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i did this interview with author kevin sampsell for nailed magazine www.nailedmagazine.com/interview/interview-collage-artist...
striped shirt - merona. target.
blue cashmere sweater - ann taylor.
red belt - target.
skirt - grace elements. ross.
red shoes - giani bini. dillards.
pearls - gift.
3 little brooches - vintage.
Got this idea from Lisa. Here is how Jessie answered the questions I asked:
1. What is something daddy always says to you?
Go praang phun (means go brush your teeth in Thai)
2. What makes daddy happy?
Good kids.
3. What makes daddy sad?
Bad kids.
4. How does your daddy make you laugh?
He tickles me.
5. What was your daddy like as a child?
He didn't behave, like me, and he got spanked.
6. How old is your daddy?
35 (actual age...36)
7. How tall is your daddy?
Six feet (actual height...5'8")
8. What is his favorite thing to do?
Take pictures.
9. What does your daddy do when you're not around?
Watch TV.
10. If your daddy is on TV for something, what will it be for?
So other people can see him.
11. What is your daddy really good at?
Coloring.
12. What is your daddy not very good at?
Nothing.
13. What does your daddy do for his job?
Take pictures.
14. What is your daddy's favorite food?
Edamame (I was eating this when I interviewed her...so she just picked this as her asnwer)
15. What makes you proud of your daddy?
A long time ago, he use to give us chocolate before school. (LOL)
16. If your daddy were a cartoon character, who would he be?
Mr. Potato Head.
17. What do you and your daddy do together?
Play Wii Bowling.
18. How are you and your daddy the same?
We both have black hair.
19. How are you and your daddy different?
He's a boy. I'm a girl.
20. How do you know your daddy loves you?
Because I'm his kid.
21. Where is your daddy's favorite place to go?
Disneyland.
My interview for the funfair radio/TV show. The girl in pink asks me some questions about the atmosphere of the funfair and also some more serious questions about experiences and acceptance of T-girls in public life. She does a great job to promote understanding and acceptance of LBGT people.
Proud! I heard the (physical) mailbox, checked it and it was there. The new zoom.nl magazine. The biggest magazine in The Netherlands in amateur-photography. I took it out of the wrap and it smelled good, better than ever! This is the interview in Amsterdam with me: 6 pages with photo's of which 1 photo was taken during the interview/streetphotography-session.
In stores in Belgium and The Netherlands in a few days.
Muchas gracias Andrés Rey y al equipo de Altfoto por esta entrevista.
Thanks to Andrés Rey and Altfoto team for this interview.
altfoto.com/2013/03/fotografos-desconocidos-jose-rey?utm_...
www.recyclart.org/2016/01/recycled-art-interview-8-jennie...
We continue our series of posts interviewing "recycled art" crafters & artists. This week, we interviewed Jennie Burke from the brand FANTOME as she make beautiful accessories from recycled bike inner tubes. If you think you deserve to be featured in the next interview, please, drop us an email.
Tell us a little more about you? Who you are? Where are you from?
My name is Jennie Burke. I’m a quarter of the brand FANTOME (the little daughter of this family affair :)) and a half of the band KLINK CLOCK (rock duet). I’m from France. I spend my time between Paris’ suburbs where I live and produce my music, and Bordeaux where our FANTOME’s workshop is.
Why do you craft?
Why shouldn’t I? :D I love creating things, can’t do anything against it.
How did you learn?
I always needed to occupy my hands and my mind. Craft is doing both, hurray! My parents are always crafting, they give me the pleasure of it since I’m young! I also attended for some time a French fashion university, but couldn’t stay, didn’t move enough. Sometimes I really want to create, sometimes I’m just curious to know how to do something and somedays i have to fix or do stuff… DIY!
Since when are you working with recycled & upcycled materials?
Teenager, I started to collect everything. Every small piece of paper, every piece of fabrics, every little jar, every little nice piece of wood… and started to make fluffy dolls, animals and guitars: The FluffyJack Dolls.
You are working for the brand FANTOME that make accessories from recycled inner-tube. From where come this choice of working with recycled inner tubes?
