Late last year i became inspired to begin a new project involving other local artists in the Goldfields. The concept i devised was to spend a day with a local artist, talk casually about what drives them and where they gain their inspiration from, and to showcase them going about their daily life and capture images of their work and artistic spirit. What i didn’t fully count on was both myself and the first artist i interviewed to come away from the day each with a renewed passion for our own crafts.
The first artist i called upon to be my muse was my gorgeous friend Paula Fletcher from Calypso Designs. Paula and I have crossed paths a number of times over the last few years, and she is someone who’s business sense i admire as much as her artistic flare. It seemed completely natural to me that she be my first choice.
Paula is a successful graphic designer who works from her home studio, and has recently collaborated with two of her friends to create Fossick Handmade – a gorgeous boutique art gallery and gift store showcasing unique handmade creations from local artists. Not only do they sell these wares, they have also been holding fashion shows and hosting crafty workshops for both adults and children. Check out their Facebook Page to keep up with all their latest news.
So on the day we met up for my project, i waited inside the shop for her whilst she was riding her vintage bike into work. I then spent a good hour or so just floating around the shop taking in all the various pieces of gorgeous artwork with my camera while Paula worked on some displays. Oh my gosh i had a feast pouring over all the prettiness in there! And do you know, it felt so wonderful to go around with my camera and just let myself wander through all the creations and be completely at ease with what i was shooting.
By late morning it was time to leave the shop and head to Paula’s home office where we talked candidly for a while about dreams and inspirations in the forms of politics, travel, pets, people who inspire us, and many other things in between.
Not only is Paula surrounded by creatives at work, it is easy to see how she is equally artistic when she is at home. She is completely ensconced by artwork and poetic verbs and inspirational sayings at home too. Whether these are her own, or by her the artists she is inspired by, or just little tidbits she’s picked up here and there that have found a place in her heart. Her home also includes the one adoration of her life at the moment – little Lucille the toy poodle. She is a sweet little pooch who has found her home with Paula, and vice versa.
At the end of our time together on this day, I was reminded that artists create from the heart. We don’t just see a picture in front of us, we study each element involved and marvel at how the picture came to be, and who the artist was to create such a picture in the first place – what is their life story? I greatly admire people who gain inspiration from others, take what they need, then turn it into something unique of their own. It’s still something i feel i aspire to myself.
If you are living in Kalgoorlie and fancy yourself an artist, and would love to spend the day with me talking about the things that make your crafty little heart flutter, i would love to hear from you! An artist can be in any shape of form, from painting, music, hand crafts, dancing etc.. if you are following your life’s passion then i want to document it! Please send me an email from the contact tab above and tell me what you do and why you would like to be documented in this way. I am looking forward to getting to know you better
Here are just a pinch of images from my day with Paula.
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