Meet the Maker: Cal Scott from Rudy and the Rowan Tree
Cal Scott, aka Rudy and the Rowan Tree, is a maker based in Renfrewshire, Scotland, who creates little screenprinted houses and other hand-crafted items in wood. Her pieces are experiments in pattern, colour and surface design, where the grain of the wood gives an extra texture to the ink. Here, Cal talks to fellow Folksy maker Ally Noble about her instinctive, low-tech creative process and why she believes craft is both wonderful and necessary.
Treat yourself to 10% off Rudy and the Rowan Tree with code YAY10 – offer valid until 6th June 2021.
Shop Rudy and the Rowan Tree on Folksy >
Without wanting to sound too grand, craft is my life. It’s who I am, it’s what I do. I use my hands to turn simple materials into something unique.
Cal Scott, Rudy and the Rowan Tree
Hi Cal, it’s lovely to meet you. Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do?
Hi Ally, I’m Cal and I’m a full-time maker living and working in West Renfrewshire by the Clyde Estuary. I make one-off pieces of art and accessories usually involving wood and colour. I started Rudy and the Rowan Tree not long after I moved to our current house two years ago. We had a substantial stash of wooden off-cuts building up in the outhouse, much of which was too good to use for firewood, so I decided to use it for a more creative purpose. I already had screenprinting equipment and plenty of ink and paint, so it made sense to utilise them. I started off making little houses and have now branched out into framed prints, wearables and decorations.
Where does the name Rudy and the Rowan Tree come from?
I wanted a name that wasn’t too descriptive but was a little bit intriguing. At the time my mother-in-law had recently given us a rowan tree sapling as a house-warming gift (to keep the evil spirits from our door!) and while planting it in our garden (with a little help from our dog, Rudy) the name came to me.
I love your houses, especially the abstract ones – they look fab together. Can you tell me how you came to make houses in the first place?
Thank you! Houses are a really easy shape to cut by hand – I don’t have any fancy equipment, so it had to be something straightforward. I had seen little houses made of ceramic, glass and wood before (my sister actually makes ceramic ones) and I fancied putting my own spin on the idea, using materials I had to hand. The shape is a really good blank canvas to play with, and I found making them quite addictive… as is collecting them – I have quite a few from other makers!
Were you a painter before becoming a printmaker?
No, I actually studied ceramics at art school many moons ago, but even then I had an interest in experimenting with texture and colour. I’ve always admired the art of printmaking (it’s probably my favourite art form), and I taught myself to screenprint about six years ago, starting with really simple but precise repeat patterns. Gradually I realised that I could use it in a much freer way to create layers and experiment with colour combinations and textures.
Skilled craftsmanship is a wonderful thing to be valued and admired but the best thing about craft is that it’s not elitist: anyone can have a go without the need for experience or specialist equipment. As long as it’s fun, the skills will come!
Cal Scott, Rudy and the Rowan Tree
I’m not a skilled printmaker by any means and, being extremely impatient, I’m interested in the finished piece rather than the process (which is no doubt why I no longer do ceramics). I also get bored easily and this way of working means every piece is a one-off, which keeps it interesting.
What is your creative process? How do you go from idea to completion?
It’s quite freeform. I don’t keep sketchbooks because I like to keep it loosey-goosey and not overthink things. Occasionally I’ll jot down colour combinations I want to try or a little doodle here and there, but mostly I like to go with the flow. The only pieces I’ve properly planned out are my plywood prints, which I wanted to be more precise.
Like many makers I take my inspiration from the world around me: currently a very rural environment and previously a more urban one. Also long dog walks provide invaluable thinking time!
Cal Scott, Rudy and the Rowan Tree
Where does your inspiration come from?
Like many makers I take my inspiration from the world around me: currently a very rural environment and previously a more urban one. I quite like the marriage of nature and man-made: the colours provided by the natural world together with the straight lines of architecture. Mostly my ideas develop through the making itself… also long dog walks provide invaluable thinking time!
With the majority of the houses I start by painting on a nice base colour, followed by three or four screenprinted layers. Sometimes I print over paper-cut shapes to create clean-edged areas of colour (a technique I also use for the prints), and other times I just use bits of parcel tape stuck straight on to the screen. For a more textured, smudgy effect I use an old carelessly-cleaned screen, which has bits of photo emulsion dried into it – a schoolgirl error at the time but a happy accident now! Sometimes I daub a little paint here and there… it’s not hugely technical!
Is there anything you find particularly hard about running in your creative business?
To be honest, there are many things! I’ve always been a maker but it’s only in recent years that I’ve tried doing it full-time. Previously I’ve had another line of work alongside my business, which definitely takes the pressure off financially and can also help to focus the mind when your time for creating is limited. When working for an employer I’m well-organised and efficient but I’m not sure I can say the same when working for myself! It’s difficult sometimes to stay motivated, particularly through the quieter times of the year… and then there’s the constant low-level guilt that there’s always more you could be doing.
Happily, the joy of creating outweighs all the struggles.
Cal Scott, Rudy and the Rowan Tree
On a practical level I struggle with product photography, technology and self-promotion in general… making the work is only a fraction of the job, alas. Happily, the joy of creating outweighs all of that or we likely wouldn’t do it, right? I’m fortunate to be in a position at the moment to spend every day doing what I enjoy doing, so I’m certainly not complaining!
How do you develop new pieces and how do you think you could expand your vision in the future?
It’s interesting to step back and see your work from an outside perspective because it’s very easy to disappear down a rabbit hole when you spend your days working alone. I’m always open to suggestions and collaborations!
My approach is to let my work develop naturally through the making and see where it takes me, without imposing any limits or criteria on myself.
Cal Scott, Rudy and the Rowan Tree
Generally my approach is to let my work develop naturally through the making and see where it takes me, without imposing any limits or criteria on myself (outwith staying adaptable and being relatively low-waste). For me, the best thing about being your own boss is the freedom to do what you want to do, for as long as you want to do it.
As I get older my mantra is definitely “keep it simple”. Life events (and certainly the past year) have taught me not to make too many hard and fast plans because you just don’t know what is around the corner. I hope that doesn’t come across as very unambitious of me, but I think not knowing for sure what I will be doing this time next year is kind of exciting. The possibilities are endless.
Finally, what does craft mean to you?
Without wanting to sound too grand, it’s my life. It’s who I am, it’s what I do. I use my hands to turn simple materials into something unique. Skilled craftsmanship is a wonderful thing to be valued and admired but the best thing about craft is that it’s not elitist: anyone can have a go without the need for experience or specialist equipment. As long as it’s fun, the skills will come!
Being creative is a basic human need, whatever form that may take, and more than ever people are realising its therapeutic nature and making time for it in their lives. If I’m having a down day I can usually lift myself up just by spending a couple of hours making something for the love it. When I’m sitting in my workroom with my music playing and the dog snoozing in the corner, I’m in my happy place!
Treat yourself to 10% off Rudy and the Rowan Tree with code YAY10 – offer valid until 6th June 2021.
Shop Rudy and the Rowan Tree on Folksy >
Meet the interviewer
The maker asking the questions this week is Ally Noble, a fused glass artist inspired by nature, based in Warrington. You can read our Meet the Maker interview with Ally here – Ally Noble Fused Glass.
Shop Ally Noble Fused Glass on Folksy – https://folksy.com/shops/AllyN
