Artist Spotlight: Tsurera

Country: United States

Medium of Art: Clay Crafts

@Creative_Tsurera | CreativeTsurera.com

“I wanted something that was absolutely nerdy, but in a way that only other nerds might catch.”

US artist Tsurera uses a short list of supplies in her creative works; her talent is an ability to rework these materials in an infinite number of applications. Clay, resin, and acrylic paints are combined into wearable art featuring her favorite Nintendo games, primarily Super Mario World.

Small, detail-oriented pieces are where Tsurera excels, as well as her ability to translate 2D images into 3D objects. “I started teaching myself to sculpt about 10 years ago,” she began. “I’ve painted and doodled throughout most of my life, although not very well. I also took a few art and sculpture classes in school. When I was a kid I’d make small sculpted creatures out of Play-Doh, so I’ve kind of been sculpting on and off for a long time now.”

Her first attempt at serious sculpting came with a two-inch Yoshi tribute, made out of polymer clay. “Nintendo games make me happy, and I wanted to express that through my work. To capture the vibe of Super Mario World, I tried to pick out the most prominent things I get from the game, which for me were bright colors and cute characters.”

Since then, much of her work has become wearable, including a simple-but-stunning Super Mario World “World 1-1” cameo. To round out her wardrobe, a series of earrings from the game required an even steadier hand. “I wanted to bring some of its critters to life, and what better way than to make them jewelry? I also enjoy the challenge of making small but detailed sculpts, as these are all tiny.”

Some of Tsurera’s art is intentionally understated, as a sign to fellow fans. “I wanted something that was absolutely nerdy, but in a way that only other nerds might catch.”