I stopped wearing leather since 5 years, due to the animal treatment I don’t agree with. It’s not an easy thing. Finding shoes and bags can be a real treasure hunt… You always begin to buy less things because you don’t find what you’re looking for, because of the material, or because of the style.
The inner tube is a very good alternative for bags and accessories, it’s elegant, easy to wash, and for the « re-use » part, it was completely out of mind to use new inner tubes. Our planet is covered with trash… we definitely wanted to do things the best way we could. So we collect the inner tubes near our Bordeaux’s workshop, where everything else is done : washing, sorting, storage and sewing!
What are the specify of working with inner-tubes? Any advice to our reader who would like to work also with inner-tubes?
All our products are made with bicycle inner tubes, which is very different from trucks inner tubes (cars and motorcycles in France don’t use it anymore): it’s thiner and lighter, but difficult to sew ! It took us a while to tame it :) But you can also use it to fix parts together, more like a rope.
Where did you find used inner-tubes for your creations, are they free or did you buy them?
We collect it directly at the repair shops for free. If it wasn’t, FANTOME would not exist. It needs too much preparing time before starting to cut and sew. We can not afford to pay the material, our bags and accessories would be too expensive !
Why the name « FANTOME » which in English means « Ghost »?
We are a french brand and every FANTOME is 100% made in France so we wanted to choose a french word with the spirit of « second life » and which sticks with the dark color of the material.
Have you ever thought to make accessories with other recycled bike parts?
Of course! Giant wheel-dream-catchers! But we have already so much things to work on with FANTOME, we will see this later! We use it in two different ways: the first one is the « sewing » one and we use it for all our bags, cases and purses etc... The second one is the « wickerwork » and we use it for all our baskets.
How would you describe your style? Are there any crafters/artists/designers that you particularly look up to?
I like our articles to be functional, simple, completely urban, a bit unisex and a little punk by nature.
Vivienne Westwood: never too late!
Amanda palmer: never too creative ;)
Jon Almeda: never too little ;)
What are your can’t-live-without essentials?
A train (or whatever) station and a water stream nearby, cats, good music, the sun and avocados.
What sorts of things are inspiring you right now? Where do you look for inspiration?
People and all what they do are inspiring me just about every day.
We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society. Why should people continue to make things by hand?
To learn, create and teach. It’s a simple way for our society to improve. It forgot that it needs both « knowledge » and « know how ». We should try to live slower and better.
What are your tips for people who'd like to start crafting?
Start! Whatever you do, it’s going to be unique, fun and rewarding :) and if it’s not, try it again!
What is your guilty pleasure?
Cheese and beer!
What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?
It depends on the mood … playing music, go for a bicycle ride, go to concerts, read comics, cooking, cat cuddling, hiking, and doing nothing :)
Anything else you would like to tell to the « recycling community »?
Everything is possible thanks to you, curious and conscious crafters! Feel free to share your project with me on facebook, instagram and twitter, it would be a pleasure to discuss about it :)
Have a nice crafting time!
Thanks a lot Jennie for this interview! :)
To find more on the brand FANTOME:
Klink Clock: www.facebook.com/klinkclock
fluffyjack dolls: fluffyjack.blogspot.fr/
Françoise is our interviewer, of course!
Françoise: What is your name?
Victor: Victor Chamberlain.
Françoise: What is your nationality or ethnicity?
Victor: Typical American bastard.
Françoise: When were you born, and how old are you?
Victor: I was born in Boston 24 years ago.
Françoise: What is your race?
Victor: Um? Human? Human would be my species...
Françoise: Are you single or taken? Who is your lover/crush?
Victor: I am single. I can’t tell you who I’m in love with, you’d tell everyone!
Françoise: That’s not true! I can keep a secret.
Victor: Famous last words.
Françoise: I bet it’s Vala!
Victor: No way! I’m scared of her.
Françoise: Are you straight, gay, bi, trans?
Victor: Straight.
Françoise: Favorite hobby?
Victor: Drinking, reading. I like to draw a little.
Françoise: You do?! I’ve never seen your drawings!
Victor: I’m sure you have. They’re all over the club…
Françoise: The wine labels?
Victor: Shhh.
