Meet the Artist - Kerrie Sawyer

Colour Streams invited Kerrie Sawyer from "Through The Magic Door" to share about her journey as an artist. Kerrie has a background in ceramics and decades of experience working with textiles, as well as a wonderful eye for colour. Her little Fae characters that Kerrie is well known for are delightful and really belong in a natural Fairy Wonderland. 

Please introduce yourself to our viewers?

I live in the Byron Bay hinterland. My town is the gorgeous Mullumbimby. Where we live is humble but inspiring. We are surrounded by wildlife and our creek even has platypuses. Its very inspiring living here, as it truly is a fairy land.

 

 

Give us a summary of your Artist Journey up until now

My background is as a ceramic artist. I used to supply 60 fairy shops with pottery, fantasy lamps, dragons and fairys, etc. I even did shop fronts on occasion with fantasy window displays.

My dolls are Faes. I did a diploma in ceramics in the 80's. I was working in hospitality on the Gold Coast and started building a business in hand built fantasy pottery while still working. We eventually supplied around 40 fairy shops. It was the perfect business while we were raising our children.  Now however I work in polymer clay and sculpt one-of-a-king dolls by hand.

 

 

 

How do you describe your Textile work?

I'm passionate about Fae doll making and using different colours and textures together. 

What inspires you in making this work?

Brian Froud and his wife Wendy are two artists that inspire me. They have worked on lots of fantasy films including the Dark Crystal. Brian draws fairies and has published many well known books, as has Wendy his wife, who sculpts fairies. 

How do you use Colour Streams Textiles and Products in your Work?

I love Colour Streams gorgeous hand-dyed colours as I can get different colours on one doll. I mostly sew the clothes first, making a body suit done with Colour Streams wool felt and shoes, then dresses of chiffon or velvet and then hats of felt and/or velvets.

You can see in the photos how I use Colour Stream's fabrics and ribbons in different Fae dolls.

 

How do you find working with them and what do you like about them?

I love using Colour Streams. They have gorgeous colours and as my dolls are so small, they enable me to use lots of colours in my dolls clothing. 

 

 

Is there anything else that you would like to share about your work?

My Instagram is @throughthemagicdoorbjds.

I sell my dolls in my etsy shop "throughthe magicdoor" and also privately.

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/throughthemagicdoor