Artist Colony // Stanislava Pinchuk

“The best thing as an artist, is that it’s a practice and way of living that lets you expand on every curiosity and every part of yourself.”

Stanislava Pinchuk (you may know her as MISO) is quite easily one of my favourite artists, creating beautiful works by data mapping war and conflict zones. She is also insanely lovely, and gave such in-depth and inspiring answers to my questions, as well as calling me an ‘Epic. Woman. Fuck yeah.’ which I will be making into a badge, thank you very much.

How are you? What have you been up to recently?

I’m well! It’s a good few weeks in the studio. I’m on a plane every other day. It’s the very end of the year and somehow things just really ramped up in a wild way. It feels like a really good place to be, lots of really diverse projects, all in the beginning stages of development. I’ve just finished a project data mapping the oil fires set by ISIS south of Mosul, on the Tigris river basin. I feel really excited about what that project will become.

What is your process when it comes to creating your art? How do you map nuclear disasters?

With my practice, there is a lot of research. There’s a lot of development before you even work on the ground, and there are a lot of logistics around that. And after, there is always a lot of research prompted by what you found, or by thoughts that experienced triggered. Sometimes you need to go back and forth, and keep resolving things. With mapping the nuclear zone bodies of work - they were both really different methods.

That’s the hardest thing with working in difficult places - you can’t really have a standard way of working or methodology you apply to places. Security is limited, time is limited, exposure is limited. So you have to be quite nimble and adaptive. In a way, I’m really glad for that - because it gave me a pretty big crash course in surveying pretty quickly. So in Fukushima, I very much had to map the land and the fresh layers of new earth topography that were created in removing the radioactive topsoil. I had a little more time, that that worked really well for me. And with Chernobyl, which is a much earlier nuclear disaster, I was able to map how different ground retains radioactivity with geigometers and plots. There, I only had 30 minutes at Reactor 4, and strictly no recording or photography - so I really had to work with what I had, and it turned into a really incredible data set. And that was partly from research, and partly a hunch and being really aware of your surroundings and what you’re looking at.

Your work focuses around places that you call home, no matter the dangers within them. What does the concept of home mean to you?

It’s a funny one for me. I don’t think I have a strong concept of home, in the way of most people. I didn’t grow up in one place, and I travel pretty permanently. I have two passports, and I’m not ethnically really a part of either country. I’m actually pretty grateful for this - so I feel really home everywhere. I like that a lot. So mostly and very strongly, I feel that my body is my home. And my chosen family, creative family - in whatever city, that is my home. I’m lucky to have deep friendships in a lot of places as I move.

Why did you decide to set tattoo solely around trade with friends?

I find tattooing a really intimate thing. There’s a lot of trust, and I give it so much of myself. So it’s not something I felt, from the start, ten years ago - that I could put a financial amount on. And it never felt like something I could provide for strangers, or people I didn’t know. And it still doesn’t.

Who was the most interesting person you’ve tattooed?

Every tattoo and every friend is interesting to me. I think it would be a huge disrespect to tattoo something I wasn’t excited about, on someone forever. So I really only agree to do things, if I feel genuinely inspired and enthusiastic to do it and do a good job.

Describe your workspace…

I’m on the move pretty permanently. I don’t think I’ve been anywhere more than two weeks for about ten years. You’ve got to be pretty nimble when you live and work like that! So some days it might be a sculpture studio, some days its my publisher’s place in Paris, some days it’s the public library in New York, sometimes a hotel room or an airplane, some days a photo studio… and some days it’s my actual studio. Where I can, a clean desk and natural light is a bonus! Right now, and for the rest of the day, it’s a beach in Sydney.

What is the hardest thing you have had to overcome as an artist? What’s the best thing that has come out of being an artist?

Some of the hardest things that have happened to me, have fed me tremendously as an artist.

And some others - surviving them was enough, and I would never let them have the victory of appearing in my practice. In overcoming, building support networks can be a really difficult thing. Finding the right people and collaborators you can trust, or producers or galleries that can adequately support the work. It takes a huge amount of capacity to have a sustainable art practice, and an expansive art practice - and finding the logistical ways to make it real, and people who work as hard as you do, has been - and still is - a really big one for me. And I think it will be a challenge for the rest of my life, because the work should always keep moving and needing different things.

The best thing as an artist, is that it’s a practice and way of living that lets you expand on every curiosity and every part of yourself. The ability to shape your job by braiding everything you are interested in and creating your own world, and being rewarded for it. And truly, I think one of the best things about being an artist - is that we really see the highs and lows of the world. I think we are really welcomed in, and invited in by people, to see a really huge strata of the world and ways of living. I would never give that up in my life. And I don’t think many other jobs give you that experience so deeply.

If you could, what would you tell your younger self?

To worry a little less. That if you make things you really, really feel - and really smart work, that other people feel that, and want to be a part of it. If the work is strong, the rest falls into place.

When I was younger, I didn’t believe this so much, when older artists said that to me. I thought it was just an older generation that had it easier. But now, I really see it.

Artist Colony // Sophie Hur

I've been a fan of Sophie's for a long time ever since running into her in NYC and taking her photo for Street Style. We got each others instagrams and I have loved watching Sophie's photography grow and change in the short 12 months since I began following her. Sophie is one of my favourite photographers - she manages to capture an emotion or mood and the colours that come from her film add another layer of this something. There's an edge of grungy rock n' role / backstage with the band but also a hint of New York It girl's photo album . I'm super inspired and definitely want to start experimenting with film myself. She's also Australian which is always a bonus. Here are a few questions that I sent through, enjoy!

Hey, how are you? What have you been up to lately? I am good! Tired, but good. I have had friends from Australia stay with me and my roommates in my loft so in between work, we have been hanging out and I have also been shooting and planning shoots.

