Autograph Sessions...Making Art with Wendy Vecchi

I am very excited to share this next artist/author with you.

Wendy Vecchi  has become one of the most sought-after

mixed media stamp artists in the U.S.  Her style is so relevant

to the new products on the market today.

On a personal note, I had a slight brush with this

wonderful artist as she became a customer of my

stamp store, which at this moment, seems a lifetime ago.

She has since become a stamp designer and author,

a design team member for Tim Holtz Ideaology, Maya Road

and is a Certified Ranger Instructor.

Her newest book, 'Make Art 490 Style Book 2'

is selling like crazy and I am really glad she had time

to visit with us here at The Open Window.

  Wendy ... I know you don't live too far down the road from

The Open Window.  Tell us where and what do you love about it?

We live on 5 acres in the country, outside of Oglesby, Illinois. 

We call it 'Green Acres'.

Think about this, just like the TV show:

bleach blonde...likes diamonds...

goofy, very sweet husband...plenty of animals.

I love my home because I have my studio here.  Walking

through the door makes me oh so happy!

A benefit to living in the country...no window treatments

are needed, so I have minimal valances, some of which are made

from cloth napkins.  That let's in LOTS of lights which I LOVE

and need to survive the dreadful Illinois winters.

I would love if you would share some of your professional 

creative credits with us...

Oh boy, mom said it's not nice to brag, but since you asked...

I'm living a fairytale.  I'm honored to be on the design teams for

Maya Road and Tim Holtz Ideaology, two very cool,

top-notch companies.  I'm also very happy to be Ranger's

exclusive demo artist, which means I demo for them at CHA

using their products.  Part of that requires making plenty of

art for their CHA booth.  I have also done some technique

videos and free tutorials.  Just check out Ranger.com.

I am also thrilled to have my own line of signature stamps called

Studio 490  They are manufactured by my friends

Ted & Michelle Cutts, owners of Stamper's Anonymous.

I was recently a guest instructor for Tim for the

Artful Voyage in Mexico.  It was an amazing experience

and I was totally honored to be a part of it.

I've been published in quite a few magazines both in

the U.S. and in the UK.

Which came first for you, rubber stamping or mixed media?

I've always done something creative...needlepoint, cross stitch,

tole painting.  When I found rubber stamps, I KNEW that was

exactly what I was looking for.  It all clicked and just made

sense to me.  I will be playing with rubber for a very long time.

 

It's obvious you have a passion for paper.

What else are you passionate about?

I LOVE the hunt...antiques to fit our home.

I LOVE organizing, especially art supplies.  Finding just the

right storage container makes me giddy!

Shopping is a passion.  My hubby says that if it were an 

Olympic event, I'd be on the center podium, but I'm not sure

if that's really a compliment...

I LOVE fresh flowers, too.  I could have a bouquet in every

room of the house, every day of the year.

You now have 2 books.  Writing is a creative process in

itself.  How does it compare to 'making art'?

It was much harder than I thought it would be.  I wanted to

write the instructions so that whoever bought the book could

follow them and make art.  I was lucky to be able to write it

exactly as I talk and add a bit of humor here and there.

I agonized over 'will they understand what I mean by this',

but the reviews have made me very happy.

What art tools can you NOT live without?

For sure my stamps and Ranger inks.  One tool that I LOVE

is my Genesis paper trimmer.  It's pricey, but worth every penny.

OK...I'll admit I am totally addicted to grungepaper and

chipboard mini-books.  Hey, you have to have something

to use those inks on!

 

In the creative world, what have you NOT done yet, that you

would really like to do?

Hmmm...I'd like to design some signature product, something

new, exciting and different.  No ideas yet, but I'm always thinking.

Who inspires you, living or otherwise?

I get the most inspiration from my friend, Tim Holtz.

His products are always fresh and I adore his style.

I also love to look at art made by

Jenni Bowlin and Rebecca Sower.

They each have a very distinct and unique style that I

find very inspiring.

Now for a little fun...

If you could be any fictional character,

who or what would it be?

I think Samantha from the TV show 'Bewitched'.  I could just

pop myself anywhere and avoid the drive to the airport.  I could

get to stores quicker and have more time to make art!

 

Any favorite snacks that you keep within reach in your studio?

Nope...my fingers are ALWAYS full of ink, so no eating

in the studio for me!

Coffee, tea...or something more potent?

Both and both, hot or cold...and I LOVE 

a good mojito, especially if it's made by my friend, Mario.

His are the best!  I love a good Cosmo, too.

What's one more thing that I haven't asked that

you would like to share?

I guess I want people to know that I was a surgical nurse for

30 years.  I have no art degree and you'll see no graphic design

on my resume either.  I believe with all my heart that if you

REALLY want to make art, YOU CAN!

I AM LIVING PROOF!

I've really enjoyed getting to know Wendy, haven't you?!

I hope you will visit Studio490art, Wendy's blog and I

would really appreciate it if you told her you read her

Autograph Session here at The Open Window.

 

Watch the March issue of Stamper's Sampler

as the guest artist is, Wendy Vecchi!

You can find Wendy's books and stamps

at Stamper's Anonymous and our friends in 

the UK can get yours from our other friend

Wendy, at The Stamp Attic.

IF YOU HAVE COME FOR A VISIT 

DIRECTLY FROM WENDY'S BLOG...

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT
TO SAY YOU WERE HERE.....

To read other autograph sessions,
just click for Diana Trout and Sue Roddis

Please leave a comment and let me know what you

think of Autograph Sessions.
I truly appreciate hearing from you!