Laurie Hardin of Monkey-Cats Studio

I’ve always enjoyed the arts and crafts, and decided as a child that when I grew up (which still hasn’t happened yet) that I was going to be an artist.  I went to college and studied the arts and completed two degrees which allowed me to teach and eventually work in an art museum and art center. After more than 25 years of working in an office and teaching I decided I needed to make a drastic change in my life and try working on the creative side of the arts once again. 

Shortly after leaving my office job I saw a woman working in paper mache clay on television.  I loved the vintage look of the paper mache, plus the fact that it air dried, so immediately I decided to investigate available paper mache mixes to see if I could translate some of my drawings into completed three-dimensional pieces.  The first pieces were these awful terrible lumpy little things, but for some reason I kept at it and now I truly love paper mache with all of its little nuances.

My major inspirations are the holidays with a very strong emphasis on Halloween and vintage Halloween collectibles with a Monkey-Cats twist.  I love to take what might be a scary subject-matter and sweeten it up with a smile or mischievous glance from the characters I create.  I  also try to carry a sketchbook with me at all times as I find inspiration everywhere I go and from people I meet, including collectors that have terrific ideas of characters they would like to see created.  Those sketchbooks are wonderful treasure chests and provide inspiration and reminders of ideas as I flip through the pages.  I also have to give my husband a huge amount of credit for inspiring and encouraging my work the last seven years.  He has come up with some amazing ideas, like the “bone ties” I put on my skelly figures last year instead of bow ties. Clever man!

Besides creating in paper mache, I enjoy family and friends, gardening, music, PBS, a good book, movies, good food and drink, long walks and the country that surrounds us.  We are so fortunate to be surrounded with places that provide silence, which allows one to place their feet firmly on the ground and realize we are just a tiny spec of nature ourselves.  I think it is a good thing to be reminded of in the fast pace world we live in.