ameet since high school.

Some of the accessories in stock by designers including Alyson Fox, Rennes, Fay Andrada, and Baggu.

What about opening a store with your vision has been the most surprising?

The response from other local retailers... especially from other boutiques who also are focused on independent designers. Everyone wants each other to succeed.

Houston tends to be overlooked, from a national and even specifically Texan level, in terms of creative ventures, despite having a really impressive museum district and artistic community.  What made you want to stay in Houston instead of setting up shop in a city where the brands you’re carrying might have more recognition?

Houston has definitely been overlooked. I think this outlook is slowly changing though since there's been an "Austin-effect" emerging in this oil city. Houstonians are becoming more conscious and aware of the way they consume and buy. I can't completely knock down Houstonians though. We've always appreciated fashion, it just isn't easily accessible. The idea of Myth + Symbol came about because my sister and I knew we weren't the only ones frustrated that we couldn't find our favorite designers in our very own city. There's a big demographic that has yet to be tapped into here.

In my perfect world, every retail location (book stores! clothing stores! grocery stores!) would have a section devoted to aesthetically pleasing, independently published printed material.

Are there any specific pieces you’re stoked to have in stock? Tell us about them!

Fay Andrada's Elli Necklace has been on my personal wish list for months. It's kinda pathetic of me but sometimes I would just go online and swoon over the necklace.  Samantha Pleet's Cosmo Dress is one of those dresses that just make you wanna swirl and twirl. I'm also a proud Texan so I can't wait to feature a local designer, Myan from Hidden Vices. 

Dusen Dusen prints.

Odette New York jewelry.

leah duncan

We're thrilled to be featuring one of the many talented folks based here in Austin for this week's artist interview.  I became familiar with Leah Duncan's work when my roommate Sara added one of her charming prints to our growing collection of bear art, which is getting quite impressive!  Her illustrations, which can be found on a variety of textiles, home goods, and paper products in her shop, feature colorful patterns and elements of nature, from mountains and flowers to swans and jack rabbits.  You can read more about Leah on her blog.

How would you describe the creative community in Austin? How has your location influenced your work?

The creative community in Austin is very vibrant and diverse, yet I think there's still a sort of "Austin" feel that you get from artists who live and work here. That certainly comes from the colors and sights of our surroundings. I live in east Austin which has brought a unique voice to my work in my color palettes, style, and themes I've explored. 

Can you elaborate on your creative process from the idea of a project to the final piece?

The creative process can be ever so messy and fulfilling at the same time! It normally starts with a thought, a moment, or an idea that I want to communicate which inspires me to make. Sometimes it comes out easily, other times it's a grueling process and I begin to panic because my thoughts and vision are not the reality of my work. If I do end up in a panic situation though, I've learned that it too is a part of the process, and once I get through it I generally end up with something even better than my original idea. It's always a tiny bit agonizing in the beginning, because I so want it to work out perfectly.

Do you have any advice for people hoping to teach themselves creative techniques? Are there any easy craft projects you can recommend?

I learn best by doing, so I'd say if you're interested in something give yourself time to try it and work through the process. Sewing is actually quite easy and sewing machines don't cost much! They're also super handy when you need to hem your pants.

Do you have a favorite piece or project that you have completed?

They're all a small part of me, so it's hard to choose just one. I think my favorite drawing recently has been "I'll be your swan". It's one of those pieces that happened perfectly without too much effort and it makes me smile every time I see it.

What can we expect to see from you in the next few months? Do you have any dream collaborations or projects (however unlikely!) that you would like to accomplish in the long-term?