Was moving to NYC a big decision for you? How has it helped you grow as a person and as a creative? In what ways was it difficult? It was and it wasn't. I knew it was something that I had to do. I'm just lucky that I was privileged enough to be able to. It's helped me grow in ways that I know I wouldn't have been able to if I stayed in Australia. Creatively speaking, I have grown immensely - I'm doing things that I never would have thought I would do. Something that is difficult about NYC is that it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the success of others and get down about not being as "successful", but you just have to remember that everything happens for people at different times.

What is the process you take for your photographs? Type of camera, styling, editing etc... I only shoot film. I like Canon. I have plenty of creative friends who are stylists/makeup artists etc, who make it so much easier for me to create new work and practice because we collaborate together. I don't really edit my photos, but I do chuck them into Lightroom.

Is it pricey to be a photographer who only uses film instead of digital? Are there any cheaper options for people that are interested in pursuing film photography? Yeah it is very pricey. Sometimes I'm like damn maybe I should invest in a digital camera!! I recently invested in my own scanner (~150 for cheapest) which was a very good decision so now I only buy the negatives and scan myself, which is time consuming but really fun. 

What makes you most inspired ? How do you get out of creative ruts? The people that surround me - my beautiful friends. I just take a moment to write and not get flustered. Sometimes I just watch a film to take my mind off feeling stuck and I end up getting inspiration from the film. 

How would you describe your style? (photography and clothing (aesthetic in general)) My style is evolving pretty rapidly at this point in my life. I used to use a lot more color like pinks, blues and yellows and now I am interested by neutral color paletts and softer tones, but I think my style is starting to become very simple with an odd twist to it. I dress like a boy most days. I like tee shirts and baggy pants. I wear ankle cut doc martins every day. In general, my aesthetic is heavily influenced by where I live and the people around me.

Any tips for aspiring photographers? I need some tips too haha. I really want a mentor! But, for now as a very amateur photographer, a tip would be to build a collection of good friends who are emerging in their creative field and keep working together!

How do you get your work noticed? I'm still trying to figure this out... Anyone have the answer?

Sophie by DAIJA JONES

Black and white or colour? Colour in photography, black and white in clothing and drawing/tattoos.                  Denim or corduroy? Denim                                                                                                                                        toMATo or toMAAAAEETO ? I'm Aussie mate! It's tomarto.

Dream person to photograph? Petra Collins or any super interesting person!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Living and working and surviving comfortably in NYC, taking photos and maybe making films for a living hopefully. I'd love to have my own studio space too.

Your top five (people, music, artists etc)

The Strokes, Petra Collins, Just Kids by Patti Smith, Bushwick & Avocado & Tomatoe on crackers

Hope you all enjoyed (it's been my favourite Artist Colony so far) - you can find Sophie on Instagram :)

-Camille 

Artist Colony // Camille Olsen-Ormandy

In what ever you do, if you work really hard and with passion, anything is possible. 

Apart from the fact that Camille has a really great name, *cough hmhmm*, she is also crazy talented, creating bright, colourful portraiture with a quirky edge. Inspired by some incredible sights as well as her artistic parents, Camille's artwork showcases a variety of different experiences all through the one face.  

With her impeccable eye for colour and the coolest style *ever*, Camille is one groovy gal'. She was kind enough to let me steal some of her Instagram pictures, as well as letting me ask her a few questions. Thanks Camille!

Hey! How are you? What have you been up to lately?  Hey! I am good, I have just finished high school! Lately I’ve been juggling between working as a Christmas casual at Dinosaur Designs, working both retail and warehouse, while of course painting as much as I can in between.   

You come from an incredibly artistic family. How has this helped you develop as an artist? Coming from an artistic family, it was almost impossible not to be an artist. As hard as I tried, my inevitable path was creative. From a young age my appreciation for art developed as the endless cycle of bouncing from gallery to gallery, seeing and meeting eccentric artists all exuding their own contagious passion for art. As a child I always looked up to my parents, as I observed their own passion. I was instantly enthralled; opening my eyes to a world of colour, playfulness and absurd messiness, the endless conversations between colours fascinated me.

What inspires you?   My inspirations generally come from my own experience and observations. My trips to Japan and New York from a young age have always inspired me. Colour is a large facture in my art. Seen through the colourful contemporary culture of Tokyo and the street art of downtown Manhattan. I’ve always made connections to Shibuya station as the inside of my mind. Flashing bright screens, neon colours, Harajuku fashion, loud voice-overs and the neat organised chaos.  

I also take inspiration from both my Mum and Dad who both live for colour. My father constantly talks about the conversations exchanged through colour, such as a dark navy and light purple pink construct a sharp yet harmonious conversation. On the other hand my portrait inspiration is generally from the renaissance, including 16-17th century Dutch and Pre-Raphaelite.

Describe your workspace…  My workspace mainly exists in a spare bedroom, a single table with my oil paint, loose canvas, disposable palates, brushes and speakers pumping out all kinds of genres ranging from French rap, Korean R&B soul, as well as notable artist David Bowie, Gorillaz, Sticky Fingers and Metronomy to name a few.

So I’ve been stalking your Instagram and am a little jealous of all the amazing galleries you have been to all over the world. Which one was your favourite and why?   Each gallery and exhibition has its own unique interpretation. Instead of having a single favourite gallery, I really enjoy the Chelsea gallery area in New York. Ranging from the Gagosian Gallery exhibiting modern masters, Marlborough Gallery showing abstract and representational paintings to the Andrea Rosen Gallery displaying a variety of media by contemporary artists. The area allows you to spend a day discovering known and unknown artist with a multitude of mediums and expressions in a single area.

