1) Tell us a little bit about your label (art) and what you do?
Hi, I’m Steph! My label, Erlenmeyer Art, encompasses all of my creations – so far that would be gift cards, original pieces, A3/A4 art prints and playing cards. Like most artists, I have a lot more ideas in my head but not enough time in the day to get to them all… I really enjoy making things that can make people happy or enable them to express themselves. I love working with ink and watercolours and getting into intricate detail.
2) What inspires your work?
There are lots of beautiful things and scenes in the world and I love to recreate them in a different medium. Also, my lovely family and friends inspire me…often I will do a drawing as a gift for someone to celebrate them and this really helps me to find new compositions and themes in my work. If something makes a friend happy in life, then I try to find a way to put it on paper so that they can stick it on a wall and enjoy just looking at it too!
3) What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
I have been working at a wine shop throughout my undergraduate degree in biochemistry, and I will probably continue to do so until I start a postgraduate in art restoration and conservation. I do weekly work experience at an art restoration business in Mosman and it’s so much fun! If anyone else is caught between science and fine art then I highly recommend this career path.
4) What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Once I was selling my things at a market stall in North Sydney, and a lady came by and bought a print. As I wrapped it up for her I asked her if she knew where she was going to put it and she said ‘Yes, next to my Matisse print in my bedroom!’ I think this has been the biggest compliment I’ve ever had!
5) One thing you can’t live without?
My incredibly creative, nerdy and positive boyfriend.
6) What gets you up in the morning?
Either: starting work on a new idea that has been hanging over me for ages; or reaching the final stages of a piece that has been sitting on my desk for ages! The only things that get me up earlier than that are spring-cleaning and birthdays.
7) How would your best friend describe you in 3 words?
He said, “Need more words”.
8) What is the next skill you want to learn?
Art conservation techniques!
9) What is your dream project?
Recently I’ve started working on cross-sectional pictures of buildings with all their people inside them and I suppose at the moment I’d really like to do a massive one, maybe a cross section of a cruise liner or a medieval castle! …I’ve just finished a small one for my favourite local café (Shot on Military in Cremorne), there’s a picture of it here.
10) Favourite or most inspirational place in Sydney?
My favourite place is probably home….or certain restaurants! I think the prettiest place in Sydney is the bridge that connects Darling Harbour and Pyrmont, especially in twilight.
11) What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
My Godfather once told me “sometimes it’s better to be kind than to be right”.
12) What advice would you give to new, aspiring Makers?
Keep making what you love! When you’re working on something that you would happily put before sleep and food then you know you’re going in the right direction.
13) And most importantly, what would your ultimate karaoke song be?
…7 Days by Craig David.
