Creative secrets with Anna Emelia Howlett

My Design Teamie at Powertex UK Kore Sage interviewed me recently and here is the fab article. Do check out her website here.

Anna Emelia Howlett from Rosehart Studio

Anna is the artist and designer behind Rosehart Studio in Kent, UK. She has a recognisable, colourful style and great attention to detail in her work, from handmade journals to carefully illustrated greeting cards.

Anna Emelia Howlett

She is also a Powertex tutor, member of the Powertex design team and finds time to be Press Office and social media star for Powertex UK! Phew. Anna agreed to let me interview her about her creative life and loves, so this is my chance to get behind the artwork and hear her story.

Rosehart Studio

Hi Anna,

Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. I already know a little about your creative journey so I’m excited to share what you have to say. Here we go.

When did you start creating and what is your first memory of making art or being creative?

My mum always had us drawing, sewing, building or crafting something from age dot. I like to think that I had what I like to call a proper childhood. Does that make me sound really old now? Lol…you know in the good old days when all we had was colouring books and reading to entertain us or exploring the countryside. 

I remember we used to spend the whole 6 week summer holidays at my nans in Devon and she would take use to this store called Normans in Budleigh Salterton. We used to go upstairs into the biggest room which was a wonderland full of things for little people. If it wasn’t fuzzy felted pictures to colour in, it was the giant poster roll sets with crayons, dot to dot, colouring books or those little books with the paper cutouts you built into little houses or scenes. 

Powertex canvas

Did any experiences in your life influence how you put art and creativity into your life as an adult?

I had studied art at college and then horse care, ending up in Australia working with event horses. I came back and my mate from college got me a job in Cross’s art shop, then I moved to a beautiful old art shop in Tunbridge Wells, then Hobbycraft. I was always creating one thing or another but had been put off by an artist coming into college and telling us how hard and competitive it was being a self employed artist. My school teacher also told me through my A levels how I would fail. 

I ended up managing a Pets Corner shop but a couple of years in, my 19 year old colleague was killed in a car crash. A year later her brother in law also died in a car crash. I had been asked by a customer to create a canvas for a charity auction and painted a fish in memory of Jess. I started to believe I was meant for something else, that life was too short, so quit my job and turned to my art as a source of therapy and income.

Art handmade journal

Following such tragic events, now that you have a creative practice back in your life, what do you think the benefits are?

My art isn’t just a form of income. I love to share my experience and skills through teaching others and seeing the confidence it gives them makes me feel like I have a purpose. My art is more than just a creative expression, it’s my therapy as well. With Powertex you become part of a family where you make friends with other tutors and students, sharing and gaining from their experiences. 

The benefits are wonderful but making art can also come with some challenges! Do you have any advice for coping with loss of creative mojo or feeling self doubt with creative projects? 

I’m the best for giving advice and the worst for taking it. Surround yourself with a couple of really good friends who know exactly what you’re going through as they do too. Talk it out with one another and maybe even video chat and create together. Most of all don’t beat yourself up, I used to do this. Sometimes I think people think I can do or create anything at anytime I want. I struggle through sometimes which isn’t very enjoyable at all but I try not to beat myself up about it and just give myself the space I need. Then I can come back to my ideas with fresh eyes. I also watch videos by other artists, Marta Lapkowska gives great pep talks and reminds me to just do it and not over complicate things.

Handmade Journal Close up

Not beating ourselves up is valuable advice! Do you have any artistic or creative heroes? Has anyone in particular inspired you with their work?

Tracey at Powertex UK has been the greatest mentor and influenced my art and confidence through her guidance, training and her stunning works of art. I really love Marta Lapkowska at the moment. I have learnt a lot from her you tube videos, she gives away a lot of techniques but I love her chitty chats as she basically tells you to go for it and not hold anything back. Which you just need to hear sometimes, right! 

Do you have a favourite product or medium to work with and why? 

It has to be Powertex. It has literally changed my life. Thank goodness for the day I met Tracey. I also really wish I had access to it for A level I could have created some really neat sculptures. I also like the fact that it is so versatile you can paint and sculpt with it, make clays and all sorts of textures.