I have a fabric line that will be released through Anthology fabrics in February, which has always been a dream of mine. I'm also working on a few collaborations with fellow artists, including Austin local Sarah Wymer of Studio SloMo. In the long term I'd like to open a brick and mortar shop, keep expanding my home goods line, and create an overall recognizable brand of my work. All very possible dreams. If I'm going for an unlikely dream it would be to do album artwork for Arcade Fire. : )

 Thanks, Leah!

sarah julia clark

 If Sarah Julia Clark just drew pretty pictures, we'd still like her a lot, as she is quite the talented illustrator! However, take a closer look at her art and you'll find that it champions a message of equality, which makes us downright love her work. I mean, I don't think anything could be more up our alley than a feminist book with a felt cover and stickers (not even the stuff we make!), so it's only natural that we're fans.

Sarah answered a few questions for us about researching for her work, feminism, and her upcoming exhibition, which you should put on your calendar if you're in London! Check out her website and blog for more.

Where do you draw your inspiration for your art? Are there any artists, illustrators, or films in particular that have influenced your work?

At the moment I’m finding lots of inspiration in Trade Union Banners and the history of protest, in particular regarding women’s rights. Most of my projects begin by researching background material with the visuals normally developing through reading. I wouldn’t say there is anyone who has directly influenced my work but I have a lot of admiration for other designers. My internship at Agency Rush this summer exposed me to the wonderful Jess Wilson and Kate Jenkins.

Can you elaborate on your creative process from the idea of a project to the final piece?

Most of my projects are research based. I begin with lots of reading and visual research if relevant. This is followed by many late nights of painting and drawing, then busy days of screen printing and making. I spend half my life with a bad back! I’m known for being the most productive between 10pm and 4am, which is something I really need to change.

One of our favourite projects of yours is your Ladies First zine. How did you come up with the idea? Was feminism always a theme in your artwork?

I had been thinking a lot about “gentlemanly” behaviours and the ridiculous gender etiquette that people still play up to even today. I find it really interesting how we accept so many things in this culture as the norm without questioning or challenging them. Traditions such as opening the door for a “lady “are of course acts of kindness, but also reinforce gender stereotypes, viewing women as passive. This idea is more evident in examples such as changing the wheel of a car, DIY or paying the bill at dinner which are traditionally roles of men. I refuse to accept this.

“‘Woman’ is not a derogative word. I am always a woman, but there are time when I choose to sit without holding my knees together.” ~Sylvia Dickey Smith

Feminism has always played an important part in my life and after attending several discussion and consciousness raising groups I feel compelled to try promoting positive feminist messages through my work. The word feminism comes with a lot of baggage and I’m constantly trying to represent it in a fresh way, for what it really is - empowering, positive and forward thinking.

You have a variety of items available in your shop such as brooches, tote bags, and coasters. If you could print your work on any surface or product, what would you choose?

I’m still exploring screen-printing, recently printing on kitchen tiles, which was great fun. I tend to print on quite a small scale so I’d love to work on something larger. It would be great to transform one of my designs into a rug or a duvet cover or print my own fabric and create garments. I have a textile background and used to make a lot of my own clothes, I’d love to get back into that.

What projects do you have planned? Do you have any dream collaborations or projects (however unlikely!) that you would like to accomplish in the long-term?

I’d love to work on some large-scale campaigns for women’s rights and try to contribute creatively to moving the feminist movement forward. I’m slowly expanding my range of products and it is probably unrealistic, but I’d love to run my own shop selling my work and using the back as my studio. Although it’s fantastic to have other shops selling my things, there is nothing like doing it yourself. I love doing art and zine fairs and it’s great talking to my lovely customers. 

At the moment I'm working on some illustrations featuring a variety of truly inspirational women, ecofeminists, abolitionists, professors, activists and authors. These will form part of an exhibition called ‘UP To Now’, featuring the work of Brighton Illustration and graphic design students as we enter our third and final year. The exhibition runs from 30th Sept- 2nd Oct at RED Gallery, Shoreditch, London. Check out our website and blog to see some of the work progressing.

