Brenda Spiller has a passion for jewellery making and digital art which she combines and showcases in Radenbrea Studios and The Artisan Studio. Here she offers us a glimpse into her creative world...
Who is Brenda Spiller?
That’s
a hard question to answer because I think I’m still finding out myself.
I’m a wife, mother and grandmother. I’m constantly learning new things
about myself. Things happen in life, often bad things, and you find you
have strengths you didn’t know you possessed until you suddenly have to
use them. Life’s challenges help us grow and nothing is constant so
we’re changing all the time. The few things that don’t change are that I
care about people and animals. I care about this beautiful, crazy world
we live on. And I love making beautiful things. I’m interested in
politics, spiritual ideas and theories, history, architecture…all sorts
of things really. I’m also a – shock, horror – gamer. My second husband
got me into that. And how could I not love it when the entire time you
are online gaming you are in a fantasy world? The artistry of the
different environments, creatures and buildings are very inspiring.
What’s your “handmade groove ?”
I’m
not really sure what that is, or if I have one. I do so many different
things in my creative pursuits. Jewellery making, digital art, digital
scrapbooking, you already know about those things. I also buy and do up
old furniture, make handmade books and nostalgia albums. I also spend
time creating 3D digital environments, buildings and furniture in the
online world of Second Life. I’m also into photography when I get half a
chance. So if I have a groove at all it needs to be a very flexible
one. I also design and build wordpress websites for other people, both
businesses and individuals.
What’s on your bedside table right now? (hey, no tidying up or censoring)
A lamp
My Kindle
Talcum Powder
Vicks Vapour Rub
Perfume
Deoderant
Moisturiser
A Torch
2 ‘paper’ books
2 necklaces
A small mirror (broken – more than 7 years ago thank goodness)
Several
ribbons - cut out of the shoulders of various tops. They’ll go in my
supplies in the craft room and get used up on various projects.
My watch
I have a chest of draws beside my bed so the top of it is quite a bit bigger than your standard bedside table.
Who are your creative role models? What music, books, images, poetry spark your creative fire?
I
am a huge fan of fantasy art. I have a massive digital collection. So I
am inspired by fantasy artists, in particular Brian and Wendy Froud,
Angi Sullins and Silas Toball, Anne Stokes…oh there are so many. I have
lots of books. If I look at one shelf just above me here there are books
on Trolls, Fairies, Art Journaling, how to draw books, sustainability
and conservation, poetry (Tennyson), Avatar (the movie), ballet,
politics, New Zealand history and some children’s books for ideas. As
for music – since buying an iPad and taking advantage of iTunes, my
collection is definitely growing. I don’t really have a favourite genre.
Anything that’s easy to listen to or sing along with. My collection
includes everything from opera to celtic. From the rough scratchy voice
of Leonard Cohen to the angelic voices of Celtic Women and the deep
sultry sounds of Il Volo. It’s all music that seems to be a good fit for
a fantasy enthusiast now I come to think about it. I also get inspired
by the beauty of historical architecture and furniture designs. They
were so ornate. Everything we build is so plain these days.
What could you talk late into the night about with like minded people?
Creative
pursuits, obviously. But also politics, religion and conservation and
sustainability. I love discussing ‘so called’ taboo subjects, because
that’s what people get really passionate about. It makes for very
interesting conversations and debates. Books and movies too.
If you could go to three free workshops/creative events this year which ones would they be? What are they about?
Typography
would be one. All my computer graphics skills are self-taught but I’m
not very good at Typography. I would also love to learn how to draw and
paint properly and that includes digital painting.
How do you balance your creative life with your family, life commitments?
If
you asked my hubby that question – he’d probably say that I don’t. I
tend to get very focused when I’m busy making stuff and forget to do
things like bring the washing in or make the bed. I can’t help it, it’s
just the way I am. Besides, there are a lot of things I would prefer on
my headstone to “she was a great housekeeper”. I’m not saying we live in
a mess, we don’t. The house is always clean and tidy. I just forget
things sometimes because my mind is so taken up with my latest project.
What is your favourite creative screw-up?
There
have been plenty of screw-ups over the years. I can’t say I’d call any
of them a favourite. They tend to annoy me intensely because they waste
materials and time, and, worst of all, they tend to demotivate me and
knock my confidence in what I’m doing. I’d love to have a funny story to
tell you here, but I just don’t I’m afraid.
Kitchen table or studio?
It
started out on the kitchen table many years ago. In my last house I had
a small craft room, but when I met and married my current hubby I was
very lucky to ‘inherit’ his late wife’s craft room and all her supplies.
Luckily we enjoyed a lot of the same crafts. So now I have a large
craft room, which is constantly overflowing with part-finished projects
and supplies. Last week I moved all my jewellery making supplies and
tools into the office because that’s where we tend to spend the most
time in winter and is one of the warmest rooms in the house because it
gets the sun most of the day. It’s also right next door to the kitchen
which makes ducking out to grab a coffee much more convenient.
Do you have a wish list? Can you tell us what’s on it?
More
time. There are so many things I love doing and so many more that I
want to try and learn, I think I need to live forever! Oh, and better
eye sight. Even with glasses I spend a lot of time squinting these days.
Doing really fine work is quite difficult.
You can find Radenbrea Studios online here... http://radenbrea.com/artisan-studio/
And on Facebook here ... https://www.facebook.com/RadenbreaStudios
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