Dream Handmade Journal

I know you as a Powertex tutor and artist but I know you have other creative interests. Describe these and how you balance your time between them. 

I studied Graphic Design and illustration so I love to draw and I have just found art journaling, where I can get painty and messy and play and learn with colours and techniques that I can then apply to bigger pieces. I start with a schedule that I attempt to stick to and focus by not getting distracted by my creative brain. It doesn’t always work out but I try not to use my energy worrying anymore as I need that energy for creating. I truly believe we have our own clock which we work to and everything will happen when it’s supposed to. It’s taken me a while to figure this out and I have to try not to panic when I only just earn enough in the month to pay the bills. 

Do you have any other projects you would like to try or creative skills you would like to learn?

I would really love to do a sculpting course. The first time I did any sculpting was with my Powertex when I started nearly 4 years ago. I really believe you can never know everything and I also love learning. I know you can read up about how to do things or watch videos but I really prefer the experience and knowledge of an expert to guide me. I’d also love to take some art journal classes. I’ve just signed up for a mentorship programme with a charity called Porchlight. I’m hoping to be able to do more project in the community work through them as well sharing my passion for art. 

So, who is your biggest cheerleader in your artistic life and what role does a creative community have for you? 

My biggest patron has to be my mum. She would have been a folk singer if it wasn’t for us kids. That was her dream so I think she is super happy to see me trying for mine.

I’d also say my biggest support, confidence builder and giver of the best advice and opportunities has been my mentor and good friend Tracey. She has really looked after me. I’ve trained as a Powertex tutor, helped on the Powertex stand at the craft shows. I’ve been on the tv as a guest presenter for Powertex, written magazine articles, I co-ordinate the design team and I’m Press office for Powertex. I’m doing things I never realized I could and I wouldn’t be able to do it without the faith of Tracey and my Powertex colleagues. Who are I’d say, an inspiration to me as much as I am to them. 

I am becoming a mentor for an arty young person soon through the charity Porchlight. If it wasn’t for everything that has happened up to this point I wouldn’t have the confidence or experience to be a support for someone else. I love encouraging younger people in their art when I was given so little support from my art teacher and for the fact they are cutting arts in schools.

Illustrated Greeting Card

Lastly, if you could give one piece of advice to creative readers, what would it be? 

Never compare yourself to anyone but yourself. Keep everything you create, even pieces you are not as proud of so in a year you can see how far you have come. 

If you want to have the technical skill of someone you admire, put in the time and money they have to achieve it as I can guarantee that they have pretty much spent every waking hour learning, practicing and preening their skills. Creating art doesn’t just boil down to talent and creative eye. It helps but practice really can make perfect. Just get on and do it. Is that more than one ha ha?!

Haha! Thanks so much Anna for taking the time to tell us more about your arty life! It’s good to acknowledge all the work you do and I’m really looking forward to seeing what you do next. I’ve already seen some beautiful new mixed media art with your sunflowers.

Mixed media sunflower

If you would like to see more of Anna’s work, you can find Rosehart Studio on Facebook or at Etsy.

It's a me thing

So after the most amazing time away with our family in Canada I have decided to try and be a little better with my blogs. I guess we will just have to see how long this lasts. lol.... I had the most amazing time showing my littlest niece the wonders of journalling, well she is not so little and will be 13 on Christmas day. But I am hoping I have inspired her and also got her addicted to art journalling. Better than being stuck in front of the telly right? 

I did promise I would put a blog together of our arty creations, but the time just flew by and we were having too much fun. I think we managed to get our page a day done nearly which would have ended up being 20 pages. I have fallen in love with journalling and I'm even creating art in this style now. Don't worry I am still very much loving my Powertex, I am really excited about combining the two as well. I use Powertex in my journal to experiment and discover like a sketch book. 

There are so many amazing mixed media artists to be inspired by I happen to love Marta Lapkowska follow her blog and watch her you tube channel for inspiration, ideas, the motivational chit chat and for the company. The studio can be a lonely place at times and staying motivated can be a daily challenge when you're a full time artist.

