We recently connected with Christine Ferris and have shared our conversation below.

Christine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Growing up I was always taught to not take risks. That pursuing anything creative was a huge risk. That ending up living out of my car was what happened to those who pursued being an artist.

In the fall of 2020. I decided to take a risk. One that has lead to me growing as an artist. As a person. As a business owner.

Having always been a creative a person. I enjoyed crafting and painting a lot. I knew that this is what I wanted. I just never had the confidence to take that jump to make something of it. At least not until I showed some online friends the project I was working on for myself.

Throughout the process of repainting a masquerade mask I had painted while in Venice, Italy. I showed them how it was going. One of them towards the end of my project. Asked if I had thought about painting masks for other people. Selling masquerade masks.

They were my very first commission. They ordered 3 masks from me. I made a cat mask that was carnival inspired colors with spirals. The other was a mask with glacial colors. The final was a Phoenix, the mythical bird, inspired mask.

From there. With the sudden rise of my confidence in my artistic ability. I took that risk of creating art for others. To express the world in a way that I throughly enjoyed.

And so far, I don’t regret it. As I’ve met amazing artists along this path. Some I’ve become friends with. They’ve been my biggest supporters in real life. Just as my online friends are still my biggest supporters as well.

Christine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Christine. I use she/they. I run the masquerade mask online shop Pumpkin Masquerade.

I started in November 2020, handpainting masquerade masks. Creating designs inspired by those around me. I wanted to make the designs that I paint unique. To make wearable art.

I had to do a lot of trial and learning to get to where I could create durable long-term paper mache masquerade masks. I’m still developing my own style. My own way of creating them. A personal renaissance as there’s not a lot of information available on how to.

I’ve always been a painter. It’s been something I’ve always enjoyed. Creating meticulously intricate details. For a while though, I had lost that spark. A few years after a tip to Venice, Italy. I found my spark again.

I offer the ability to create custom masquerade mask designs. I do my best to support clients through the design process. I love taking on challenges. Learning new ways to reach the end finish. Everything when creating something is trial and error. It’s the successes that truly make it all worthwhile.

The next step for me. Is branching out to reach event coordinators. Who plan masquerade events. I want to be able to offer my sevices for everyone.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect so far has been meeting and making friends with other artists. Working with the medium that I do. I get so much interest in what I do. How I do it.

It’s a lot of fun to share, and then build on how I do stuff. With sharing I show how I create. In turn learning new skills from my friends. So I can create more.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Actually, there’s not really a goal. When I started out creating masquerade masks. It’s for the fun and thrill of creating.

My main mission though is to create something for everyone.

The history of Masquerade Masks is what inspired me. During the Carnival season in Italy or France. During the Renaissance period. Masquerade masks were like an equalizer. Once you donned a mask you were the same as everyone else in the room.

It’s probably an idealistic and optimistic way to look at it but that’s how I see my masks. They’re for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pumpkinmasquerade.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pumpkin.masquerade/
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pumpkin.masquerade?_t=8bBqTnDP9ek&_r=1