Designer Interview starring Angela Cuthill of ArtySmarty (with rather fabulous giveaway!)

Angela is originally from Tasmania (!)and has lived in Dublin (with some long visits home in between) for the last ten years. She studied ceramics and fine art, followed by an MA in art curation. Her husband is Irish and they live in a pretty house on Primrose Avenue. She set up her lovely company ArtySmarty in the last year- creating jewelery, bags and other quirky items.

As a giveaway there is one of Angela's latest necklaces..
Be sure to leave a comment and you just might receive it in the post!

What are you working away on at the moment?
I have been going through a major bag and ‘pocket’ making moment recently. There are some beautiful fabrics available and I want to make useful items so people can enjoy beautiful pattern, design and colour in their everyday life. Things like i-phone covers, business covers, sunglasses cases and tiny tote bags can brighten up dull objects.


Who are your favourite designers and artists?
I have a strong visual art background so my favourites would be more traditional fine arts, say, painting and sculpture. Three big ones for me are;
Michael Morris
Richard Wastell
Ricky Swallows

What are your secret resource websites or blogs!?
Well, my most useful website resource for supplies would have to be Etsy they have all sorts of bits and bobs to buy and I love seeing all of the amazing work that other people are producing and selling on the site. I also spend a lot of time checking out blogs, Etsy Ireland, which is a collective of Irish crafters who sell on Etsy and meet up and discuss ideas have a super blog. They post really user friendly info on how to take great photos of your stuff, how-to’s and any other number of subjects.

What do you love most about what you do?
Flexibility would have to be the big one and of course the creativity. If one day I feel like making bags then I can, if I am working elsewhere I can take my laptop and work on some marketing or new designs. I guess we all want variety in our jobs and a sense of satisfaction when we complete something, I think you get that, especially so, when you have something tangible at the end of your working day.
 


What's the first thing you remember making?
When I was very small I was bought an air-dry clay kit by my parents that had all of the materials to make some kind of animal figure that you could paint when it dried. I can remember exactly what the figure looked like, some kind of cat, but I loved it so much I went into full production and they were all over the house!


Is the contrast of your subject matter intentional, for example robots and ladies in their undergarments?
I have kind of a wide interest area and I think this is reflected in the work that I produce, while it’s not really intentional. Some days I think I should narrow down the scope of what I do and specialize more but I seem to be getting more ideas as I progress rather than finding one I want to concentrate on.

Your future dreams and plans?
Business wise, I’d like to stock my work in shops all over Ireland and perhaps begin to think about the U.K. and Australia as well. I’d be pretty happy if I could carry on in the future with the same amount of creative freedom that I have now. 


Your thoughts on the design scene in Ireland? Positives and negatives!
There is some amazing contemporary design work being produced in Ireland and it would be great to see them valued more highly. And Ireland is relatively small, which makes it all pretty competitive. I think an outsiders view of Irish design would be more traditional crafts like pottery but there is so much more out there and it’s a shame it’s not better represented.


Where can your work be purchased?
There is a few different options, you can buy direct from my e-commerce site www.artysmartyshop.com

Or if you don’t trust the modern wonders of the internet I am stocked in a few shops;
MayFly 64 Pleasants Place (next to the Cake Café off Camden Street)
The Irish Design Shop Bow Lane East
Se Si in Temple Bar
Om Diva in the Georges Street Arcade
And if you happen to be in Waterford, Ardmore Pottery and Craft Shop.

I also go to the Dublin Flea Market which happens on the last Sunday of the month in New Market Square, off Cork Street, Dublin 8 each month.


And last of all could you draw an interpretation of 'DesignFingers'!?


Many thanks Angela!