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Interview with mosaic artist, Brett Campbell, continued.I read on your website that you use the computer to assist in design, can you explain how computers can assist craftspeople in their work? Well I do all of my drawing in photoshop, submit all
my concepts and quotes via eMail & do the majority of marketing via
my website on the computer. What benefits have you found the internet has for your work? It's been huge for us. We sell artwork and DIY kits
all over the world and so put virtually all our marketing energy into
our website. We get well over five thousand visitors every month at basically
no cost and the whole world has become our target market. What kind of workspace do you have? I have a 7m x 8m garage for my studio, and a separate space for my office & computer. Do you think that you enjoy creating mosaics any less since it has become a business for you, compared to doing it as a hobby?
Not at all. I sometimes feel frustrated that running a business keeps me out of the studio, but once I get in there I'm in mosaic heaven! Are there any business problems that you consider are unique to an art or craft business? It's really very difficult to juggle your time between
running a business & creating art. In an ideal world you'd never get
me out of the studio, but not marketing and promoting would be a disaster
financially. What are the different kinds of outlets you use to sell your work? In recent years, we rely almost totally on our website. This is great as there's no gallery owners to deal with and no commissions to pay, but then it's hard work to create a successful website. Do you enter any competitions, shows or exhibitions? If yes can you give some details of them. Not really - we won a couple of awards early in our career in minor shows, but we really prefer to direct our energy elsewhere. Mosaic art doesn't really have the credibility in the artworld that it probably deserves. What are some public locations where people can see your murals and outdoor works? We have a couple of wall sized murals in Montville - our website has the full addresses. Other projects are dotted all over the place - mostly in private homes. When you are commissioned to do something like a public artwork do you generally have a lot of freedom in the design? Pretty much. Customers often have a concept or theme in mind, but it's rare for them to want much involvement in the actual design. Can you explain the process of tendering public art contracts for craftspeople that have never considered it as an avenue to further their work?
The only public art projects we've completed were awarded to us without a great deal of paperwork. I don't actively pursue public projects - preferring to avoid bureaucracy as much as possible (I had enough of that in the bank!) What are some of the tools that you use? Tile nippers, tile cutters, grinders, and a wet saw. Mostly the nippers though - I use three different types. Approximately how long would it take to mosaic, for example, the top of a 1 metre round table? Everything running smoothly, it would take 5-7 days to complete a top that size including the design. That's just a guide though - each project is very different. Where do you buy supplies such as tiles? Local stores or do you need to order them? To start with, I fossicked for tiles at garage sales & cash'n'carry tile shops, but now I mostly purchase boxes of tiles from tile outlets, ordering them in if needed. Fossicking is great if you have plenty of time, but it's pretty unproductive in a business sense.
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