Welcome to the Art and Soul Interview blog hop at Artistic Artifacts. I am delighted to introduce you to Erin Keck. Erin is an amazing artist who plays with two of my favorite things…mica and metal!
Erin creates the most wonderful Steampunk clocks and mica books. I can’t wait to see all her beautiful art in person at Art and Soul where she will be sharing all her construction secrets!
We have a great mixed media pack of goodies as a blog hop giveaway so be sure to leave a comment on this post. I will use a random number generator to choose the winner next Sunday Feb. 12, 2012. Tell me what your favorite tool for creating is!
What tools can’t you live without?
I would have to say my number one favorite tool in my studio is my Guillotine Sheet Metal Shear. I cut everything with this. Sheet Mica, Sheet Metal, I use these materials in my Mica Journals, Masonite board, I use this for the gears in my clocks. You name it this shear will cut it. When I am on the road I need to take along something smaller so I use my metal Tiger Shears. I also would be lost without my Dremel. I use the cut off wheel, drill, and sanding wheel all of the time with both the journals and my clocks.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful group of artistic friends. We are always bouncing ideas off of each other. At least once a month we have lunch and bring along one of our latest creations to show and tell about. I also get so much inspiration from taking classes outside of my medium. I like to try to take some new technique that I learned from the class and use it to enhance my own art in some way.
I also get so much inspiration from my own “goof ups”. I believe that in art there are no mistakes, only ideas for new creations.
How did you come up with the Steampunk Clock Idea?
I used to work in a retirement home and in the lobby was this beautiful antique clock. I loved this clock. It was made of all wood gears that all turned in unison as it told the time. I wanted to make a modern day version of that clock. I wantred to use a Quartz Battery movement. a Quartz movement does not have enough torque to power the wood gears to turn so I new I would have to make the gears appear that they would turn. I interlocked each gear and gave them dimension and a movement appearance with the use of antique clock parts. I eventually added found objects to give the clocks more personality. Each clock has a story all of it’s own. This was the creation of my Steampunk Clocks.
This year at Art & Soul is the first time that I am offering to share the secrets that go into creating my Steampunk Clocks.
What type of classes do you like to take at Art and Soul
I enjoy all of the classes that are offered at Art & Soul. I have taken classes in several different mediums. I have taken altered book classes with Leslie Venable, Faux Bone Classes with Robert Dansic. Collage Shadow Box with Michael DeMeng, Copper Journals with Thomas Ashman, Jewelry classes with Susan Lenart Kasmer and Richard Sally, plus so many more. Glenny is always bringing new and fresh ideas to Art & Soul and the class choices get wider and more different with every retreat. As a Mixed Media artist I can use so much of the knowledge that I learn in any class. I always make a deal with myself, whether it be a book, a magazine, a class, a retreat, if I am going to put a monetary investment into my art and learning different techniques then I am going to find some way to use that knowledge and put it to work for me. Even if it is just finding out about a different tool or a new bonding adhesive, this can make all of the difference in a finished project.
“After art, what else is your passion?”
I love art and I love sharing it with my family. I have a loving, patient, and encouraging husband who always supports me. I have 4 wonderful grown children who I am very proud of. They are very supportive of my art. It does my heart good to hear them say that their mom makes these cool clocks. I also have two loyal furry buddies who are always laying by my side when I am working. Last but not least I have a best friend, and she knows who she is. She always encourages and supports me. I would not be half of the artist that I am if it were not for her. I truly am blessed.
I am so much looking forward to teaching at Art and Soul and seeing old friends and meeting new ones. We are going to have a blast…as always!
You can find Erin on Facebook at Erin Keck. Join us at Art and Soul in Va Beach March 1-6 to meet Erin and the rest of the talented Art and Soul staff. Don’t forget to leave a comment to win a great prize package sponsored by Artistic Artifacts.
The Arts & Old Lace Challenge Quilts are starting to arrive. More than 100 packets were distributed last fall and the anticipation keeps building! As with the Power Suit Challenge, we are wowed by the interpretation and techniques used by our talented participants. 
