Today we’d like to introduce you to Randa Mortensen.
Hi Randa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always loved small toys—“little pretties” is what my Mom called them. I leaned toward being a toy maker in a vague, dreamish way through my high school and college years until I met my mentor, Thomas Davies. He taught me several methods I thought could bring my visions to life, so I had to try them! In 2018 my first art toy was born; from there, it was experimenting and seeing what worked. My brother Jarod and I started vending at local shows and honing our various crafts. Around this time, I discovered the Art Toy community online through several artists on Instagram. It’s a thriving movement in Japan, Thailand, and Singapore, and at the time, larger cities in the U.S. like New York and Los Angeles. We are lucky to have a dedicated Art Toy shop in Kansas City! BubbleWrapp has brought something I had only ever seen on my computer screen to my fingertips. From 2018 to now, I have been working on different creatures in my free time, including the GrumpBee. Cute with a constant upset expression, it’s a piece about permitting others to feel “negative” emotions outwardly instead of feeling like one has to perform happiness even when they are not. My newest creations are the NunBuns—odd, uncanny bunnies that still manage to be adorable. I made them able to withstand travel so they might accompany their owners on adventures. I like to make art that is accessible and portable. The questions that come up when a piece speaks to you are important. Everyone should be able to engage with those questions, no matter who they are. That’s one of the things art is best at, bringing up interesting thoughts from the murky depths of the mind. Currently, my shop is all online, with in-person shows when they arise. Summertime is nearly here, which means many outdoor markets and craft shows! I have several new projects, including a Queen GrumpBee, a few more Bunny-adjacent creatures, and some Mushroom Folk.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been challenging; sometimes, I didn’t work on things for months. Other things took priority, or I needed to know the next step. However, my road has been smoother than most, and the bumps usually taught me something, so I am grateful for that.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Making tiny cute things is an obsession for me. I specialize in small sculptures and tend towards pastel colors and pinks. I also love a good fruit motif and pieces themed on holidays.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I always loved fashion and bright colors. I felt like a strange child, but now everyone probably feels that way, so I couldn’t tell you if I was. Art class was nearly always my favorite, and I loved a good story. Books, manga, anime, and movies were a big part of my life when I was younger.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeminiDesignShop
- Instagram: @thegeminidesignshop
Image Credits
Randa Mortensen
