Artist Spotlight: Jessica Walters
Each month, we highlight one of the talented artists in our reuse community. This month, it’s textile and digital artist Jessica Walters (she/her) of Sew What Club Manufacturing!
Jessica’s upbringing as a multidisciplinary artist is totally reflected in the tapestries she makes, which are absolutely slick! We absolutely adore her Kewpie tapestries in particular, and we love seeing her perusing the sewing & notions section in the center. Read below to learn more about how collaboration inspires many of her customs and why she chooses to reuse.
1. When did you start making art?
I have been making art for as long as I can remember. My grandmother gifted me a sewing machine when I was 14, and that's when I started to develop an interest in textiles. My mother, who was a ceramics artist and my middle school art teacher, exposed me to different art forms and taught me new skills. While I have worked with a variety of mediums over the years, textiles have become my focus. So with 21 years of sewing experience, it wasn't until about five years ago that I used my sewing machine to create a tapestry.
2. Which aspect of creating is your favorite?
My favorite aspect of creating is the process itself. I love the feeling of starting with a blank canvas on my iPad and watching as my ideas take shape. Whether I'm working with traditional materials like textiles or experimenting with digital art on my iPad, the feeling of starting with a blank canvas is always thrilling. When working on custom tapestries with clients (mostly other artists), the process is particularly enjoyable because it moves quickly and is collaborative. Clients can add as little or as much input to the design as they would like, and I always aim to create something that is unique to them. Most of my large tapestries are more like collaborations with the recipients of the art, which makes the process even more rewarding. Additionally, taking a sketch or draft from an 8x10 page and creating something as big as a 4x5ft version is exciting. It's always amazing to see how a small idea can grow and evolve into something much larger and more complex.
3. Where do you get your inspiration?
Inspiration can come from many sources, but I find it most often in nature, emotions, and the world around me. I also draw inspiration from other artists, as well as my own experiences and memories.
4. What is your preferred way to engage with your audience?
While I love meeting people in person, social media is my preferred way to engage with my audience. It allows me to keep a record of people's preferences and interests, as well as connect with new people from all over the world. However, if I can meet someone in person or hand deliver a piece, I always take it.
5. How does reuse play a part in your creativity?
Reuse is a crucial part of my creative process. It allows me to think outside of the box and find new ways to express my ideas. I enjoy repurposing materials and giving them a new life, not only to save money on art supplies but also to create in a more sustainable way.
6. What compels you to donate to ACR?
Nothing makes me sadder than seeing art supplies collecting dust. That's why I am compelled to donate to ACR. I believe in their mission and their work to promote reuse and sustainability. I am passionate about art and the environment, and I appreciate the opportunity to support a nonprofit organization that shares these values.
7. Do you have a favorite ACR find? How did you use it?
My favorite ACR find was a 30-yard spool of elastic. It came in very handy during the pandemic, allowing me to create hundreds of masks and mail out elastic to others when there were supply chain shortages. In addition to this, I have also been able to keep my studio stocked with sewing supplies like rulers, thread, needles, and even sewing machines by shopping at ACR, which has been a great help to me as an artist.
8. Where can we find out more about your work?
You can find out more about my work on my art business account for Sew What Club MFG, which can be found on Instagram @sewwhatclubmfg and my website www.sewwhatclubmfg.com.
