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filler@godaddy.com
Artist - Maker - Crafter
Carly is an Oakland, California based artist with deep roots in Northern California.
Making art is a must for me - EVERYDAY. It got me through the college years, but also making things and generating ideas is my magic. I know that my purpose is to make art everyday. My secondary passion and sometimes challenge is sharing it with my community.
My recent interest has been working with paper-mâché - it is part nostalgic and part ease of use / utilitarian. Until Halloween 2020 it was a medium in which I always wanted to return to and that September, I did! I made calaveras like masks to hang outside my door. And like many of us during the pandemic, making sense of that period in time took us to less complicated times - like 4th grade art class.
Papier-mache is a relatively simple process using recycled and non-toxic paints that inspires me to explore new ways of making art.
I love what I'm making and feel lucky to be able to share it with others!"
ABOUT THE ART
On a Mission to Make Beautiful Things
My purpose is to make things and share the things that I make. It brings me joy and helps me find connection.
WHAT INSPIRES ME?
Nature - With all its shapes, colors and patterns.
Magazines - Contemporary and vintage - I have hundreds!
Classic movies (before 1980) - especially any movie that takes me to a far off place (in the world - I'm not a science fiction fanatic).
Folk art - especially in reference to my own heritage: Scandinavian, Filipino, Mexican.
Handmade artifacts - as a lifelong sewer I appreciate the steps in the process of making and the pride of creating something from almost nothing.
Clay Art/ Ceramics - I use to build large ceramic sculptures. And much like the clay, the papier-mâché feels heavenly slipping through my hands
What Is My Process?
My process is highly iterative; meditative.
Each piece I produce is unique, whimsical and inspired in the moment and a plan is rarely part of my game plan. I have a rough idea but know that it may undergo many paths before completion.
Practically, I have developed a few steps that help me make many items concurrently. Each piece may take anywhere from 20-60 hours to complete as drying layers of wet paper can be the most time consuming. I develop a shape, add pieces of cardboard here and there and then continue until I feel the weight and shape are to my liking.
The vessels dry for several weeks before sanding rough edges, prepping with a gesso base coat.
Then I begin painting.
Sometimes I'm inspired a color I saw someplace then I start making marks and build layers, sometimes I layer over and over again.
I may rework a piece several times.
Once it feels right I seal the object with acrylic gloss or the ever reliable ModPodge.