Jennicakes' Interview with Sierra Bailey of Manic Trout
We don't have a Frequent Contributor Award here at the Sampler, but if we did, I would nominate Sierra Bailey of Manic Trout, whose magnets, jewelry and paintings are instantly recognizable to any fan of The Sampler.
With no Frequent Contributor Award available, we decided a Sampler interview would have to be enough. Enjoy, and be sure to check out Sierra's creations!
Hello from Sampler Town, Ms. Manic Trout!!
Hi Jennicakes!
How are you?
I am excellent, thank you. How are you today?
Great, thanks! I hope I am not interrupting you as you work on some glorious creation.
No, I was working on an idea I have with jet and smoke beads and black roses, but I was looking for a distraction and was looking forward to your pinging me!
Jet and smoke beads and black roses, oh my! I am looking forward to seeing that as a finished creation!
Well, thank you! I have been having a thing with black roses recently... no idea why, but I figure I should just go with it.
I love the range of your work - how you can make jewelry, and paint, and still have everything look so recognizably Manic Trout!
I never thought I really had a "style" and yet I've noticed that all I do has a similar feel... everything I work on becomes infused with my own personal style I suppose. My studio is in my apartment... I live in an old house that belonged to a Dr and his family and I have his old Dr's office... so my studio is what used to be a large waiting room, but its funny that when you leave the studio, my whole apt has the same feel as all the work I do!
That's so cool! I wish I had a waiting room! Do you have a favorite medium?
Well, I have always been first and foremost attracted to color, in any medium... so I seek out mediums that are highly saturated with color... oil paint, glass, thread (I adore embroidery and crewel, but found it difficult to price, so its my hobby)... I also have a thing for tissue paper, but I just seem to collect it.
Well, tissue paper can be really gorgeous! The September Sampler is wrapped in boysenberry tissue paper. I think you would approve!
Awesome! Mmm... boysenberry must look beautiful!
We're liking it! Thanks for opting out of your Sampler, by the way. And for being such a generous contributor!
Well, I found that when I received the first Sampler that I contributed to, it was so great that I thought I had to do anything I could to help keep it alive and growing bigger and bigger...I also like to be involved in other artists projects and it feels great to be a part of the Sampler in any way. I really miss that aspect of art school, that very strong sense of community and as I have not found it where I live, I am thrilled that I can be a part of the Indie community online and can be a constant help to the great resources within the community, especially the Sampler.
I would like to add that I am involved in the community where I live, it's just not very creative right now.
Wow, that was an amazing endorsement!!! The craft community is lucky to have you!
Awww, you're making me blush....
Oh, good! More saturated color, haha!
See, I have color... I like color... I am pink in the cheeks and it matches my shirt right now, I can't help it....
Yay! In addition to color, do you like words? Because you have some seriously fun product names. Does it take you forever to come up with them?
OK, I'll let you in on a secret... my paintings are named after the book I am reading when I paint them, and I read a lot... a few books a week, so I can choose
really good titles... I'll also admit I started buying books for their titles. The jewelry is all named after songs, I just search through my iTunes when I am done with whatever I am working
on and try to find a good fit! I had to do something like this, some of my early names got really dorky... I tend to pun when I am tired.... The names I get from a great site with hundreds of lists of names from all over the world... my button rings are all named after villainesses.
That is so cool! Do you a favorite book? Regardless of title?
Ooooh, that's like picking a favorite kid. The Fountain Head made me go to Architecture school, I transferred to art school after a year, it turns out being an architect would not transport me into the past.
Yeah, I guess architecture can't really do that! Which is too bad. Maybe wearing one of your Zsa Zsa rings will transport me into the past?
That would rock! Those are named after the women in the world (past and present) with the biggest jewelry collections....
That is so brilliant. I totally want one - should I choose based on the color I like, or on the woman with whom I most identify? Any tips?
Well I personally wear the largest clear one, as it attracts the most attention and makes people ask about my jewelry ;-) although people often ask if I have a drawer pull on my hand. I love the idea of choosing based on the woman...but I feel if everyone did that then the Joan...as in Crawford may not sell. Mommie Dearest left a bad taste in all little girls' mouths.
I really love the color of the "Elizabeth" ring, which has to be named after Elizabeth Taylor....
Excellent knowledge of jewelry collecting ladies!
Thanks! Thanks for taking some time to chat with The Sampler!
It was my absolute pleasure, anything for the Sampler!
Aw! You're the best, Sierra!
Thanks Jennicakes! You rock!
Clicky! A big Sampler thanks to....
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