Meet the Maker: Louise Pettersson
Meet the Maker:
Louise Pettersson Craftsperson
Welcome to interview number 5 of my Meet the Maker series!
Today I'm sharing my interview with the very talented Louise Pettersson. I've exhibited alongside Louise at a couple of in-person events (remember those?) in the last 2 years, and I am more and more in awe of her work every time I see it. Louise is not only a talented ceramicist producing illustrative pieces with stunning designs, but she also makes leather masks which are quite unlike anything I've ever seen before!
Ever since I decided to do this series, I knew I wanted to interview Louise! And she kindly agreed :-)
Let's dive straight in, shall we?
1) Hi Louise! Thanks so much for being here! I'm super excited to be talking to you because I'm a massive fan of your work! So first things first.... Would you like to introduce yourself and your work?
Hi Gemma! Well, I am a maker & artist based in Suffolk, England. My work is primarily based in ceramics and leather work, it is inspired by the things and places I love which is the Suffolk countryside and all of its wildlife. I am also a massive nerd and love anything to do with fantasy and history. These are my primary creative sources.
2) So tell us, What did you do before you set up your business?
West Suffolk College was one of the best times I’ve ever had, the tutors and technical staff were truly excellent they not only helped my creative process but gave me confidence in my work and as a person. I can’t thank them enough.
3) One of the things that really draws me to you as a fellow maker is how eclectic and broad ranging your skills and work are! I absolutely adore both your ceramic work and your incredible leather masks! How did you get into each of those practices? And can you tell us a bit about the materials you use?
4) Can you tell us a little bit about your design processes? How do you get from idea to reality?
5) So, what made you take the plunge to sell your work and start a business? Is it something that you've always wanted to do?
I’ve grown up watching and being involved my parents business they have always been self employed ever since they left university so I knew relatively how it worked and what was evolved, making things & art work have always been my life I can’t not do it. So it felt very natural starting my own practice.
6) What inspires you and your work? Is there a certain inspiration that you are always drawn to?
Movement, action, feeling, as I mentioned above countryside & wildlife are big ones. But above all its rabbits, I call them hares to be more arty sometimes but really they are all secretly rabbits. As a child I grew up with them and have never gotten over them.
7) I love being creative and I'm sure you feel the same! What is your favourite thing about being creative?
8) Are you concerned about the environment? What do you do to be more eco friendly in your work?
I lose sleep over the environment, a big one for me is packaging. I work part time for a local ice cream business, which has a farm shop so I save and reuse as much of the plastic, boxes and packaging materials as I can for my own business. But I am aware there is always more I could do.
9) What do you love most about your job/practice? And do you have a preference over your mask work or your ceramics? Or do you find you have phases of doing one and then another?
I like variety, being to be able to switch between them both, it keeps them new and fresh which is very important. It can be very easy to fall into a rut and blindly make without creating. I also love meeting people at events, its inspiring to hear about different individuals creative practices and skill.
10) What's one thing you can't live without?
11) What advice do you have for any other creatives wanting to start their own creative business?
12) So finally.....We're all dying to know...Where can we go to check out your beautiful work?
You can order work through my Website: https://www.louisepetterssoncraftsperson.co.uk
Facebook page: Louise Pettersson Craftsperson
Instagram: @louisepettersson_craftsperson
And Email: louisepettersson@rocketmail.com
Thank you Gemma! I’ve really enjoyed taking part in your Meet the Maker!
THANKS LOUISE!
It's been so insightful to hear about Louise's beautiful work and what really inspires her! Isn't her work just incredible? I feel like each piece of Louise's work really tells a story, and perhaps that's why I connect with it so much.
I also really love Louise's advice for anyone starting a creative business. I think following your passions is really the most important thing. It can be easy to be strayed into making things that you think people want to buy, even though it's not necessarily what's true to yourself as a maker. What inevitably ends up happening is that the piece loses its appeal, because it doesn't have the most important ingredient...Passion from the maker!
I hope you enjoyed my interview with Louise, and I do urge you to go and check out her work...You won't be disappointed!
Bee Mugs
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