Hey there!
I’m Ang, The Australian Artist & Surface Designer behind the trading name- Antayjo Art.
I consider myself a Multidisciplinary Mixed Media Maximalist, who works both traditionally & digitally. My physical artwork sits loosely in the Contemporary Textile creative space in that I incorporate a combination of drawing & or painting plus simple stitching or embroidery & or fabric collage and appliqué techniques using my own Surface Designs and plain discarded textiles I find while op shopping/thrifting into my artwork. I also design artwork with a primary focus being for usage on fabric and in the fashion space
Despite having a larger artistic scope I feel my artwork is cohesive. My tagline is- ‘Uniquely detailed art to quirk up your life’ and this is because filling my Fashion & Feelings inspired work with what makes me tick helps me to own my quirkiness. (I hope my Art helps others to embrace their uniqueness too.) I focus on subjects I can literally draw the most detail out of and embellish works with assorted textiles. Art is my time to not be weighed down by my thoughts and step into what makes me stand out. I am a Maximalist at heart and this is 100% reflected in my Art & Design.
The Focus of my Artwork vibe is Fashion Inspired with lots of feelings about me & the world around me thrown in, but how did I come to sit in this space you ask? …..
I grew up obsessed with Art and Fashion (Loving slogan/statement T-Shirts & drawing on my Levi 501’s, dreaming that one day doing something like that for a job might actually be a reality) but despite gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree I left my creativity behind and followed a different career path because most of us around that time were conditioned by society to believe we couldn’t make it in the Arts.
In late 2017 I found my way back to Art after having my second child. It was seeing my children’s love for Art developing that helped me remember mine. (They inspired the business name too as ‘Antayjo’ is a combination of our names.)
2021 was a turning point for me….The book- Pattern Pulse Volume 1 by Rachael King inspired me to finally get moving on learning Surface Design, as I wanted the ability to start licensing my work and let’s just say it was successful as I was asked to be featured in Volume 2! 
I can’t sign of this ‘About Me’ section without highlighting the fact that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the work of the great Aus powerhouse creatives Linda Jackson & Jenny Kee. I often depict Linda & Jenny in my artwork and am always on the lookout in op shops for their iconic clothing. They remind me of my Nana who has passed away, whom I know is looking down on me watching what I get up to creatively as she had great fashion sense and was a colour lover! I also adore the late Iris Apfel for her business pursuits, Fashion and her general outlook. It was a highlight for me that before she passed away her team shared my Art to her large following which meant many new people found me and sought commissions. The Absolute far fetched dream for me is to one day collaborate with Romance was born on a collection! Nothing is impossible right?!
Although I love Fashion as a way to express myself, I have ups and downs and as a creative I want to be seen but other days I want to hide away. I hope that one day I can step fully into my own like these legends and turn up 100% as a reflection of my Art but right now I am still like my Art a work in progress. My artwork called ‘The Girls’ pops up time and time again in various forms in my work and that is because it was inspired by my love of fashion. I cannot sew to save my life but I often draw outfits that I would love to make and wear. Some days my confidence is through the roof and other days it is rock bottom but on those days I draw how I want to feel everyday.
Ang x
Note- You may see my surname referenced as Watson in places and Kernick in others. They are both me but I am now referencing only as the latter.