Françoise: You should make your own wine, with a pretty label. That’s how to sell wine nowadays.
Françoise: Anyway, what is your favorite food and drink?
Victor: My favorite drink is fake red wine, and my favorite food is real red wine.
Françoise: That doesn’t count! A real food.
Victor: Then I’ll be very Boston and say lobster.
Françoise: That is a silly answer. Lobster just tastes like butter.
Victor: You are a terrible French person with no palate whatsoever.
Françoise: That is not true! It’s American cooking that is the problem. I was not a vegetarian before we came to America.
Françoise: Do you have a job?
Victor: If I do, the IRS doesn’t know about it...
Françoise: What is your favorite animal?
Victor: Cats. Lazy ones only. My favorite everythings are lazy.
Françoise: What is your bad habit?
Victor: I still smoke sometimes, trying to quit though.
Françoise: What's your favorite hangout?
Victor: I don’t know, can I say your house?
Françoise: It doesn’t feel like work to babysit our house?
Victor: It’s nice being here. Much cleaner than my house, much nicer smelling than the club. Very homey.
Françoise: Do you have a favorite holiday?
Victor: When I was a kid, my mom’s family always had a picnic at Memorial day, and we’d go to the beach. It’s a sad occasion for a holiday, but the beach always feels that way, half sad and half relaxing.
Imaginary Outside Interviewer: Dolls (from other families) you'd like to meet?
Victor giving away all the hints: Byouyuuken’s Thisbe is very pretty.
Françoise: Would you briefly tell your background?
Victor: My mom came to Boston for college, on a scholarship. She started an affair with a married professor. And then she had me. My father was a very wealthy and refined man, but he cared for me only to mold me into a copy of himself, and he made no bones about the fact that he wanted my mother and me to be a secret. I learned a lot from him, because I was determined to take from him everything I could. When my mother died… it was a difficult time. I’m grateful that Leo found a place for me in his organization. He’s been more of a family to me than my own family. You and Vala too.
me, ready for an interesting interview about amazon - read my blog at flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2013/12/27/interview/
www.1001pallets.com/2016/03/pallet-crafter-interview-10-t...
Today, we had the chance to ask some questions to Thomas Dambo, Artist & Designer from Denmark who specializes in making art pieces, sculptures, furniture and anything you can imagine out of trash, also known as recycled materials. Thomas also gives a lot of speeches about upcycling and arranges workshops for schools, companies, etc... teaching people how to build stuff from trash. If you think you deserve to be featured in the next interview, please, drop us an email.
Tell us a little more about you? Who you are? Where are you from?
My name is Thomas Dambo, I'm an artist and designer from Denmark working entirely with trash.
Why do you craft?
I want to show the world that there is so much good stuff in our trash, I do this by making big and beautifull projects of trash all around the world. And then, I just love to make my ideas come to life with my hands, it's just the best feeling.
How did you learn and how did you become an upcycled artist?
I can't walk by a container without looking into it, and I always bring some stuff back to my workshop, just to see what I can do with them. After doing this for many many years I guess I just got good at it. Now I have a big workshop filled with all different stuff I scavanged around my home town of copenhagen.
Since when are you working with junk materials and in upcycling in general? You are making a lot of installations with recycled pallets, why do you choose to work with wooden pallets?
Pallets are just so easy to get, they are all over the world and, in many places people will give them to you for free. At my last trip to Australia, a guy even offered to drive 100 miles and give me around 300 pallets just to get rid of them.
Your installations are big ones and look very complexes, how long does it take to create one?
My wooden sculptures takes me and my team of 5 guys between 4-10 days to create, but it really depends on what the basic idea is and then of cause how many beers we drink in the evening.
What are your can’t-live-without essentials?
That's my bicycle no doubt.
How would you describe your style? Are there any crafters/artists/designers that you particularly look up to?
I believe what I'm really good at, is to make it happen, I get an idea and jump right into it. I like to make big stuff, I like to do it in the streets, my art is for everybody, it's interactive, it's fun, it's easy to understand and of cause it's recycled.
How is your workspace, how do you make it inspiring?