So here is a piece I have just finished, I created the base a while ago when watching Martas video on breaking a blank page. I have lots of off cut scraps I had been keeping and wondered what for apparently this page! I am obviously missing all the beautiful sun as the colours are bright. Or I think that just might be a me thing ha ha. Well, what's not to love about being colourful! I really could have added some black and more details, but I decided I loved the simplicity of the design too much.

I just wanted to use the base as a way to experiment with my materials so had no idea where this was going. I tried out some very old chalk markers I had hanging around. Another idea from Marta. Some cheap ink pads I had picked up, I don't have funds for the expensive ones yet. A white dovecraft chalk marker, which is more like a really soft oil pastel in a pen and dissolves in water. I actually really love it, but wouldn't have classed it as a chalk marker. And some cheapy stencils I picked up at Walmart. And some washi tape from Michaels craft store. 

I definitely recommend journalling to experiment, learn and let your art flow freely. Plus, if you're itching to create but can't get all your stash out, a journal and a couple of pens and inks definetly fill the void. Enjoy. Toodle pip Anna xXx I would love if you gave me a follow on Instagram or Facebook. Or even let me know what you think in the comments section. 

Memories are special moments that tell our story

Memories are special moments that tell our story

This month the Design team has been given free rein to create a piece of keepsake art. I decided this was the perfect opportunity to take some bits and pieces rescued from my nans button box and various pots of broken bits she has kept over the years and not thrown away from her house. Last year we had to clear out my nans house because she has dementia and could no longer look after herself, so had to move her closer to us. I think she had kept everything she had ever owned. There were so many memories in bin bags in the loft. We saved some things but we couldn't possibly save them all. Lots of memories came flooding back when we entered the sewing cupboard of summers spent in Devon at my nans sewing and creating book marks. Raiding the button tin mostly just to look at the wonderful assortment rather than use any of them. 

I had prepared the base of a blank canvas a while ago with White Powertex and Easy 3D Flex. I then sprayed black bister into the cracks to make them more prominent.

 I took an assortment of elements  I had taken from my nans house. I kind of thought that they deserved to be used somehow after all she had spent her whole life keeping all these little bits and pieces. Old keys, broken watch straps, buckles, buttons, brooches, broken christmas decorations. 

 I found some textiles that would compliment the layout, lace, power cotton and some netting. And created a composition. 

 Now was the time to stick everything into place and coat with Powertex.

 I then resprayed with black bister just to some extra depth in the colour. 

 I then took the new Secret Art Loft acrylics and painted up the left side of the canvas in Plum pudding and right side in Mint Jelly. Adding some highlights with white Powertex.

 To finish off the piece I decided to use some of the Powerwax with the Limoncello Gold pigment powder from the Secret Art Loft. 

A bit of Mixed Up 'Texture' Challenge

I am determined to make some time for learning and experimenting. I thought that when I became an artist full time at Rosehart Studio I would have time to do all the things I wanted to do, I may have been living in woo woo land a little.

Anyway, so that I don't have to do the endless what shall I make stare and lose more time, I thought what better way than entering a challenge, so I don't have to do the thinking just the creating. And I get that little bit of time out to push myself in a different direction and have fun just playing and creating.

So the Challenge should I wish to accept it was created by Mixed Up Mag and this month its all about texture!

With a trusty bottle of Powertex in hand I have taken up the mantel afters all, what texture can't you create with Powertex?

I've gone for a pretty simple design for me. Using one of the new fabulous MDF Tags from The Secret Art Loft.

Using the Easy3d I've created some really scrummy crackles.

I am new to the White Powertex but it has very quickly become my favourite.

I layered the colours with bisters and various inks.

The Powercotton and 3D balls create extra texture with some metal leaf embellishments and a silk flower heading off the tag.

