Introducing our Etsy Seller Of The Month: Painted By Renee

This seller is a regular in Alice Magazine treasuries on Etsy and produces some amazing hand-painted designs on a variety of media.

Her brand new Alice In Wonderland themed collection is available now in her etsy shop.

1.Who are you?

Renee Levey

2.Where are you located?

Southern California

3.Is etsy your full-time business?

No – but it’s a wonderful outlet for my creativity.  I also teach an adult literacy conversation class once a week.  That is very fulfilling knowing you are helping others to improve their lives.

4. How did you get into your current line of work?

I have been an artist in one medium or another for over 25 years.  I fell in love with anything and everything French which is reflected in my current work.  My daughter had been on Etsy for awhile and told me how easy it was to get started – and sure enough she was right.  It’s the most fun I’ve had in years..

5. What and who are your inspirations and influences?

I think what I am doing now is what I was meant to do.  I used to be influenced solely by Asian Art.  I would paint enormous canvases with Asian men and the most fun for me was designing their costumes.  I used faux finishes, copper and gold leafing and imagination and just had the best time.  And then everything changed for me when I discovered the French influence.  That’s something that for now makes me very happy.  It’s a romantic and elegant look and I have a lot of fun making my creations.

6. Favourite sites on the internet and sources for your work either online or off?

One of my favorite sites is my daughter’s blog – aGardenToRemember.blogspot.com – it’s so full of information and sharing. As for sources for my work, I can get ideas from anywhere or anything.  It might be seeing a particular color or reading an article that gives me a spark.  It’s always so exciting coming up with new ideas. I do a lot of Custom Work on my site – for weddings, showers, etc., and there’s always that feeling when you’re starting a new project.  You feel like you’re on a high wire without a net below. And when the project is done, and you get such tremendously positive feedback and you know how pleased they are, it’s just a fabulous feeling.  I’m so very proud of my positive feedback from customers.

7. Do you have any advice for others?

I come across a lot of people who say – Wow I wish I could do that. I can’t even draw a straight line. And the truth is, until you try, you don’t know.  I believe that everyone has some type of artistic creativity and they just need to free themselves up to give it a try. I used to teach art to children and they would get so upset when they “made a mistake”.  I would tell them – there are no mistakes in art.  There are only “Happy Accidents”. I have a lot of those and most of the time, I find that they are the pieces that I like the best.  The unplanned things that come about.

We are always on the lookout for new Etsy Sellers Of The Month! If you would like to feature please send us your shop name in an email to: editor@alicemagazine.co.uk and if we like it we will feature it!