Nothing to Poo Poo about!

Good morning! Today we are going to hear from yet another wonderful artisan. When I saw the work she has done with paper I was truly transfixed. She has blended so many natural elements to make something as simple as paper into an art form. The color and textures were nearly implausible. I sat staring at my screen transfixed as I read more about her and her process. Here she is, Liz-Anna in her own words…



Liz Annas On The Lake

1. Can you tell me your name and a little about yourself and your studio/creative space? I’m Liz-Anna from Liz-Anna’s Lakeside Studio. I work out of my home studio which has a beautiful lake view. Artsnark did a piece on her blog featuring my studio if you are interested. I spend a lot of time outdoors in the spring and summer collecting materials and ideas for my art. I work as an admin assistant but most of my free time is spent in my creative pursuits.

I make handmade papers from plants that are grown in my region and even from moose poo. Full details about that process are on my blog. I also spend time exploring various art forms including mixed media collage, my current favourite. I enjoy working in textiles, creating one of a kind hand dyed pieces. I use a variety of techniques including batik, silkscreen, block printing, beading and embroidery. I also create natural soaps, lip balms and body butters and do some work in stained glass and concrete. I teach workshops in my area as well.

2. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it? I love to create beauty. I can’t imagine a life without that. I am so fortunate to have been born in a time and place where I can have this freedom.

3. Do you have a family and if so what role does your family play in your art?
My children are all adults now and my husband is very supportive of my creative endeavors, even when it meant coming home to ‘who knows what’ boiling away on the kitchen stove before I had my own studio. I think the moose poo was the last straw though! My family has always encouraged me in my art and when my children were young, they worked along side me doing their own version of whatever it was I was doing. I don’t believe in putting art on hold while you raise children when you can use it to share and grow together.

4. Where do you live and what is it like? I live in the north central interior of British Columbia, Canada in a very rural area accessible by ferry. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to live with lots of lakes and open sky.

5. Where did you learn your medium

I learned to make paper through an Emily Carr College Outreach program with an instructor from Paper-Ya about 15 years ago. We made a variety of papers but I especially fell in love with the texture of the paper we made using Japanese Kozo fibre. As soon as the workshop was over I started experimenting with plant fibres I could find locally. I also purchased some good books to expand on what I had learned in the weekend workshop.

As an artist, I am mostly self-taught although I do take weekend workshops when I can and I devour books and other publications on my creative interests.

6. What are your goals with your work? Personal satisfaction is important but I also like to share what I do through workshops and participating in events that showcase my work. I’m not holding my breath for fame and fortune but it’s good to know that I will leave something behind that says I was here.

7. How did you come to selling online? I heard about Etsy through various magazine articles that featured artists who sold on Etsy so I decided to give it a try. I love this on-line community of artists that I’m getting to know.

8. Where all do you sell? I sell at local and regional craft fairs and art shows as well as wholesale and on consignment in some local shops.

9. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists? Don’t be afraid to try new things. So much of learning is doing. I hear so many people say they couldn’t do this or that but they haven’t tried.

10. Why do you think that buying and selling handmade products benefits society? Handmade is generally kinder to the environment than factory made, especially when local resources and recycled materials are used. Artists and artisans who can support themselves by working from home have a special opportunity to be more available to their children. Handmade builds human connections in ways that commercial manufacturing and distributing can’t.

My on-line shop is Liz-Anna’s on the Lake  I have only been up and running for two months so I am still building inventory. I have also started a blog http://www.liz-annaslakesidestudio.blogspot.com./

Thanks Liz-Anna for letting us glimpse into your life! Please my wonderful readers... go check out the wonderful things found in her shop!