Well, I can’t believe that our Featured Artists spot is in its third month already! Where is the time going?

This month we are featuring Jo Want, artist behind MunkyBum and Hello Sunshine. Here is our little interview…

What do you make?
I make a range of fun and quirky cards, illustrations and jewellery based on the fascinating and charming qulaities of random objects and everyday life of us human oddballs.

Where can I find your products?
I have online shops at both Etsy and Folksy..

www.helloosunshine.etsy.com
www.folksy.com/hellosunshine

I also have a wide selction of goodies for sale at the FANTASTIC ‘Get Made’ shop on St James St, off Market Square in Nottingham. I try to participate in craft fairs and such when the opportunities arise, so you could find my work popping up all over the place…. you have been warned!

How did you come up with the name for your company?
Being described as a ‘bright, fun, positive and friendly’ person with a sunny disposition my work often seems to reflect these characteristics. This, combined with my habit of addressing my friends ‘Hello Sunshine’ seemed to schmack me in the face and say ‘use me as your brand’!! So I did!

Why did you decide to start?
Ever since my sticky little mitts could hold a crayon I have doodled… on paper, chalkboards, clothes and the odd wall (ahem!). For a long time after graduating from my Decorative Arts Course at Nottingham Tret Uni I struggled to find myself creatively…urgh that sounds so cheesy… but its true. Anyhow, after a year of working and a year of travelling once I graduated, I finally came home ready to doodle some more. The break from school/college/Uni seemed to refresh me and allow me to figure out what I wanted to do with my sticky little mitts. So I picked up my pencils and armed with the thirst for creating goodies for other people to enjoy, a cup of tea and fresh new ideas, I decided to do what I love and try to make some pennies along the way.

Do you blog?
I don’t actually have a blog yet! I’m working on my website and trying fully to establish my brand ‘Hello Sunshine’ at the moment. Creating and keeping a blog is one of the next items on my to-do list. SO hopefully I will be able to keep track of myself as well as update people on my creative adventures along the way.

What kind of advice would you give someone thinking if starting up a creative business?
I won’t lie to you… it’s tough! Being in the early stages myself I have found it hard at times, especially having a ‘real’ job and having to spend full time hours sat in an office when all I want to do is draw and make for a living. However, I have also found it incredibly rewarding being able to do what I’m passionate about and share it with others. Having creative people around you and joining creative networks like the Craft Mafia is invaluable. When you hit that rut nothing seems to work better for me than a cup of tea and a chinwag to bounce ideas around and get thoe pencils scribbling again.

A few pieces of fried gold for you, stay focussed on your goals, don’t let the slips keep you down, always ask for help and above all, keep smiling and enjoy what you do. Pop that kettle on and get scribbling… or knitting… or welding… you get the point… just get on with it and have fun!

Where do you get your inspiration?
Hmmmm… my inspiration seems to spring out at me through a variety of things, from people and everyday objects, animals and the outdoors, to vintage objects and places… anything with character. Things that I can create a personality for inspire me, mixed with silly conversations or situations with friendsm which often add that sprinkling of humour,

What would your ideal collaboration project be?
I would love to get my designs onto clothing an bags. It’s something that has always been on my to-do list but I have to keep saying to myself, ‘Baby steps Jo, one thing at a time for now, or at least until you win the lottery anyway!’ Who knows what the future may hold though, I love working with people and welcome anyone who would like to put up with me..err I mean WORK with me on a project.

How would you describe your work?
I’ll throw  few words out there, fun, quirky, humourous, simple, light hearted

How are you finding being involved with the Nottingham Craft Mafia?
On a more sensible (which is rare) note though I am mahoosively grateful for the chance I have had to be involved with lots of other like-minded arty folk. Like I mentioned before it’s riceless having a network of people to call on to chat to, to be inspired by and to look to for support.

What are your goals for the coming year?
At the moment I’m trying not to rush ahead of myself too much. I am incredibly happy and proud of what I have accomplished over the past year since being home.

However… being the ambitious little monkey I am, I plan to take over the world and fill it with sunshine! In more relaistic terms, in the near future I would like to get my work into more local outlets and promote myself more, whilst adding more products, characters and scribbles to the Helo Sunshine Collection. But for now.. Baby steps!

Thank you Jo!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 3rd, 2009 at 10:53 am and is filed under Featured Artist, Get Made. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.