It's bacically a big hardware store, but instead of new stuff on the shelves, I have old stuff, everything is needly organized and cateforized and I can pretty much make everything without having to buy anything.
What sorts of things are inspiring you right now? Where do you look for inspiration?
I let the things I find inspire what I make, recently a whole lot of small shopping cart wheels. Earlier, I found a lot of plywood. Then, I was thinking what can I make with this - and in this way I got the idea to make a rolling alphabet, so these days I'm building all the letters of the alphabet on separately and in 3-dimentional with wheels, in this way people will be able to push them around and write what ever they will like, it will be something like an interactive personal Hollywood sign.
When do you feel the most creative?
When there is a problem I have to solve, often a good idea comes to me when I'm under pressure. Then, I'm able to choose the best option faster, without thinking too much about it.
We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society. Why should people continue to make things by hand?
If you cant create anything yourself, you will have to buy everything. If you don't create things you don't learn how things work, and you won't be able to repair your things, but will be forced to throw them away and buy new things all the time.
What is your favorite medium to work in (other than pallets)?
I really like to work with all wood, there is so much scrap wood, all over the world, and with some screws you can make the most amazing big and strong structures.
What are your tips for people who'd like to start crafting?
Look at what kind of trash you have access to, maybe your mom works in a factory where they throw out tons of small glass pieces, then go get some of those glass pieces and start a brain storm on what you can do with this glass. The world is sadly but truly filled to the top with trash - you should choose some trash just around the corner, not something you are having a hard time to find.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Instant chocklatemilk, ultimate fighting and new tools.
What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?
Bicycling.
What do you recommend that most people do regarding cleaning pallets and prepping them to become something else?
My number one pallet rule is - only use trash pallets / throw away pallets, if you use pallets in a refund system like the Euro-pallet, its not recycling!! It is mass consumption and destruction of a perfectly good recycling system.
You are very productive regarding artistic installations, are you able to live from your art?
Yes I have been able to live from artistic work pretty much the last 12 years, besides from recycle art, I have made 10 hip-hop albums and played hundreds of concerts, I made several music video, worked as a grafic designer, made some recycle TV programs and even toured for some years with a human beatbox show.
Anything else you would like to tell to pallet community?
Yes, go check out my www.youtube.com/user/ThomasDambo channel, and if anybody have a tip how to get some more subscribers on it, please let me know, I really think I have some good videos, but nobody goes to see them.
Cheers pallet peoples, Thomas Dambo
Thanks Thomas for this interview :)
To find more on Thomas: website, Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube & Instagram.
Bonus: a funny video by Thomas!
I had a fun time last night being interviewed for Amerikana Magazine. If you're curious, you can check out the full interview here.
via Painters' Table - Contemporary Art Magazine: Daily Painting Links on Artist Blogs, Painting Blogs and Art Websites ift.tt/2aiaLKR
Under some unfortunate circumstances, my husband and I are forced to look for work... it's not too bad though, we've enjoyed the time out like mini-dates as we turn in applications and set up interviews.
* Jacket: Forever21
* High-waist pencil skirt: Forever21
* Polka dot blouse: vintage 50's
* T-straps: Payless
* Vintage purse: gift
An interview by Graham Gremore for QUEERTY
published on Ocotber 13th, 2014.
www.queerty.com/photos-take-a-dip-in-the-ganges-with-thes...
(Queerty is the #1 gay news and entertainment site in the world with an online magazine and newspaper which has more than 1 million monthly unique visitors.)
Join the photographer at www.facebook.com/laurent.goldstein.photography
© All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.
Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.
Source:
twitter.com/Mediapart/status/1242418140321124352
/video/1
Mediapart
@Mediapart « On attend d’être dans le mur pour réagir, on court après la maladie »
Pour le neurochirurgien @LaurentThines
, le gvt a mal anticipé la crise, et n'a pas été plus clair sur les consignes de confinement.
We've been on a little haitus, working hard on Né Ultra Vol. one! More consistent features are coming soon! Check out this interview with Jared though!
Watch our video interview at stroudtimes.com
Today, award-winning musician James Morrison, visited his local food bank in Stroud, Gloucestershire to lend a hand, packing emergency food parcels and chatting to the local community.
