Interview with Susan Eaddy

BP........ Susan, tell us a bit about your background...

SE.........I have a bachelor's degree in Communication Design from University of
TN. I was an Art director for 15 years, 8 years in educational
publishing & 7 years at RCA Records. In my publishing life, I won some
international awards for my 3-D artwork & when I was at RCA I was
nominated for a Grammy for the CD package design of "Los Super Seven".
I did free-lance illustration the whole time that I was an art director
& as much as I loved the Art Direction I loved illustration MUCH more.
I left RCA 7 years ago & started ClayThings Illustration. My life is is
now All Clay All the time. I have a grown daughter who currently
lives in Dubai, & my husband & I live in Nashville, TN with our 2 fat
cats.

BP............. How and when did you begin working in modeling clay?
SE..............I really think my fascination began as a child. I had an Uncle who was
an art teacher & ceramicist & I just couldn't believe that an adult was
lucky enough to make their living by playing in the mud! When I worked
in publishing I had the luxury of illustrating LOTS of book covers & I
experimented with every medium out there. The clay was the most fun of
all for me!

BP............What do you like best about working in clay...why do you chose this
medium?
SE..........I truly think that the reason I enjoy it so much is that I don't really
know how to do it! I am forever trying to figure out how to construct
my reliefs & solve the logistics of assembling my pieces. Then of
course, there are always textures or techniques that I want to
incorporate. So it is a constant discovery process which keeps it fresh
for me & hopefully creates a fresh illustration.

BP........... What special challenges are there working in this medium?
SE............Well, having my studio in a converted attic has had its trying moments.
When I was working on my picture book, Papa Fish's Lullaby, I was
trying unsuccessfully to cool that space with a window unit. Needless
to say the 90 degree temps made my clay pretty gloopy & hard to
control. I ended up rubber banding those frozen ice-packs to a cookie
sheet & working on that partially frozen surface just to keep the clay
from dripping through my fingers! I am happy to say that I now have
central air for my studio.

BP............ What special or unique tools do you use?
SE.......... I use every kitchen tool in the house, as well as potato bags, doll
shoes, buttons, leaves; anything that gives a nice imprint. I could not
operate without my pasta machine for rolling flat sheets & food
processor for mixing large color batches.

BP.........How does the clay artwork become a printed piece?
SE........After I finish my final clay artwork, I photograph it with a
professional digital camera. I take the digital file and put it into my
Photoshop program, where I finalize the file for print. I then deliver
high-resolution files to the publisher or client, and they use those
files to create the printed piece.

BP.........How long does it take to do an illustration?

SE.........It is a three-part process. The first part is research. I want to make
sure that my animals and/or characters and settings are accurate. I go
to the library and search the Internet, gathering materials to educate
myself about whatever I am illustrating. For Papa Fish’s Lullaby it
took me six weeks of solid research before I even put pencil to paper.

Next I do rough sketches and then tight drawings of the pages. It takes
anywhere from one to three days to get the drawing and composition to
my satisfaction. Then it takes me another day or so to work out the
color scheme.

By the time I start working in clay, most of the hardest work is over!
The actual clay work on Papa Fish took as little as three days for some
spreads and as much as six days for others.

BP.......... What types of products do your illustrations end up on?
SE.........My art can be found on greeting cards, gift bags, kitchen textiles,
puzzles, wall borders & appliques. Right now I am working with a
company to develop a line of bath products (soap dishes, shower
curtains, toothbrush holders etc.)I also do a lot of editorial
illustration; magazines like Lady Bug & Spider, textbooks, CD covers,
catalog covers, religious publishing... ( Nashville is a big center for
that)

BP.......... Are they also used for advertising spots?
SE...........Yes, as a matter of fact I did the art for the entire branding &
marketing campaign for the owner of a national washer-dryer rental
business. An unlikely business I know! but he has a great sense of
humor & wanted to make an otherwise kinda boring business as much fun
as possible. Every year we add something new.

BP............Have you done any children's trade book illustration?
SE...........Yes! I am thrilled that my FIRST picture book, Papa Fish's Lullaby
just came out last May. Children's books have always been a special
passion of mine & after 20 years of dreaming that I would one day
illustrate picture books, I was delighted that the publisher contacted
me to illustrate this sweet sleepy-time poem by Patricia Hubbell.

BP........... Your work is very colorful and playful...does this reflect your
personality?
SE...........Well, my family & friends would say so. I DO like to play! I am often
shy with people I don't know, but I can be as silly or playful as I
want in clay!

BP............ Do you also continue to use traditional mediums?
SE............Nope, I decide 7 years ago to indulge my passion completely & only work
in clay. I DO however work from extremely detailed sketches, & shoot my
work digitally so would be lost with drawing skills or Photoshop!

BP........... Any advice for aspiring clay artists?
SE...........Actually, for me anyway, I think it all does go back to honing basic
drawing skills. Drawing teaches you to see & for me, it also gives me a
road map of where I want to go. Another tip I think is surrounding
yourself by professionals & other artists whose work you admire. Even
if it is not your medium you are always learning design, composition,
color theory...by appreciating work well done. I think that the chat
groups like the Licensing & CHA & SCBWI (for those into children's
books) are invaluable for keeping you up on the latest, not to mention
that I have met some of my closest friends through them! I think that
this artistic community of (mostly) women is incredibly supportive &
FUN!

Thank you Susan for a wonderful interview. Your work is amazing and
very inspiring! See you at Surtex!

visit Susan's website at http://www.susaneaddy.com/

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Comments

[Paula Nicholas]

Forgot to say. Also enjoyed your website. Your illistrations are first class. Papa Fish ... is everything a Papa fish should be :-) .I love your Father Christmas also.

[Paula Nicholas]

What a wonderful talent. Think your work is great, and enjoyed reading your interview.

[Helen Murphy]

This was a really interesting interview and I have often been tempted to just play with some Fimo clay but never managed to get there - maybe I should give it a go!

[Phyllis Dobbs]

Susan, your designs are amazing. You are one very talented woman. Brenda, your blogs are so much fun to read.

[Phyllis Dobbs]

Susan, your designs are amazing. You are one very talented woman. Brenda, your blogs are so much fun to read.