Friday is here and boy-oh-boy did it sneak up on me this week! Today we’re chatting with Esther Stanford from Paragraph Cove.
(By the way Esther is offering Pretty Paper Things readers a special deal on shipping this week. Details are at the end of this post.)

What do you enjoy the most about working with paper?

I love the portability of paper. I usually have a bag full of paper scraps, india ink, glue sticks, Japanese masking tape and my favorite pens. I can grab my bag—aka portable studio—and head to a friend’s house, coffee shop or wherever my heart desires. Sometimes I create my best work outside of my studio space. I think it has something to do with less pressure and a change of scenery.

What drew you to working with paper originally?

I’ve always loved the many textures of paper. I’m a very tactile person. When shopping or foraging for paper materials the imagery is often secondary to the weight and feel. I love sitting down with a pile of scraps and a blank page; adding, subtracting, pasting and peeling until my fingers are sticky—and the piece is complete.

What’s your favourite season?

I’m a big fan of autumn. I love wearing lots of layers with a chunky scarf. I love bright yellow leaves against overcast skies. I love drinking hot cocoa curled up with my cat, Ramsey.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by my surroundings. I live three blocks from the beach on the Oregon coast. Everyday I’m overwhelmed by the landscape and wildlife, whether I’m watching a storm roll in or a deer grazing in my backyard. Sometimes I can’t believe I get to live here!

Out of all the pieces you’ve created, what’s your favourite?

My favorite piece is an encaustic called Peg & Joe I made a couple years ago. You can view it here on my blog. The piece is an image transfer of a found photo. I’m intrigued by body language and facial expressions of this couple as they embrace. I’d like to think that something is going on under the surface.

Esther is offering Pretty Paper Things readers FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING this week! Head over to Paragraph Cove and use the coupon code: FREESHIP

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