Monday Spotlight On: Amber Whitney Of UnicornEmpirePrints

If you've been paying any attention at all to this blog of late, you know I've developed a wee-bit of an obsession with that sexy, TARDIS-owning Time Lord,  Dr. Who.   So when I inadvertently stumbled across Amber's shop, rife with paper dolls of Doctors Ten and Eleven and some companions as well, not to mention other awesome paper goods based on BBC's "Sherlock" (which, if you have not seen, you should probably get on Netflix and watch right now because it is awesome), I had to interview her.  Luckily, she kindly obliged.

Doctor Ten Paper Doll

Amber, tell us three things about yourself, we might not know.
I am a natural ginger, I live in Alaska and yes I do have internet in my igloo. (I cannot see Russia though).

That's a shame.  Perhaps we should get you a high-powered telescope.  But in the meantime, what’s your medium and how did you get into it?
I guess most everything is my medium; so long as it's 2D art. I only passed 3D in college because I was so pathetic my professor took pity on me and my superglue covered hands. When I was in highschool I thought that I'd only ever draw and use Photoshop, but for the last few years I've started teaching myself gouache, block printing and carving, paper cutting, watercolor and bookmaking. Usually once I've figured out how to make something that I think looks good enough I feel like it's time to move on to the next medium; I've got my sights set on pastels.

You're a lot like me in that sense.  I personally prefer chalk over oil pastels.  What’s your favorite thing you’ve made in one of the many mediums you've tried?
It's usually the latest thing I've made, and even then after a few days I'm ready for a new favorite. Currently it's my Amy Pond paper doll though, I rather like how she turned out.

Doctor Eleven and Amy Pond Paper Dolls

From where do you take inspiration?
Lately I take a lot of inspiration from Dr. Who and Sherlock Holmes. I was never much into fan art in highschool or college, but the art that I did make was never for me exactly. I wound up making paintings and sketches for friends of mine in college who liked things like Batman and it made me a lot happier making something for somebody else than something I made for myself. I still draw a lot of my own stuff but it usually doesn't end up finished.

Name one piece of art you wish you’d created and why?
Anything by Mucha. Art Nouveau is by and large my favorite style, anything with ornate swirls and patterns just blows my mind, I love it. I'd also take anything by Eyvind Earle, who was the background artist on Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Phenomenal artwork and skill!

I totally agree with you. I did a Treasury Tuesday on this blog, all dedicated to Art Nouveau finds on Etsy and my last LTMR Wednesday had Dr. Who-nouveau.  What are you doing when you’re not crafting?
I work as a designer a wholesale art distributor here in Juneau so I do work full time, I also take care of my little sister Brenna and our three dogs and two cats.

Ninety Mile Waterfall Gouache Painting

Tell us about a time you were making something that came out better than expected and how it happened.
My very first block carving came out a lot better than I thought it would, but I think that's because it's pretty hard to mess up a block carving so long as you're careful and put a lot of forethought into what you want to be positive and negative.

Who is one person living or dead, famous or not, who you wish owned one of your creations and why?
It would delight me to know end to know that Leonard Nimoy had something that I made, it would seriously be the most awesome thing ever.

What an interesting choice.  How would you explain how to do what you do to an eight year old?
I make stuff! It's fun, you should try it.

You explore so many mediums and create so much cool stuff. What’s your favorite part of the process?
Usually my favorite part is finishing it up. Once something is completed I feel pretty good about at least having finished it. Like a lot of artists I suffer from never-completing-it-itus rather often.

Which is your favorite Dr. Who and why?
I'm not sure if it's just that it's been so long since I saw David Tennant or what, but right now Matt Smith is my favorite Doctor. I also adore Amy Pond and all her kickass gingerness!

One random thing you think people should know.
In the end it won't matter how much money you made, but how much fun you had. And not what everyone around you thinks is fun, or kodak-moment fun, but what YOU enjoy.

Elementary, My Dear Watson - Book

Where can people find you so they, too, may own awesome Dr. Who paper dolls and Sherlock alphabet books?
Etsy: http://www.unicornempireprints.etsy.com
Website: http://www.amberwhitney.com

One last question for my fellow Dr. Who lover. If you could be a character in fiction, who would you be?
Probably Arthur from Inception, and why? Why not! That boy is definitely easy on the eyes. Also, he gets to wear suits, which seems pretty rockin' to me.

Thanks so much for your time, Amber.  As Doctor Ten, would say, "Allons-y!"