As she moves on to greener fields, MOTL takes time to catch up with founding member Ali J to see where she’s been and what she plans on next.
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This month we caught up with talented illustrator and artist Alicia Rosam who works under the moniker of Ali J. This month’s interview is also a little bitter-sweet as it’s also a bit of a farewell to the lovely Miss Ali who until last month was Chairman of the Made on the Left volunteer committee!
As readers might know, Ali was a founding member of Made on the Left way back in 2008, although the seed was planted at the first Etsy.com meetup in Perth in ’07. She runs a successful illustration and art business full time and is soon to start a mentoring business.
So for starters, lets get the background of your business Ali. Would you like to explain the main ideas and themes behind your work, what inspires you, and how long you’ve been working on your business?
My art is based on figures and portraits. Primarily on this one character who haunts me when I paint or draw, and I can’t seem to get her off my mind (hence why my works are more female based, then male). She represents many different people, yet also a bit of me. Other characters come into play, as well as animals and objects. The themes of the artworks are usually dreamy, fashionable and very feminine. They also have a sense of surreal and unusuality that often you have to look twice to see (a shrimp in the hair, crazy hair, a dress of musical notes, a girl coming out of buildings, two girls lost in a rainforest ignoring their bird guides, a girl wearing a coat of peacock feathers whilst being watched). My artworks are very colourful, very busy, use a variety of mixed media and often incorporate complicated patterns. They are emotional and the figures will often remind the viewer of someone they know.
In regards to the technique most of the time I paint over collaged book pages. I also draw and paint with ink and collage on paper or canvas, sometimes screenprinting, sometimes digital. Most of the time though I am life based and am hands on with my work, usually resorting to digital for my client jobs that have special requirements (eg, A CD design). I am inspired by people, music, fashion, celebrities and relationships. My business has been running for over three years.
What has been your proudest moment business wise?
So much to choose from, I’m so proud of a lot I’ve achieved. The one moment that sticks in my mind is an e-mail I received a while back. I created a commissioned painting for a girl who wanted to give her sister a very special 21st birthday present – a portrait of the sisters together. I still remember when she said her sister cried with joy when she was given the artwork, and they couldn’t express in words how much they loved it. What could be better then bringing joy to someone’s life?
What inspired you to start Made on the Left?
I wanted to help build a bridge between starting artists/crafters and the established artists/crafters. The biggest problem for all starting artists/crafters is lack of knowledge, lack of courage, and lack of information. So in creating Made On The Left we hoped to have smoothed the transition for artists and crafters and help them to get their feet into the industry. Best part of MOTL = networking. We’re all happy to share information and help each other grow.
What has been your proudest moments for your business and MOTL?
Proudest moments of my business include creating CD’s for musicians, havingmy art up in exhibitions, selling out of my art, meeting my fans at markets, getting commissioned to create art for special occasions, flipping open a magazine and seeing my art in there! In regards to MOTL my proudest moment would have been organising the second market, and getting so much great feedback about the event.
Especially as none of us are event organisers, it was a great learning experience, and great to see that the event is considered to be one of ‘the’ Perth markets to attend!
If you could have anyone buy and hang your art in their home, who would it be? Why?
Ooooh, now that is a hard question to answer. I think I would have to choose Sarah Mclachlan, the singer, because I adore her and so many of her songs have inspired me to create the most amazing artworks.
Tell us about where you live in WA and how it affects your creative process…
Currently I live in Chittering, an hour north of Perth. It’s secluded, we don’t get mobile phone reception, and the local shops are a 20 minute drive away. I live in a bedroom out of my parents house with my partner & daughter. Creatively, I’m restricted in space, mediums able to be used, lack of inspiration, and difficulty in networking…. oh and learning how to balance an art business with a baby girl.
However, all this has meant I’ve learnt new techniques to create new artworks, learnt how to balance time, to look to the future, appreciate what I have and teach myself new skills. It has changed me more then I could have dreamed.
Top five creatives in your life at the moment (bands/artists/designers/writers/actors)?
Hmmm. Is it wrong to list TV shows? Honestly, they are my inspiration – Glee,
Fringe, Grey’s Anatomy, Hellcats and Merlin. Ongoing creatives that continually inspire me however are Tori Amos (singer), Sarah Mclachlan (singer), Belle & Boo (arts business), Juliet Marillier (author) and Raymond E Feist (author).
Tell us the funniest thing a customer/fan has ever done or said…
“It’s me! You created a portrait of me, but I’ve never met you before. She looks like me, that is weird. But mum, I want her. Can you buy it for me?” (and yes, she is now the proud owner of the artwork!)
Where would you like to see your own label head in the next few years?
Okay, deep breath. I wish to extend to two new labels – a childrens illustration range and a collaboration range. I also want to extend my current range to include lasercut jewellery, clothing, badge cards, themed cards (birthday etc), stationery and books. I also want to expand the business to offer custom products (you can get me to make badges, mirrors, magnets etc for you), and a mentoring business to help those trying to start up or wanting to take their business another step, but are stuck.
Where would you like to see the WA handmade scene head in the next few years?
I would like to see more handmade items of dying crafts brought back into fashion. (ie, Woodburning, quiltmaking, lino printing) I feel that the WA handmade scene has hit a phase of mass production and I hope the designers can stop, step back, and take a look at their work. I would rather pay more $ for a quality item. I would also like to see more designers that outsource their production become more WA based and stop getting it done in factories either overseas or interstate. Sometimes I understand we need to outsource to retain quality, but I also think that we should be supporting the local community when doing so.
Any more last words of wisdom?
Just keep creating. You’ll always have days when you will be stuck in a rut. So lock yourself down to that table/sewing machine/ easel or whatever else you use to create with…. stop thinking about it…. and just let your hands do the thinking for you.
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Thank you for your time Ali, and we wish you all the luck going forward into the
world beyond Made on the Left! Adeiu!
To learn more about Ali J;
Website: www.alijart.com
Blog: aussiepatches.typepad.com
Online Shop: alijart.myshopify.com