By Owen Lee, Staff Writer
Well renowned internet printmaker Sage Perrott, also known as Haypeep, came to UMass Dartmouth’s Star Store in New Bedford on Thursday, November 16, to share with the community some of her artistic knowledge.
She was hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Visual Foundations Seminar.
The first event of the day was a zine-making workshop at 12:30 p.m., then later on at 6:30 p.m. she held an informational presentation about making art on the internet.
Besides being a printmaker, she is also an adjunct professor and 2D Design Coordinator at Utah State University where she’s been since 2015.
Her brand makes numerous products featuring her art, from clothes and bags to towels and rugs.
Haypeep’s art is identifiable for being monochromatic, making heavy use of the color black to give shape to impish ghosts and so-ugly-they’re-cute monsters.
Her distinctive style makes any piece of art she’s made instantly recognizable. Her merchandise has been a hit internationally, giving her clout as a modern artist.
Her workshop was on how to design and manufacture zines, with some coaching from Haypeep herself. Zines are small, independently-made magazines made for limited distribution.
Haypeep herself created Who Cares? a zine full of her own original art, which has been very successful.
During her presentation, the West Virginian artist gave a personal profile on herself; she revealed her history, her careers in making art and art education, and her inspirations and joys.
She talked to the audience about her experience and education in printmaking.
She got her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from West Virginia University and a Master’s of Fine Arts from Ohio University.
Haypeep grew up in West Virginia with her sister Bryn Perrott, who also grew up to be a contemporary artist.
She also talked about her grandfather’s saying, “Nobody likes it, that’s just the way it is,” and how she uses it as a personal slogan.
Revealing a lot of her personal inspirations from when she was a kid she talked about media influences, particularly Hello Kitty, My Neighbor Totoro, and David the Gnome.
In particular she cited a childhood fascination with merchandise, as a piece of something that can be taken home.
She also told of her love for female heroes in fiction, and her three cats.
Speaking on how far she’s come as an artist and how it’s changed her process, she told The Torch, “I have figured out how to edit now, and I know faster now what is and isn’t working.”
In regards to her current work outside of creating art she commented “I teach a lot of students in Utah. It’s really rewarding actually, they’re really great students.”
Both Haypeep-hosted events were free and open to the general public.
To look at more of Haypeep’s unique and impish art check out http://www.haypeep.com. You can also access the store from there and purchase some of her artwork in a variety of formats, be it t-shirts, mugs, shower curtains and more.