Q: What inspires you in your work?
Just about everything. If you have your mind set to that frequency, you just begin to see things for their potential in your designs. Color, texture, shape. Stories. Music. It can all be potential inspiration. I love to go out hiking for color inspiration and in spite of our lack of season in Southern California, we have a bit of change in spring and fall, I find beautiful color combinations. It's nice to see what mother nature has on display and be inspired by that.
Q: What does a typical day in the life of Gaea looks like?
My days revolve around the kids and work. I can take my kids to basketball or soccer or acting class and bring a tray clay to make beads. I've been seen glazing out in public too! People love to chat and ask what I'm doing. I've made some lovely friends this way. Most days are about getting the kids to school and getting out for a hike first thing before it gets hot out. It's always nice when a friend can join me. Conversation with a good friend is aways good for getting the creative juices flowing. Getting housework done is not always at the top of my list, so I try to get a bit done in the morning. This way my work space (the kitchen table) is
clear to get creative. I fire up the kiln twice a month and it's a big kiln so I try to get it completely full. I don't like wasting space or energy. I'll make beads for part of the day, but like today, there are submission deadlines coming up so I'll pull out some beads and get a few designs made. It's the best form of free advertising and the magazines are always looking for new people and new designs. I tent to be a night owl and stay up way too late. This is a bad habit I am trying to break.
Q: Is there a particular bead and/or jewelry artist you admire or who you consider a role model?
There are many! There were only a handful of designers
that I saw in the beginning. I remember Melanie Brooks reaching out to me over 13 years ago. We've had some
lovely conversations about art beads and business. Diane Hawkey is a fantastic artist, such heartfelt work. Nancy Adams has a really great eye for design and color. Watching designers like Lorelei Eurto, Martha Thomas, Lori Anderson, and Loralee Kolton, (I know I am forgetting so many lovely designers! Cherrie Fick! Rebecca Gilbert Johnson! Malin de Koning! Janine Lucas!) make magic from various design elements is a wonder to see! I love seeing what they will come up with. So many amazing design voices out there!