How would you describe your painting style?  My style is constantly developing and changing, mainly focusing in portraiture.  At this point in time I see it as both quirky and naive in it's approach, which I really enjoy. I am completely infatuated with the human face and the fun of tackling such a complicated form. Such as battling a wonky eye or a 3-quarter turn, the imperfection fuels my passion. Through trial and error I may change the way I tackle the face, either through starting with tonal contrast then adding colour. I always start with straight oil on canvas, sketching out the face as I go, shifting and moulding the face.

What’s the next artwork you have in mind?  I find many of my portrait inspirations off Instagram, I have a huge album of photos on my phone filled with interesting faces. I never truly know what my next work will be as my choices are always based on how I feel on the day. I might want to challenge myself with a complicated perspective or maybe a clear front on which is relaxing.

What are your plans for the future?   Since I just finished high school, this year I will be going to Art school, where I plan to learn more about art throughout history and continue to explore new mediums, subjects and generally have fun making art.

If you could be one artist for a day, who would you choose?  I would love to be apart of the Japanese based group Teamlab for a day. Their effortless connection of traditional Japanese art and culture mixed with digital interactive projections creates a poetic approach to moving art, combining both the old and new. I would love to learn more about digital art and how I could incorporate it into my own.

5 quick facts about you:

1. I love film, such as the visual richness of Wes Anderson and Hayao Miyazaki

2. I live by the sea.

3. I have a dog called skipper, his star sign is Leo, which makes him think that he is literally a majestic lion, when in fact he is a short and stubby sausage dog. 

4. I’ve only been painting portraits for 2 years now.

5. I could eat sushi for the rest of my life and not get sick of it.

What is something you would tell your younger self?   In what ever you do, if you work really hard and with passion, anything is possible. 

Artist Colony // Naíma Almeida

Beautiful, heart"felt" creations. (okay that was terrible, I am so sorry) 

Naíma Almeida is a graphic designer from Brazil, who creates colourful felt artworks by hand. The boldness of her creations catches the eye and also brings back some childhood nostalgia, (does anyone else remember those stick-a-felt boards??).  

She was kind enough to answer some questions I sent through. You can find Naíma's website here, her english version here, and instagram here. Thank you Naíma! 

Hi! Introduce yourself. How are you? Hi! My name is Naíma, I’m a graphic designer from Brazil. I have a authorial project called Lhama where I create big compositions made of felt layers.

What inspired you to start ‘Lhama’? I started Lhama searching for a break of my routine in graphic design jobs. In that time I was a little bit stressed and disappointed with the lack of creative process inside design agencies here. So I started seeking for the opposite, to balance my mind. Something that could be made with my hands, in a long produce time, with no client, no target, no deadline and most importantly, with no expectation. Just for fun. One day I saw a very simple felt placemat on a blog and I realised that this material could be very similar to vectorial illustrations. It is a plain colour block, that I could cut in any shape. Then I did some tests and I've been using it ever since!

Has felt always been your chosen medium? What else do you like to use?  Felt is my medium (until this moment) only for this project Lhama. It's like Lhama was my lab to try this material.  For other works I feel free to change mediums. Recently, I have been getting involved with tapestry.

What is your favourite artwork that you have created? I have a special love for Urso (that was my first big challenge) But now I would say that Tropicaliente is my new favourite, in terms of difficulty level and a longer process. 

What is your creative process? Usually I give myself a technical challenge, like “today I’m going to make a piece that only has 10 layers to stick down”, or “today I’ll try to make a composition with the smaller pieces that I have”. Normally the technical goal comes before, then the subject. And then, I make a lot of drafts on the computer, experimenting the compositions until I feel that I can reach that initial goal. It is at this part of the process that the theme comes. It can take more than 20 other potential artworks before I choose one to take forward. When I think that I already have a path to go through, I start to think about the layers. That’s a difficult part, because as a graphic designer, I have more familiarity with 2D solutions. It’s a little bit complex to imagine the 3D behaviour of the artwork. I then start cutting and overlapping the pieces that I had planned. During this process, I always change a lot the initial idea. The final result is something that is built in every part of process. Until the end I can feel the necessity of include something else, or change a colour, a shape.

Favourite and least favourite things about your job are… I love the big colour range. I don't like all the blisters on my fingers.

What did you want to be when you where a kid?  I don’t remember as a kid, but when I was teenager I wanted to be a cultural producer, imagining that I would make a lot of concerts happen, and festivals.

What do you like to do when you are not working on your artworks? I wouldn't know how to answer that, because when I read the question, I instantly think of other kinds of projects that I want to do. The work and my personal life are kind of mixed. I could answer this saying that I like to study tapestry, but I’m not really sure if that would count as work. I think that when you love visual communication, arts or any creative field, you are always ready to capture something interesting. It makes the boundaries of work and fun very blurry. 

5 facts about you are…

I don’t like to talk on the phone

I like drinks made of tomatoes

I’m always shy to talk in public 

I’m terrible driver

I love coriander

What is your favourite colour to use? It changes every second, but now I’m in love with a very, very light blue.

Who and what inspires you? Nowadays, I think fashion is something that is inspiring me in someway. I follow a lot of good stylists and small brands on Instagram and I see a big flow of art in this area. Instagram has been a great tool to keep in touch with amazing people, I follow a lot of talented young artists that i’m loving.

But, to say a more direct influence, in my last series “Tropicaliente" I would say my influence would be Kennedy Bahia, an artist that was born in Chile but lived here in Brazil and had a great production in the 60’s. I am also frequently influenced by designer Paul Rand. He made a big range of works crossing limits between institutional design, art and illustration. 

