I cannot believe the Art Star Craft Bazaar is in just a few days! Time flies so fast! Oddly enough, we are totally ahead of the game + prepared! Here is a little interview we did with first time bazaar vendor, Demaris Howe of Bmore Papercuts. Her intricate cut paper pieces really wowed us, so of course we wanted to learn more. Visit her at booth # 44 this weekend!
Art Star: What will you be selling at the Bazaar?
Demaris Howe: I will be selling one of a kind papercuts that I design and cut by hand, I will also be selling prints made from my original papercuts as well as some limited edition t shirts for men and women.
AS: Describe your process.
DH: I begin by sketching my ideas – then I fold my paper and cut what I can that will be symmetrical and then unfold the piece and cut anything that is not symmetrical like words or images.
AS: Are you professionally trained? If not, how did you learn your craft?
DH: I have a fine arts background but the way I got into papercutting was from working as a shadow puppeteer for 10 years with a Baltimore based visual arts organization- We made hundreds of shadow puppets and I made the connection between silhouettes and
papercutting mostly as a way to make gifts for friends.
AS: Are you able to make your work full time? If not, what do you do for a day job?
DH: I have transitioned into papercutting full time over the last year.
AS: Where would you like to see your craft business in the next 10 years?
DH: I would love to be using my papercuts to design textiles, surface design and I would love to do some book illustrations.
AS: Any exciting projects in the works?
DH: I have some fun large scale papercuts in the works for some restaurants in DC and Baltimore.
AS: What is your favorite thing(s) about Philadelphia?
DH: The Mummers Parade and Spiral Q Puppets!!!
AS: What are you reading / listening to?
DH: I love listening to podcasts while I work- My favorites are Professor Blastoff, Comedy Bang Bang, How Did this get Made and of course After the Jump from Design Sponge!
