Today we welcome visual artist Sandra!

Where do you live?

Brisbane – Sunny Queensland. Australia

Where do you do your work?

During the day I work at the Queensland College of Arts, in Student Administration. It is wonderful to be surrounded be creativity whilst providing myself with a regular income to pay those bills that keep flowing in!

What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?

This is a tough one! I absolutely fell in love with Italy when I visited many moons ago now, as I did with many parts of Europe. I adore Art and Culture and found these elements interwoven into everyday life there. I also loved the history and the atmosphere and lifestyle of the small village communities.

I also love “that place” in the world that you go when you are creating.

But really, I would have to say my favourite place in the world is wherever my loved ones are. To be in the company of those you cherish is like being it the best place in the world regardless of the location!

Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business, family, hobbies…

I love all things art, vintage, fabric, collectable, people watching, theatre, wining and dining, antiques, the gentle art of persuasion! I am ‘simply complex’ with eclectic taste and interests and I see myself as a bit of a Bowerbird (distracted by “sparkly things” since 1968) picking and choosing what applies to me.

I grew up in North Queensland which is coastal and tropical; a precious and unique place where the rainforests meets the sea. It provided me with a rich tapestry of geographical as well as social exposure, and gave me my foundation. Since then, travelling to Europe, Asia and across Australia has enriched my outlook of the world and people around me. It was from here that I found my platform for a visual language that has led me on the journey that has bought me to where I am currently at today.

My Art has always investigated issues of the psyche and how we portray and protect ourselves through layering and masking our true inner self as a means of adapting and protecting our wellbeing in the world and environment around us. As well as this, how we make our mark on an ever-changing and transient world, through our habits of memento; a vehicle of grasping time, place and proof of our existence, methods of remembering and establishing our collective heritage. Being an avid collector myself, I enjoy researching to discover the origins of objects and their history and then apply this knowledge to contextualise my own work.

My influences are first and foremost everything I see, feel and experience, but I’ve always had a great love of the Decorative Arts and Crafts; the Art Nouveau and Art Deco period; the great 20th Century Artists; and I have a great admiration for the artists of the Renaissance period, where images of mythology and flora are in abundance.

What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?

Happy.

How did you first get into your craft/art?

From a young age I had hobbies such as dance, speech and drama, music, and some sports. I started to draw and be creative visually “making things” through a couple of workshops run at the local arts centre. From that point forward I had a love of the visual arts.

What do you make?

Limited Edition Fine Art Photographic Giclee Prints, Art Cards, Blank Greeting Cards, OOAK Gift Tags. I am also currently working on a Calender as well as future plans to extend my images onto various fabrics suitable for both home décor furnishings such as cushions and also for couture. I have an enquiry from a client who is interested in a particular image that she would like as fabric for her wedding dress! Stay tuned on that one!

What are you most proud of making?

Anything new. Each time I create a new image that is the I am most proud of making at that moment.

I love…

interacting with people all over the world. I have met many people that I wouldn’t have otherwise just through interacting online! It always surprises me the random nature of chance meetings. I like this following saying and I think it is apt in describing my thoughts on this! “Some people come into your life for a reason, some a season, and some a lifetime”.

It drives me crazy when…

I need to sleep instead of spending my time making art and exploring new ideas! I sometimes find the business side of online very time consuming! If only all we had to do was create! And the rest could take care of itself.

What’s your favourite word?

I really don’t have one. The aim in my art work is to bypass verbal dialogue and communicate directly with the subconscious. I hope that people enjoy and can perhaps relate to my art as I share part of what is intrinsic to each and every one of us within on some level.

If you could sum yourself or your work up in one sentence, it would say…

Through my art work, images rich in layers and textures, I explore all that is intrinsically human and in particular feminine. I think the quote “the present is just a moment passed” sums up our fragile existance and gives a glimpse into the world of what my art work explores.

Find Sandra Elsewhere…

Shop:

(Online)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sandradarling

http://www.madeit.com.au/SandraDarling

(Retail Shop Front)

Hand Made Heaven, Old Flour Mill, Ipswich.

Incube8r, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane

Website/Blog: http://www.sandradarlingvisualartcreations.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MsSandraDarling

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandra-Darling-Visual-Art-Creations/103715503005658

Sandra is giving away a $20 USD voucher to use in her Etsy shop today! You could get yourself quite a few lovely art cards for that, or put it towards a limited edition print!

To Enter:

1. Visit Sandra Darling and come back here leaving a comment about your favourite piece from the store.

2. For additional entries, leave a comment saying that you: followed or subscribed to Epheriell Designs (or already do); have twittered about the givewaway; have shared the giveaway with friends on Facebook, or; you have written a blog post about it.

3. Entries close next Thursday night, the 27th of May, at 12pm Australian EST.

The winner will be chosen via Random.org

Remember to leave me a way of contacting you.. and Good Luck!

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The winner of last week’s giveaway is Heather H – congrats!

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