My Name is Amy Farrell and I am the creator
of After Many Years. I make light shades and mobiles inspired by the patterns and shapes of magical
palaces. I have always had a love
for drawing, designing and making.
I have spent the last
10 years as an Art Teacher In the UK and Western Australia, during this time
I’ve spent a lot of time dreaming about all the creations I could make while
encouraging and helping my students create their own.
My label has been in operation for 4
months, during this time I have had a market stall at the Illuminites Christmas
Night Markets and the recent Perth Upmarket, I have had a lot of positive
feedback, which is really encouraging and humbling. One of my designs will be
featured in the May edition of Australian House and Garden Magazine; I am so
excited to see my work in such a renowned publication!!
I am currently studying Graphic Design at
Central Institute of Technology, Teaching and working at The Butcher Shop
Northbridge. These three roles which I love and enjoy all feed and inspire my
creations for After Many Years, I feel lucky to have the opportunity to study
for “the second time round” I’ve been able to develop my design skills which
has ultimately enabled me to create the lights and mobiles I’m making today.
During my time working in London in a
demanding inner city school, a man, who at the time I thought was quite odd and
strange asked me if my parents had waited for many years to have me. I though
this to be an odd question to which I replied, “No I don’t think so?” The man
then proceeded to tell me that Amy was an acronym for After Many Years. I held
on to the idea as using this name for something I might make one day, I always
thought it might be a children’s book of some type with whimsical
illustrations. At the time I was working in a stressful job and I had forgotten
that creating and making once made me happy. Sometimes dreams and inspirations
take a while to permeate through our fingers, I love seeing the name After Many
Years written on my work, it reminds me to dream, create and believe.
Designing my pieces is a process which can
never really be measured by time, I have recently been looking at my photos
from my honeymoon in India, the organic lines of the buildings, the curves
people make with their bodies while dancing have inspired me to sketch designs.
I then like to make paper maquette of each of my designs, hanging them in my
house to let the idea breathe. Most of the time I then cut re draw re cut then
re hang....I live in a world of hanging paper shapes! Once I’m happy I then
have my designs laser cut and hand paint each piece.
I am very lucky to have a very good friend
who is an electrician and has over seen the technical side of my lighting, my
husband is also incredibly supportive and helpful with my new creative venture
as are my lecturers and friends and Central Institute of Technology.
I believe in nurturing local creative
talent in Perth There are so many talented people in our city who design,
manufacture and make their products locally. Montage Collective is an amazing
group of talented local people, I feel really excited to be part of the next up
coming Pop Up shop on Perth’s creative mile- William Street Northbridge.
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