Eira McCallum

The process is the most important part of the project.

Q&A

What craft do you work with?

I draw and paint, when I have the space I also love to work with clay, metal, wood, textiles and print. One of my favourite mediums is the conversation; I like people and collaboration is important to me. The process is the most important part of the project.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

Playing, having fun and enjoying the tactility of the materials. Also function, if I need something I want to make it, to understand how it is made.

How do you start your creative process?

Curiosity tends to be the stimulator for most of my creative activities. When I move to a new place, I have a focus to discover what creative people are doing and to participate and learn from them when possible. This tends to lead me into learning about new practices and try different mediums, drawing is something I do mostly solo, to clear my head and document my surroundings.

How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?

I move around a lot, so my workspace is flexible, I work in other people’s studios, on my bedroom floor, or outdoors. Currently when I’m drawing, i enjoy using soft pastels, but the beauty of drawing is you don’t need much; It’s just as satisfying using a burnt twig on a stone as using pencil and paper.

Are there new techniques you would like to try?

I would like to spend more time learning printing techniques, like collography and lithograph. I would love to make more with metal, techniques such as lost wax casting. I would like to make some large scale sculptures and work with performance artists to learn about movement and speech.

What have you learnt that you would like to share with fellow crafters?

Some of the best advice I’ve received is; to enjoy it; take pleasure in the mark; shake away self consciousness; don’t think about how the finished piece will turn out, expect failure and it’s a good thing, work with your instincts, let your emotions guide you.

What other types of craft do you dream of collaborating with?

I like collaborating with anyone and everyone.