Designer Spotlight: A Chat with Shelly Comiskey (and giveaway)

Meet Henry Glass designer, Shelly Comiskey.

In preparing to have a chat with Shelly Comiskey, I do what I do with (nearly) everyone…I Google them. (Yes, Google is now an official verb in the Oxford English Dictionary).

Here is the first tidbit of interest about Shelly, a small fact of which she humbly admits in her demure manner, she has a book on Amazon that is for sale for $2000.00. What?

Buy this now on Amazon today for a bargain price of $1211.00

So we had to start at the beginning to get to the apex of that small feat. Shelly began her early career like many women did in the late 1980’s, as a secretary, with a heart for artistic pursuits that began in high school. She ran to the art store with her first paycheck, and kept her hand in creativity, and her eyes on the search for that ‘something’ that would ignite her passion.

Twenty something years back, while pregnant with her daughter she went to a craft show and saw candle holders that caught her eye, and a catch in her heart. The crafter was not very forthcoming in the ‘how it was done’ category, so Shelly went to the art store to discover that the candle holders were simply made with polymer clay. Shelly bought one of every color of Sculpey® and went to work. She made darling little figurines of animals, particularly penguins and snowmen which she loves. She often made custom pet figurines for people to remember their own companions.

So, the book, the book … What about the book?

It all started with a video Shelly says. A simple “How To” on the art and science of her work in polymer clay. After presenting the video to Polyform Products company (maker of Sculpey®) they developed a relationship and Shelly began designing toy kits, projects, and also traveled to various trade shows doing demos for them.

During this time, Shelly authored a variety of craft books using Sculpey® clay with Hot Off the Press, a book manufacturer. The opportunity for the book came about with a collaboration between Polyform Products, Hot Off the Press, and Disney®. The idea was a book on creating their well-loved characters using polymer clay. This was an exciting experience for Shelly as she was able to work with infamous Disney® artists. She learned how to take her art form and present it in an exacting and professional manner, which was their standard.

Shelly continued doing polymer characters but started illustrating more and more.  This was her true passion. She taught herself Photoshop®, and was really drawn to the software and how it could be used to express her art.   While she still enjoys making clay figurines for pleasure, her time and focus for her business is now illustrating. 

Shelly begins her design process with simple pencil sketches in her many sketchbooks and begins to doodle away with ideas. Once she is happy with a specific design or character she then simply takes a photo with her IPhone® and opens it in Photoshop® to begin another step in the process.

Step 1 - Sketch and Sketch and Sketch and Sketch

Shelly sketches until something 'looks back' at her. 

She has a super huge Wacom tablet that allows her to meticulously paint every stroke in her illustrations and produce the shading and coloration that she sees in her mind.

Wacom machine that allows every brushstroke to be meticulously placed. 

Office Mate: La La

 So now, she is a designer for Henry Glass. A thriving one at that! Shelly was found at a Surtex® show in New York city, About 25 collections later, fabric is now about 70% of her work. While admitting that she doesn’t sew herself, she is a HUGE fan of seeing what people have made with her work.  

“I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing what others create. That is truly the magic of it all.”  Does she feel a special kinship with her characters, we asked? “100% yes,” Shelly says. “I sketch and sketch until something looks at me and comes alive. I believe there is a little part of me in all the characters I create.”

So what’s the next big thing for Shelly? The next big thing is a whole line of kids décor with wall stickers, and bathroom accessories that aims to be out in 2017. She is excited and expectant, but she says, “it has been a long, slow process.” She is also looking forward to exhibiting once again in New York at the Surtex show in May of this year. 

Is there a downside to having an artistic life?  
"I really cannot call it a downside, for an artist it is great to be busy, but I do have some crazy hours. Deadlines, call outs, and even unexpected opportunities come along which can lead to days, nights, and weekends in the studio designing and painting. The social life does take a bit hit at times." 

Shelly's creative workspac

However, she sums up, “I am a very happy and blessed person. 
I absolutely love what I do everyday, and my studio is really one of my favorite places to be.”

The only thing she confesses to needing is a maid and a social media expert.

“And I need to go put that book in a safe deposit box.”  She laughs. 

Here is a lovely giveaway for this week to win TWO bundles from Shelly's past collections with Henry Glass. 

Stay tuned next Monday too, because Shelly has her own special CUSTOM giveaway planned for the day we launch her next collection, on March 21. 

Designer Spotlight Giveaway of TWO bundles from Shelly Comiskey's lines