Image: Whale Tale Art
Tell me more about your craft?
I create ocean art, mainly in watercolours. Most of my stuff is marine life so whales, dolphins and sea turtles etc but penguins are always a favourite at events! The idea behind it is to try to raise awareness of plastic pollution in the oceans through art and 10% of profits will be donated to marine conservation charities.
When did you find out you were good at it?
I studied Fine Art at university so I always knew I wanted to do something arty afterwards but I only really started with the watercolour whales last summer. After a bit of experimentation, I decided to set up social media pages which seemed to get a great response so I followed with a website so people could buy work directly from there.
Why did you decide to turn into a business?
I had already been working as a pet portrait and animal artist for 18 months after finishing university but I wanted a bit of a change and to experiment with a new style. I could see a gap in the market for watercolour ocean art and as I was already a practising artist it made it quite easy to set it up alongside my other stuff.
Image: Whale Tale Art
Tell us more about the process, the step by step process of your craft- From the concept to the final product.
I start with deciding on a subject then spend some time looking through photos for reference. Once it’s all sketched out I always start with a layer of water first then add the paint to that as I love the effect it gives, letting the paint do its own thing. I often use sea salt on the surface and then just build up layers until it looks ready. Finally, I finish off with some final details in ink and some splashes and frame ready to go to its new home!
Where do you sell your product?
I sell my stuff online, but also sell at markets and events, and through my studio and the gift shop at Allendale Forge Studios.
Have you noticed a rise in crafters and people buying creations?
Yeah, I think social media is making it a lot easier for people to share their work online which is great. There also seems to be a rise in online market places too which makes it easier for crafters to get their work out there.
Image: Whale Tale Art
What is the crafting industry like?
It’s tough! But I’ve met so many lovely people in markets, and events and everyone always support each other which is really nice.
Do you recommend people starting up their own crafting creations and turning it into a business?
Yes absolutely, although I think that if you do it’s something you have to be really passionate about. You have to put in the hours and there will be ups and downs along the way, but if it’s something you’re really passionate about then the good will always outweigh the bad.
You can find Whale Tail Art on
Facebook – facebook.com/whaletailarts
Gemma's Journey 