Interview with Alevtina Sharapova
1. How do you work?
My favourite material is sheep wool, I do felting, spinning, embroidery to create something funny and beautiful – toys, hats, wall hangings and more.
2. How has your practice change over time?
I began from tapestry weaving about 20 years ago, I tried computer design, but then I discovered wet and needle felting technique and it is still attracting me.
3. What art do you most identify with and why?
I like textile art – things made from fabric, threads, fibers, wool. They can be really diverse – big or small, things you can use in everyday life and completely useless, but they are all soft, with nice texture you want to touch.
4. What is your favourite art work and why?
My favourite piece is a pair of felted bots with green leaves on the top and two little red rabbits on the toes. I made them for the exhibition dedicated to French tapestries and used popular motifs of greenery and animals.
5. What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
I worked as a private English tutor with children, I was a graphic designer for several years and worked 4 years in tea houses making tea.
6. Why art?
I liked to draw and to make things with my own hands from the early ages. I made dolls, sewed, carved wood, made ship models. After graduating high school I wanted to become a teacher, but then changed my mind when my friend went to an art college. It seemed more interesting for me – lot of drawing, painting and weaving instead of sitting in dusty rooms just reading.
7. What do you like about your work?
I like that I can make almost everything with wool and textile – from small toys and sculptures to dresses, shoes and big panels. I can use any color, make it thin or thick, shiny or matte. Almost every person can find something for him or her in textile art.
8. Professionally, what is your goal?
My goal is to become a teacher so I will be able not only make wool felted things, but also teach others. I think it is very important for every person to make something with his or her own hands as we are surrounded with dull ordinary stuff, while you can make your custom unique pieces of art to use every day such as hats, toys, placemats, pillows and much more. Art makes life brighter!
9. What project are you working on now?
I am making a series of postcards in watercolors. Yes, sometimes I use other medium. My friend asked me to draw puffins, these funny black and white arctic birds. I add hats and scarves to make them warm!
10. What's your favourite thing you've ever created?
My favourite thing for today is a felted dress. I began it as an experiment but it turned out really great! I was wearing it to a party and realized that felted things are so nice to wear – they are soft and warm, very comfortable.
