Inspired by nature, children, and fantasy worlds, self-taught hobby artist, Jodie, creates art dolls, paintings, illustrations and more, with the intent of bringing joy to others.

02 August 2019

Designer Spotlight: Wishsong Design

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Self-taught artist, fantasy inspired doll-maker, and maker of many things, Jodie: ‘I love all forms of art and craft and often cannot contain myself to just one form’

My name is Jodie and I run Wishsong Design here on Madeit. I live in sunny Perth, Western Australia with my two mini schnauzer pups and 3 cheeky guinea pigs. I am a solo self-taught artist who enjoys a variety of creative mediums from painting in watercolours and acrylics to sewing one-of-a-kind art dolls and collectible toys, needle felting, jewellery making, dreamcatchers and polymer clay sculpture. I love all forms of art and craft and often cannot contain myself to just one form.

A lineup of unusual suspects: Fluffy ‘yeti’ handmade art dolls in various colours by Wishsong Design

My most popular product by far have been my Yeti's, having sold hundreds over the last few years. Each comes with their own name and story on a character card.

Inspired by nature, children, and fantasy worlds, self-taught hobby artist, Jodie, creates art dolls, paintings, illustrations and more, with the intent of bringing joy to others

I have been selling on Madeit on and off since January 2012. I have also had shops on other large online marketplaces over the years too, however I now exclusively sell only on Madeit. My art is purely a hobby as I have a full-time day job which can be very busy and tiring so my creative pursuits are often limited to weekends and evenings. Art is my passion; I don't know what I would do without it!

Some of Jodie’s craft supplies, art dolls, and illustrations in her Western Australian home studio: ‘I have a range of artworks on the walls that I have collected from other fellow artists who I admire and who provide me with daily inspiration’

My creative workspace is actually a rather humble small enclosed room in my house that is full to the brim with craft supplies and fabric and my personal collection of finished projects I could not part with. I have a range of artworks on the walls that I have collected from other fellow artists who I admire and who provide me daily with inspiration.

Jodie from Wishsong Design at work in her home studio, creating her popular ‘yeti’ art dolls

I have a comfy couch and a table that I work on, all whilst I watch a favourite movie or Netflix. I also have a second room where my computer and large format archival printer lives. This is where my fine art prints are created from my original watercolour paintings.

Tulip, Mushroom, and Violet; three plant-inspired handmade felt art dolls in tiny terracotta pots by Wishsong Design

I am inspired by many things in my creative process. I am a big lover of nature and animals so these usually feature heavily in my drawings and paintings. I am also a fan of some of the low brow art and the 'big eye' girl art so my characters are often depicted with the focus on large pretty eyes.

Fantasy princess and unicorn children’s illustration in progress against a backdrop of colour pencils: ‘My characters are often depicted with the focus on large, pretty eyes’

My love of fantasy also plays a big part in what I create, with unicorns, mermaids and dragons appearing regularly in my work. I love colour so naturally most of my creations are very colourful and bright.

Handcrafted felt hummingbird wall decoration by Wishsong Design

I am inspired by kids too; most of my works these days are children's illustrations and 'cutesy' style art dolls and artist bears.

Fluffy handmade unicorn art dolls in pinks and purples: ‘I am hoping to, in the near future, be able to donate my artwork to children’s hospitals’

I love to create items that bring joy and happiness to people. I am hoping to, in the near future, be able to donate my artwork to children's hospitals and also use the proceeds of the things I sell on Madeit to support various humanitarian aid charities.

Water nymph watercolour painting in progress by Wishsong Design

I have loved drawing since I was a child, and continued to practice my skills throughout my teenage and early adult years. I developed a love for acrylic painting on canvas, mostly realistic detailed animals, with a particular love for African animals including lions, cheetahs, rhinoceros and elephants. As the years went by, I expanded into pet portraiture with chalk pastels and watercolour.

A range of colourful children’s illustrations by Wishsong Design: ‘I was inspired to move into children’s illustration where I could fully explore my imagination’

After completing a short course on storybook illustration, I was inspired to move into children's illustration where I could fully explore my imagination and bring it to life and colour on paper.

Handcrafted pony art doll with pink mane and tail, by Wishsong Design

Then about eight years ago my eyes were opened to the world of online marketplaces for selling handmade goods and so started my journey in selling my work. This further inspired me to start sewing and branching out into other art forms which has led me to where I am today.

Blue fairy fantasy handcrafted art doll with big eyes: ‘As a creator of handmade myself, I know and appreciate the hours of work that goes into every piece’

Handmade, for me, means owning something that an individual (or few individuals) have lovingly created from their own hands, and therefore contains so much more value in my eyes than something that has been mass produced purely for profit.

Pretty pink dream catcher with butterfly detail, handmade by Wishsong Design

Much thought and consideration goes into creating handmade goods, and as a creator of handmade myself I know and appreciate the hours of work that goes into every piece.

Intricately details handmade dragon art doll in purple and teal: ‘Some of the amazing skill that can be seen in handmade antiques has been lost over the years as machinery took over’

I think handmade also brings a little bit of the old ways back, some of the amazing skill that can be seen in handmade antiques has been lost over the years as machinery took over, and so being able to buy handmade where true skill is needed to craft something by hand is so much more valuable to me.

A range of Jodie’s fantasy illustrations and art works

Madeit provides me with an opportunity to share my handmade crafts with the Australian community and provides an increased customer base than selling at stalls alone cannot provide. Although I have sold on other online marketplaces in the past and sold internationally, competition on these websites are too high and you feel drowned in a sea of sellers, fighting just to be seen.

Cute rainbow yeti art doll handmade in Australia by Wishsong Design

Madeit is wonderful in that you are part of an Australian-only art community which gives you opportunities to be seen better and it provides a much simpler online selling process. This enables me to be able to spend more time in creating new works than trying to promote my work.