Seven Questions is a section of Newsnibbles where we ask one of our Twitter followers seven questions (duh). Because we do it via email they are free to
answer in more that 140 characters, which is nice.
This week we are catching up with Lisa Borden, or @spoiledfelinesart as we know her, to find out how she gets away burning things for a living!
1. Why call yourself “spoiled feline”?
It’s a long story … but to make it short … I already had a small following with the handle “spoiledfelines” on etsy … and wanted to make sure that I didn’t lose my following … so I figured embrace the “crazy cat lady” label and go with it – spoiled felines art.
2. We have noticed that a lot of your art is done on wood. What is involved in creating a wooden artwork? Do you work in other mediums too?
It’s actually a family business … my dad has been woodcarving for years, and when I got laid off about 1-1/2 years ago, he suggested that it might keep be busy while looking for another job. Well, I really like woodburning, or as it’s called in the trade – pyro art … I like that … it sounds so deviant! But I also sew, my mom taught me when I was young, and she used to make my clothes … then when I was older, I made my clothes for work.To do woodburning, which is my fav, I get a flat piece of wood, which I still get my dad’s opinion on whether or not it’s good for burning, … then it needs to be sanded … once sanded … I transfer a design on … once that’s done I can woodburn … turn the machine on and then it’s like painting, except with a hot pen.
3. Whilst we do have some cat readers, the majority are dogs, do you have any art that would appeal to them?
I think the dog’s would love the woodcarved ducks … and I also have a picture of a retriever with a duck in its mouth that I want to do on a plaque … just haven’t gotten to it yet … since it’s all done by hand … it can be time consuming!
4. What are you most proud of?
At the moment … I think would be the decision to walk the road less traveled … being an artist/artisan rather than working a 9 – 5 job … I’m happier because I feel free!
5. You’re throwing a dinner party for 
people you have never met, what do you pick as the first topic of conversation, and why?
I think I would probably start off with “Hi … I’m Lisa … and I’m a pyro-artist … I love to burn wood” “What do you like to do?” When I get asked what I do now, I say that and people are shocked … I like the shock value because then people laugh and I think it puts them more at ease … that I’m not a snob … I’m a down to earth person!
6. Pet Couture, pro or con?
For cats … no, not if you want to have all 5 fingers!
7. Imagine you have to create a piece of 
art that sums up you and your style, what do you create and why?
I write what I call poems and then put them on pictures that I take … it’s hard to pick one … if you want something uplifting I would say “Unconditional Love”, but if you want something that’s rips your heart out, it would be “Lost Loves” and “My Wild Child” …I have several up on my etsy shop for sale, and have had numerous emails from people who have read them and had to contact me because of them … It’s been said … pain makes great art … and I have been told that they can tell it’s real because they could feel my lived experience – my pain and heartache.
Well, if you’d like to see more from our spoiled feline friend, you can by visiting her etsy shop.
And if you’d like to answer 7 Questions then get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. Well, maybe not love, but we wouldn’t run away screaming, which says something for us, right?
