Model Citizen: White Tigers & Pop Star Baby Sitters

NAME: Bonnie Rue

WHERE ARE YOU: South Austin – where everything is just better

COMPANY NAME: Model Citizen

WEBSITE: www.modelcitizenclothing.com

BLOG: www.goodgirlsandgeeks.blogspot.com

CRAFT TOOL YOU CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT: currently? scissors & my toaster oven! I am seriously addicted to shrinky dinks right now.

FINISH THE SENTENCE: When I am not drawing white tigers for Model Citizen I am….. probably one of three things:
1. dancing around my kitchen & making dinner with my Mister
2. soaking up some time with my lady friends.
3. practicing yoga!

You are an amazing artist. I remember the first time my eyes met with my green Beauty and the Beat T-shirt my heart went all aflutter. Do you have formal training as an artist?

Um, Thank You! No, I never went to college. I am self-taught & a little obsessive. In high school I spent every free moment in the art room drawing, painting, playing with clay…That is what I want my every day to be like. Makin’ stuff and makin’ a mess in the process! I do day dream about going back to school and one day I will make this a reality, but for now I am really digging the “trial & error” I’ve got going on. Art is my favorite form of experimentation!

Two constant themes in your work seem to be white tigers and anthropomorphism. What’s the fascination?

hmm… well
A.) Tigers are just freakin awesome!
B.) Everything I make for Model Citizen is inspired by my friends and this goes without saying but, they are amazing! The ladies in my drawings have tiger heads because it was the only way I could think to illustrate the “kicking ass and taking names” spirit of my friends. I mean – they are creative, talented, driven & there for you, no matter what. These ladies have big laughs, great taste, & impressive dance moves. AND – this is going to sound cheesier than a block of velveeta but – they are Model Citizens.

We seem to be kindred spirits in the craft/rock aspect. Before I made jewelry I wrote for music zines doing reviews and interviews and also ran my own record label. I see on your bio that you book bands by day and I know your sweetie is a rocker. How do you combine your love of music with your love of craft?

Awesome! What was the name of your label?

Music + Craft = part of my DNA. My Dad worked for MCA for 30+ years. My parents house is the house that Rock built. Gold records line the walls for his work with bands like AD/DC, The Ramones, Tom Petty, The Who, and the list goes on. A little known fact about me – my babysitter was Tiffany, we drew pictures together, it was rad. So not only was music playing all the time, but it was literally every where I looked, & it paid the bills. My mother on the other hand was constantly creating something. Sewing dresses & costumes, making belts, crocheting, gardening, you name it. I am truly their daughter. Now, my home is the same way. My man friend tours the world playing face-melting guitar solos and I craft my brains out. Ultimately, music inspires all.

I know you do all the amazing illustrations for Model Citizen, do you also do the screen printing? If so where did you learn to screen print?

I am sad to say that currently, no, I do not do my own screen printing. Time is a bandit and there just aren’t enough hours in the day. BUT plans are in the works to move all the printing into my home office. Yay! I am a novice when it comes to the art of screen printing, so I am pretty excited about the lessons that lay ahead.

What are some of your best selling designs?

Definately the “Scoot!” T & anything with “Guns” on it. Anything.
“Beauty & The Beat” & “Venus” move pretty quickly too.

Any new designs or plans coming down the pipe for Model Citizen?

Oh yeah! Right now I’m working on another music related Tiger Lady design & there are
more designs featuring cupcakes up my sleeve. More dresses, more yoga clothes, & more jewelry! Oh and to make room for all this new stuff I have a bunch of items marked down in my etsy shop right now.

Also – it’s been a long time coming but in the near future I will be carrying more plus size T’s!