Artist Interview - Kaelen van Cura of Kaelen Rose Paper Works

Well, the interviews just keep on coming! It seems that besides my own, I overlooked one interview that I thought for sure I had already posted.  After meeting this artist for the first time Friday and seeing her work in person, I can assure you that if you didn't come to the show, you should check out her shop on Etsy right away. 

Kaelen Van Cura of Kaelen Rose Paper Works (www.kaelenrose.etsy.com) brings not only humor and charming illustration to her cards, but she combines those with stitchery for truly unique collage works functioning as both gift cards and tiny works of art. 

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am an artist originally from the Midwest, and moved here two years ago. I got my Bachelor’s in Fine Art from the Kansas City Art Institute, where I majored in Painting. I primarily create colorful, pop-influenced abstract paintings, but for the past several years, I’d been making sewn greeting cards for my friends and family. About last November, I decided I’d try to sell the cards, so I entered a one-day show in San Francisco and did really well, and then opened my Etsy shop a month or so afterwards.

 

What kind of artist are you, and what first drew you to that particular medium?

Besides painting and creating my greeting cards, I also have begun making fascinators and clothing. I actually made my dress for my wedding, which took place a couple weeks ago (September 24). I enjoy creating in general, so I have a hard time keeping to a single medium. I guess I first began sewing cards because I got a sewing machine and wanted to learn to sew clothes, but I was a bit intimidated, as I didn’t have any training. I was comfortable, however, making works on paper, so I just started experimenting with the cards I made for friends and family. Once I collaged fabric onto the cards, sewing them seemed like a logical next step.

Please describe your creative process.

To make my cards, first I think of an idea for a card. I can’t really explain it, I usually just sit down and think of a few ideas, either one that would be good for a specific occasion, or a concept I think is funny. I try to make cards that I wish already existed, that I could go to the store and buy.

Once I come up with an idea to try, I make a test card to work out the kinks. I usually draw the image on tracing paper, and cut it out. Then I use the paper as a template to trace from onto the fabric. Once the pieces are cut out, I glue them onto the cardstock with acid-free glue and wait for it to dry. Then, I sew the card, and finally I stamp it with any messages included as well as my logo on the back.  Once a test card is done, and I’ve decided on changes, I go through the same process again, but I do it assembly-line style, with all of the tracing first, then cutting, sewing, etc.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I hope to be working on my artworks on a full-time basis in a profitable manner. (I currently work full-time in an unrelated field). I am just at the beginning stages, but I am aiming to be able  support myself with my creative endeavors.