Spotlight On ...

Ella of EllaParry!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
I'm not very good at descriptions, especially about myself. Hmmm!!Hmmm!! Firstly, I can tell you that I love art, I love to create art. I have always had a strong passion for art ever since I was able to pick up my first pencil as a child. I'm a Chinese born artist but because of the color of my skin plus my curly hair, Chinese people don’t think I am Chinese, but I am Chinese! I am originally from Cambodia, lived in Thailand and Laos as a child and spent most of my teens to mid twenties growing up in Hong Kong. I now live in the London with my lovely musician husband and my cat. I have been here in London for 10 years. I am a freelance illustrator and graphic designer and have been mainly focusing on creating my own products, such as greeting cards to market to major companies.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are you doing currently?
Art and all the surrounding aspects of art take up the majority of my time. If I’m not drawing, painting or thinking up ideas for my next project, I’m 0n the net promoting myself through companies such as Etsy, naturally. When I’m not doing that, I’m normally “Doing that” or maybe feeding my cat, Summer, she is forever hungry.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
My Etsy shop offer happiness to the people, I aim to make people feel relaxed, smile and forget all the worries they have in the real world and bring them into an Ella Parry fantasy---through my paintings and my greetings card collections.

4. Where do you create?
I don’t have my own studio so I work at home at the moment. If you want want to buy me a studio I won't refuse, I promise!

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
The main inspiration for my work is the hope and happiness of life. I truly believe we all are searching for happiness for our life everyday; my work is an expression of my feeling and my view on life and others.

6. How did you learn your craft?
It kind of came natural for me to draw and paint. I learned graphic design through Art College and that did help me to transfer my artwork into what it is now.

7. How do you promote your wares?
I have signed up to different web sites, such as facebook, myspace, blog, flicker and twitter to promote on line and let everyone about my Etsy shop wherever I go. I will always add my cards to any wall space or chat room that will let me!!!!! Give me more, give me more!!!!!!!

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
Don’t be shy to tell people what I’m doing. Observe everything around me where ever I may be and Communicate with people I meet from all walks of “Real life” as well as the life we know as “Virtual!!

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Believe in yourself and go for it, never give up no matter how hard and how long it takes Do it from your soul!

10. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
To be honest, there are so many great artists in Etsy, “Lauren Alexander” is the first Etsy artist I added on my Favourites seller box. I love the style!!!!