Today we visit the eclectic, eccentric world of Andree Dupree of Blue Bird Art. Make sure you check out her artwork and vintage clothing on Etsy.
1. On your shop profile you state that you grew up with a swamp as your backyard. How do you draw inspiration from your childhood experiences?
Handmade paper blank book and Talk it Out drawing
I spent a lot of time in “make believe” world growing up- pretending that the giant cypress trees were castles; searching for dinosaur fossils and eggs, trying to catch swamp fairies with “fairy nests”….that sort of stuff. I’d use the clay from around the yard to create sculptures, often collecting the above-ground crawfish “tunnels” to use in my creations. My earliest memories are pulling wet clay out from under the cypress trees, making “cakes” with little drawings etched in and leaving them to dry in the sun.
2. I love that you source your art materials from The Green Project! Do you have a particular idea when shopping for supplies or do you let the pieces form from found materials?
It really just depends on my budget and my available space. I really get excited about good deals. Sometimes I spot things (giant rolls of paper)that get my heart racing…then I have to take a deep breath and remind myself of the size of my apartment and workspace. I’m pretty much a hoarder when it comes to art supplies…I have paints and pastels that I’ve been using on and off since high school 10 years ago…a lot of very tiny bits of things that I like to use until the very end. Generally when I buy new supplies I have a ballpark idea of what I’m looking for; but I don’t really buy new supplies very often.
Sexy eighties underlala and Timid
3. You have an interesting theme of selling vintage clothing and dinosaurs on your site. Can you tell us how you select your clothing items and subject matter?
As of now, all of the vintage clothing on my etsy site comes from the same source: “Hy Fashion’s, The Naughty Corner”. It was a little boutique in Houma,LA that went out of business last year after Hurricane Ike, after having been open since the 60’s. I have a delightful array of vintage clothing and accessories, that I’ve collected through the years from various places (thrift stores, junk shops, old lady’s closets, estate sales, etc.). A lot of the pieces have never been worn, but have been kept as “art objects”. I’m finally to the point where space has become an issue, and I’m also preparing for the birth of my first child in March…so I’m beginning to do a bit of “downsizing” to make way for reality!
My subject matter is directly inspired by my childhood. I was always amazed to see alligators, armadillos, egrets and crawfish (creatures that look like direct descendants of dinosaurs) making their homes around my home. The dinosaur images I use are a bit more “cutesy” than the real deal, which I think speaks to something about wanting to tame or control unpleasant things in life.
Bold bright eighties vest
4. Your work sends an eco friendly message in terms of materials used. Is that a deliberate effort on your part?
For a while I didn’t even think to mention the fact that I was using re-purposed materials in my work. It was just something that I had always done. I was brought up to repair and/or reuse old things instead of buying new things; that “don’t waste” mentality has definitely stayed with me.
5. Define southern style.
Dressing for the weather! Waiting all year for those few weeks of cold (or cool) to break out the amazing vintage polyester pieces and getting creative with hot weather wear!
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