#sparkchamber 092021 — Elaine G. Chu
Connecting to nature and following the heart is a good roadmap to happiness. And today, #sparkchamber is lucky to catch up with a very happy artist and educator, Elaine G. Chu. Elaine grew up in the Midwest, attended school on the East Coast — a B.A. in music at Yale University and a BFA in graphic design at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, worked in New York City and Hong Kong, and found home in northern California. Her focus now is teaching and creating handmade items: beeswax collage, block printing inspired by nature, bookbinding, needle-felting, and sewn sock creatures. “These days, working with my hands and sharing craft techniques with others is truly all I want to do!” Her work is completely alluring, and so clearly handcrafted with love. For a jump on your holiday shopping, drop by her Etsy Shop.
1.] Where do ideas come from?
I am inspired by nature; florals and foliage influence my collage and printing. Love combining colors and upcycling materials: food packaging or LP vinyl records converted into hand-bound books or upholstery swatches turned into zip pouches. Occasionally, I make reference to my Asian culture — embroidered Chinese characters or other pop icons like a boba drink image.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
I love working with my hands and connecting with people in real time to create art. The process itself, and discovery while making art feels rewarding and therapeutic at the same time. In-person sessions are ideal, but Zoom has surprisingly been a good platform in reaching a much wider audience.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
I try to make a bit of art every day; it’s like breathing. It can be visual art or music. Recently I took up jazz piano improvisation, a whole different approach to my classical music training. The spontaneity of music improvisation has crossed over to my visual arts too. Creating on the spot without too much pre-planning is quite freeing. While demo-ing to students, I construct a small piece of art and make a point to finish it. I continue to take classes myself to try out new mediums or techniques. Recent explorations include stained glass, basketry, and watercolors. As for getting my work out into the world, I use Instagram and Facebook to document my art process as well as share my students’ work. It’s like a visual diary. Craft fairs are another way of sharing the art — even better when I have a chance to meet attendees in-person. I hope to inspire others along the way as many talented people have done for me!
4.] How do you know when you are done?
My work tends to be a bit on the minimal side, especially earlier when my focus was on graphic design. I don’t have a particular style but now I just go with my gut feeling. If it feels finished, it’s done!
