Artist Studio Sneak – Cathy Nash of The Eclectic Company

Please help me in welcoming Cathy Nash of The Eclectic Company to Vintage Indie for another fantastic Studio Sneak!

Hi Cathy and welcome to Vintage Indie. Thank you for sharing your lovely studio with us. Can you tell us a little bit about where you are from and what you do?

  Currently we live on a little farm not too far from Athens, Georgia.  Since we are in the process of renovating our house, my "studio" is my kitchen, but my kids have grown accustomed to the organized clutter, glitter, and papier mache dust along with dinner. It's actually the best room in our house for working because the area is bright, open and surrounded by huge antique windows which we acquired from an old church in our community which was being razed.

Often I work during the morning hours, and if I’m lucky, I can work until time to pick the kids up from school. After my usual coffee jumpstart, I start work in one area of my kitchen counter, and before the day is over, I’ve somehow spread out all over the kitchen. Many days I have more than one project going at a time, due to the nature of papier mache; it takes a long time to dry, so I try to work on one thing while others are drying.
                   

 (above Flapper Chick)

What is your primary medium?

Right now it’s papier mache.  Watercolor is my next favorite.

How did you get started in this field of art?

When my children started coming along, I chose to leave my job as an art director to stay at home and watch them grow. My creative side has always found an outlet and several years ago I discovered a passion for papier mache. It’s such a versatile medium, and I was inspired by vintage children's books and German papier mache Halloween figures. I started making my own paper pulp and also began experimenting with other types of papier mache.

What are some of your favorite materials to work with?

I enjoy trying to use found objects in my work, and often re-purpose items such as pine cones, acorns, and old ribbon spools.  I often use chenille and I also like vintage-style tinsel for the subtle sparkle it adds to a piece.  I use crepe a lot, and usually make my own aged crepe fringe to accent many of my figures.  And I love glitter!!

                                

(above, Silver Star Tree Topper)

What inspires you?

Ideas come from some many sources: memories and experiences from childhood; vintage toys, books, and advertisements; antique postcards; and even from my kids, who offer ideas and suggestions.

                               

(above Summer Cones)

Do you use any vintage materials? If so, why do you like about creating with vintage components?

Sometimes I use vintage crepe, or an old charm, or a vintage label or box, or ribbon, and I'm always on the lookout for something which might be used in my work.  I also have a love for typography and enjoy trying to incorporate vintage-style lettering into my work. I love the connection to the past and also the instant "age"and feeling of nostalgia that a vintage item offers a piece. (And the quality of vintage materials is often unmatched in today's world.)

A special thank you goes out to Cathy Nash for sharing her world with us. If you haven't visited her site, please do so today. She offers an array of beautiful and charming artwork.