Interview with Julie of Bow and Arrow

I would like to introduce you to Julie of Bow and Arrow.  She makes beautiful letterpress cards and I was lucky enough to sit next to her At Bust Craftacular 2008 in December.  Hopefully she will be my booth mate for Renegade Summer 2009.  I gave some of her cards to people in my office for the Holidays and many compliments ensued.

So, meet my friend Julie...

Where do you make your work?

I design my cards on the computer in my home in Brooklyn usually while watching bad TV or listening to music.  I print my cards at The Arm in Brooklyn.  Dan at The Arm is the most helpful person.  Please contact him  if you are interested in on letterpress projects here.

What time of day is most productive for you to work and why?

I have a full time job so I usually get to work on my cards late at night or on the weekends.

What materials do you use and most like to work with? Where do you get them?

I get my plates made at boxcarpress.com.  They are so helpful and fast.  I print my cards on Cranes lettra paper which is available at crane.com.  I use their paper because it is 100% cotton which is tree free.  In the future I hope to do more research on printing on different kinds of eco friendly paper.

What does your workspace look like?

Sadly as you can see my workspace is just a desk and a laptop.  I dream of having my own studio in the future.  I also have an amazing storage unit I store all of my art supplies in.

Julie's Desk.

Where does your source material come from?

I love to pull inspiration form old magazines, record covers, garage sales, and flea markets.

What kind of images inspire you?  Do you keep a sketchbook?

I do not keep a sketchbook but I have always wished I was organized enough to keep one.  I work on many versions of a card before I pick the one that works best.  Below are examples of cards, the first one had to be reworked because I was worried the lines would be too thin and would not print well.  I had to redraw the pattern so it would look better when being letterpress printed.

Rejected Design.

Final Design.

How long have you been working in your medium? Are you trained?

I graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a major in graphic design.  I do not have professional training in print making.  There is so much more I'd like to learn.

What techniques and processes are your favorites?

I love the design process but sometimes it is hard to get motivated to print because it can be very physically exhausting.

The Press.

What is special and inspiring about living where you do?

I love living in Brooklyn, there are a lot of stores here that inspire me.

What is a normal day like for you? How many hours a day/ week do you actually get to focus on creating new works?

I am bad at setting aside a specific time for working but I usually get to spend a couple hours a week and a fully day on the weekend coming up with new designs.

Who are your favorite designers?  

I am forever inspired by the work of Florence Broadhurst and Marimekko.  I love looking at designs from the 50's, 60's, and 70's.

"The Unicorn in Captivity" found at The Cloisters.

Do you go to museums? What is your favorite art related place you like to visit?

I love the MET and The Cloisters.  At the Cloisters "The Unicorn in Captivity," is one of my favorite pieces of art.  Everytime I go to the Cloisters I find something new to be inspired by.

Sitting Down with The Beside!!!!

The Beside's Rockwell Ring Part III.

The Knot Pendant.

     I have interviewed my good friend Bernice Kelly of The Beside, she makes gorgeous, smart, cool, rock-and-roll jewelry that is enjoyed by a loyal following(myself included).  You can find her Etsy shop here.  I particularly like her stud earrings (perfect for my second hole) and her rings!  I was privileged to be her Bust Craftacular NYC partner-in-crime(or just table partner)!

Here goes:

The designer herself, in all her rock-and-roll glory! 

Where do you like to work? What time of day do you find most productive?

     I work from home but I spend a lot of time in the city, researching and visiting suppliers.  I'm probably most productive in the morning, usually when I have organized my work the night before I can get straight into it!  A normal working day usually involves checking emails first thing, a little production work/ finishing off until noon, then I'll prepare whatever I need to drop off or pick up in the city.  In the evenings I get a little time to work on new projects and research. There honestly aren't enough hours in the day.

What materials and techniques do you use and most like?

     I work mainly in silver, I find I can be creative with it without the product becoming to expensive for the client.  I've been working in silver for over a year now and have gotten used to how it handles.  Soldering is a lot of fun for me, I guess I like to melt stuff, and it's fast.  I find it hard to focus on any one thing for a long time but when I get my act together for example with a wax project, that can be totally rewarding.

What is your workspace like?

     My workspace is a messy little corner of my apartment, very make-shift but it works.  I surround myself with all sorts of junk that inspires my work and use it for display purposes.

