Artist of the Week – Zoe Sharpe

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Hi there and welcome to this weeks Artist Of The Week

Zoe Sharpe

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Zoe is 46 and has an 18 year old son with Aspergers. She lives in Colville, near Leicester and works full time for an underfloor heating company.

Zoe’s beautiful handmade jewellery created from flowers cast in resin has stunned all of us here at Local Art & Craft UK and we’ve fallen in love with every piece she’s shown us. We’re sure you’ll love them too so you can visit her shop by clicking here and get yourself a piece of beautifulness!

So, cup of tea in hand (I’m a creature of habit as you must know by now) I sat down in my kitchen for a video chat with Zoe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

How did you discover you talent for resin work?

My husband has a gardening business and, of course, customers would ask him for specific plants so we started cultivating them in our greenhouses and polytunnels.

I always had an interest in plants so got into growing flowers for my husband’s business in my spare time. One day, I was dead-heading some flowers and I started wondering if I could do something with them rather than just throwing them on the rubbish heap.

A little while ago I had to have a gall bladder operation and was really poorly. I had quite a long recovery time which was really boring and I wanted to find something to occupy my idle hands. That’s when I discovered resin.

The next logical step was drying blooms and casting them in resin and I absolutely love it!

I have such a personal connection to each piece because I grew each flower from seed. There’s something special about knowing every stage of every piece I’ve ever made.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7701″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7702″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

What inspired you to become an artist?

It purely came out of needing something to do with my hands. I still press my own flowers the old fashioned way, between the pages of big books. Now I’m casting pieces every night. I absolutely love it and I’ve now got so many pieces it’s ridiculous but each one is very special to me.

The downside is I now can’t walk past flowers without wondering how they’d look in resin which is tough when you live in a nursery haha![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Is your family artistic?

My dad’s an amazing painter. He paints wonderful abstract paintings and I’m very proud of his work.

My son has dabbled in painting but he’s yet to find his feet. I mentioned earlier that he has Aspergers so it’s tricky.

I went to Leicester art college for a couple of years. My downfall was that I can’t paint to a deadline, I just paint when I fancy it. I always felt like that wasn’t really my thing so I dropped out.

Now I know that my “thing” is casting flowers![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7703″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

What’s life like as an artist in your area?

Challenging to say the least!

Even before I started my resin work I used to do a lot of craft fairs selling plants so I’d meet lots of crafters and we’ve kept in touch. Just being able to chat with people about what they’ve been up to, their latest big sale or just how the kids are. It was a real community of like minded souls.

It’s been really difficult with all the craft fairs being closed because they’re always as much about meeting a group of friends as it is about selling things.

I find selling online really difficult because it’s so impersonal. That’s why I’m loving being part of Local Art & Craft UK. It’s a real community as much as a selling platform. It really is like being at an actual craft fair.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

I know you’re a crafter but do you have a favourite artist?

I do actually.

I’m a renaissance girl really. When I was about 14 I saw Constable’s table of flowers. It struck me at the time as a beautiful painting and has stuck with me; especially because the subject wild flowers, of course.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”7704″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

What advice would you give to beginners?

Make what you love and always go with your gut instinct. Don’t give up! The one thing I’ve found with my resin-craft is try, try and try again.

If it was predictable I wouldn’t love it as much.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Would you be interested in LA&C’s mentoring scheme?

I’ve already signed up!

I’d love to help someone if I possibly can. I’m very happy to share my “secret recipes”. They might make something incredible as a result so why would I not share? I would make me really happy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

So there you have it!

Thank you to Zoe for giving up her lunchtime to chat to me and sharing her amazing story.

It’s people like you and the rest of our amazing Facebook group that make LA&C the fantastic community it is. We really couldn’t do it without you.

If you’ve enjoyed Zoe’s story please go to her Local Art & Craft UK shop, Zo’s Greenhouse, by clicking here and browse her beautiful handmade jewellery that really is made from flowers she’s grown from seed herself.

It’s truly amazing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Well, that’s all from me for this week.

If Zoe’s story has inspired you to discover your creative side or if you’re already fully embracing your artistic inner self and you’d like to join our Facebook community of artists, crafters and artisans you can join the FB group by clicking here.

If you’d like to be our featured artist of the week please feel free to drop me a line and introduce yourself at tom@localartandcraft.com

And last but not least, don’t forget to join in with our online art and craft fair on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of July where you’ll be able to buy not only some of Zoe’s amazing creations but art, craft and more by local artists and crafters wherever you are in the UK. We have creations from artisan tea to fine art and everything in between, all handmade in the UK.

You can join in by going to our event page and clicking GOING.

See you all next week.

By for now.

TJ[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]