Made in Chicago: Essimar
By Jess D'Amico in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 22, 2008 9:33PM
Esther Ramirez likes to go on romantic pony rides. No really, she told us that. The 27 year old artist, better known as Essimar at her Etsy shop, also loves paper.
So much so she posts the process of her paper creature creations on her blog. Esther's cards and stationery are delicate pieces that are brilliantly colored without losing their subtlety (like the bunny Zaha, right). A resident of Little Village, Esther says, "I find confectionery inspiration from the many colorful bakeries there and in the surrounding neighborhoods."
Made in Chicago picked Esther's brain about hairy lambs, designing, and why most new DIYers aren't new.
Chicagoist: How do you make your art stand out from everything else on Etsy?
Esther: Simply with the fragility of paper and color.
C: Where do you want to go with your art? Where do you see yourself in five years?
E: Designing, Designing and Designing.
C: How did you first get into DIY?
E: A nervous, colorful concept fell in my mind, I made it and sold it all in one night. 22 boutiques later and it still happens the same way.
C: What's your artistic process like?
E: Simple, small scale, gentle and shy or a small paw print in the mud. You can see my process at my blog and my flickr.
C: What does the Chicago DIY scene look like?
E: Hmmm, very inspiring and ready to flourish like a hairy coated lamb drinking cheap beer.
C: Where do you see that culture going?
E: Well it depends, it can get better or worse. It's become more challenging for the DIYers that have been around the longest and easier for the new DIYers. I feel many of the new DIYers take what they see from the older DIYers and just add slight changes to make it their "own", and vice versa. Only a few truly use new concepts and techniques.
C: Lastly, do you have any advice for other crafty people wanting to start selling their goods?
E: Make what you like. Look and don't look for the hidden.
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