Michaela Vae Walton
Where are you from and how does that affect your work?
Hi! I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Growing up I was surrounded by nature, whether it was our big magnolia tree in our backyard that served as the safe zone in a game of tag or the wide open woods of my grandparents house, knee high grass, trees, and flowers surrounded me. Nature feels like home and it affects every aspect of my work. I see my art in nature, the textures, the colors, the movement, how the wind bends and sways the plants. When creating with flowers I try to embody nature's natural movements and textures. What I grew up surrounded by is in every aspect of my art.
That sounds like an absolutely beautiful place to grow up. Who are your biggest artistic influences?
My biggest artistic influences are my mom and grandmother, the two of them instilled in me a love of flowers. They owned their own floral and home décor business called The Town Peddler. Their creativity and way of viewing the world shapes who I am. Seeing beauty in a weed, how a stick can create movement in an arrangement, how statement flowers should be in odd numbers, and that everything always needs a touch of red. They are the strongest and bravest people and I owe all that I am to them.
How do you define success as an artist?
I think success is defined by being able to create. I feel success when I finish an arrangement or when I feel in the groove while creating a wreath. My idea of success is doing what I love. When I am in my garage making things with my hands, I feel an immense amount of joy, often skipping into my house yelling, “I’m so happy!” and I really am, that to me is success.
Does your art help you in other areas of your life?
My art helps me in every aspect of my life. I find myself always looking for inspiration, I love seeing plants growing from the concrete, I think the way they grow wild and free anywhere is inspiring, it helps remind me in life that everything will be okay and to always grow wherever you find yourself planted.
How have you developed your skill at your craft?
People always say practice makes perfect and it's true, the more times I create something the better it gets. I have been creating things with flowers for years and the work is always improving. I also read a lot, I have many books on flowers, the art of wreaths, flower recipe books etc, and they are filled with techniques and practices that better shape my work. Also, a lot of hours spent on pinterest, I think it's wonderful to see other people's work and skill, it is inspiring and there is so much to learn from others.
What is the hardest part of your creation process?
The hardest part of my creation process is often the final small details, I work with delicate subject matter, dry flowers can break or crumble and it is a material that needs to be handled with care. It’s the last little details that are often the hardest parts, intricately threading a piece can be tedious and time consuming but it is in those little details that really count.
How has your style changed over time?
My style has definitely become more wild with time, I love a lot of movement in my pieces and the wild bits of palm or curly willow sticking out have become a signature for me. At first I was focused on how I can cover this wreath form and with time and experience it has become more about how I can make this product look like it's been blown by the wind or about how different textures of flowers accentuate the other.
What’s the best thing about being an artist?
The best thing about being an artist is the joy I have in self expression. I pour out who I am into every piece I create, everything I make is a little love letter. It’s the best feeling in the world to be making something with the idea that it will spark joy for someone else. A little kindness, a smile, a happy tear, I feel all those things in being an artist and it's my life's greatest joy to share it.
What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?
My favorite thing I have ever created is this wreath I made a few years ago for my mom. I foraged the greenery from her backyard and made it sitting in my parents driveway. It still hangs in their living room. I love it because it was early on in my journey of wreath making and it's made from home for the person who inspired it all. It has a peacock feather (which wasn’t foraged!) that represents my mawmaw, and I will always love this little wreath. It has taken me a few years to get where I am now but this wreath is filled with love and gratitude to my mom.
What do you love most about Burbank?
Burbank is my home. I live here and I love it deeply. I love that Burbank feels like a small neighborhood in the middle of a big city. I love that Burbank celebrates small business and community. My full time profession is an Assistant Director in the film industry so I love that work can sometimes just be a short drive from home. I love that Burbank was a safe space for my boyfriend and I when we first came to LA (before even officially moving here). Burbank is truly my happy place, on Magnolia everyday can be Halloween, the mountains make me feel as if I live in the Shire, and some of the greatest stories ever told are made down the street.
Anything special you’d like to share?
All of my creations are made with recycled flowers, they start as fresh arrangements and are then dried out in my garage, my vases are recycled cans that I patchwork. I'm doing my best to make art more sustainable. I hope that it can bring you a smile, a small bit of joy that feels like home. My art is intended to make us all check in and ask, how are you bud?
See How are you Bud in person at the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival on June 3rd & 4th!
Instagram: how.are.you.bud
