Interview with Diorama Artist, Teresa of Pilar Originals
by Jason Dirks / Getting Scene / Apr 11.10
Have you ever created a diorama? Not too familiar with them...I wasn't either until I met Teresa of PilarOriginals who creates and sells these wonderful pieces. A diorama is basically a scene with objects that captures a moment in time and we learned about these miniature pieces as well as Teresa and Pilar Originals in our interview with her today.
Meylah: Can you tell us about your craft of creating dioramas and your inspiration to create them?
Teresa: I suppose my inspiration comes from working with my hands, making people laugh, reflect, smile, and think. Getting to use a hot glue gun is also nice. Being able to work small and have lots of stuff in a very little organized space is satisfying. When I create miniature worlds I feel like I'm making mini movies. I'm inspired by seeing something special in little odds and ends, giving disposable trash a new life, and not buying lots of supplies to make something, while keeping more things out of the landfill. I also enjoy making one-of-a-kind art that is affordable so more people can enjoy it.
Meylah: How did you originally get into making dioramas and do you do this full-time?
Teresa: As a child my favorite part of the book report was the 'project' we were required to make. Nearly every time I chose to make a diorama or shadowbox scene. I spent so much time on it, I rarely finished reading the book. While studying sculpture at the University of Washington I made a few large scale dioramas including one entitled Ball Return about what goes on behind the pins at your local bowling alley. All of the components were made from found materials including tons of vintage bowling trophies. I realized just how much fun it was to make and I wanted to make more. After college my studio shrunk from a foundry and wood shop to a closet, so naturally my art shrunk too. My very first mini diorama was inspired by my best friend Kerry (and current business partner for the greeting cards brand, Pilar Orignals) and it was entitled 'someday we'll be neighbors'. I only make dioramas full-time when I have a show coming up, but I also love to create miniature environments and characters for stop motion animation projects. I'm currently looking for more gigs in L.A. and the Pacific NW doing this.
Meylah: Do you currently sell your work online or mostly through exhibitions? Where can we find you next?
Teresa: In the past I have sold all of my work through exhibitions. However, I have also sold my pieces accidentally online when sending out announcements for my shows with pictures attached. I've had an online portfolio for a couple years, but am finally making the jump to online sales of my original dioramas as well as greeting cards of their images under the brand Pilar Originals. They are both available at Pilar Originals and my Etsy Shop.
Meylah: In addition to your website, do you incorporate social media tools like Facebook or Flickr to promote your work?
Teresa: So far the only social networking promotion I've done is on Facebook. I made a PilarOriginals Facebook Fan Page and when ever I update my websites, I send an automatic announcement to my wall. I've also embedded a Fan Page and Share link to Facebook on our Pilar Originals website.
Meylah: How did you learn how to make dioramas and have you ever thought about teaching how to create them?
Teresa: I think making dioramas is something I learned very young. I probably learned most of my resourceful creativity skills from watching my mom make crafts as a child. She was always turning trash, bits, and pieces into amazing art projects that she would often sell at the local boutique store. She handed me a hot glue gun very young and from there I was off! My brother made me an amazing doll house for my birthday once, but I had no furniture. So I began making it...i would collect the plastic pizza savers that came in the box while at pizza parties, then i would turn them into beautiful end tables and towels racks. I've taught art at summer camps and after school programs in the past so I suppose I could definitely teach people how to make dioramas someday.
Meylah: Do you have any final thoughts for us today? What will we see next?
Teresa: I'm having a lot of fun making a whole new body of dioramas and recently had an Exhibition and Art Show this past March in Venice, CA. Please visit my website for more details on future shows and visit Pilar Originals to buy my dioramas and tons of awesome sustainable diorama greeting cards.
Meylah: Thank you Teresa for introducing us to the art of dioramas and sharing your story!
Have you ever created a diorama? Not too familiar with them...I wasn't either until I met Teresa of PilarOriginals who creates and sells these wonderful pieces. A diorama is basically a scene with objects that captures a moment in time and we learned about these miniature pieces as well as Teresa and Pilar Originals in our interview with her today.
Meylah: Can you tell us about your craft of creating dioramas and your inspiration to create them?
Teresa: I suppose my inspiration comes from working with my hands, making people laugh, reflect, smile, and think. Getting to use a hot glue gun is also nice. Being able to work small and have lots of stuff in a very little organized space is satisfying. When I create miniature worlds I feel like I'm making mini movies. I'm inspired by seeing something special in little odds and ends, giving disposable trash a new life, and not buying lots of supplies to make something, while keeping more things out of the landfill. I also enjoy making one-of-a-kind art that is affordable so more people can enjoy it.
Meylah: How did you originally get into making dioramas and do you do this full-time?
Teresa: As a child my favorite part of the book report was the 'project' we were required to make. Nearly every time I chose to make a diorama or shadowbox scene. I spent so much time on it, I rarely finished reading the book. While studying sculpture at the University of Washington I made a few large scale dioramas including one entitled Ball Return about what goes on behind the pins at your local bowling alley. All of the components were made from found materials including tons of vintage bowling trophies. I realized just how much fun it was to make and I wanted to make more. After college my studio shrunk from a foundry and wood shop to a closet, so naturally my art shrunk too. My very first mini diorama was inspired by my best friend Kerry (and current business partner for the greeting cards brand, Pilar Orignals) and it was entitled 'someday we'll be neighbors'. I only make dioramas full-time when I have a show coming up, but I also love to create miniature environments and characters for stop motion animation projects. I'm currently looking for more gigs in L.A. and the Pacific NW doing this.
Meylah: Do you currently sell your work online or mostly through exhibitions? Where can we find you next?
Teresa: In the past I have sold all of my work through exhibitions. However, I have also sold my pieces accidentally online when sending out announcements for my shows with pictures attached. I've had an online portfolio for a couple years, but am finally making the jump to online sales of my original dioramas as well as greeting cards of their images under the brand Pilar Originals. They are both available at Pilar Originals and my Etsy Shop.
Meylah: In addition to your website, do you incorporate social media tools like Facebook or Flickr to promote your work?
Teresa: So far the only social networking promotion I've done is on Facebook. I made a PilarOriginals Facebook Fan Page and when ever I update my websites, I send an automatic announcement to my wall. I've also embedded a Fan Page and Share link to Facebook on our Pilar Originals website.
Meylah: How did you learn how to make dioramas and have you ever thought about teaching how to create them?
Teresa: I think making dioramas is something I learned very young. I probably learned most of my resourceful creativity skills from watching my mom make crafts as a child. She was always turning trash, bits, and pieces into amazing art projects that she would often sell at the local boutique store. She handed me a hot glue gun very young and from there I was off! My brother made me an amazing doll house for my birthday once, but I had no furniture. So I began making it...i would collect the plastic pizza savers that came in the box while at pizza parties, then i would turn them into beautiful end tables and towels racks. I've taught art at summer camps and after school programs in the past so I suppose I could definitely teach people how to make dioramas someday.
Meylah: Do you have any final thoughts for us today? What will we see next?
Teresa: I'm having a lot of fun making a whole new body of dioramas and recently had an Exhibition and Art Show this past March in Venice, CA. Please visit my website for more details on future shows and visit Pilar Originals to buy my dioramas and tons of awesome sustainable diorama greeting cards.
Meylah: Thank you Teresa for introducing us to the art of dioramas and sharing your story!
