I’ve met many very talented artists on etsy in the teams that I belong. I’ll be highlighting them in the coming weeks on my blog.
Today’s profile belongs to Linda Faigen of Isis Arts. She’s a fellow etsy JET team member.
Etsy shop name: http://lfaigen.etsy.com for jewelry and hair sticks
http://IsleOfAvalon.etsy.com for magic wands, prisms and spell books
http://studioshiloh.etsy.comselling the metal sculpture of Dany Shiloh (my friend)
Name: Linda Faigen
Where else can we find you and your work?: http://isisarts.com
Location: Portland, Oregon in the US
What are your jewelry beginnings?
I quit my real job a while back and decided to try my hand at making stuff to sell. About a year and a half ago I got bored making hair sticks and started making jewelry.
Where did you start and how did you progress to work you are creating today?
I started making necklaces and attempting to sell on Ebay. Shortly thereafter I headed for Etsy. The work changes depending on what I’m in the mood to try. Currently I have become obsessed with making chain maille jewelry and jeweled magic wands.
What are your favorite materials?
Sterling silver, crystal, glass, brass, aluminum, pearls, prisms
What inspires you?
That’s a good question to which I have no answer. Ideas just pop into my head. I don’t know where they come from, usually
How do you describe your design style?
Chaotic 
What artists have influenced you, and how?
It’s not so much the artist as the artform. I paint and I make stained glass windows. I make jewelry, hair sticks, wands and books. I see an artform that I think is cool and then try it. Inside each artform there are many artists who do it better than I. I’m inspired by all of them.
What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Don’t quit your day job but aim for that. You’re going to work your butt off supporting yourself doing things you may not like and then rushing home to do the artwork you love until you’re too tired to keep going. Hopefully that phase won’t last too long. Never give up! Create whenever you can. If you don’t want or need to sell your work, that’s just fine too. Do it for you.
How do you spend time when you are NOT creating?
Sleeping. Doing all the annoying chores that go with an online business. The accounting, marketing, purchasing, shipping, photography, listing, working on my website, looking for new ways to advertise, and on and on. The chores never end. If I can find the time, I am a voracious reader. I am also currently involved in political activism that is keeping me really busy and will until November.
Where have you been published or profiled?
I’ve been profiled on one blog. Scroll down this page to find me:
http://www.thisisitcreations.blogspot.com/
You can check out more pictures of Linda’s work in her flickr pool here
Stay tuned in upcoming weeks for more talented etsy artist profiles from my JET and ABS team members.
Very nicely done!!
Those purple earrings are simply stunning. Your work is so classy wow.