The Studio

I think I was a crow in a previous life…

Some of the materials I use:

Acrylic paint, watercolors (paints, pencils, markers), pencils (graphite, color), pens of every variety, chalk pastels, charcoal, conte’ pencils, markers (Sharpies, regular markers, paint pens) , water soluable wax pastels, crayons, stamps & ink, spray ink, washi tape (SO MUCH WASHI TAPE), glitter, ephemera (pages from old books, maps, sheet music, advertisements, playing cards, library cards, game scoring sheets, cool candy wrappers, grocery bags…pretty much anything made from paper), and found materials (discarded cardboard packaging, ribbon, wire from twisty-ties, plastic netting from bags of fruit, bubble wrap, washed dryer sheets, yarn, embroidery thread, scraps of material, beads/charms, buttons, game board pieces, small metal odds and ends, and anything else that catches my fancy)

Homemade, literally

Wishmoon Studio is the product of years of making colorful messes that have filled art journals and portfolios and more canvases than I have the wall space to display. When my messes started taking over the kitchen, my husband and I converted our guest room to a studio for art and writing. With a comfy couch that converts to a bed. We still needed a place for guests, after all.

In that room, we’re surrounded by things made by hands instead of machines: quilts made by my mother, braided rugs made from old sheets by my grandmother, childhood creations made by us and our siblings, a jewelry box made by my Grandpa Lyle, gifts made by friends, crafts made by our goddaughter, painted cups for storing art supplies made by our adopted brother, jewelry made by my granddad from stones he tumbled and polished himself, pieces we’ve purchased from local artists and others from artists on Etsy.

We both come from family traditions of homemade things, and the craftsmanship of the things shaped by their hands shaped us, too. And we are incredibly fortunate to know so many people who, whether out of necessity or enjoyment, made, built, baked, cooked, crafted, knitted, stitched, sewed, wrote, sculpted, drew, and painted amazing, beautiful creations that provide inspiration for our own.

Wishmoon…?

When I was little, I pronounced “marshmallows” as “washminnows” and “mushrooms” as “wishmoons”. Using it now is a way to stay connected with that little self who loved to create just for the sake of it.

About my materials

I work in mixed media and found materials because A) I want to play with all the art supplies in the store, and B) the challenge of giving a discarded thing new life is deeply satisfying. Repurposing is an integral part of my personal sustainability philosophy anyway, but never underestimate the utter delight of being able to say something like, “Those ‘clouds’? Dryer sheets.” (Yes, really.)