This is my new blog, where I plan to share more about myself, my business/art, crafting tips & tricks, as well as DIY tutorials (especially upcycling projects). Since this is my first and introductory post, I figured this would be the best time and place to provide a tiny bit more information about myself and my shop, so here we go!
Hello there, I’m Katie Duker, the founder and creator of Dazy Duker’s Artisan Designs. When I’m not experimenting creatively or working on a new project, I’m working as an art instructor for adults with disabilities; but in my free time, I particularly love traveling and learning. At the start of July 2022, after years of honing my artistic hobby skills, I finally committed myself to creating and sharing one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces of art (including accessories and home décor) inspired by my travels and the environment/sustainability*; with hopes that I’ll inspire others to treat themselves or someone else to a unique gift.
*I plan on writing a detailed post about how I try to limit waste and re-use as much single-use items as possible, from production through packaging, in the near future*
Growing up, to some teachers’ and peers’ surprise, I was a good student in school, as I spent much of my time in class doodling in my notebook or drawing on the back of my hand. In fact, this is how I earned my nickname, and ultimately the moniker for my shop, “Dazy Duker”. However, the fact that I still performed well academically came as no surprise those who understood how different students learn and/or cope with various challenges; and these educators often admired my work and encouraged me to continue.
The primary thing I’d draw was mandalas (freehand with pen on the back of my hand**), and eventually educators, friends, and family all convinced me to start creating more permanent works on paper.
**I also plan to post more details about the history of and my process for creating mandala designs in the future**
Despite pursuing the sciences academically, earning my BA in Neuroscience from Colorado College and MS in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida, I have always had a passion for all forms of art and have experimented with a vast array of mediums for the past 20+ years. I don’t believe that art and science are mutually exclusive: I’ve always found ways to connect or overlap the two, whether it be studying the influence of arts training on emotion regulation or applying my love for experimentation to different mediums and styles of art. Because of my curiosity and love of problem solving combined with my passion for art, I especially love the opportunity to work with individuals on creating personalized products/the perfect gift, so I encourage you to reach out about commissioning a specific new project!
While I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of everything I wanted to share about me and my background, I wanted to keep this as short and sweet as possible. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about me/my history, the shop, my processes, etc. let me know in the comments and I’d love to reply or cover it in a new post!
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