The visit comes as anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust revealed that food banks in its network provided more than 2.1 million emergency food parcels to people across the UK over the past year, in new statistics published yesterday
More than 830,000 parcels were provided for children as families struggle following the £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit and the soaring rise in living costs.
The soul singer, who rose to fame with his debut single ‘You Give Me Something’, told staff and volunteers at Stroud District Foodbank how he himself had experienced poverty when he would often go to school hungry
He said: “I know what it’s like to go without - it’s something I can really relate to. My mum was a single mum and a nurse and she did everything she could but with three of us, there just wasn’t enough money to have three meals a day.
“We often went without breakfast and free school meals got me through. I still rarely eat breakfast and can go without food for long periods of time because of my childhood. It’s played a huge part in who I am because I know how it feels to not have enough.”
He said if his family had received a food parcel it would have been a huge help, but that the situation was a ‘double-edged sword’, because food banks ‘should not need to exist’.
“It’s not right that so many people are having to come to the food bank for help. It’s shocking how many people do not have enough money to be able to feed their families,” he said.
“I want people to know this centre is here. People can come and get help – but also come and support, volunteer and donate and do anything they can to try and help end this situation, because it’s not sustainable how many people do not have enough to eat, in our country.”
Food bank manager, Amanda-Jane Strover, welcomed James and said it was important to highlight the impossible situations many people across the country were facing as they experience financial hardship. She said her food bank had seen an increase in the need for support in recent months
“It’s been absolutely wonderful having James here today. He understands the situations people are facing. We have given 500 different people food parcels this month and we are hearing from more and more people needing help,” she said.
Stroud District Foodbank is part of a network of over 1,300 food bank centres supported by the Trussell Trust, which provide emergency food to people locked in poverty and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
James is encouraging people to sign a petition to help end the need for food banks, supported by the Trussell Trust, Independent Food Aid Network and Feeding Britain network.
A blonde one who has just popped up wearing sunglasses ..
Now theres something you don't see every day , a blonde mermaid wearing sunglasses .. worth interviewing if you can .. their hard to catch !
Australia Day antics
Story Bridge Hotel
Brisbane
Video Link of Interview with Cecil Looney and Pat McMahon
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ncm2877ut0&feature=youtu.be
Cecil Looney Postman, Mrs Morgan Sitting on the Chair, Mrs Maher, Dina Maher Norman, Mary Maher Denton, Phyllis Larkin, Mrs Browne, Mr Shields, Martin Keane and Pauline Ryan Keane, Mrs Fortune, Mrs Pierse, Mrs Coyne, Mrs Moorhouse, PLease add more Names
Troopers: "Wanna be a bounty hunter? Show us what you can do."
Asuka: "I just beated Boba Fett. See his helmet?"
MR.FRIVOLOUS:
I had a little interview with DCMAG. Read below for more info:
DCMAG is the 80-pages printed indie magazine brought you by Designcollector Network (designcollector.net). It features 25 cherry-picked authors revealing their portfolios and thoughts on creative process. Follow DCMAG on www.facebook.com/hellodcmag and dcmag.net
Check out links below to purchase:
Print ($17.95): dcult.net/dcmag-2
eBook ($1.99):http://store.blurb.com/ebooks/370646-designcollector-magazine-2
All photos are courtesy of Tatiana Shkodina (foodphotography.ru)
TNIG: Interviewer
CH: Chloe Holland
TNIG - Hello Chloe, you look great. How are you doing after being eliminated?
CH - I'm hella pissed. But you know what, it's their loss. They WILL regret it.
TNIG - Do you feel like you should've been eliminated?
CH - Hell no! If anything it should've been Madge, that chick doesn't even want to be a model for the life of her. And worst of all Alexandria is still there over me.
TNIG - How was it living in a house full of cameras?
CH - Not fun to say the least. I need my space and having a camera in your face 24/7 isn't cute. Growing up in Atlanata... Let's just say I lived in the gated community. It's hard being a classy women when your being caught on camera at your worst moments.
TNIG - Who were you closest to in the house?
