"Friday Features"

It's Friday so that means "Features Time!"

I am very excited to bring you another talented member of our Etsy community. This week it is an amazing girl from Chicago.

Here is Rachel from http://www.raspberrykidz.etsy.com/

She kindly answered some questions for us :)

"The piggy bank was based on the drawing" (below),

Before;

After Rachel's magic :)

Tell us a little about how you got to where you are creatively.

Trial and error. I've dabbled in airbrushing, silkscreening and computers. For me, computer art worked the best in my limited space. I'm also a big fan of James Rizzi's work. He uses bright colors in such a free style. His pictures remind me of children's drawings. I think it's very difficult to draw like a kid. Luckily I have two of my own that supply me will all the subject matter I could need!

Tell us a little about your creative process.

I love every step of my process:
1. First I take a digital picture of the artwork and upload it onto my computer.
2. I import it into Illustrator where I create the outline.
3. In Photoshop I color it in, mostly with the airbrush tool.
4. Next I print it out, printing certain areas twice.
5. I then cut out those areas with a nail scissors or x-acto knife and reapply them to the piece, using poster tape to give it a 3-D "pop."

What do you love about creating?

Like I mentioned, I love every step of the process, but in general I love getting lost in the work—not thinking about the time or anything else. I especially love how happy kids are to see their original drawings transformed. They inspire me, and hopefully I inspire them in return.

What is your favorite item in your Etsy store right now?

Right now, I'm liking the "Ballerina Pig." My daughter drew it of her piggy bank, and I just added some color and moved some flowers around. As I said, I think it's very hard to draw like a kid. If I had drawn her bank, it would have never turned out as cute!

Why Etsy?

My sister told me about Etsy. She's at http://maybeads.etsy.com/ and does very well there. I haven't been as successful as her, but it's a different way to be seen, so I tried it.

What do you love about Etsy?

That's easy—the community! I love meeting other artists. When I finished college, I found I really missed being around other artists as much as I was used to. Etsy is a great way to stay connected to the art community. Everyone I've met is very supportive.

What do you do in your spare time?

I am involved at my kids' school in many ways. I lay out the monthly newsletter. I started a magazine there, and this year I'm starting another one that will reach multiple schools. I'm teaching an art class. And I'm working on a community cookbook.

I've started my own blog (http://raspberrykidz.blogspot.com/), and one of my goals is to cook more meals for my family this year. (I'm posting my progress on the blog.)

I'm also an exercise junkie—can't really go a day without it. And I enjoy a good book.

Tell us 4 things about yourself that would let us peek into your world or that you think define you.

1. I have 2 turtles, named Sushi and Tofu
2. I love to bake (usually using substitutes to make things healthier—did you know you could replace butter with avocado in some recipes? I learned that in Shape magazine. It's been great for my kids. My husband still doesn't want to know about the substitutes I use because he just wants to enjoy the goodies)
3. I sometimes log onto my kids' Webkinz accounts to play 'Cash Cow' or 'Goober's Lab.'
4. I love living in the city.

If you could, what would be your dream life?

I really love my life right now. I just wish I could make more sales and continue to do what I love. I don't need to be in a gallery; I'd be happy to hang my work in a coffee shop. To have my art life help support my family would be ideal, but for now I will settle with paying for a dinner out every now and then!

Here are the fun places you can find Rachel;
On Etsy- http://www.raspberrykids.etsy.com/

Blog - http://raspberrykidz.blogspot.com/

web site - http://www.raspberrykidz.com/

Hope you enjoyed meeting Rachel! I certainly did. Go check out her Shop on Etsy or leave a comment on her blog!

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.