Artist Colony // Corrie Beth Hogg

A little something for the crafter, the plant lover and the darkest of black thumbs.

I may be a little obsessed with Corrie. I am in love with the indoor plant trend and can't wait to make my new room an indoor forest. Thing is, a Chicago winter mixed with my plant care etiquette is not a very good idea. But guys!!! Corrie has the answer! She makes PAPER PLANTS. This is the moment when the angels start to sing and everything makes sense. Of course! Paper plants are un-killable AND fun to make make.  You can find Corrie's website here, her DIY blog here, and her Instagram here. 

Hi! Introduce yourself. How are you?  I’m great! Thank you! I’m Corrie Beth Hogg, a maker of things… most recently paper plants. But, I enjoy working in a variety of mediums: paints, fabric, paper!

Explain your job in one sentence.  My day job... I work for an event design and production firm, I work on all the handmade stuff for our company, that could mean a centerpiece for a wedding or a wall made out of folded paper. On my own time, I make paper plants! (And, whatever else sparks my interest!)

What projects have you been working on lately? I just finished my paper maiden hair fern, which was a lot of fun and I like the way it turned out. Next, I am making a giant monstera deliciosa.

How did you come up with the idea to create paper plants? It all started because I wanted a fiddle leaf fig tree in my living room, which is quite dark. A ‘real’ one would never survive. I decided to try making one out of paper. I made the trunk and branches out of dowel rods and paper mache and the leaves out of paper painted on one side. After that, I’ve been having a lot of fun trying to figure out how to make other plants.

Who and what inspires your work? I find a lot of inspiration at the park and botanic garden near my apartment. I feel lucky to live just a 10 minute walk from both. I spent a lot of time wandering around taking pictures with my phone of plants: the underside of leaves, where the branches connect, buds, and flowers. I reference those photos when I start on a new project in my studio.  

What would you say was the biggest turning point in your career? I don’t know if it was a turning point in my career, so much as a turning point in my thought process. Several years back, I made a conscious decision to try to be brave and step out of my comfort zone. The first time I did that - when I quit my job and went to work on a organic farm, I was so scared. I ended up learning a lot about myself and how to take on things that may seem daunting at first, how to set a goal and break it down into mini-goals.

Image via yenmag.net

What is your design process? Like I mentioned above, it starts with finding inspiration at the garden. Then, I spent a lot of time looking at images of plants online. When I start playing with paper, I typically make several leaf samples before I decide on a method.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?  An artist. As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be an artist. There was a brief moment when I wanted to be a biologist - and I still enjoy science, but making things is what makes me happy.

If you could only choose one plant to create for the rest of your life, what would you choose and why? Oh! Haha! I don’t think I could ever pick just one. I like too many! But, begonias are interesting, there are so many varieties from pink to black to polka dotted. That could keep me entertained for a while.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I sing and play guitar, I really like classic country music from the 1920s. I also take a swing dance class once a week with my boyfriend. We go on lots of hikes with friends and out to see live music.

Black or green thumb? Mostly green! But it has been so hot in NYC lately that I lost a few. My heart breaks a little when that happens.

Can you give some advice for anyone that wants to pursue a career like your own? What skills do you think are necessary? A career as a crafter? Practice and more practice. I would also suggest taking classes - even if it is just a weekend course, you can grow leaps and bounds when you get help from someone who is a master at a certain skill. I still take classes even though I know how to make a variety of things. There is always more to learn. Once you have a mix of skills under your belt, they are like tools in your tool box, so when you are approaching a new project, or new idea, you have options as to how you can get it done.

Artist Colony // Krista Engler : Super Massive Textiles

I've been wanting to add more to Artist Colony, so that it isn't just illustrators, but caters for a whole variety of artists (this is what I had planned originally but I got swept away by the mad world of illustrators...). Anyway, after my daily stalk on Instagram, I discovered Krista from Super Massive Textiles. I love the vibrancy of her work, and the beauty of the fabric + her own hand drawn design. She also seems super cool and has two pembroke welsh corgis (can we be friends please??)  

Hi! Introduce yourself. How are you? I’m doing great, thanks for asking! My name is Krista, I’m a designer, artist, human who really struggles with titles—I’ve resorted to simply calling myself a creative professional.

What projects have you been working on lately? I just launched my first line of textiles earlier this month, and I’ve been working on a big batch of silk scarves and head wraps for various holiday markets that I plan on attending.

What made you want to go into the textile industry? While I was in art school I took a fibers course and fell in love. I ended up taking almost enough classes to major in it, but never made it official. I ended up graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design but I always knew I would revisit fibers and textiles as a medium.

I have a day job as a graphic designer and the things I create are very ephemeral because technology changes so quickly. I was looking to create something more tactile and timeless.

How did you get into the industry?  I’ve only just started to explore, really, but in my experience if you want to do or be something you just have to start doing it, believe in yourself and exude confidence. If you take what you’re doing seriously everyone else will too.

What inspires your work?  I’m heavily inspired by the natural world, I think mother nature is the absolute best designer. I have a ton of nature and wildlife books that I rifle through for ideas. I also really love gestural marks, anybody can create a dotted or dashed pattern but there’s a quality of hand that is unique to each of us that makes it look different. Discovering your quality of hand is almost like learning a new language—it’s been really fun for me to explore gestures and marks that come naturally to me.

How do you generate ideas for your designs?  I set aside time to practice mark making and ideation. For these exercises, I usually work in india ink with big brushes on newsprint. I just try to work really quickly and not think too hard about what I’m doing. I feel like I get the best results when I don’t over think my designs too much. I keep a stack of these and reference them for use on my textiles.

