For Crystal, every sculpture begins with a feeling.
What started as painting whimsical, spooky characters as a form of personal therapy gradually evolved into sculpting them in clay—giving shape to emotions, memories, and imagined stories. Each handmade creature becomes more than a character; it becomes a reflection of lived experiences, resilience, and the healing power of creativity.
In this interview, she shares how her painted characters found new life in three dimensions, the role storytelling plays in her work, and why every sculpture carries a piece of her own journey.
Where the Characters Begin
What first inspired you to start creating handmade clay characters? Do you remember the first piece that made you realize this was something you wanted to keep doing?
I started creating art by painting creepy characters with watercolor in 2016. At that time it was only for myself and form of therapy. My spooky little characters I painted were my inspiration behind my desire to create with clay. I wanted to bring them to life in a 3 dimensional way and my first sculpt was of my Creep Monster character I once painted. I'm so glad I kept him because he is my first of thousands of whimsical creatures I would sculpt! He is very special to me.
What role does storytelling play in your creations?
I believe that every art piece tells a story, artists are very creative storytellers! For me, a lot of what I feel inside is connected to what I create and the art becomes my voice. It is a narration of my lived experiences and how I have managed to live through good times and bad.
How do new character ideas usually come to you? Are your characters inspired by specific themes, emotions, or moments?
All of the above! Most of my art comes from emotion and the moments in my life that have had me swimming in an ocean of them. The snowman characters I have created came at a time when I was experiencing a very deep depression and I was not in the holiday spirit. I also had been reading a lot of Poe and Dickens at that time. One night I just started sculpting these very melancholy snowman characters dressed in Victorian clothes, sitting atop a small stack of books. They were very well received and it was cathartic for me to see my creations give others such joy! My depression lifted later that week and I have those sad little snowman to thank.
Could you share your favorite piece of work at this stage and introduce it briefly?
That's so difficult because I honestly get very excited about all my creations. I guess if I had to absolutely choose ONE though it would probably be the witches hat I painted with acrylic paints in the style of Johanna Parker and her characters. I have been a collaborating artist with Johanna Parker since 2017 for her Partners In Craft Collection. This is a group of artists she has selected to work with that create handmade art pieces inspired by her original designs. Last year after having just lost my dad to cancer I poured myself into my art and spent days painting a cardboard witches hat I picked up from Michael's craft store. It was the first art piece I did after losing my dad and had profound meaning for me. I could feel his presence guiding me to paint it.
What keeps character-based art exciting for you?
It's the challenge, but also the fun of being able to create something out of nothing everyday. Somedays I will admit I can't get into the zone, but then there is this "ah ha!" moment that hits me at 2 in the morning when the world is asleep and I feel like a mad magician creating something in a frenzy of excitement!
Shaping Tiny Worlds
What do you enjoy most about working with clay?
Honestly, just being able to work with my hands. I know that sounds cliche but it's the truth. It's almost like a fidget toy for me and keeps me calm and focused for hours.
What details are most important when bringing a character to life?
I love to add a lot of tiny details to my characters but I think the defining features are the button eyes, nose and the stitching details. I have been doing these three things on my character sculpts since I began in 2017 and they are a key element to the Spookshow Babe style!
How do you balance cuteness with a touch of mystery or spooky charm?
I get asked this a lot and am never sure how to answer it because I just create what I see in my mind and this is always how I have envisioned when it has come to my art. Maybe it's being a Gemini, the two personalities colliding as one, or the strange 90s era I grew up in with an obsession around the cute vibes of Hello Kitty while also being scared but intrigued by illustrations in the Scary Stories To Read In The Dark books.
What role does color play in your creations?
A LOT! I am always spending an unhealthy amount of time deciding what colors I want to paint my art pieces. It's almost a form of torture for me. My favorite colors to use however are always bright, almost neon colors with black. Again, probably the 90s influence!
How have Artify brushes supported your detailing and finishing process, if at all?
I honestly love your fine detail brushes and use them on every art piece. They are very good quality brushes that last a long time if cleaned properly after use. I get consistently smooth lines from using them on any size project I am working on, tiny or large!
What do you look for in brushes or tools when painting details on your sculptures?
Smooth lines which means the brush needs to retain its shape and durability. I want my brushes to last for more than one project and I want to trust that they won't fan out on the tiny details.
Growing the Collection
How do you see your handmade creations evolving in the future?
I would love to do more realistic sculptures in the future. I enjoy this style right now, it's fun and leaves a lot of space for expression but I also really enjoy more realistic sculptures and would like to try my hand at one someday.
Are there new themes or characters you’re excited to explore next?
I'm really having a lot of fun right now with my Creepy Carnival theme. I am exploring the idea of what the inside of a freak show tent would look like if it were filled with classic horror monsters and mythical creatures. What would they be called? What would there unique talents be to entertain onlookers?
What kind of experience do you hope people have when they receive one of your pieces?
I hope that they feel excited by it and want to look closely at all the little details that brought it to life. My painting process is very detailed oriented and it's awesome if someone can see that and how it makes different elements of the art piece really stand out.
How important is the idea of collecting and displaying your work?
Very important. Very, very important.
Are there materials or techniques you’d love to experiment with in the future? What excites you most about the future of your creative journey?
Maybe in the future I will try to do oil painting. I have only ever painted with acrylic and watercolor paints, but I dream of working past my fear of oil paints and actually attempting to paint something with them. I admire a lot of artists oil paintings and think its just a wonderful medium with a lot of flexibility for creating.
For Crystal, creating is both an act of storytelling and an act of healing.
Whether inspired by moments of joy, grief, or quiet reflection, her whimsical sculptures transform deeply personal emotions into characters that invite empathy, imagination, and connection.
Through every handmade piece, she reminds us that even the most unusual creatures can carry the most human stories.
Want to see more from Crystal? Find her here:
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