 

Thanks, Sarah!

faye moorhouse

After a mini-hiatus from our weekly artist interviews, we are finally back with a few new interviews with some very talented ladies. Our first interview is with illustrator Faye Moorhouse based out of southern England. Although kind of embarrassing to admit, I found her work through one of my late-night "cat zine" searches on Etsy (which as a side note, there really aren't many of...) and came across her epic artist's book, The Cat Ladies of Czechoslovakia. Her Etsy shop is bursting with original paintings, zines, prints, housewares - all of it a little creepy but as I've commented on a few of our previous interviews, my favorite art always is. Faye answered a few questions for us about the inspiration behind her different series of work & her self-publishing process.  


You can find more of Faye's work on her website and purchase her zines, prints & original paintings through her online shop. 

Where do you draw your inspiration? 

My main form of inspiration is stories. I’m particularly drawn to tales of strange things, conspiracies, mysteries, murders etc. I’m a natural born pessimist and I love all things
gross and shocking, I like to think this oddness shows itself in my work. 

Are there any artists, illustrators, or films in particular that have influenced your work?

Taxidermia, A Zed and Two Noughts, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, Lars and The Real Girl, Blue Valentine. These are all really influential films for me, I’m not a great film watcher, I get very distracted and lose concentration quite quickly, however these films really engrossed me. I tend to be more of a documentary and reality-tv kind of person, and I think this tendency towards all things trashy and shocking has a definite influence on my work.

Are there any specific themes in your illustrations and projects you find yourself continually returning to? 

At the moment I am really trying to build up my online etsy shop, this means that I spend  less time than I should on creating new work. I am really enjoying painting naked  swimmers and people having sex, I also keep returning to my cat ladies; I think they have  further to be taken; I would love to animate the cat ladies!

And do you have a favorite project that you've completed?

Three Very Gruesome Love Stories was a really fun project for me, it was my minor  project at Uni, and our first self-initiated one, so I took the opportunity to do something I could really stick with and find personally intriguing. It was fun to work on 3 short stories as it allowed freedom to flip between them, meaning it always felt very fresh. 

Do you find yourself tending to complete your work in series? Or, can you elaborate on your creative process in terms of a piece from start to finish? Is there always a narrative  in mind?

When I begin a new project I start with a general theme or more often than not, a specific story, either one I’ve found or one I’ve written myself. Then I start putting my ideas straight into little mock-up books, (made by stapling 4 bits of a4 folded paper together) I’ve tried working straight onto paper but I find it restricting, I love being able to work out the pace and flow of a book. From there I just keep re-making these mock-up books until I have one which works well, then I will create the final images, scan, edit, put into book format, print and bind. Some of my books/zines also require hand-colouring, this is quite a lengthy process! 

After I’ve created a final book / books for the project, or in fact whilst I am making books, I will start to think about how I can translate the narrative into single images.

If you could collaborate with any artist or individual on a project, who would it be and what would you produce?

I have no one in mind in particular, but I would love to do larger wall mural pieces or set  design for shops/ magazines. Actually one just came to mind! I would love to work with a  publisher, I’ve got my eye on Nobrow at the mo, they publish gorgeous screen-printed  short runs of artists/ illustrators books. Although I love self-publishing it does get  frustrating at times when I don’t have the equipment to do larger runs and with better  quality colour output, so I do secretly fantasize about getting my book spotted by a  publisher.

Thanks, Faye!

Naomi Elliott

Every once in a while, I'll stumble across a drawing or illustrator on the internet and then am suddenly baffled about how I was completely unfamiliar with them until 10 seconds before. I tend to take an immediate liking to certain types of illustration, usually more minimal designs done with graphite and block shapes. Sometimes even a bit macabre and creepy. So it's almost a bit upsetting when I realize I've gone so long without being able to enjoy someone's work who fits that description. Naomi Elliott's work is the latest example of this. Looking through all of her work on her blog and portfolio, I can't find a single piece that I don't absolutely love. I knew immediately that I had to interview her for our blog and  Naomi was sweet enough to answer a few questions about her inspirations and upcoming projects. 

You can find more of Naomi's work on her website and you can follow her on Tumblr for updates about her work. She has an online shop in the works and we'll let everyone know when it's up!

