Artist Profile: Samantha Battersby of Matou en Peluche

Tell me a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff...
My name is Samantha Battersby. I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia and I still live in Sydney with my partner in crime, Chris. I studied secondary education at Sydney University but spent most of my time drawing for the student newspapers and designing posters for local bands! After university I worked part time as a freelance cartoonist and illustrator for newspapers and magazines. I also exhibited my paintings and drawings in gallery shows around Sydney and country New South Wales. Now I have my own company and teach English in the city.

Coco

Apart from creating art, what do you do?

I teach English as a second language at a college in the city. In my free time when I’m not drawing I love going for long, long walks with my partner along the pretty coastal tracks around Sydney. The Blue Mountains, two hours west of Sydney, are another favourite walking destination for us.

Irene and her blue velvet coat

What first made you want to become an artist?

I think I was very small when I decided that I loved drawing and creating things. My Mum was a creator extraordinaire--I don’t even come close to her out put--so I guess it’s either in the genes or it was a monkey see monkey do type of thing! Decoupage, cartooning, painting and acting are also things I like to explore. Drawing is my favourite medium.

Juliet

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.

My idea of heaven is spending a day or days at home just drawing. I could happily become a drawing hermit! However, due to other commitments, I usually spend Saturdays and a few nights a week drawing. At the moment I am really enjoying using charcoal and pastels. I love the mixture of precision and smudginess you can get using them. The colours are amazing, and I have a huge collection of pastels that I add to every time I pass an art supply shop!

What artists have influenced you and inspire you to create?

Goya and Rubans are two of my favourites at the moment but there are so many more! I get inspired by anything actually. It could be a poster in the street I like the colours of or an interior in a design magazine or even somebody’s clothes--you name it and I’ll start thinking about a drawing I could create.

Gorgeous Gerty

Where else can people find your work?

I sell my work on Etsy under the name Matou en Peluche, on Made It, an Australian handmade site like Etsy but it's smaller, and I have a website where I sell my cards and posters.

Little Robin

Visit Sam's blog

HERE.

Artworks displayed in this post are the original designs and copyright of Samantha Battersby of Matou en Peluche.

DIY Projects: Kitchen Art, Dresser

Last weekend I switched out the art in my kitchen. I've had this poster, Plaza after the Rain, hanging by my stove for almost six years. I was photographing all my projects from last term's drawing class when inspiration hit. Why not reuse the frame to display MY art in my kitchen?



before (Plaza after the Rain poster, 20" x 30" by Paul Cornoyer)

The after photo is one of my charcoal drawings sans frame. It's now hanging boldly, graphically, and proudly in my kitchen. There are other projects brewing for my kitchen so stay tuned for future improvements.


after (charcoal negative space drawing, 18"x24" by me)

Last weekend I also decided to do something about our bedroom. You might remember a few weeks back I shared a few photos of our home. The kitchen and bedroom pics were so cleverly titled as "snippets"...and with good reason. In six years we have still not settled on a decor plan for our bedroom, and, sadly, it has become both a catch-all room (read: boxes of stuff that need to go to the garage) and the bain of my decorating existence.



The storage (or rather the lack thereof) is far less than efficient. We paid a visit to what I consider a home furnishings nirvana land--Ikea. We selected the grand-daddy 8-drawer HEMNES dresser in the infamous brown-black color. We redeemed a gift card from Christmas.
The plan was in motion.



Carrying it home in our 2-door coupe (same car, different color) was exciting enough, and as you see, I promptly opened the packages and piled up the hardware. I actually like assembling things myself, especially since it saves us money. No, these aren't family heirloom pieces but life is short. I'm thankful for Ikea's marketing savvy as it allows us to change our look as we change our mind!

Of course, right after I unpack all the pieces and the packets of hardware, I get the smack down with this head cold. So my project sits waiting for me to return to the land of the living. Sometimes I just have to hit that pause button...*sigh*

Hope you all have a very relaxing weekend!

Sketchbook: ART 131

What I'm learning at school in between blogging and frequenting Etsy...




Trees and Still Life with Basket - Gesture Drawings, charcoal on paper



Paintbrush - Graphite, gouache & ink on paper, Bottle - Charcoal on paper



Sphere - Charcoal on paper, Brushes in a glass - Graphite, gouache & ink on Bristol board



2 bottles of paint - Graphite, gouache & ink on Bristol board

All pieces displayed are from my sketchbook for ART 131, Drawing I, Portland Community College Fall Term 2008.