03.12.08
My Interview with Cara, Owner of Octavine Illustration
Please meet Cara Buchalter, Owner of www.octavineillustration.blogspot.com and http://octavineillustration.etsy.com .
Where are you located? Beautiful Portland, Oregon.
What do you design? Art Deco inspired wares; calligraphy, custom invitations, posters, logos and labels.
Where/How did you learn this? I began by creating a marriage contract in Hebrew calligraphy for a friend about 10 years ago. As word spread, I began to receive commissions for calligraphy and then illustration work. Over the years the business has grown and I have calligraphed and illustrated numerous marriage contracts, invitations, public murals, logos, tattoos, concert posters and even a wine label.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? Henri Toulouse Latrec
Where does your inspiration come from? Research. Before I begin a project, I look through my designs library. Garning inspiration from photographers, illustrators, advertisements and magazines infuses me with creativity and barrages me with ideas. I order boxes upon boxes of ephemera from estate sales on ebay and simply pour through them when in need of new images, fonts or layout ideas. I have a rather methodical (some may say anal) process in which I must first conceive of the painting or alphabet completely in my head.
Where do you design your creations? I have a studio which recently became home to the cast from the Secret of NIMH. Lately I work on my dining room table. I like to be in the center of things rather than relegated to a basement studio. And my mastiff Belle does not like to go down in the basement and I enjoy hanging out with her whilst I work.
What does your work space look like right now? Well, I recently cleaned out the basement studio but have yet to go down there for any amount of time. Thus, the dining room table is usually piled with books, sketches, gocco supplies, calligraphy inks, rulers and paints. It drives my husband batty.
How does your family feel about what you do? Usually very supportive (see above). My dad’s an artist as well so he understands the life I lead quite well. My mother’s a bit more practical and forces me to look at the business side of it all. My sister, a local music booker networks me in with that crowd and my husband is happy as long as the house isn’t one big art studio.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? I do all my work by hand, including font-design and calligraphy. My only advice is to figure out your niche, promote yourself and make sure that you have a comfortable working environment.
Best advice you received when starting your own business venture? Have one big goal in mind. Visualize acheiving it. Everything you do should be a means towards that.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Only I can tell myself what to do.
Least favorite? Only I can tell myself what to do.
How do you relax? Reading mystery novels, watching reruns of Law & Order, walking my dog.
Favorite color? Tangerine
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? Oh, yes it does.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Promoting, promoting, promoting.
A sample of Octavine Illustration products. For all products, please visit Cara’s website.
