(when I'm not at my part-time job):
7 am - Wake up, often lying in bed for a while listening to birds and gearing myself up for the day ahead.
7.30am - I head downstairs, completely wrapped up in a dressing gown and make myself breakfast consisting of a cup of tea (essential) and anything ranging from granola or crispy cereal to yogurt, croissants or crumpets! While I eat I do my first scroll through of my various social media, reply to messages, etc.
8/8.30am - Get ready for the day i.e. change out of my pajamas! And straight into comfy clothing if I'm planning to stay and work at home.
9 am onwards - Doing anything from sewing products (at the moment it's makeup bags and toiletry pouches) to collaging, packing up cards and setting up my Etsy!
In a lot of ways I think it chose me! I've found myself just naturally drawn to it, beginning while I was about 9 or 10 when in an art class on William Morris I drew and painted my first repeat pattern and I loved it! A copy of that pattern is still on my grandparent's wall! Fast forward to 16 when I went to a university open day, listened to a talk about printed textiles and fell in love.
I went to college for a foundation degree in art then onto university where I studied Printed Textiles & Surface Pattern Design and it was definitely the right route for me, however, I believe it is different for everyone and formal education isn't always needed. It wasn't just the skills I learned that made uni suited to me but the experience of increasing my confidence, especially in my work and talking about my portfolio, and the opportunities they provided me with.
At the moment, my design work is part-time. I am still at the very beginnings of my creative journey after university so I don't have the money or exposure to be able to do it full time however it is what I aspire to! Being creative part-time alongside a part-time job is ideal for me at the moment.
I'd like to think my work is an example of how important and beautiful handcraft can be - I believe making and doing with our hands is instrumental to our well-being and in such a fast-paced digital world, it is important to slow down and explore creativity through interacting with physical materials. Although a lot of my work ends up being digital prints, the artwork in the prints is completely handmade, showing evidence of how I cut each piece of paper individually and textures that can only be created through paint on paper. This mindset is also why I enjoy screen print so much!
My biggest focus is starting up my business, going to craft fairs, making work and products using my own printed fabrics. I would love to get to the stage where I could screen print my designs as well! That's what I have planned for the next few years!
Clover Robin - the main inspiration for my collage pieces! Her work is stunning and you can see so much thought has gone into each shape cut out and it's placement
Becca Jones (@boneidol_) - one of my university housemates and a brilliant designer! So much time and skill goes into her work, from research to the illustration to the final product
Ami Vadi (@ami.vadi) - another uni housemate and designer! Not only very talented but her work explores current issues and she brings such personality and ideology to her pieces
Surrounded by nature! It is my main inspiration and always the subject of my work
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Nisha Btesh
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