Meet Creative: Luthien Thye of Altered Alchemy

People ask me why do I enjoy blogging. Well, besides rambling monologues on the blog, I enjoy blogging because it encourages me to get out there, and meet the creative community to create content. To be honest, I am quite an introvert myself. No, really, when I tell my friends that I am an introvert, most of them find it hard to believe that I am one. They find me a people-person, but most of the time I really enjoy being alone (I am not creepy I promise). However, whenever I meet or get to know a fellow crafter or a creative enthusiast from the community, it's a whole different experience. You get this amazing feeling when you are talking to someone who has so much in common with you, not just in terms of the art, style and interest, but more of sharing similar left-brain patterns and habits. And you get to exchange notes, it's nice being able to meet people who can relate to you. That's how I started the 'Meet Creative People' on the blog; to maintain the people-inspire-people spirit in the community.

Today's feature is Luthien Thye from Altered Alchemy. I've seen and heard about Altered Alchemy for couple of years; I remember how my heart skipped a beat when I saw her art that is filled with mixed media artistry and magikal elements; simply took my breath away. I am honored to be able to interview Luthien, the magikal crafter behind Altered Alchemy and here she shares her sorcery with us. Luthien has a great sense of humour, I laughed to myself as I was going through her interview. So, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Name: Luthien Thye
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Links: Website | Facebook

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1. What is your day-to-day like as a creative person? How do you juggle your tasks, projects and personal life?

Mostly I dream a lot, and just indulge in my own little world in my head. Dreaming is the main element in my creative process. Reading and watching movies (mostly fantasy), also helps with my creative process. 

As to the second part of the question, you have already provided half the description to my day-to-day life i.e. “Juggling” … the other half of the description would most definitely be “precariously” :)

2. All creative people have their own toolbox. What’s in yours and what are your favourite tools?

I would say that my most indispensable tool is my Imagination. I am most frustrated when my Imagination goes into hiatus.  Now, besides that … there are some tools that I would almost certainly use every time I make a piece of jewelry. My hammer, which is nothing high tech just one from ACE, my bench block, my 3 pliers, my awl, my favourite patina and a piece of cutoff tree trunk which I obtained from some guys cutting down trees on the LDP. The trunk works like a bench block for me to shape larger pieces, and I love it!

3. Fill in the blanks and complete this sentence: “Whenever I am creating, I am....”

“Whenever I am creating, I am quite oblivious to reality”

4. They say creative people are eccentric weird; so, how weird can you get?

Hmm… not overly weird ...

I believe that I'm either an elf masquerading as a human, or I'm a hybrid vampire-human, depending on how I feel on a certain day. I have a bunch of imaginary friends whom I talk to, cry with, laugh with … and brainstorm ideas with … usually at night. That's not overly weird right?

5. Name your top 3 favourite books for ideas:

Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter Series, and Twilight Series

6. Music mixes are awesome! What’s your music playlist when you are creating & making art?

Contrary to popular belief, I am not a music person. I prefer to have a movie like Lord of the Rings going on my laptop beside me while I'm creating. I can probably recite the LOTR script better than the actors! Or just silence. Total silence allows me to regress into the worlds I create in my head. This is my happy place where I can visualize my designs and make them come to life.

But if I must choose my 'arty' playlist … It would mostly definitely be Celtic music.

7. How do you organize your creative ideas & inspirations for reference?

I don't. I am a rubbish organizer. They are all just in my head, in a jumble. I dream of something, I start making it immediately. And then I allow the piece to take its own shape, if it wants to. Sometimes, the piece of art I'm making takes on its own life; it has a mind of its own. When I recognize that moment, I simply allow it to lead me. Mostly my pieces evoke a story. I like to imagine a story that goes with my art. It gives the artwork an identity, a soul. Perhaps my stories are an indirect way of organizing my ideas and inspirations. Hmmm … that's a thought!

8. What is your favourite place to go to for inspirations?

My happy creative place in my head.
Also, very old places, places ravaged by time …

9. I SPY with my little eye:  Who’s your favourite creative person (artist/crafter/baker, etc.)?

Hmm … I was going to say Michael DeMeng, artist-sculptor-alchemist extraordinaire.

But then, I suddenly thought of how I actually started to delve into what I'm doing. It brings me to Viggo Mortensen. 

Yup … THE Aragorn of LOTR. I loved him as Aragorn; I thought he played the character with intensity and integrity. So I started researching on the man behind the character. To my surprise, he is first and foremost an Artist, then actor. He paints, photographs, publishes, writes poetry and acts. And in each branch of Art, he excels, because he is passionate in what he does. He is the one who inspired me to begin this journey.

Very cliché isn't it? Girl fangirling actor … actor turns out to be her inspiration. But weirdly enough … it is what it is.

10. If you didn't discover this creative interest, what would Life be for you?

I believe I would still be doing something creative. I don't think I could live a life without being involved in some form of art.

11. Describe your creative work with just 3 words:
Fantastical, Ravaged, Old-World

12. How your creative passion inspires you?

My creative passion inspires me in every way, every day. It is me.

13. What was the most difficult part of running a creative biz?

The selling.  The marketing. That part is really difficult for me. Marketing myself and my work.

14. What sort of lessons do you learn from it?

That I need a marketing person to do that for me? LOL!

15. What is your Kung Fu style to fight creative blockages?

Ugh!! Imagination on PMS?

Watch LOTR, read Harry Potter, workout? Nothing really, if it's blocked, it's blocked. I just wait. And hope it'll come back soon :)

16. Give the readers some love! Do you have any tips, advice or words of wisdom?

I DO love my readers! Anyone who takes time off their schedule to read the stuff I have to say, I am very grateful to.  Do I have any words of wisdom … well; all I can say is to be passionate in what you do. If you love what you do, it shows in your work without you even trying. If you love what you do, time just flies, it doesn't become a chore. I'm a romantic … I believe that dreams come true, if you're passionate enough about them!

17. Daydream mode ON! What do you want 5 years from now?

I'd like to make more art of course! Maybe take my work to a different level. Publish a book definitely. I taught my first international online workshop this year, and I intend to do more of that … maybe in 5 years I even get to travel to a different country to teach. HAH! That will be cool! I want to have a proper studio, and if it's not too much to ask, I want to make a Travel & Living program which revolves around art.

Big dreams, eh? But then again, I'm a romantic … I believe...