Your drawings mimic both the every day and fantastical elements. Can you tell us a little bit about how your process and sources of inspiration differ from capturing still life objects (like in the Déjeuner du Matin / morning breakfast series) to creating make believe worlds (Come to the Circus)?

I tend to get a lot of inspiration from my dreams and nightmares. For the past year I've been having incredibly vivid dreams so I keep a little diary beside my bed and try and write down as much of the details as soon as I wake up. I guess this is why a lot of my work does flit between the real and the imaginary.

Can you give us the inside scoop to the book (True Sailor Boy) that you've been working on? What sort of other upcoming projects do you have planned?

I've always been very enchanted by old sea shanties and wanted to make a book out of one that I really loved. There's something so magical about that world that exists at sea and the songs that were sang where no-one else could hear them. It's very much a work in progress at the minute but I'm just giving myself time to get through it and focus on making it the best that it can be. I've also started making a little book about a haunted house I used to live in and I'm also in the process of setting up an online shop which should exist very soon. I'll be sure to let you know when it's ready!

What are your dream collaborations or projects, however ridiculous or unlikely they may be?

My dream project would be to illustrate a cookbook! If I wasn't an illustrator I think I'd like to be a chef. 

It would also be a total dream come true to collaborate with Woody Allen on..anything really. He seems like such an interesting person so I reckon we could come up with something a bit crazy.

Any advice to anyone just getting into illustration and drawing on how to develop their own personal style?

Keep creating! I think it's important not to get too caught up in comparing yourself to other people or trying to copy other illustrators styles. The more you draw and practice the more you'll see what you're comfortable with and you'll see your own style emerge. At times, I really struggle with the internet in the respect that you are constantly bombarded with really awesome work and it can leave you feeling really inadequate but you just have to work through it and find your own voice.

 Thanks, Naomi! 

Kensey Crane

Kensey Crane is a real gem of a gal, and I'm pleased to say, one of my friend-crush success stories (after many months of mutual admiration and one mistaken identity). Whether she's photographing nature, the creatures and characters of her neighborhood, or her own pretty face, the results are always a treat because Kensey's wit, impeccable style, and heart are always bursting through. 
  
You can check out more of Kensey's photography on her flickr and buy a print of her work (only $5 for perfection!) OR a copy of Tilde Journal featuring her work in our Etsy store. 

Where do you draw your inspiration for your photography? Are there any artists, illustrators, or films in particular that have influenced your work?

I have a big fascination with architecture, people's mannerisms, and nature. Depending on where I`m living - whether it be city or the small town I grew up in, I tend to gravitate to those things. Right now being in Montreal, I've become infatuated with the old buildings and churches, as well as the interesting characters that inhabit the different neighbourhoods (you get to know them after a while, its almost comforting.)

I also get a lot of inspiration from films. I have a couple of friends who have introduced me to some directors that have moved me and changed me and made me want to capture images in a certain way. Ingmar Bergman was probably the first one who I really connected with. He just has this way of translating human nature in a way that makes you feel both awful and wonderful. Every time I watch something by him I get this restless feeling, like I have to make something.  I recently found out about this lovely female street photographer named Vivian Maier. From the 1950s onwards, she took all these incredible candid photos of people, none of which were discovered until recently when someone stumbled upon them in an antique auction. Boxes and boxes of amazing works, some of them not even developed. Since seeing them I've gained the courage to start photographing strangers on the street. Sometimes I ask permission and sometimes I'm sneaky.

 Your photographs always have a very distinct feel. Can you tell us about your favorite type of equipment to use and your processes?

When I started taking photos a few years ago I was using this little Canon digital camera. Nothing too fancy, but it allowed me to take thousands of photos and understand how to use a camera as a vessel to express an idea. Recently I`ve sort of felt detached from digital, feeling that it made me lazy and careless, and have been using a Pentax film camera my father bought me as a Christmas gift. There is just something when using film that can`t be mimicked. It's more of a process, more effort and thought are put in to each picture. Nostalgia is one of the feelings I always try to portray, and film makes this very easy to do.  I get so excited about getting film developed, almost an anxious nauseous feeling - but a good one! I'ts definitely not the most affordable medium, but I feel like its worth it.