What is your design process? I create marks in ink on paper, then I apply those marks to my textiles using a variety of techniques. Currently I’m only working in silk, and I’ve been employing a technique called batik. It’s a wax resist method where you apply heated wax to stretched fabric and then soak the fabric in a dye bath. The areas where wax is applied will resist the dye and stay white.

Favourite item you have? I’m a collector so that’s hard for me! I have a huge glass jar of sharks teeth that I’ve collected over the years.

Favourite and least favourite things about your job are…  My favorite thing about being a surface designer is the variety of work involved, as a creative person I think it’s really important to take breaks from being artistic and creating my own textiles allows me to do that. After I’ve created a design there’s a lot of not-so-creative work involved in getting that design onto fabric. I actually really enjoy that part of the process because it gives my mind a break and allows me time to think of new ideas I want to try.

Least favorite thing is definitely handling the business side of things, finances, taxes, marketing, etc. 

What did you want to be when you were a kid?  I could never decide between wanting to be a veterinarian or a musician.

What do you like to do when you are not working on your textiles?  I work a lot, but in my spare time I love to travel, go to the beach, walk my dogs. I try to spend my off time as far from computers and phones as possible.

5 facts about you…  Gonna go for semi-weird facts!  

1. I can recite all 50 united states in alphabetical order

2. I have two pembroke welsh corgis named Mack & Mika

3. I’m obsessed with oddities, I have a small collection in my home including lots of fossilized bones

4. I’ve been told I’m a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), which means I’m hypersensitive to external stimuli

5. I love terrible b-horror movies, the worse the better!

Can you give some advice for anyone that wants to pursue a career like your own? What skills do you think are necessary?  A degree or some sort of formal education is great, but ultimately make sure that it’s something you’re passionate about. Don’t be afraid to reach out to artists/designers that you admire and talk to them about their experiences. Everyone has their own unique journey, find out what their career path was like. The most valuable skill to have is a curious mind, if you are curious and passionate about what you’re doing you’ll always succeed.

Who are your inspirations?  I really love the work of Helen Levi, Josephine Noel, Tuesday Bassen, Becca Barnet, and Hillery Sproatt.

You can check out Krista on her website and instagram.

Thank you Krista!

Artist Colony // Chessie - Freshly Pickked

Do I even need to introduce this girl??? With 17.6k on Instagram I don't think I need to. But, if you have been living under a rock or in the corner of you wardrobe after a game of hide n' seek for the past couple of years, meet Chessie. She's that blogger girl that your friends have been telling you about. Yeah, now you're with me. How cool is she!! Her style is just ahhhhhhhh and her blog and insta are so aesthetically pleasing. Oh, and did I mention she is only in year 12? Yeah. Chessie is doing some pretty great things, so I thought I'd ask her a few questions....

Introduce yourself. Tell us about your blog.  My name is Chessie and I am the name behind my fashion and lifestyle blog/instagram, Freshly Pickked. I've been blogging/instagramming for 3 years and it's been the most amazing journey! I mostly blog about fashion, and occasionally do a lifestyle post or DIY. 

What do you want to be and do in the future?  I'd love to be a blogger but I'd also love to work in the design and photography world, possibly in magazine layouts and styling! I'm not too sure though yet. 

What are you hoping to do after you finish school?  I'm most likely going to have a gap year, work, ride my horses, and possibly travel also! and then Uni but I don't know what course or Uni yet!!

Who are your inspirations? How have they helped you? In terms of blogging inspirations, my favourite is most definitely Isabella from Views of Now, amongst others of course. Her style is just so funky and different and I love it! She has helped motivate me to keep posting quality content and to continue to push my styles and outfits beyond the basics!

Why is your Instagram and blog so successful? Are your followers an important part of that? Honestly, I think it's posting regularly - but not too regularly as you don't want to fill or clutter everyone's feeds - and posting quality content ! For me, these are the key factors in having a successful blog, you don't want to not post enough and you also don't want to post blurry or rushed images. However it is much easier said then done!!

Favourite outfit at the moment?  Black high waisted jeans, grey and white stripe long sleeved skivvy tucked in, white denim cropped jacket, statement brown belt and knee high brown boots with my tortoise shell specs !

Top five tips for bloggers and instagrammers? As stated before, post regularly and post good quality content, try and stick to some sort of theme but to me, there needs to be a bit of variety to pull and draw your followers in, shoot in bulk - aka, take four blog posts or 5-10 different Instagram photos at the one time, that way you can stagger them out during school and you're most likely to create better content if you spend a good hour or two doing this rather then scattered 5 minuters! And lastly, have fun with it and be YOU. No one likes copy cats and you need to find your own style and show to stand out in such a huge industry. 

If you could go back in time and tell the younger Chessie something, what would it be?  I don't like regretting things or wishing things had have been different. Everything happens for a reason and we just need to focus on living in the moment. However if I was to say something I'd say get off that phone, get out of your bedroom and go and spend time with your family because time is just so short. 

Fashion or Design? Oh my god you've got me here. Like I'm so stuck. I love both of them I don't think I can choose.

What music are you listening to at the moment? I have quite an alternative taste, but all of my all time faves are in my twentysixteen playlist on my Spotify, plus when I'm doing my folio I listen to my folio time playlist! I literally could not go a day without listening to music. 

What made you decide on the name Freshly Pickked?  My mum actually suggested it! I asked her what I should call my blog and she said "what about freshly picked" because, at the time, she was cutting up strawberries and the punnet said they were freshly picked !! 

Favourite post on your blog?  Either 'Little Black Dress' or 'Textures'. 

What is the best thing that has happened to you because of blogging? Probably the biggest and most exciting thing is being the Teen Party Ambassador for the National Gallery of Victoria. Such an honour to be chosen and it was such an amazing experience working with them on multiple occasions !

