We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Clove Ellis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Clove, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Learning to make faux fur animal ear headbands became a therapeutic outlet amidst the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cut off from familiar places and faces that had facilitated my personal growth and creative expression, I sought solace in crafting. Self-taught through trial and error, I embarked on the journey of earmaking at a time when resources on the subject were scarce. With limited guidance available, I relied on experimentation and perseverance to refine my skills and bring my imaginative visions to life.

Creating wearable faux fur ear headbands provided a means to cope with ongoing trauma while fostering a deep connection with myself and my community in a new way. Each headband was not just a whimsical accessory but a tangible manifestation of resilience and renewal, symbolizing my journey towards radical self-acceptance and inner peace. Through the repetitive motions of cutting, sewing, and embellishing, making ears became a meditative practice, allowing me to ground myself in the present moment and channel my emotions into something tangible and beautiful. In each stitch and snip, I found solace and strength, emerging from the chaos of uncertainty with newfound clarity and purpose.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Clove Ellis, and I live and work in Detroit, Michigan. I am neuroqueer, specifically transgender, nonbinary, pansexual, and an AuDHDer. The term neuroqueer is an identity label, but first and foremost is a verb that describes the subverting and disruption of neuronormativity and heteronormativity at the same time. I make use of this verb in all the work they do. My studio work addresses several themes; connection through community, counterculture modes of expression, and healing through the dismantling of colonial systems and ideals. I create one-of-a-kind, radically expressive wearable art pieces, specifically faux fur animal ear headbands and tails.

These works, purely by existing and through their use or display in an array of private and public events, are an act of rebellion against systems that seek to shame and control us. Our connection to animals has been a keystone of our culture throughout our history on earth; it is believed that mimicking animals’ walks was our first kind of dance. Through hundreds of years of colonization, any modern subculture in America that expresses our deep connection to animals has been demonized and mocked. We reclaim our place as animals in the animal kingdom, and as human beings with autonomy and freedom of expression, when we choose to cast off judgment and shame and proudly wear what brings us joy. Not only that, but we actively dismantle the colonial systems that destroy our spirits and the lands we live upon. My intention behind making these works is to unburden my communities from the shame and guilt of self-expression.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most major theme in my life is connection; connecting with myself, connecting with others, the ebb and flow of friendships, and relationships, and the growth that happens in those spaces. The same goes for my creative work. Getting into the flow of creation means getting in touch with myself. I get to be present with my emotions and externalize them, without judgment or shame. I create for myself. That is rewarding in and of itself because, in that space, I am free. Another layer of reward comes when I choose to be vulnerable with my creation when I share it with another person or online for my audience and community to see – to judge, to resonate with, to be in awe of, or to be nonplussed. In that space, I have no control, and despite the anxiety that comes with that, there is freedom to be found there. The reward comes when someone sees my work and it sits in their soul so rightly that they need to be united. That’s a spiritual moment for me.
Then, in contrast to pieces I make and release, is the space shared between myself and a patron who has commissioned a work. Firstly, they trust me enough to bring their ideas to life. That’s huge. Then, the creative synergy that is created between two creative minds is so energizing. My patrons come up with ideas and let me run free with them, and when I return with a finished product they’re thrilled about… That’s easily one of my favorite feelings.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Firstly I want to make clear, that “blowing up” on social media is as much about luck and privilege as it is about hard work and dedication in a lot of cases. In order for a post of any kind, on any platform, to go viral, there are so many factors that have to be just right, and even when they are all right by the book, there is still no guarantee. For me, I would say that building my audience had so much to do with being in the right place at the right time, several times. I started making ears and got good at it quickly because of all of the time off during the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I joined several Facebook groups that had a combination of people who had never seen the kind of work I was making before, or had only seen the quality of work I was making at completely inaccessible prices.

In terms of things you *do* have control over though, there are plenty. What will always win out is authenticity. Your audience and community will always be able to pick up on if you’re trying to mimic anyone, any shop, or any other creative. You don’t need to be perfect, you don’t need to adhere to a strict schedule. If you put too much pressure on yourself or allow the systems to put pressure on you, that will translate into your work and your audience will feel it through you. “Post engaging content” only to the extent that you care about the responses that you receive. When you prioritize authenticity, growth, and connection, the rest will follow.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/peachfuzzums
• Facebook: facebook.com/peachfuzzums
• Twitter: twitter.com/peachfuzzums

Image Credits
Portrait photo: Steven Pascoe @aquilina.audio