CH - Camille. Well, I was close with her from the start. We just clicked, we're both rich bitches... need I say more? From day 1 we told all the girls how it was and they were all scared of us. A couple of days before I left we got in a huge fight. I heard Camille talking behind my back, saying I had the worst photos out of all the girls and I wasn't happy. Apparently now she's friends with Alexandria. I swear that bitch can run her damn mouth! .
TNIG - What was your favorite photoshoot in the compettion?
CH - "Nighty Nite". I loved that shoot! I owned it that week. I showed the girls that I was compettion. The rest of the photos weren't my favorite... Oh, don't even get me started on that "Groupies" shoot. That's was a hot mess. Alexandria was trying to not only control the set, but touch up me and Madge's makeup... fix the lighting and even try to pose me and Madge! We got into a huge fight on set and I could tell Madge was scared of us shitless. Poor girl.
TNIG - Are you going to continue modeling now that you are eliminated?
CH - Hell yeah! Just because I didn't win doesn't mean I still can't be a Top Model, can I get an amen from the choir? I think the judges were just blinded by how beautiful I am. I'm pretty sure the producers just picked my worst photo this week on purpose.
TNIG - Who are you rooting for to win?
CH - Ummm. Honestly, I'm not rooting for any of them to win. But I think it's going to be down to Ralph and Logan at this point.
via Painters' Table - Contemporary Art Magazine: Daily Painting Links on Artist Blogs, Painting Blogs and Art Websites ift.tt/1MBzjcJ
Ms Skolnick being interviewed by local newscaster about the extension of Shillmans famous January Coat Sale due to the impending snow storms coming to Washington DC.
. Ms Skolnick went to the fur department to borrow this fur piece for the interview. Once again she must stand out.
7
“Hi hello, I’d like to welcome you to our seventh Dolly interview.
My next guest is very pretty. I hope she doesn’t steal my job. She seems to be one of the most put together dolls that we have seen so far.
I don’t know her name, but she has on a beautiful dress, perfect face and wait till you see these curls on the back of her head!”
Curly
“ I do pride myself on my beautiful curls.”
Interviewer
“Perfect! Then I shall call you Curly!”
Curly
“Wasn’t that the name of one of the Three Stooges?”
Interviewer
“Uh, why yes, yes it was, but even though he was a short bald man and you are a fancy antique Dolly with tons of hair, that is the name we are going with. Speaking of fancy, do I see the faint hints of a manicure? And pedicure?”
Curly
“Well, yes. It does get quite boring in the dolly case . . . we have to do something to pass the time.”
Interviewer
“But where on earth would you get nail polish?”💅
Curly
“Well, I don’t want to shock anyone, but Mo does get in quite a few bar fights, so if she comes home with a bloody nose . . . well we didn’t want anything to go to waste . . . “
Interviewer
“Great Scott! I’m gobsmacked! I had no idea things were so morbid and gross in the dolly case!”
I've been tagging my dolls, and quite often come across a doll or two I have never photographed. The Interview Silkstone Barbie is one of them.
My interview with Fujifilm for Stocksy United:
fujifilm-blog.com/2018/02/28/introducing-stocksy-photogra...
www.evandellphotography.com | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr Blog
got to do an interview with Tristan Jud for his website Raw.TristanJud.com
follow the link to read raw.tristanjud.com/2011/06/interview-with-evan-dell/
if you have any questions feel free to message me in private on here or my facebook.
_________________________________________________________________
ALL IMAGES ©OPYWRITTEN BY Evan Dell Photography NONE ARE TO BE USED/POSTED/DUPLICATED ETC. WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION
Had an interview this morning at the green bus as my shoulder is geting no better so am having to look at going on the buses and forgeting the coach game for now. Seen parked on Hill Street is S881BYJ a Daf ND250 / Optare Spectra . So this week could well be my last week in the coach industry for the time being as time to face up to the fact i am having to stop doing it . Photo taken 10/02/14
www.1001pallets.com/2016/09/pallet-crafter-interview-12-t...