There is a zombie apocalypse and you can only take one thing from your room… What is it? Probably my glasses so I can see the zombies and where they are coming from ! Haha. 

Thank you Chessie for being so cool. Literally geeking out right now that I have an Artist Colony on you... 

Chessie's blog and instagram are very inspirational and so so beautiful. Check out her instagram here and blog here. 

See you all next time,

-C 

Artist Colony // Rachel Burke - i make you wear it

I got a little lost inside of Rachel Burke's blog, "i make you wear it". Her beautiful photos are so sparkly and fun! And her dogs - oh my gawd, too cute. In August 2010, Rachel made a dress every Saturday night for 20 weeks as a way of raising money for charity.  The project proved a success when she raised over $5,000 for NAPCAN.  Rachel is currently working as a commercial Womenswear Designer and as a contributor to Frankie Magazine.

Rachel has also made a community art project called 'Apomogy' which is where you apologise with a pompom (10 points for that pun). You can apomogies your problems away here.

I get so inspired by Rachel's designs so I was really happy to be able to interview her!            So, here it is folks.

Hi! How are you? What have you been doing lately?  I am super well thank you.  I have just come back from a work trip to Hong Kong and have been busy working on my Apomogy project.  My first exhibition is coming up on April 16th…so it’s go go go!

Favorite thing about your job is?  Ability to be creative for a living.

Your least?   Having to be away from my dogs during the working day

Favorite songs/musicians at the moment.   I am totally obsessed with Electric Light Orchestra at the moment.  I only discovered them late last year, and can’t believe it’s taken me this long.

If you could be another artist/designer for a day, who would you be?   Oooo that’s a toughy.  I think I would love to jump in a time machine and maybe even just be Andy Warhol’s pal for a day.  That looks like it might be a fun experience.

What makes you want to work with your mediums?   I am excited by the prospect of using materials in unconventional ways. But I am usually drawn to something by its texture, colour, or how I think I can use it in my work.

Do you ever get artist block? What do you do to stop it?  I try not to let myself believe in artists block.  I prefer to think of it as ‘artist pause’.  When I can’t come up with fresh ideas it usually means I am over-tired or trying too hard, for the wrong reasons.  I find that if I just pause on the brainstorming and return to it with fresh eyes later, then I can come up with new ideas that excite me.

Your top three films?   Edward Scissorhands, Moonrise Kingdom, The Virgin Suicides.

What is your favorite thing that you have created? Why?  The Pom Pom Jacket I made for Patience to wear in her The Grates show is definitely a favourite.  It was not only fun to make, but it was also a sensational thing to watch her rock out on stage in it!

 “In August 2010, Rachel thought she’d put her passion to good use, making a dress every Saturday night for 20 consecutive weeks as a way of raising money for charity.  The project proved a success when she managed to raise over $5,000 for NAPCAN.” Congratulations! That’s really cool! Was it difficult?    Yes, it was quite a difficult and challenging year.  But I learnt so much from the experience and raised some money for a really worthy cause…so it was totally worth it!

Favorite things to photograph are…   I love photographing Daphne and Daisy (my dogs)

What inspired you to start apomogy?   I was thinking about what it means to apologise a lot last year, after having made some tough apologies of my own.  Attaching an apology to a pom pom came later…and once I did it the idea for APOMOGY just kind of popped into my head.  I shared the idea on my blog and it seemed to resonate so much with my followers that I couldn’t help but turn it into a community project.

5 facts about you are…

My hair is naturally brown.

I like to read books A LOT.

I once hoped to be a singer on broadway.

I am good at making pom poms.

I spend too much time on the internet.

Thank you Rachel!!

-C

Artist Colony // Lisa Currie

Lisa Currie makes me laugh, smile and relate towards pretty much everything she scribbles down on a piece of paper. Her very witty and truthful words + her "Ooh that's so Lisa Currie" drawing style = some pretty clever creations. Lisa has created three activity books which I just can't wait to get my hands on. She creates free resources so you can have some fun with a cup of tea and an oversized jumper. +++ lots of other fun stuff! Go check out her blog/website here, her instagram and contact her here.

As always, here is my interview with Lisa!

The most interesting experience that has happened because of being an artist is/was…my books are made to be doodled over and sometimes I get to see what people do with them. Strangers on the other side of the world who it feels like I’m collaborating with, having a conversation with on paper… in a way. It’s weird but great.                                  

Do you ever get artist block? What do you do to stop it?I do feel stuck at times… sad or overwhelmed. Going for a walk is always a good idea. Cooking some food. Hanging out with someone else’s dog. One thing I’ve learnt this year is that you don’t need to feel “motivated” or “inspired” to work. The people who are doing great things rarely feel fired up about it before they begin each day. They just begin. And then sometimes the magic happens…                        

I’ve been reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert that talks a lot about this!

Your favourite thing about your job?Spending a lot of time reading books about interesting things and writing in my journal… trying to grow in different ways and thrive in my own skin. I get to do a lot of that since my books are about optimism and self reflection.

Your least?
 Working alone is my least favourite thing, but also my favourite thing. Luckily I work at home and my housemates are great and keep me sane, but it can get lonely being in a workplace of one and having to motivate and organise yourself every day. But then sometimes I decide to spend the whole day in the sunshine reading a book and nobody asks me why I didn’t come into work that day, so that feels nice.
                                         What other interests do you have outside of art? Yoga. Reading books about why humans do the things we do. Being vegan. Building a mini golf course in the backyard with things we’ve found at the op shop.

