Welcome to the next interview celebrating the talents of British artists in the field of scrapbooking,
photography, mixed-media, art journaling, feltmaking and quilting. Some
names you may know and some may not be so familiar but they are all
hugely talented.
*Brief Bio
What can I tell you? I've been married for about half a lifetime
and we have a son and a daughter and a very tall house in the city. My
Grandma taught me to knit when I was five and I've been making things ever
since. I currently write for the UK scrapbook magazine Scrap365 .
*Who or what are your
creative influences? And why?
I’m influenced by anyone who doesn’t take themselves too
seriously; anyone who happily owns up to mistakes and “starter” pieces and
projects which didn’t go to plan; anyone who says “at least I tried”. I am just
as likely to be influenced by attitude as I am by art.
*What is your
preferred medium of creativity? What
appeals to you about this?
I love making all kinds of things in any way I know how; but
I guess, for the moment, scrapbooking has my heart. It’s the perfect way for me
to bring together my favourite preoccupations – telling stories, taking
pictures, talking about history, and making it all look good. Yes, I could do
all of that without the cutting and sticking and arranging and prettifying; but
this way I get to do it all at the same time.
*What other areas of
creativity do you dabble in?
I sew. I knit. I love to decorate. Over the years I’ve made
1/12th scale miniatures, cross stitched, created soft toys and
earrings for craft fairs..I’ll have a go at anything involving colour, fabric
or yarn of any kind.
*What is one of your
earliest creative memories?
Sitting at a little low table in the kitchen, cutting out
paper dolls. I must have been about three. I still find cutting paper a very
soothing and relaxing thing to do.
*Pablo
Picasso said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist
once we grow up.” How did you find this
transition worked in your life?
Well, I have to say I don’t really see myself as an artist.
I’ve certainly never had any training (although I watched a lot of Blue Peter
as a child!). I’m just somebody who likes to make stuff. I’m lucky in that I
was brought up in a family of makers; and I married a man whose three sisters
all love creating just as much as I do. We have been together since we were
both nineteen and in all the time since we met, he has never once asked me why
I’m making something instead of buying it. It would never occur to him. That’s
the way he was brought up too. That has really helped. We have grown into
adulthood, making things together.
*How did you find your
creative style?
I don’t know if I have one! I’ve been making things for so
long now that lots of different styles have come and gone around me. I buy
fabrics and trimmings and papers when I see something I like rather than with a
specific project in mind, so I always have something “me” on hand to work with.
*Which is your
favourite technique?
Using stitching or distressing to create texture on my
pages. And layering up embellishments to make you take a closer look. I like to
add journaling you have to seek out and little clues about the meaning of the
page so you have to work a little to find it all.
*Favourite quote(s)?
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I
do better.”
- Maya Angelou
*Favourite art gallery
or museum?
My family are very used to being dragged round every handy
museum when we are on holiday! My favourite is always a “living history”
exhibition which recreates a scene from the past, building up the atmosphere
with lots of details. I guess that’s what I try to do in my scrapbook pages
too. Last summer I was lucky enough to visit Bergen Open Air Museum, Norway;
and, closer to home another favourite is Blist Hills Victorian Town.
*Favourite book?
“Ulverton” by Adam Thorpe
Where you can find Sian
If you were able to ask Sian anything what would you ask? Please add your question to the comments below.
See you next Friday for an interview with Lin Brown.