 What are your dream collaborations or projects, however ridiculous or unlikely they may be? 

I would actually love to work with some of my friends. Matt Feyld is one of my favourite photographers/illustrators (name drop: http://matthewfeyldphoto.blogspot.com/), I`d love to collaborate with him on some photography ideas and perhaps some doodles too. I like the way he sees the world.

I also think it would be fun to make some sort of uncomfortable, ugly movie with Harmony Korine. Starring Jeff Goldbum as my lover.  

What direction do you see yourself taking your work in the future?  Do you have any upcoming projects planned?

I want to start developing my own film. My friend has a makeshift darkroom that I`ll hopefully have a chance to play around in some day soon.

And more and more I find that I want to make movies. That is my ultimate goal. It just feels like the next step from photography. I do plan on buying a VHS camera soon and starting there, seeing what sort of things I can do with that. 

Putting images in motion with some music, writing scripts and maybe forcing my friends to participate in front of the camera.

Oh and if you`re reading this Mr. Goldblum, feel free to contact me about acting opportunities.

Thanks, Kensey! 

Caitlin Shearer

To my knowledge, there isn't some sort of international championship for the illustration of dreamy ladies (and why not? that would be awesome!), but if there were, I would not want to be up against Australian artist Caitlin Shearer, although.  Not only does she come up with some of the most stylin' ladies I've seen, but she also has an impressively large body of work - just check out her Flickr and her blog.  There's no way I could keep up!


Caitlin was nice enough to answer a few questions for us about her creative process, developing your own artistic style, and people she wishes would move in next door to her.  

Can you elaborate at all on your creative process? (from the idea of a project to the final piece)  Do you have a narrative in mind when you create a piece? Or do you draw what comes to mind? 

The way a painting starts and continues usually varies - it's usually a mish-mash of what I'm feeling or obsessed with that week, (kind of like a diary - gotta let these emotions out of my brain) but that being said, sometimes I will leave a painting for months and change it dramatically when the right thing pops into mind. I do all the outlines in lead pencil first, which allows for spontaneous change.

We always love to here about people’s creative spaces – do you have a studio or office that you work out of, and if so, what’s it like?  Do you have a favorite time of day to work?

Well, I moved house exactly one week ago, so I'm currently living and working in Sydney in a sharehouse. I'm minding a friend's room for six months, so am using her furniture. I've got a dark brown desk under the window and out of it I can see lots of rooftops. I wish I had a spacious white studio filled with fresh flowers, but that might take another five years. My favourite time of day to work is after lunchtime, all afternoon till it get's dark - and perhaps far into the night if I pick up momentum and there are no friends knocking at the door.

What are your favorite tools? Is there a medium you haven’t explored yet that you would like to get into?

I'd love to try oil paints - I imagine they would add a completely different dimension to the work. I'm a bit intimidated by them at the moment though! I just started working in an art supply store and it's all too tempting - now I want to spent all my pay on marbling kits and fabric mediums and huge sketchbooks and fancy papercutting scissors.At the moment my favourite tools are masking fluid, smooth cotton paper, watercolour paints, waterproof black paint and teeny tiny paintbrushes.

Caitlin's collaboration with fashion designer Karla Špetić.

What are your dream collaborations or projects, however ridiculous or unlikely they may be? 

All unlikely- but here we go...I wish I could be an in-house illustrator for Lula mag - and also chat about clothes and fancy things with Leith Clark. I wish Vivienne Westwood was my patron/teacher/wise owl.I wish the Rodarte sisters would have me over for tea.I wish David Lynch and I were neighbours so we could have pie baking competitions every weekend.oh and add Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, James Mercer to that list.More to do with fun than work... but good work comes from loving the people you work with, right?