 Well she turned out a real beauty, if I do say so myself. Why not Challenge yourself today and have a go at entering. You might even end up with something that suprises you, I know that I did. Toodles Anna xXx

The only limit is you

I've always said that Powertex has changed my life and it's true. One of the biggest lessons I think I have taken from Tracey at Powertex UK is finding my confidence and building on it every day. You really get out what you put in. I would love to say I am just naturally talented and I can create anything but it has taken me a lot of blood sweat and tears to practice and motivate myself to hone my skills.

NEVER LIMIT YOUR IMAGINATION!

I have been using Powertex for over 3 years and I still learn something new every time I create a piece. So what advice do I have to you if you want to have a go. Don't put it off for a second. If you don't like something you have created, take what you have learnt from it. Even if it is how not to do something. Then go ahead and try again with another project.

It's very easy in life to come across negativity directed toward you and to take that on board. For me this started from an early age with my art teacher who as a mentor, I was supposed to look up to and respect. After all adults are always right, aren't they? My A level art teacher told me never to use my imagination for art. He was wrong. He also told me I would fail art. He was very wrong! I now have my own business Rosehart Studio, you can also follow me on instagram.

I've told this story many times and have been so surprised with people responding to me with the same stories and experiences. People who had put them off their dreams and passions of self-expression through art. The thing I think I love about powertex the most is there isn't a right or wrong

 way of using it when it comes to design and composition. 

Once you know the technique you can go away, play with it and make it work the way you need it to.  Never one for conformity I love pushing boundaries, and seeing where my imagination will take me.

Push it past the limits and ideas that have not yet been discovered and it will be forgiving. Dig deep and find the confidence to just have a go. 

If you really would like an extra helping hand look up the tutor details on the powertex uk website and find your local certified tutor. They are trained by the best! Our Tracey at Powertex HQ, so they in turn will give you the best training. We are all lovely happy people who love to guide you and give you that confidence you need to have a go and show you that yes you can do it! My students can’t believe the results they produce! And they really do a fantastic job! Toodles Anna xXx

“Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Fairy house delights.

One of the projects I completed when demonstrating at the Powertex UK stand at the NEC hobbyshow in November was the new Fairy house which has now been put into a project pack for February. Just for you!

  

I had a lot of fun creating this piece I used the black Powertex on the base, one of my go to favourite colours in the Powertex range. On the lower part of the piece I used a mix of sand, balls and Powertex. Then added on the door, toadstools and windows. Added some extra detail with the mdf dropouts and cobwebs. 

On the roof I used the natural paper decoration, by cutting it into little pieces and layering it to give it a tiled 3d effect. I used some of the Powertex UK embellishments in between the natural paper decoration. I also added one of the new Raven mdf shapes. 

I then dry brushed with powercolours burgundy, turquoise and yellow ochre. And used the new interference colours to give a little shimmer effect to the roof. If you're looking for a magical project this month you need to get your hands on this one while stocks last. Toodles Anna xXx

It's owl about the mixed media!

I love visiting Powertex UK hq I always get a sneak peak on the new ideas and products coming and going. I also sometimes get a chance to give a little input too! Which I think sometimes gives our Tracey a  bit of a headache! Yes, I do have a lot of ideas brimming in my head constantly. 

When I saw the new Mdf owl kit I instantly had to make a sample after all we were going to the NEC and did need something to inspire everyone with! Well that was my excuse right? 

As usual with most of my designs the 'keep it simple' motto we like to say at Powertex UK hq doesn't really apply to me. I seem to be that rebel that breaks all the rules and throws everything at it. I actually struggle when I am trying to create a simple piece.

But that's the fab thing about Powertex there is no right or wrong, so you can make it as simple or a complicated as you like. And your style will always shine through when you create. I always tend to go the mixed media route with a lot of the pieces I create. 

I've used some acanthus mdf pieces on the branch, above the eye and on the wing. A feather above the eye. And a couple of cogs on the body and branch. And some of the MDF dropouts scattered around here and there.

Then an extra helping of embellishments from Powertex uk and some stencilling and patterned wallpaper which is my favourite go to texture.

All coated in bronze Powertex dried and then dry brushed with red ochre, yellow ochre and turquoise power color and varnish.

Enjoy and have fun creating your owl!  Toodles Anna xXx