Why did you decide to make activity books?I was running a blog called The Scribble Project and one day Perigee found the blog and emailed me to ask if I’d like to make a book. I said no thanks. Just kidding. I said yes PLEASE. I love making prompts that can maybe help people be more self reflective and think about their world or themselves in a more playful way.

5 facts about you… 1. I live with four friends and a dog named Charlie.
                                                                      2. I write in my journal every day.
                                                                                                 3. Vegemite toast is my comfort food.
                                                                                           4. I don’t like to wear makeup.
                                                                                                      5. Fresh cut grass is one of my favourite smells.



Who/what inspires you?BOOKS. Lately I’ve been reading books about feminism, veganism, optimism and essentialism… all the -isms.



What music do you listen to?Today I’ve been listening to old Nelly Furtardo songs. Do you remember her? I’m like a biiiiird.


Thank you Lisa for being apart of Artist Colony. Love your work!

Thanks for reading, you lovely people.

x

Artist Colony // Helena - Plantimal

I'll give you a few minutes to scream and dance in celebration that Helena from Plantimal is being interviewed for Artist Colony! YeeeaaaaahhhHHH!

"Who's Helena?" you say. Well, young grasshopper, I'm surprised you have asked. Helena is a 16 year old artist and activist who has a 21.4k following on Instagram. Her blog Plantimal is pretty cool too, featuring quirky photography, thrifted fashion and art art art. Her store has some super Rook-amil vibes (Rookie AND Plantimal if you didn't get my blend) which I'm sure will appeal to a whole lot of you.

SOOOoOOOoooooOOooOooo, let's see what Helena has got to say!

How are you? Tell me a little about yourself. I'm wonderful! Though a bit bored...I am on school break for 6 weeks. I'm writing this on the first day of 2016 and I feel like this year will be a good year art and experience wise, everyone says that but y'know... optimism is key!

What does art mean to you? It just means to express yourself, to make something new exist, something your own, made of your own thought and feelings, to bring something no many people bring into their life or the world. Anything is art.

What would you like to achieve in the future? Keep instagramming because i really enjoy communicating with my followers and its such a great platform for that and me personally. I also hope to have a website, my blog is a but rough and distant...I am in my last year of high school so i'm planning on going to university and do journalism and creative writing. At the same time I want to be creating, speaking and inspiring our generation and younger in a more professional way and for it to go further than a hobby.

If you could be another artist for a day, who would you be? Frida Kahlo so I can wear her beautiful clothes or Marina Abramovic so i can do a bit of crazy performance art. Now that would be fun.

How did you discover your style? I think it just developed over time, it still is. It always will. I cannot pin point my influences!

You have a lot of strong views and express them via Instagram. Have you ever had any negative feedback and if yes, how have you handled it?                   I do have a lot of strong views and not everyone agrees with them. And that's natural and okay! I do get negative feedback and I have recently learnt to handle it more maturely rather then try to defend my opinion and start a bit of a opinion based war. How i handle it varies on the situation but nowadays i try to keep as calm as possible. It is hard when everyone thinks they are right and we are all super passionate on the topic.

How has Instagram helped you express your art and views on the world?My followers push me (in a positive way) to keep exploring my art, keep making art. They also are my audience when i express my views and we have a lot of healthy conversation and people learn stuff! That has helped me also further my activism and knowledge on serious topics. And with 21.4k followers it seems like the right thing to do to use that 'power' to make people aware of a wide spectrum of stuff lfrom beauty standards, self acceptance to issues around the meat industry and the environment.

Many people look up to you. Who do you look up to? I look up to anything and anyone, I have taught myself to draw inspiration from my everyday life, not just one or a handful of people. It really opens your mind.

What do you do if you get artist block? I try to focus on a different art form, like embroidery or photography. Or i stop arting (that should be a real word) for a week or so and come back and try again. A lack of inspiration is always a factor, so I hit up interest and just collect photos of what i'm into at the moment and use this for fuel when I try to art again. Explain your drawing style. Get a pen, get some paper, SCRIBBLE out something. That's how my more satirical, comic like drawing usually start, the fun stuff, nice and simple but distinctly me. For my more serious stuff I love creating images of girls/female body and including mythology, symbols of nature and space to create harmony and deep meaning, for me at least. What has been the best experience for you thanks to blogging, art and Instagram. There hasn't been a single best experience yet. I think this whole journey and all those three aspects combined are an ongoing best experience. I've really flourished and my online antics became more real for me half way through last year. I've just met so many amazing people and just be creating, creating and creating in all different forms.

"Eggs, that's all..."  but if you want more you can always go check out her Instagram, blog and shop!

Thank you Helena for being totally cool and a part of Artist Colony!

Bye bye,

C

Artist Colony // Zali Bartholemew

Yeesh, I've been a little slack on blogging/instagram lately but I hope to get back on track soon. Sorry, about that..

Annnnyyy way. I'm really excited to say that I have Zali from Miss Zali Blog here today. *screams a little* *starts hysterically crying from happiness* Ahhh Zali is such an inspiration and was defiantly a big part in my "I want to create a blog" phase. Her blog is completely gorgeous and I don't even have to say anything about her art work because it just speaks for itself. But I will, because that is what this post is about.

So for all of you that don't know who Zali is... Zali is a 15 year old creative. She has done everything from model with The Lost Girls to her own commissioned cards. Her artworks are so fun, majestic and always make you think of everything fine and dandy.

I asked Zali a few questions (as per usual) so her they are, folks.

How has your style changed since you started blogging, until now?

Yes, very much. I went through a very kind of scrapbooky, mix-matched stage. But I think as I've grown older I've become more minimalistic and clean.

If you could only draw one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Why?

I would probably draw people, I really enjoy drawing them and creating personalities for all my characters. I like deciding their names, fashion sense, and brief history. I don't know, its just fun.