The Beside's Work Space.

What is special and inspiring about where you live?

     I love where I live, on the border of Williamsburg and Bushwick , my favorite kind of place as it's in touch with the art/ fashion scene but still in an area that has a community, lots of hidden treasures.

Where do you get your supplies?

     Most of my suppliers are in Manhattan, I love that they are local, it's good to be able to turn things around quickly as well as being able to learn from them and support what they do.  The jewelry district seems so decadent and dying, it would be a shame for it to disappear.

Example of The Beside's Inspirational Images from Christmas '08

Where does your source material come from?

     I'm inspired by all sorts of images.  I'm addicted to collecting them, the best are the kind that make me laugh, usually at some sinister misfortune.  Most of my research nowadays is on the internet or in stores/galleries.  My background is fashion design and still a lot of my inspiration comes from shopping!  Not necessarily looking at products, but at store design, display, and decor.  Inspiration can really come from anywhere though, as much from what the guy on the corner is wearing as the display units at Marni, I love that contrast.

Who are you favorite jewelry designers? 

     I can't say I have many favorite jewelry designers, I'm inspired more by industrial design... Jason Miller at the moment, also photography, and artists... Louise Bourgeois.  To be honest I try to avoid studying other jewelry designers, after working in corporate fashion design I'm well aware of how strong that influence can be unconsciously or otherwise.

     

Interview with Naventin

     The following is an interview with Etsy seller Naventin, I came across her unique jewelry a few months ago and have been admiring from a far ever since.  You can see her blog here.  Also she has made some really awesome videos about the process of making her work which you can see here.

Floral Ring II

Moon Earrings

El Fermell

Where do you like to work?

  I have my studio in my home, it is small but I am comfortable working in it.  I have a jeweller's table with all my tools inside and a  secondary table with chemical products that I use to clean my pieces.  At the moment I do not have any large machinery but I hope to buy a jeweller's rolling mill very soon.

What time of day is most productive for you to work?

I design and thing about possibilities for my jewellery designs at night, before going to sleep, this is the only time of day I am able to think clearly without distractions.  Then, in the morning I work making pieces in my studio, the best light to work is in the morning. 

What materials do you like to use and work with most? Where  do you buy your materials where you live?

I  work with silver and sometimes gold.  I like to experiment with textures by mixing them together with fire.

To buy materials in Barcelona I go to a store in the neighborhood, Eixample which is near el mercat de Sant Antoni (a popular market of Barcelona.  To buy stones there are various places in the Gothic Quarter, Barcelona's historic center.  

What are you currently working on in your studio?

I am working on a new collection with stones and big rings inspired by architectural forms.

What jewelry making techniques are your favorite?

I love to soldering, and using the fire to create different textures in the metal.  I also like to use the hammer to create volumes.

What kind of images inspire you?

I am inspired by nature and the environment around me, like buildings in the street and artworks in  a gallery.

Do you go to musuems? What is your favorite art related place to go where you live (Spain)?

I used to go museums when I was traveling to other cities while on vacations, like the Louvre in Paris and the Bauhaus Museum in Berlin.  Here in Barcelona I go to exhibitions at Caixaforum (like the Henry Moore exhibition  for example) or MACBA and other local exhibitions of friends (illustration, jewelry, or photography).

This one of my early works, a very special ring.  The stone is from a beach named Sant Pol, a very nice place to visit for vacation.

What is a normal day like for you, how many hours a day/ week to you get to focus and produce new works?

I currently don't have much time to work in my studio my jewellry I am working for a company that is dedicated to the environment, in addition to being a jeweler I am a biologist.

What is special and inspiring about living where you do?

Barcelona is a sunny city.  The Mediterranean climate inspires me to create organic and natural pieces.  Alos, I have a view of the sea from my window and I think my view works as a stimulus for my imagination and inspiration.

Who are your favorite jewelry designers?

Reinhold Reiling

Pilar Garrigosa

Also, Giampaolo Babetto, Ralph Bakker, Michael Becker, Melanie Bilenker, Ulrike Hamm, Leonor Hipolito, Ulla & Martin Kaufman, Constantinos Kyriacou, Stefano Marchetti, Claudia Rinneberg, Jimena Rios, and Michael Zobel.

Who are your favorite jewellers on Etsy?

Alisa Miller, Abigail Percy, and Nervous System.