Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sonya Benham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sonya, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

As a hairstylist, I had to learned that not everyone is going to like my style and that’s ok. Some clients are going to become regulars and others will disappear never to be seen again. In the beginning, I perceived the latter as rejection and it stung. But as time goes on you realize how absurd that is – to think that your approach is going to be the right fit for every person? This lesson has been so valuable to me in my creative life. When you put your heart into your work and some people don’t care for it, it hurts. That’s fine, let it hurt but don’t focus on it. Art is so personal and we all encounter pieces that we respond to and others we don’t. Not everyone is going to love what you make but that’s cool because chances are someone else will.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a fiber artist living in Chicago with my husband and son. Their names are Sean and Julian so, naturally, we have a dog named Yoko. I was primarily raised in Maine which was not exactly the coastal, lobster-filled fantasy that most people associate with the state. I’m of Korean and French decent and it was a different time. There weren’t many minorities in my hometown so I was a bit of a target.

My grand-uncle was a very talented artist and I was enamored with him. So, I developed an interest in art at a very young age. I went to a liberal arts school but I studied painting, drawing, and photography. After a couple of creative gigs, I settled down into a “real” job at a textile history museum. During the years that followed, I worked in offices by day and fed my creativity by learning to knit, sew, and crochet.

In my early 30s, I went to beauty school, got my cosmetology license, and became a hairstylist and beauty blogger. I thought it was a great idea. I could work with my hands in an artistic way and have a somewhat regular income. Around this time, I was picking up additional writing jobs for several websites. One was a craft blog called Merriment Design, run by my friend, Kathy Beymer. She was always receiving books to review and she let me borrow one on macrame. Needless to say, she never got the book back (though I did prime her a new one.)

I fell in love with macrame. Tying the knots, the texture of the ropes and cords, the creation of patterns and designs, and working with dye as well. It was the medium that allowed me to draw from all of my knowledge from color theory and composition to fiber crafts and hair design. And I was, and remain, very drawn to the inherent dichotomies: retro and modern, art and craft, kitsch and elevated. It’s a polarizing art form; people love it or they hate it.

Over time, some of my work has morphed into what I call wrapped fiber art. I don’t consider this macrame because it is not technically knotted. Rather these pieces consist of wrapped bundles of string that are sewn together by hand. While they are designed to hang on the wall, these works are quite sculptural. I love to work with clients to design versions of all sizes to suit a specific space in their homes. I’m really proud of some of the hanging solutions I have developed for my larger fiber art wall hangings. Due to the floppy nature of the materials, they can be a challenge to install!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I didn’t start making art consistently until later in life. It’s never too late of course but I wish I had started earlier. It was always there, this persistent urge to make things but I tried to tamp it down. In truth, I was a big chicken and I let fear keep me from putting myself out there. I still struggle with that sometimes – the fear of criticism is always present – but I don’t let it stop me anymore.

It was a therapist who changed my life when she said, “It sounds like your art is what you have to offer the world.” It may sound sappy but she was right. We all seek purpose and for better or worse (richer or poorer?) this is mine. It’s the part of my life that holds the most life. Does that make sense?

So, as I am about to turn 51, my age is the driving factor. I feel compelled to make up for lost time.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Hands down, it’s the kindness and support from other artists. I have a wonderful support system on Instagram of maker friends who always have my back. They understand that this job is a roller-coaster and some days you need a few words of encouragement. Even more special is when someone new to fiber art reaches out to me to thank me for a process reel or to tell me that my work inspires them. I’ve received a few direct messages brought me to tears. It’s very powerful and humbling and I’m so very thankful.

Contact Info:

• Website: sonyabenham.com (work in progress) & etsy.com/shop/shopsonyabenham
• Instagram: @sonya.benham
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonyabenhamfiberart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_WX9LEgKJPJ_Sexg0sdm2Q (@srivard72)