JAE CRIDDLE is an illustrator and artist living near Fremantle, Western Australia. She runs a reputable and unique practice designing handcrafted signage, creating custom illustration, and painting mural artwork — though her creative explorations also include sculpture and embroidery.
I love how Jae has balanced her home space with the space she has created to work — so does the neighborhood cat, who pays us a visit!
jaecriddle.com.au
@jae_criddle
TEXT QUEENIE CHAN
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND IN YOUR SPACE?
Maybe Wolfgang. He’s a papier-mache monkey stowed under my table, waiting to be dusted and stuck back together again. He could give you a bit of a fright.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL WORKSPACE IN THREE WORDS…
Huge, light, limestone.
DO YOU WORK AND LIVE IN THE SAME SPACE, IF SO HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR WORK?
My workspace is one of the bedrooms in our house. I like to be able to come and go, work in short spurts and at odd hours, so it works for me having a space at home. It can mean bigger battles with distractions and good old procrastination though.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN AND FROM WHOM?
Dad suggested I pursued art when I was six or seven. I remember it very clearly and remember pondering on it very seriously.
WHAT CAN YOU SEE OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOWS?
A big bougainvillea and kids skateboarding up and down the driveway next door.
FAVOURITE SONG/BAND WHILE WORKING?
A good soundtrack or something noisy/interesting/energetic. Lately, it has been Cate Le Bon.
WHAT THEMES DO YOU PURSUE IN YOUR WORK?
I’m usually mindful of the mood of an artwork. The strange, shady ways of humans is a common theme, our fragility, nature’s grip on us, and our disregard for nature.
WHAT MINDSET/MOOD DO YOU MAKE YOUR BEST ART/WORK?
A calm and playful/experimental mood usually helps. The things I like most are almost always accidental, when things come loosely and intuitively, and I’m not being precious about the outcome. Way easier said than done.
Where They’ is a visual documentation of the creative environments of artist & people, that meet during my travels, of homes and studios.
Subscribe to my email newsletter full of inspiring stories about my journey that continues.
