March's Member Spotlight

This month our member spotlight is

shining on one of our newer members

Sandy Insley aka PUFF

Ribbon doll by PUFF

How did you find Paper Traders?

 I was looking for a very active group since I have just retired.

How long have you been a member?

About 6 months.

Where do you live?

I am moving to Arizona next week (March 13) from Ohio.

How have your surroundings affected your art?

Oh, very much so. I live in the country and love nature so this reflects in some of my work.

Please share a little about your own art experience.

I started out stamping because of my grandmother-in-law and then I tried pottery,stained glass, then ATC's and collage. Now I do so many different mediums that I am truly a mixed media artist.

What are some of your favorite techniques or genres? I really love to solder and I love making jewelry. ATC's are a real challenge because of the size. But my favorite thing to do is to take a box of whatever and try to create something wonderful from these pieces. As I go, I will add a few items that will make it all go together.

What inspires you?

Anything can be an inspiration. Sometimes a book or just something I notice in my day or looking at someone else’s work turns on my brain and off I go. Some times my muse is restless so I watch TV and that can set her off.

Who are some famous artists whose work you admire and what especially appeals to you about this?

I admire a lot of the Impressionists for the flow and softness of their colors. Of today’s new mixed media artists, there are so many I admire and each for a different small thing, that I could not list them all.

Describe your work area... Do you have your own studio or craft room?

I have an area where all my things are stored in relative organization. I go get what I want and work at the kitchen table so that I can watch TV and be near my husband and my dog, Sable. Sable likes to pick up anything I drop on the floor and it is a game with us for me to get it back. She also helps clean up any glitter or jewels, usually with her nose.

What tips or tricks have you found to help carve out a niche for your supplies and art?

The more you buy the bigger the niche. I have a ton of stuff and I mean a ton. I could open my own store. Now that we are packing to move and my husband has seen how much there is maybe he will let me have a room all to myself for a studio. In our last house he shared his gun reloading stuff with me and I think that he took over so much of my space. I moved my stuff to the garage as my storage and summer studio.

Please share a little about your family and pets.

 I am married to a guy that I decided to keep around for 20 years so far. We have a black Labrador Retriever Black Sable Rockhound. My husband raises fish as a living and I just retired. Sable collects rocks and loves to play but getting petted is her favorite thing, even more than food. Now that I am retired I have more time to do art and read and watch nature; my favorite three things, maybe not in that order. It is strange not to have to go to work everyday and you get mixed up with the day, date and time. I find myself doing projects very late at night more often than any other time. I just turned 50 so retirement is really great at this age.

If you'd like, please share a little about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.

I grew up in a small town in Ohio where football was everything. I went on to college at Ohio State University. I loved college and I did start out working within my field then I moved to another job within another field. I was a glutton for punishment and have 3 Bachelor Degrees. I changed jobs a lot but finally settled as a Color Chemist and this really spurned me on in my art work. I really have no formal training in art, I just do what the voices tell me. ( you all are jealous 'cause the voices only talk to me - LOL)

Do you have any other hobbies or interests? 

I have tons of hobbies. Outside of mixed media stuff, I do stained and fused glass and some pottery. I absolutely love, love, love to read and read 3-5 books a week. I love nature so watching nature is a big part of my time, especially birds. I like to ride my bike although there are not as many places to ride as I'd like and I really love to play with my dog as much as I can.

Oh yeah, sometimes I like to hang with my hubby. Actually we like to travel as much as we can. Especially to places near the beach where it is warm. I guess that is all I can tell you now. I love art and to express myself and sometimes you can tell my mood by my art because it can be dark and haunting and other times bright and funny. 

We hope you enjoyed this member spotlight.