Karin's blog: www.eddyandedwina.typepad.com
Karin's shop: www.eddyandedwina.bigcartel.com
Why did you decide to start a blog?
Well, that's now almost three years ago, when I came across a ceramic artist in a magazin who had a "blog". The word was new to me. (!) We were a little behind with that in Germany I think. That was Karin Eriksson.
I was browsing the address in the web. What I found there left me quite speechless. Such tons of inspiration, links, beauty. Overload!
Quickly I came to Camilla's and Elisabeth's blog. I was imediately sure, that this was what I've been looking for: a wonderful possibility to communicate with other artists, a way to build up your own little universe all by yourself and a possibilty to have a place to sell my work. I guess everybody has less or more similar thoughts about the possibilities of blogging.
How did you come up with the name of your blog?
Eddy and Edwina are the mid names of my elder kids, Oskar and Agnes. There is also little Emil, my one and a half year old youngest. But I've decided not to add his second name Charly, because I find the sound of the two names more "round".
How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?
Browsing through the tons of inspiration you get in the blogs or in the web general is absorbed into my consciousness - that's the way my artistic process in general works. It's like this: It has a lot do with a subconscious process. I use to have something like a creative thunderstorm just right before I fall asleep. One idea and image hunts the next. And now these thunderstorms are pretty much things I've seen in the net. It's like you pump up your head with this information and see what cristallizes out of it. But it still can be that I have a shower and a water drop on the shower curtain has the shape of a face or monster, which I draw afterwards.
What are some of your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?
I like the style of Jessica Williams a lot. And a long time favourite is Liivian Talossa. It makes me always feel comfortable to visit her photos.
Do you have any advice for keeping a blog interesting for readers?
Yes: keep it interesting for yourself. And try to stay true. That sounds a little bit religious. I mean don't jump on every trend when the "big" ones start, cause that's simply boring. But that's also sometimes hard. I think I didn't manage that myself either every time. But here we come very fast to the basic questions of blogging.
What have been the most positive aspects of publishing a blog for you?
To dive into the world of creativity that is generated by all the other bloggers.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges and rewards of having a creative profession?
It's always a challenge and a reward at the same time to find my own topics and materials that bring a lot of surprises while working. I think the process of making that leads you to something you can't know in the start and will be very satisfied with in the end.
Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your artwork and reach new customers and clients?
Local markets. Advertising in some highly frequented blogs.
How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?
Not easy at all. With my three wild little kids there are periods with less blogging and producing to make time for playing and walking or meeting friends.
What would you most like to accomplish in the upcoming year?
It is still my long year wish to make a children's book. Writing in general.
What are your some of your main goals for 2010?
Spending lots of time with the kids. And having a good economic year :)
Thank you Karin!