09 September 2010

A Conversation with Erin Carver



Erin Carvers collaged pieces are an alchemical transformation of life into art. They are a conversation with an inner world made visible. Dressed for the world with vibrant colours and found objects they are sent out into the world with affirmations and cheerful inspiration. The challenge here is picking which one to put above my "creative" space. Meet Erin Carver ... Carol

Who is Erin Carver?
Part-time artist and office manager, I work and create from my home in Lower Hutt where I live with my amazing partner and one very gorgeous cat called Marley (lovingly named after Bob).

What’s your “handmade groove”?
Painting and collage, mainly on canvas. Some of my favourite materials include acrylic paints and mediums, oil sticks, pretty papers and fabrics, buttons, stamps, maps, postcards, precious pre-loved doilies and any other old treasures I happen to have collected. I have a really big thing for beautiful, inspiring words. And I love the way that mixed media brings an added sense of story and nostalgia to a painting. From time to time I also play with mosaic making and crafting fun collaged wall hangings, fridge magnets and Christmas decorations!

What’s on your bedside table right now?
A lamp, a clock, a wee pot of Trilogy’s delicious all natural‘Everything Balm’ and a much loved copy of Letters to a young artist by Julia Cameron which I’ve just started re-reading (and highly recommend!).

Who are your creative role models? What music, books, images, poetry spark your creative fire?
I’m a huge fan of alternative rock, reggae, dub and folk music (particularly of the homegrown variety!) and I unashamedly confess to being a self-help book junkie! On the art front, wow there are so many… 2 that jump to mind immediately are American mixed media artist Kelly Rae Roberts (as much for her incredible story as her fabulous art), and closer to home my talented photographer friend Susannah Tucker (an incredible mentor to me…and her gorgeous work always inspires!)

What could you talk late into the night about with like minded people?
Life’s dreams and possibilities, family, films, books, travel, music and all things arty-crafty.

If you could go to three workshops/creative events this year which ones would they be? What are they about?
It would be a total dream to attend some of the amazing mixed media art workshops and creativity retreats that are on offer in the US – Squam Art Workshops, An Artful Journey, Art and Soul and Be Present Retreats.


How do you balance your creative life with your family, life commitments?
I work part-time, a blessing that allows time for creativity. Mastering the balancing act however is still an ever evolving work in progress! It helps to have set work hours, and I try to set my own dedicated time and space for artwork too.

What is your favourite creative screw-up?
There have been plenty! One of the joys of mixed media is that I work in many layers of paint and papers…there’s usually no screw up that can’t be fixed (after some time out to work through any frustration over a good cup of tea).

Kitchen table or studio?
We don’t have a kitchen table, but I daresay if we did I’d definitely work on it! For now my work table, easel and inspiration wall occupy a corner of our spare room and I proudly call this wee space my studio.

Do you have a wish list? Can you tell us what’s on it?
Oooh yes, a lovely long one….
practice yoga and meditation regularly. master the ukulele. design a range of my own gift cards. develop a website. have regular stalls at some local craft markets and art shows. to be working full time as an artist, earning a good living doing what I love. And to one day grow my creative business into my own gallery and studio space for art and creativity workshops. I’m a firm believer in the importance of dreaming big!

You can buy, BUY fom Erin here at Felt.

Next week we meet Kim from Sticky Tiki.. Until then have a great week... and for our friends in Christchurch, Kia Kaha....... we are thinking of you...

9 comments:

  1. Great interview! I'm a huge fan already so its great to hear a little more about the person behind the beautiful creations. :)

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  2. Awesome interview Erin, you are an incredibly talented lovely lady!
    Kim x

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  3. very inspiring interview, and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet...

    maybe one day we could hop on a plane and go to one of the mixed media workshops together.

    Katherine
    x

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  4. Wow! thank you so much for your wonderful comments you lovely, lovely peeps, you're all too kind! and thank you hugely to Carol and the fab NZHM team for the opportunity to interview! really exciting and I'm feeling so blessed right now!
    and Katherine... a huge resounding YES!! to one day going on a retreat trip to the US together! all about dreaming big right? anything is possible xx

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  5. LOVED reading this Eri! Dream big girl......and can I come to SQUAM with you? xx

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  6. Lovely interview Erin, so nice to have insight into the lives of other NZ artists. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  7. A beautiful person - with awesome talent. I'm going to be there in the future to say "I met her when...". And I didn't realise you had a day job as well Erin - how do you do it?!

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  8. What an inspiring interview. Erin I'm so impressed with your work lately, you're a truly amazing artist. :)

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  9. Wonderful and fun interview! your work is always so lovely to see!

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