Featured Seller: Rochelle Andrews

Wellington fine artist Rochelle Andrews has an eye for vintage, drawing her inspirations from the romantic Baroque, Regency and Victorian periods, Art deco and Art Nouveau styles – not to mention the roaring twenties, the fabulous fifties and the sexy sixties. Whilst Rochelle works on establishing her name in the art world, her Felt shop houses a collection of mini artworks in the form of greeting cards.

What do you make?
I make lovely vintage style greeting cards. I do little paintings which I scan and get printed onto beautiful textured card similar to old postcards.

How did you get into your craft?
I’ve been a fine artist painter for about 17 years so that coupled with my love of surface print design was what got me started wanting to design my own compositions. I just decided to start drawing out some ideas and the creative juices flowed!

Do you have formal training or qualifications in your craft?
I have a Bachelor of Design in Illustration which I studied in Wellington. I graduated in 1996.

What inspires you?
I’m inspired by textile designs, vintage posters, antiques, interior design as well as all the travel I’ve done. That can’t help but influence you. My favourite design eras are Art Nouveau and Art Deco, the Renaissance, Rococo and art and design from the 1950s and ’60s.

Your favourite materials, tools and processes?
I usually paint in acrylics on canvas, just the same as my fine art. It’s a medium I know well!

Is there a philosophy behind your work?
I just love to create images that make me happy and others happy when they see them. That’s the great thing about imagery.

Describe your workspace:
I paint in a large porch in a 1930s house with beautiful pastel Art Nouveau leadlight windows. The light is wonderful. I store my cards and envelopes in a gorgeous Indian colonial style cupboard which I bought when we left Dubai, where I grew up. I’ve painted it antique white so it looks like a French armoire. I like everything to be tucked away behind beautiful doors to keep clear of clutter because I work at home. I have some of my original ‘Vintage Bird’ images up on the wall above my bed which go really well with the vintage 1950s peacock pillowcases I bought at the Shabby Chic Market in Christchurch.

Five words that describe your mind:
Analytical, creative, precise, practical, a dreamer!

Your favourite feedback from a customer:
I took it as a compliment that I’ve had three people I know tell me in the last two weeks that they chose a card off the card stand because they loved it and realized after buying it that it was my product!

What are you currently listening to? YRLK From Blue to Green

Recommend an album: Babel from Mumford & Sons

Your favourite childhood book? The Cat in the Hat

What are you reading now?
I love my Bible. It keeps me sane with its pearls of truth.
 
Your hero/heroine: I know it’s a bit cliché but Jesus.

What was the last handmade item you bought?
A 1950s style dress. I love it. I feel like a pin-up girl when I’m wearing it.

Where do you hope to be in five years’ time?
Maybe I’ll move into designing textiles, incorporating my art into the designs. I’m known for my paintings of flowers and gardens with beautiful light. Of course I’d love to be more well known in the art world. I’m starting to enter the investment art category which is exciting.

Visit Rochelle’s Felt shop to stock up on gorgeous greeting cards, and if you’re in Wellington, head along to her upcoming solo exhibition at Exhibitions Gallery in Brandon Street, running for two weeks from 8 November. Leave a comment below and you’ll be in to win a set of six beautiful vintage bird cards. The draw is open to New Zealand residents only until Friday 9 November.