Real Life in the Real World -- Paige Smith and Her Bag of Tricks

Ever wonder how some people manage to be so gosh-darn productive all the time?  I sure do.  I've been trying to crack that code for years!  I certainly manage to have boatloads of ideas, but I rarely manage to pull more than 25% of those ideas into something cohesive and tangible.

Thus, I find it fascinating (every now and again) when I stumble upon a true powerhouse, Renaissance character.  I hope you know what I'm talking about here?  I'm talking about that person we "Creative Types" all envy.  That certain unique someone who not only manages to excel in many and varied areas of Creativity, but also manages to excel in Productivity.  The type to get things DONE.

Yes, this week's interview is with a woman from whom we could all learn a thing or two about upping productivity, following through, and being generally fabulous.  She is extremely talented, highly skilled, and quite prolific!  She also happens to have glorious fashion sense.  Without further ado, allow me to introduce small business owner, costume designer, pyro-thespian, and all-around creative-type: Paige Smith!

Name:  Paige Gardner Smith
Age:  47
Location:  Trussville, Alabama
Occupation:  Bookseller / Business Owner (PageBook Media)
Primary Modes of Creative Output:  Costume Art / Theatrical Fire Performance
Self-Description:  I’m a house divided.  I’m a single mother of four, business owner and full-time retail associate during the week, but on various weekends, I travel around the country exhibiting, teaching or promoting ‘Costuming as Art’ within the costuming/cosplay community. (Want more? Visit Paige's Website)

1. Do you consider yourself to be a creative person?  What is your personal description of creativity and/or What are the characteristics of a creative person?  
   
   
   Yes, I do. I define human creativity as the need/ability to construct solutions, responses and or inventions that go beyond those answers/responses that are typically available to fill a functional or artistic void. The characteristics that define a creative person would surely include the active response to these voids with solutions born from the creative process.
   
   
   2.  You design and build (amazing) costumes (specifically steampunk costumes).  How did you first find your way into this intriguing and unusual creative field? 
   
   
   I’ve always been an energetic costumer and fan of anthropomorphic art.  As a student of history and costuming art, the Victorian Futurism of Steampunk was a natural attraction for me.  My venture into creating Victorian Automatons within that genre has been an expression of tweaking human response to slightly inhuman appearance –  a sort of ‘left-of-center’ human mimicry.  (See this article published in B-Metro Magazine for full details on this journey.)
   
   3. What is your creative process like as a costume designer?  Do you plan things out on paper first, or are you more “hands-on” with your approach? 
   
   
   For costumes, I typically do sketches, less as patterns and more to generate new ideas.  The ‘recycling’ of vintage and cast-off items into most of my costumes entails that there is a lot of hands-on experimentation with these items and various art mediums before the piece is actually crafted.
   
   4. What are your primary obstacles as a designer? How do you deal with these blocks and/or obstacles? 
   
   
   My biggest obstacles are my own limits with useful talents like welding, mechanics, leather-working.  But I’m overcoming these obstacles one at a time as I seek other artists and craftsmen to teach me enough of their skills to incorporate them into my ‘toolbox’ of “things I can now do.”
   
   5. Where do you usually look for creative inspiration?
   
   
   I am always looking at natural objects with an eye toward bending it into the ‘slightly unnatural’.  I have found that the human eye/mind is accustomed to certain structure.  When that structure/shape is altered – only slightly – it generates an uncomfortable response and/or a need for closer study.  I’m looking for common objects that can be altered in ways that invoke that discomfort and curiosity in observers.
   
   6. What is a recent moment of victory in your creative life?  
   
   
   One of my costumes (with gear and mask) was selected for a 5-day Exhibition in Atlanta – I’m stoked that it was selected from big field of top designers!  I’m also the director of one of the biggest Steampunk events in the country (The Steampunk Exhibition at DragonCon in Atlanta).  This event showcases some of the best genre builders and artists in the country. Over 1000 people stood in line for 2.5 hours this year to get a peek inside the event.  I’m pretty stoked that TOR publishing took note of this year’s SPEX and mentioned in via their social media channels recently. (LINK to the original story) 
   
   7. What do you think counts as a creative success for you? and/or What do you hope to achieve creatively? 
   
   
   A creative success for me is when I craft something I can’t wait to show/wear.  The response from peers/public is secondary to my own satisfaction with the piece.  Creating something that makes it all the way from conception to premiere with my vision intact, is a success. 

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If you weren't ready to get up, get out, and get moving before, I'm certain that Paige has inspired you to do so!  I am continually bowled over by her abilities as a costumer and impressed by her gumption to get her work out there.

If you'd like to learn more about Paige and her work, visit her Costume Website.  I'd highly recommend a visit.

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