Will & Caro
Artist Statement
Carolyn Wong
Carolyn was born in Carlton, Melbourne in 1986.
Her childhood was spent in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne where it consisted mostly of carefree playing with the neighborhood children. Her father was in the fashion and tailoring industry which heavily influenced her interest in art and the different Eastern cultures since she was very young.
She was always intrigued by Japanese culture and from this she was captivated by the delicacy in Japanese art. From an early age she invested much of her time in learning the techniques of paper folding and working with Japanese washi.
Since the beginning Carolyn was encouraged to develop her artistic talents, in Primary school she was placed in charge of the creative aspect in the end of year school production where she painted all the onset props and was awarded numerous certificates for her works.
Academically she chased after what seemed to be a more stable career in science and mathematics. However would always find time for the occasional amateur painting or drawing. In 2002 Carolyn entered the Regional painting competition and won an honorable mention, despite receiving no lessons in art.
Despite Carolyn's intention to pursue a career outside of the art realm it wasn’t long before Carolyn’s artistic talents emerged once more and lured her to embark on a journey of her own.
William Du
William was born in Helsinki, Finland 1985. He’s family had escaped from the Vietnam war and sought refuge at the Malaysian concentration camps, where they were later offered residency in Finland, the birthplace for William. Another year onwards, the family again migrated to Australia in hopes of commencing a new beginning.
William’s farther was a very poor farmer and the family was very much involved in the teachings of an attitude for appreciation in life. He also came from a family extremely gifted in artistic talents, and with seven brothers and sisters to learn from it wasn’t long before he started experimenting in his own inner artist.
Much of William’s childhood was spent indoors drawing alongside his brother’s who were recognized artists locally. It was only natural that William choose to pursue an artistic career and studied Product design at RMIT, whilst also working as a freelance artist and designer on the side. William also ventured through various employments including world vision and working in Singapore as an attachment for Melbourne as a sales manager for OSIM. The latter influencing William’s “give it a try” attitude.
William is known as a positive and entrepreneurial individual and also in his shameless yet humorous ways. In 2009, he decided to turn his inability to conform as a worker into a business where he can express his own creative perception. He studied Small business management as a pathway to create something from nothing.
Will & Caro
William and Carolyn are characters who are worlds apart from each other; however whose stories intertwined in business also when they launched their Short Story paper butterfly range in December 2009. William’s “give it a try” attitude coupled with Carolyn’s prompt nature to “make things happen” piloted Short Story ( Later being known as "Will & Caro" ) into the Arts and Gallery industry where it was discovered by the likes of prominent art collectors and dealers alike. One of the few to mention being Rebecca Hossack and her Galleries in London and the likes of the Gandel group.
Carolyn was born in Carlton, Melbourne in 1986.
Her childhood was spent in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne where it consisted mostly of carefree playing with the neighborhood children. Her father was in the fashion and tailoring industry which heavily influenced her interest in art and the different Eastern cultures since she was very young.
She was always intrigued by Japanese culture and from this she was captivated by the delicacy in Japanese art. From an early age she invested much of her time in learning the techniques of paper folding and working with Japanese washi.
Since the beginning Carolyn was encouraged to develop her artistic talents, in Primary school she was placed in charge of the creative aspect in the end of year school production where she painted all the onset props and was awarded numerous certificates for her works.
Academically she chased after what seemed to be a more stable career in science and mathematics. However would always find time for the occasional amateur painting or drawing. In 2002 Carolyn entered the Regional painting competition and won an honorable mention, despite receiving no lessons in art.
Despite Carolyn's intention to pursue a career outside of the art realm it wasn’t long before Carolyn’s artistic talents emerged once more and lured her to embark on a journey of her own.
William Du
William was born in Helsinki, Finland 1985. He’s family had escaped from the Vietnam war and sought refuge at the Malaysian concentration camps, where they were later offered residency in Finland, the birthplace for William. Another year onwards, the family again migrated to Australia in hopes of commencing a new beginning.
William’s farther was a very poor farmer and the family was very much involved in the teachings of an attitude for appreciation in life. He also came from a family extremely gifted in artistic talents, and with seven brothers and sisters to learn from it wasn’t long before he started experimenting in his own inner artist.
Much of William’s childhood was spent indoors drawing alongside his brother’s who were recognized artists locally. It was only natural that William choose to pursue an artistic career and studied Product design at RMIT, whilst also working as a freelance artist and designer on the side. William also ventured through various employments including world vision and working in Singapore as an attachment for Melbourne as a sales manager for OSIM. The latter influencing William’s “give it a try” attitude.
William is known as a positive and entrepreneurial individual and also in his shameless yet humorous ways. In 2009, he decided to turn his inability to conform as a worker into a business where he can express his own creative perception. He studied Small business management as a pathway to create something from nothing.
Will & Caro
William and Carolyn are characters who are worlds apart from each other; however whose stories intertwined in business also when they launched their Short Story paper butterfly range in December 2009. William’s “give it a try” attitude coupled with Carolyn’s prompt nature to “make things happen” piloted Short Story ( Later being known as "Will & Caro" ) into the Arts and Gallery industry where it was discovered by the likes of prominent art collectors and dealers alike. One of the few to mention being Rebecca Hossack and her Galleries in London and the likes of the Gandel group.