Today, we had the chance to ask some questions to Tim Steller, Crafter from Sarasota in Florida (USA) who specializes in making all kind of beautiful Artworks mainly from recycled wooden pallets; you can follow the work of Tim on its website: Steller Artworks. If you think you deserve to be featured in the next interview, please, drop us an email.
Tell us a little more about you? Who you are? Where are you from?
My name is Tim Steller and I am a 36-year-old pallet artist that lives in sunny Sarasota Florida. I enjoy my beach-style life with my lovely wife Ashley and my almost 3-year-old boy Camden. Along with our knucklehead dogs Angus & Maverick. They’re goofy and lovable. Or for short we call them Gus and Rick.
Why do you craft?
I craft because, like most of us, I have an appreciation for wood and the characteristics it has and what it becomes. I love being able to look past pallet wood’s original purpose and recreate something new. I also try to express myself with art into everything I make just to give it a new feel.
How did you learn to do wood crafts?
I learned to do wood crafts with a lot of trial and error techniques. Actually, oddly enough, I got inspired from pumpkin carving. It’s one of my favorite things. Then I remember, a long time ago, borrowing a friend’s jigsaw and really got to know that machine so I went and bought my own and got to carving.
How long have you been working with pallets?
I've been working with pallets for about 2 years now and love them. They have the coolest, roughed-up look I can never recreate with chains or hammers. And when I find one by a dumpster it's even better because I know I'm giving it a better purpose.
Why did you choose to work with pallets instead of purchased wood?
I prefer working with pallets for many reasons, but mostly because they already have wear and tear, and natural knots missing. Imperfections are perfect for me. I always try and keep the nail heads in my artwork to give it that raw look.
What are your can’t-live-without essentials?
There's not a lot in my workshop I can't truly live without. My essentials list is short just because I hate being "attached" to any materials. But as far as for my work I can't go without my saws, power drill, hammer, crow bar, blowtorch, and sander. They’re my hard workers. I also can't work without my wireless speaker. That's a must. But more importantly, my family keeps me going every day. They are my world.
Are there any brands that are your favorites?
For tool brands I love DeWalt, Rockwell and Black & Decker. For my wireless speaker, it's the JBL Flip. It’s the best out there.
How would you describe your crafting style?
My crafting style would have to be an "Island Lifestyle". I live by the beach and most of my artwork is sea life inspired. I have also done many custom pieces with other subject matter or styles, but I prefer the tropics.
Are there any crafters/artists/designers that you particularly look up to?
There are so many crafters out there that all inspire me to challenge myself and think outside the box and try to see things from different views. Too many artists to list but Dali has always been my artist I grew up studying and many tattoo artists that work with 3-D effects. It’s amazing what they can do with a needle. Detail is the key to finer artwork.
Where do you do your wood crafts? How would you describe your workspace? How did you make your workspace more functional and/or inspiring?
I do all my wood crafting at my house. I converted my garage into my art gallery where I paint/stain and next to my garage is my car port that I use for my wood working. My workspace is not that typical as you will see everything from fine art to skulls on shelves and everything between. My work space is art to me. Organized confusion is the best way to describe it. I thrive on creative chaos. This makes everything so much easier, because everything I do is from my home. When I want to have family time, I just shut the garage doors, sweep up the car port, dust myself off and I rejoin my normal life.
What types of things inspire you?
Living down here in Southwest Florida, there is inspiration everywhere you look. You just have to be able to stop and look at it and appreciate it without feeling the necessity of taking a selfie to post up. It's just the lifestyle down here that I find inspiring. But I do also get inspired every time somebody says, “Wow, did you cut that out with a laser cutter?” Nope! Just my jigsaw and my hands made that piece.
Where do you look for inspiration for a new woodcraft?
I look at all kinds of artwork all the time and I get inspired from ideas and try to blend them. Also, a lot of times my clients from that past will order a new piece with a theme in mind and that will get me inspired/excited to try something new. Change is always fun.
When do you feel the most creative?
I guess I feel most creative late night, after the little one is down for the day. It’s quiet, and I’m at peace. My toughest critic (besides myself) is my wife, but I’m glad of her input. It’ll get me thinking of ideas – or rethinking them - and then the chemistry starts. I’ll get the music playing and that’s the perfect setting for creativity.
