I am pleased to introduce Tracy Dearsan, our June Artist of the Month. Tracy, a native-of-Utah-gone-Californian, designs elaborately beaded jackets that to me have rich, yet renegade feel. Tracy was recently here in Utah and actually modeled two different jackets, but I did not take a picture of her in those jackets! What was I thinking?  Yikes! Oh, well…anyway, I was fortunate enough to be able to talk to Tracy about the thoughts that go behind all this creative design. Here’s what she had to say…

DP: Please tell us about your art…

TC: That’s a harder question than you’d think.  I look at what I do as literally putting art on your clothes. The back of every denim jacket I see is blank canvas.  If DaVinci had put the Mona Lisa on a jacket, I would have beaded it over. If you can draw it, then you can put it on fabric. You can fill in what you’re doing with something with shine, texture and/or sparkle. Why not walk around with something gorgeous on your duds?

I’ve done my share of embroidery, cross-stitch, and needlepoint, but I’d never seen anybody do this labor-intensive, time-consuming work. I would love to see what other people have done, if only for curiosity’s sake and to compare techniques and styles. I’m told that there is someone in the Beverly Hills area who sells similarly adorned clothes. I would love to see what other people have done.

Concert for life

DP: How/when did you start becoming an artist?

TC: I’ve always drawn as a kid…who hasn’t?  And a lot of people are much better at it than I am!  I guess I just took my liking to draw in a really different direction. My husband’s ex-wife, Nanete Maki-Dearsan, is an amazing artist. I will talk-up her talent anytime!  She is a more traditional artist in terms of her mediums.  She works on canvas or wood.  She is extremely talented.  I would love to do jackets with her.  What a concept!  My husband’s wives working together on art projects!  My Utah is showing…

I started beads and sequin work in the most boring of ways.  Do you remember those old calendars your mom or grandma would get that you sew beads and sequins onto?  If you haven’t, just check out “That ‘70s Show.”  My Grandma got one for me around 1989 (I was shocked they still made them!). She asked me to do it up for her. I went straight to work on it for her. While that project wasn’t particularly soul-nourishing, there were left over materials!  Ahh!!! 

I had a friend who was in a local ‘80s hair band, and I was a big supporter – they were really very good – so I sewed their name in sequins onto the breast of my fringy denim jacket. I can’t remember if the band was particularly impressed with my little art project (not likely), but I remember digging the process. 

It was right about that time that Cheap Trick had covered Elvis’ “Don’t Be Cruel” and had released an accompanying video.  The singer, Robin Zander, was wearing this impossibly ornate jacket with stars and stripes in sequins going up the sleeves.  It had freaking Mt. Rushmore on the back!  It was nuts!  But I vividly remember looking at his jacket, and thinking to myself, “I could so do that.” 

Yup.  It’s all Robin Zander’s fault. 

DP:  What do you draw inspiration from?

TC: I have quite a laundry-list of jackets I would like to accomplish; a disconnected mish-mash of NASCAR charities, wildlife, my favorite bands (I’ve done about three Queen/Freddie Mercury jackets), whatever catches my eye in an artistic light. 

I’ve also drawn inspiration from my mom.  She wanted a jacket with a peacock tail on the back of it. I didn’t think it would turn out particularly well, but it’s a favorite. She gets a lot of compliments on it every time she wears it out. 

Sunsets, and the way trees are silhouetted against the varying colors of the darkening sky also give me ideas for designs. 

DP: Where are your favorite places to create art?

TC: We’re a bit overrun with cats at the present.  Miss Phryque is looking at me right now with disdain and is giving me stink-eye because this keyboard is in my lap, and she isn’t!  Sorry!  I’m happy anytime I can find someplace a furry little paw isn’t going to start swatting at my little capfuls of beads and send them spraying across my carpet.  Chloe, I’m looking in your direction…

DP: What do you enjoy creating most?

TC: A few years ago I did a jacket with Freddie Mercury on it.  He is my favorite.  There is no one I love more. It had to be that picture of that pose from that particular concert (their 1985 Wembley show).  But I drew it, very nervously; I didn’t want to screw it up.  Once drawn, I could feel him looking over my shoulder saying, “Nicely done, dear.”  Cool.

When it was completed, I wore it to Nanete’s house.  When she told me how I had captured him - I had captured Freddie Mercury, in bead medium. That was high praise.  I was pleased.  I had met my goal. 

DP: How can readers find and purchase your art?

TC: All of my jackets are on my MySpace and FaceBook pages.  I have tried the EBay route, but with no success. 

Unfortunately, so much time goes into each jacket - I can work on one for months – for me to get my time out of it, I would have to charge quite a bit.  If, however, someone is “paroozing” my jackets and sees one that isn’t already owned, please!  By all means!  Make me an offer!  I would ask much less for the sequined jackets, as they can work up (my own personal time permitting) in four to six weeks, as opposed to four to six months.

DP: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

TC: I would like to thank, from the bottom of my furry heart, Debra Payne for offering to write this article about my little wares.  We go waaay stinking back and she’s really good stuff.  If she isn’t careful, she just might get one of these showing up on her doorstep one day.

DP: Thanks, Tracy! It was nice to see you, and hopefully we will meet up again sometime in the future. In the meantime, Happy Beading!

Dr. Debra Payne is the Wandering Editor for Wandering Educators

All photos courtesy and copyright Tracy Dearson