We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Charlese Phillips a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Charlese, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I started my fiber art journey in 2020 when we were all stuck at home and I knew I would need to do something creative to pass the time. I spent hours online researching and looking up different macrame and weaving techniques, even teaching myself how to spin my own yarn for my pieces (my first time spinning yarn did not go well). But, having access to efficient equipment and more materials would have greatly increased my learning to propel me forward faster as I worked to develop my skills. When I began working with macrame it was shocking to me how natural tying knots felt and one day I realized I used to do this all the time, on a small scale, when making friendship bracelets as a kid. Once I came to that realization, it made sense why I was so drawn to working with fibers. The skills I think that were the most essential to my growth in this craft are how to properly warp a loom, how to blend and spin my own yarn, and how to secure my work before removing it from the loom. I have had a few close calls and have almost taken pieces off of the loom out of excitement, before securing them which would cause the piece to come apart. As I have developed as an artist, the greatest obstacles I have faced are access to capital and studio space. Fiber materials can become very expensive, especially when working on larger pieces. And with those larger pieces and excess materials comes less studio space for storage and for working. Sometimes I am juggling many different projects at once in my space and it can get pretty chaotic.
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?
I am a wife, mom and love all things creative. My work focuses around different subjects, such as identity, color, texture, music, and nature. My pieces usually include a subject that has been painted or processed on canvas or paper that is then cut out and attached to my loom or woven structure and then surrounded by fibers. But, I also work in other mediums, including photography and ceramics. In the art industry, It always excites me to see what the minds of others can create, it’s one of the things that has always drawn me to a career in the arts. I get so much inspiration from other artists, whether it be their business sense or their creativity, getting to connect with other creatives allows me to see the many possibilities a career in the arts can offer. After receiving an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Delaware Division of the Arts in 2023, I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my art full time after working as an educator. It was an opportunity I never dreamed I’d achieve for myself, so it was a confirmation for me that I was on the right path. Since then, I have worked to expand my horizons and explore various avenues in the art world. I think the experiences I’ve had help set me apart from others in my work. Though my work usually includes some aspect of fiber, I always enjoy creating my mixed media pieces joining other mediums and fiber together. From paintings to cyanotypes, I love the creative freedom my work gives me. You’ll also see a variety of buttons, beads and other embellishments in my work that help bring all of the elements together. Overall, I am most proud of bringing joy to others with my art. Seeing them get excited or inspired by my pieces is what keeps me going. Art has saved me more times than I can count and I am grateful for every opportunity I have to share my work and my story to hopefully show others that their dreams are possible.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn on my journey, and one that I am still working on, is that rest = lazy. I have spent so much time overworking myself to the point of exhaustion. I’ve filled up my schedule to the max and haven’t left enough time for myself or my family on too many occasions and I have found, over the years, that I cannot sustain that type of existence. I would feel so burnt out and unfulfilled at the end of the day because I was missing out on so much of what is most important to me. I would always be the person who would have a half full cup and do everything I could to help others while leaving myself behind. This past year I really took the initiative to leave space for me, my life and my family. I took a hard look at what was most important to me, the things I was doing that were draining me and what unnecessary things I could take off of my plate or where I could, dare I say, ask for help. Learning how to reach out for help from others was a huge part in allowing me to see that making space for me to rest while also showing others that I appreciate, need, and trust them to support me has helped me develop stronger relationships and given me the opportunity to breathe. Though I am still thankful for knowing how to dig in and get things done when there’s much to do, I am even more grateful for taking the time to learn to balance that out with rest more often.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The mission that has continued to drive me on my creative journey is, never stop creating. It is what I tell myself when I fall into those creative slumps when I can’t decide what to make or my inspiration is low. It’s a phrase that has stuck with me and guided me for so long that I have it written on a letter board above my work desk so I keep it in mind when I’m creating. I even got it tattooed on my arm as a reminder when I’m out in the world. In moments when working in the studio can seem overwhelming, I think of other ways I can be creative or be inspired to make something new. For me this could be making small crafts instead of painting large portraits and making elaborate weavings. Or it could be baking sourdough bread for my family and friends, my new obsession. As long as I am making something, I feel more like myself and sharing what I love with the world, seeing the joy it brings others, gives me so much joy. I have always felt that being an Artist is the most vulnerable career a person could have. You have to be brave enough to share what you have created from the heart and hope it resonates with someone and they can say, “I see you”. To have your gifts recognized is a wonderful feeling. I encourage anyone who dreams of being an Artist to never stop creating. Keep working and developing your gifts. Keep trying different things and grow your imagination. As long as you never stop creating, you will always be an Artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charleseannette.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charleseannettecreates
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charleseannettecreates
Image Credits
Naiomi Phillips