That Victorian – Indie Vibe

Random Facts About You?

I can't order the same thing twice in a row at a restaurant, I love telling stories, I am always looking for new art techniques, and I really like to play my piano.

What got you started crafting?

I don't remember, I've always been making stuff. For me it was fun to try and learn new ways of drawing, of sculpting, of making, and when you have an addiction to that, you've got to find a place to sell it.

What is your source of inspiration?

My Pthalo Azul account is inspired mostly by Victorian things. I love the asthetic of the Victorian Era, the extravagant spirals and swoops, the clothes, the books, and the romance we associate with the time period.

What have you made recently?

My process is pretty long. I start out in my sketchbook making little noodly things, and then I scan that into the computer, resize it larger, and then print it out. I take it to my light table and I redraw it a little cleaner, putting it back on the computer and printing it out larger until I've redrawn enough times (approx 5 times) to make a polished piece.

If I make it into an acrylic sillhouette, I'll pull it onto the computer and make it a vector image, which is a long process of elimination really, to decide what's too fragile, what will never ship, and what will look just right.

If I paint the piece, then I will work on a dark and light study, and then do a color study on the computer. I print that out and then seal it to a board with Glue and Matte Medium, and then paint on top of that (this saves me hours although it sounds complicated) I'll often bring the piece back to computer and then back to paint during my process. It gives me a unique look that's got the texture, spontanaity, and flow of paint while still being a digital print.

Where do you sell your crafts presently?

I sell mostly through my shop Pthalo Azul on Etsy.

Why are handmade crafts important to you?

Since I am an artist I understand the need to buy and sell it. Some of the best things in life are those touched by a human hand, given that special care and attention that a bigger store cannot offer. In the same way that your Mother's casserole always tastes better than a frozen mass produced package, is the same reason that handmade stands out. You can have something that is an original, or something that only has a few copies of it elsewhere in the world, or something customized precisely with you in mind, and I think everyone deserves to have something like that.

Find Me

Location
Saratoga, CA

Email Address
Rachel Jones

Personal Website
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PthaloAzul

Store Website
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PthaloAzul

Twitter
@rajmuse