IWACA Dream... Create... be who you are Summer Issue 2014 | Page 36

36 | IWACA

ART and CRAFT IWACA

ART and

CRAFT

With Lainey Miller

"I

'm Lainey, a mixed media artist living in Nottinghamshire with my

my husband, daughter and crazy cat. Technically, I'm a professional artist, having sold a couple a pieces but really, I'm still a newbie and have a day job in social media.

I trained as a Fine Bookbinder, and while I loved the creative side of that, technically it wasn't something I loved doing. During my midlife years, I revisited an old love. Painting. I bought a Kelly Rae Roberts book, did a couple of systematic paintings, and loved them. I was very assertive in showing them off — which isn't usually like me — and found other people loved them as much as I did.

The moment I decided I wanted to paint more seriously was when I

was doing a craft fair selling books, and two people saw the one painting on my stall and raced over. They didn't buy it (straight away!) but their reaction spurred me on. From painting, I've also discovered a love for mixed media dolls and have started learning how to create those.

I've dabbled with many crafts over the years, and tried to "make it" as a Bookbinder several times, but I do feel as though I'm finally finding my voice.”

You can connect with Lainey via the following media:

laineyrain.wordpress.com

theartofmidlife.blogspot.co.uk