May 24, 2011

say hello to debbie clapper!

get to know debbie clapper, PROJECT HELLO'S design ambassador!

ph: tell us who you are, where you are from and how long you have been in denver.

DC: My name is Debbie Clapper and I am independent artist/graphic designer. I'm originally from OH (Cleveland area), but have been living in Denver since 1998.

ph: what do you do as a creative, and how long have you been doing it?

DC: Let's see... I'm the boss of myself. I run my little design studio, gneural llc, out of my house. gneural has been up and running professionally since 2001. I primarily work in print with a focus on custom patterns & typographics, but I will take on the occasional web project. I'm also an artist. It's been a huge blessing to be able to work steadily in both the design world and art world simultaneously. Like most artists, I've been drawing since I was first able to hold a crayon, however, I can say that I've been drawing on a regular basis since I was 9 years old.

ph: what is your favorite thing about denver's creative community? what would you like to see happen in the denver's creative community?

DC: I feel like Denver's creative community is very supportive and encouraging of each other. I'm sure quite a bit of that has to do with the fact that there is still much room for growth, but it's nice to be in a place that isn't cutthroat like NYC, SF, etc. People are actually given opportunities and a chance to evolve in their work. I feel like the Denver community is providing a platform for creatives to step up and put Denver on the map.

I would like to see more people staying in Denver/Boulder to pursue their careers instead of taking off to a bigger city in hopes of "making it". It would be sad if the community started to trail off and disperse into nothing (which, by the way, I don't believe will happen).

ph: if you could offer advice to an emerging creator what would it be?

DC: Don't pursue things you aren't passionate about. Having that passion/drive is key. Also, learn to handle criticism (constructive & otherwise). As a creative, you will hear it all; from the folks who cheer you on as though they are your mother to the naysayers and discouragers who want to poo-poo everything you do. All of it is okay. You just have to learn what you can from each and then continue on.

ph: within your field, who are your favorite creators?

DC: A few of my fave designers are: Vaughan Oliver, Marian Bantjes, Dan Funderburgh, Antoine+Manuel and Margo Chase (of whom I once met & took the doodles she left on the table - I couldn't help myself).

debbie's sites: design + art

(download)

May 19, 2011

say hello to becky wareing steele!

get to know becky wareing steele, PROJECT HELLO'S craft ambassador!

ph: tell us who you are, where you are from and how long you have been in denver.

BWS: Hello, my name is Becky Wareing Steele and I am excited to be this year's Craft Ambassador for Project Hello. I grew up in New Jersey but I've been calling Colorado my home now for the past 15 years. I've been living in Denver for the past 5 years and I love how young the city is in many ways, there is so much room for growth and creativity.

ph: what do you do as a creative, and how long have you been doing it?

BWS: I've been creating for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a creative household where we were encouraged to explore different artistic mediums, wether it be art, music, cooking, writing, you name it. My parents spent a lot of time taking my brother and I to museum's and various other cultural institutions which I think helped to shape my love of the arts. I started selling my original artwork door to door when I about 6 years old to our neighbors and since then it's grown into a craft-based business, becky's buttons & things. I started this creative endeavor about nine years ago simply by making custom buttons for my friend and family and now it's grown into something a lot bigger. My focus has most recently been on dioramas but I also love working with embroidery, crochet and jewelry making.

ph: what is your favorite thing about denver's creative community? what would you like to see happen in the denver's creative community?

BWS: As I said before I love how open the city is the change, it is still such a young community in many ways so it is much easier to insight the change you'd like to see. I would like to see the creative community continue to work together in ways like what Project Hello is promoting. Getting various creative disciplines together for cooperative events and seeing how we can influence and inspire one another.

ph: if you could offer advice to an emerging creator what would it be?

BWS: Get involved in your community! There are so many people out there who have been where you are and have valuable advice to share with you, don't be afraid to ask, we've all been there. In October 2009 a group of friends and I started an organization to unite the handmade community, the Denver Handmade Alliance. I've found that since this group started I've met so many amazing people facing the same issues that I've struggled with. Through finding this community it's been much easier to reach out and find answers to questions I may have as well as feeling that I am a part of a larger support system.

ph: within your field, who are your favorite creators?

BWS: There are so many amazing people within the handmade community but right now my craft crush has been focused on the small object and somethings hiding here. They have a knack for creating things that I need, not want, need!

becky's website
DHA's website