By Cher Pearson


Zoe Cattell owns and operates Big Buzz Designs located in West- minster, British Columbia. There she creates some delightful 3D art using foam, as well as airbrushed murals. She is a delightful person and new mom to her 8 month old son, Jesse. Many times carvings are created, but are somehow lacking in character. Not true with Zoe’s work she certainly has the gift which enables her to give each design its own individual, spark and appeal.


Like so many young people when she went out on her own to make a living she faced many hurdles. She attended a trade school to learn the welding trade. After doing the work experience part of the session, she decided that welding really was not as she thought. To quote Zoe: “Welding wasn’t as glamorous as “Flash Dance” made it seem”. She worked a waitress job while she continued searching for just the right opportunity. She knew she wanted to help people and she loved art so she kept applying for these types of jobs, hop- ing someone would take a chance on her. She finally decided to start her own small business making small candle holders, incense holders and other small carved items. While buying sculpting sup- plies she struck up a conversation with the clerk about the inten- tions for the supplies she was purchasing. That is when fate or destiny came into play. The clerk told her of a commercial artist in the area and gave Zoe his card, which she dismissed as, “he will not hire me”. A few months later Zoe came upon that same artist


Here is more of my conversation with Zoe.


(C) How many years have you worked in the art field? (Z) Since I was twenty one so eight years now.


(C) Have you had any formal art training besides on the job with Peter?


(Z) No, I have hundreds of art books I‘ve collected over the years. My collections include books on tonal values, perspective and technical stuff like that. I would’ve loved to go to art school, but never did. I took welding at BCIT (our local trade school) instead. I knew I was more mechanically inclined than I was studious. I was thinking of how I was going to make my living, I never imagined I would be carving “tiki trash cans” only a few months out of BCIT.


(C) What types of materials do you use? Can you use any foam or is it a special type?


(Z) It all depends on the application I use ESP for large sculpts. Trymer foam for large yet detailed sculpts and clay when I have to make a small sculpture, or sculptures from which molds will be made. You wouldn’t want to use EPS to carve a small detailed sculpture (EPS doesn’t render detail well) and you wouldn’t want to use clay for a large less detailed sculpture, as it take way to long and would be extremely heavy.


(C) Do you use special tools to do your carving? (Z) Yes, I use hot wire cutting tools that I’ve made myself. (I had to electrocute myself a few times before I decided I had a good design). I have a giant hot wire table that I built, my third but I think this one is a keeper! I also use various power tools; chain


and decided to introduce herself. The artist, Peter Grant, told her he had already hired someone. However, she should drop off her resume’ anyway and invited her to hang around the studio to ob- serve the work. After a few months the original apprentice quit to go paint motorcycles and she was hired. Peter taught Zoe everything from maintenance to mold making while she worked with him. The job was tough and sometimes daunting, but she absorbed it all, al- ways waiting to learn more. Zoe tells me that it was one of the most challenging things she has done artistically, but she fell in love with the sculpting of foam. One day she walked in and was told that she would be expected to paint the carvings and was given an airbrush. That was the first time she had ever touched an airbrush, it proved more difficult than she imagined. Her teacher was as meticulous as he was strict in his expectations of Zoe. However, instead of mak- ing her want to give up it made her try even harder. She went in an hour early and stayed an hour late everyday until she mastered the airbrush. She turned her frustration to satisfaction by refusing to give into it. After working with Peter for two years Zoe had the opportunity for a job paying substantially more money. Peter gave her his blessing and she moved on. Zoe gives a lot of the credit for her success today to Peter all that he taught her. This firecracker of a young woman has gone from not knowing what she wanted in life to a very talented artist, doing what she loves and creating some outstanding carved art and murals.


saws, grinders, sanders, reciprocating saws and also a variety of hand tools; rasps, saws. I also use three “Olfa” knives that I carry with me at all times on a custom made tool belt. Of course, I can’t forget my trusty sandpaper.


(C) What type of airbrushes and paints do you use? (Z) I use an Iwata Eclipse, bottom feed airbrush. I have a custom Micron C but I’ve only used it once it’s just not practical for what I do. I also use a couple of pot guns for very large areas. I have a DeVilbiss gravity feed and two cheap suction feed guns.


(C) Do you have to base coat the foam, prior to painting? (Z) Yes. This is a very important step, I have to coat the foam according to the application. Is the piece going inside or out? Is the piece going to be at contact level? Does the client wish to achieve a flawless finish with an unlimited budget or is the client not worried about a smooth surface, the sign will be up high and their interested in getting as much bang for their buck as possible. These are the types of considerations I have to take into account before I quote a project also.


(C) Do you apply all of your paint with an airbrush? (Z) Sometimes I use different techniques depending on the de- sired effect. Sponging, brushing, dripping just depends what the client prefers as far as a finished look.


(C) Do you have to apply sealers to the foam? (Z) Yes. Depending on the surface, on a urethane sculpture I’ll apply an automotive primer made by Endura.


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