Any advice to anyone just getting into illustration and drawing on how to develop their own personal style?

Speaking personally,  I found it took a long, long time to be entirely pleased and entirely comfortable with my own work. It's not something you can rush - it just takes a lot of practice, experimentation and commitment. I guess, the more honest you can be, the better. That goes for everything in life.

If you could have any fictional character or historical figure as a client, whom would you choose?  What would they commission?

I'd squeal if Bettie Page commissioned a life size boudoir portrait to hang above her bed.

Thanks, Caitlin!

kaye blegvad

I have to be honest - it's taken me a lot of self-control to refrain from making a post about Kaye Blegvad's illustration & artwork as the self-proclaimed president of her unofficial  fan club.  I can never quite put my finger on what part of her work I love the most - the playfulness, sometimes creepy nature of her work, her subject matter, etc. all mixed with how sweet / awesome she is. Kaye answered a few questions for us about her recent work and venture into jewelry design. You can find more of her work on her website and blog. 

For our readers, Kaye is offering a 25% off discount from her jewelry etsy shop, Datter, with the coupon code "VENTRICULAR." You can find some of her prints AND garlands for sale in her other etsy shop, here. 

Where do you draw your inspiration? Are there any artists, illustrators, or films in particular that have influenced your work?

I get inspiration from all over the place - I don't have a particularly consistent place to go to when I feel stumped. I guess the biggest influence on my work has been my dad, Peter Blegvad. He's an illustrator, singer/songwriter, writer... He does a lot of stuff. And I inherited a lot of his sensibilities and interests - alchemy, dark humour, anatomy, poetry, dreams, the surreal... I see a lot of his influence in my work; at least in the topics I keep returning to, if not in the actual look of it. My mother (Chloe Fremantle) is a painter with a wonderful sense of colour and pattern, and she takes a lot of her inspiration from nature - I think I got a little of that too, though it's less obvious just by looking at my work I guess.

What originally prompted you to jump from illustration into jewelry design?

I have a friend here in New York who's been making jewelry for something like 30 years. When I moved here, she encouraged me to make some pieces for her shop (The Shape of Lies, in the East Village: it's amazing) and introduced me to the process. I got completely hooked - it is awesome to make something and then suddenly have it in metal! I guess it's a way to translate illustrations into something wearable - a lot of the pieces are based on themes from my work or even specific drawings.

Can you elaborate at all on your creative process? (from the idea of a project to the final piece)

It varies a lot from piece to piece. For personal work, I tend to be pretty spontaneous; I get an idea and I just do it without sketching or anything. Sometimes I have ideas in my notebook for months before I make them happen, sometimes I do them right away. Most of my work is just done on scraps of paper or occasionally in books, and exists as an original, though sometimes I piece things together in photoshop (usually if it's a complicated image that's intimidating to make as an original. I'm a big chicken about that stuff). For commissioned work, you normally have to show rough ideas, so then I sketch a lot more, come up with a bunch of different ideas, and pick one with the art director. It's quite nice to work that way - the art director almost always surprises me with their choices, but then I'm always impressed when I realise, hey, they were right!

Do you have any big upcoming projects / pieces planned? Or, do you see yourself going in a more commercialized direction with your art in the future (with jewelry, etc.)?

I just did a big project for Lucky Kids magazine that will come out in mid-August. That was pretty much my most fun commission ever. I made life sized animal cut outs for a kids fall fashion photoshoot, and it was awesome. I now have huge cardboard animals littering my apartment. As for other stuff, and getting more commercial - I've always been interested in making products, ways to have images come off the page and become something more than just a drawing. So yes, I'd like to keep doing that definitely - textile design, packaging design, three dimensional objects, jewelry... I've been making illustrated garlands lately and I really like that idea and want to do a bunch more. Ideally I'd like to find a balance between 'fine art' type work and more commercial and product work. I think there's a lot of interesting stuff to be done in both worlds.

Thanks, Kaye!