We live in such a mass-produced, buy-it-now society. Why should people continue to make things by hand?
One of my biggest selling features is that every piece is one-of-a-kind and can't be duplicated. But that's mostly because of the wood. They absorb differently and each has its own characteristics and that makes it unique. Just to know it was handpicked, broken apart, sanded, etc., is such a quality in itself. In other words you won't find my artwork on Amazon anytime soon.
What is your favorite medium to work in (other than pallets)?
I also love to work with other related arts such as sketching and painting but I I’m also a bartender at a busy marina where I get to be creative and use local ingredients to make some of the best cocktails in the SW Florida. This is a craft that is taking off around the world and I love being a part of that scene.
What are your tips for people who'd like to start crafting? What are your most important safety tips when woodworking?
Tips for beginners: Try to have fun and don't get discouraged with your first attempts. That's how you learn and the next will be that much better. Also try to make a work space outside, not on your patio. The wood and tools will add up quickly and then your patio is a cluttered workshop with dust everywhere. Your other half won't be thrilled. Lastly be careful. Tearing apart a pallet is tough and dangerous, especially if you’re using saws. Also, know your tools. Practice on something easy first. Pallets have split boards with sharp ends, large nails waiting to pierce you and they're heavy. If you can get that pallet home, then you’re half way there. You can take apart an entire pallet with just a hammer. I've done that. But you can also learn dismantling techniques with saws, but once again, be CAREFUL! Watch some YouTube first.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Guilty pleasures would have to be collecting abstract art, my weird skull collection fascination, Halloween, horror films (old and new), Tattoos, loud music, Jeeps, boating, big dogs, and a few others.
What are some of your other hobbies or favorite things to do (other than crafting)?
A few hobbies I like to do are going to a certain beach with the family and collecting driftwood. I'm working on some cool table tops with using driftwood as the base. Other hobbies would include football, basketball, and soccer to stay active.
What are some of your best tips for breaking down, prepping, and cleaning pallets before you build with them?
The first thing you need to know is if the pallet you found is free for the taking, or does the company recycle them? If they do, you can't take that pallet. But there are plenty more around you can take. Next, make sure there are no chemical spills on it, like from a construction site. You don't want those. Once you break it apart you can either remove the nails by hammering them out in reverse or cut them off with a bolt cutter. Then it's time to sand. 80 grit works to get it down to smooth but finish with a 220.
Have you designed any special tools or jigs for wood crafts?
I don't have any hand-made tools I use but I have a variety of tools I use. I do like using my paints and stains for my projects and I make a lot of my own color combinations along with stain to give it a unique look. I try to imitate wood aging like barn wood or petrified wood. I've used all kinds of brushes that I've made; even using an old sock!
What are some wood working skills you really want to learn?
There are endless skills you can use in wood crafting. This has been going on since the dawn of time, haha! I would like to start working with bamboo soon but that's an entirely different operation I need to learn.
What is the one project you’re the proudest of so far?
I guess the piece I'm most proud of is my first one I ever made, which I still have. I have made many pieces that are hanging in million dollar homes as well as high-end restaurants and businesses and some of my favorites are the hammerhead shark, the hog fish, mermaid and the Marlin but my first one is my favorite. It's a very simple piece made of 7 boards with a song quote on it. I still think it’s very cool.
What else would you like to share with the pallet community?
The one thing I can share is to keep thinking of the possibilities. Take a pallet and turn it around. You have a 6 shelf herb garden you can throw up on a wall outside. You don't need to hammer a thing. Just try looking at things from a different view. Pallets are adult-sized Legos for us to build with. The online fascination is growing each day and now people appreciate it because there's a story behind each one. Let's keep this movement going!
If you’re ever in the Sarasota FL area, I am at the Siesta Key Farmers Market on Sundays displaying my art, and I would love to talk to you.
Editor’s note: Thank you for your time and for sharing your story with us, and with our fellow Crafters. Your work is beautiful and inspiring to all of us, and we truly look forward to more from you in the future! Keep those gorgeous pieces coming!
Thanks Tim for this interview :)
To find more on Tim: Steller Artworks website.