Who are your inspirations? How do they inspire you?

I do get inspired by other artists, in particular Oliver Jeffers, Kelly Smith and one of my art teachers Anne Smerdon. But I think I am mostly inspired by nature, its ever-changing. And I think that's important when you're an artist, to be ever-changing, evolving.. Always original.

How did you discover your illustrations style?

Well, I guess it sort of just evolved from trying out all different styles, I am about to release some new art which is quite different. I think its just become what it is from experimenting and trying new mediums etc.

Is your style still evolving?

Yes, I think it definitely is.

If you could be one artist for a whole day, who would you be? Why?

I'm not really sure, I don't know if I'd want to be another artist.. I think being an artist is so completely being yourself, and your art comes from your own experiences and emotions. So I don't think I would want to be doing someone else art, it'd be confusing and not fulfilling I don't think.

5 facts about you?

My favourite season is Summer.

Seashells make me happy.

Im an instagram addict :D.

My favourite brand is Country Road.

Ahaha they're so random!

Explain artist block? What do you do to fix it?

Hmm.. Well I think artists block is different for everyone. But for me its when my head feels foggy and un-inspired. I feel really blah. What I do to get over it is get off any devices and just sit outside, think about things that make me happy. If I have artists block I NEVER look at other artists work, from personal experience, whatever you create next always looks suspiciously like their art. I always go back to nature, and sometimes I just need a rest and a break from creating.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

I think be original, that would be the best advice I've ever had, and sometimes its hard to follow. But your art always looks much better when it comes from your own head.

Describe your personal style.

I think its very clean, a bit minimalistic, beachy.. I really love boho. My mum calls my style 'Conservative Boho' hahaha.

Describe your workspace and/or send in photos.

I kinda have two workspaces, one in my room where I allow myself to do art and create things, I can do things that inspire me in there. I don't let myself bring any schoolwork or stuff I find stressful, stuff that has limits and deadlines into my room, I want my room to be a place I can escape to, with none of the busy vibes hanging around. Then I have a big desk in our family office/study, that's were I allow myself do really do anything, I do all my schoolwork, blogging etc there.

Thank you Zali for being involved in Artist Colony. You can check out Zali's blog here, instagram here, and purchase her work here.

Well that's all for today. If you guys have anything you would like to see in the future on my blog, please place them in the comment box. I would love to hear from you!!

-C

Artist Colony // Elly- Cactei

It's time again for another Artist Colony! I have a really great line up of Creatives for you guys so with out further ado, meet Elly. Elly is the genius behind 'Cactei', an online store that sells pretty much anything. From uber cool t-shirts to inspirational badges, this girl has some serous talent. I sent over some questions for Elly and she kindly answered, letting me (and hopefully you guys) learn a little more about her.

-What made you decide to set up a shop?

At the very beginning of starting an Instagram account I just made posts of my drawings, and a lot of people started requesting that the designs were put on shirts. So I made a Society6 store as it’s super easy and my designs can be on lots of cool things, not just tees.

-If you could be one artist for a whole day, who would you be? Why?

I’d love to be someone like Van Gogh, just to experience art culture during that time period. But then I’d love to be someone like CJ Hendry who is living the dream in NYC, living off her art.

-Explain your drawing style?

I don’t necessarily have one style, I guess the most popular is the simplified cartoon versions I draw of bands/movies etc. I just focus on portraying the subject’s characteristics as simply as possible, but enough that it still looks like them. Then I add circles on their cheeks, mainly just to add some fun and so they can be identified as a style I guess.

My style in regards to portraits is a bit less structured. I don’t really know what I want to achieve, so I normally just try to represent the subject as accurately as possible. I’d like for my portraits to have a bit more to them though, something that makes them mine. Still working on it.

-Is it still evolving?

Definitely! Even just as I scroll through my Instagram feed looking at old band drawings, there is a massive difference in how my style has evolved. They’re now a bit less cutesy looking and more accurate I’d like to think. I don’t know where it will go next because the development isn’t necessarily intentional, it just kinda happens.

-Who/what inspires you?

I’m inspired a lot by other teen artists I follow on Instagram such as @foxyfries, @namalas, @plantimal, @greazi, @lillchlo, @theskinnyartist, @lacun.a there are so many that isn’t even the beginning. They’re all extremely talented, some in different mediums but they’re artists nonetheless.

-What would you like to be/do after school?

I’d love to be able to live off my own art, freelancing and building my own name as an artist. I can’t really see myself doing anything else, but if I have to think practically somehow involved in a magazine or graphic design company perhaps.

-5 facts about you?

- I love a good movie; my favourites are Kill Your Darlings, Submarine and The Art of Getting By.

- I love music, I have no musical talent whatsoever but I get excited finding new bands/songs.

- I’m determined to succeed.

- I suck at talking about myself because I can’t think of anything interesting anyone would want to know about me.

- I love ice cream.

-How do you shake off artist block?

I find I don’t often get ‘artist block’ as such because almost all my drawings are based off real images, so there isn’t a lot of creativity involved. I’m more just fussy about what I choose to draw, so if I want to do a portrait I’ll spend 1 hour trying to find a cool photo and by the time I find one, I’m not in the mood to draw :/ I often look to Instagram or Tumblr for ideas though when I’m out of ideas.

-What is the best advice you have ever been given?

I haven’t been given a lot of advice really. Shoutout to the first few people who wanted my designs on shirts, that was a good idea.

-Describe your personal style.

Umm whatever I like! I often don’t think through whether what I buy will go with anything I own, I just buy it, which is sometimes dumb. I wear a lot of denim, and black. I like long skirts or dresses, plain shirts, my denim jacket, and a few bits of silver jewellery.

-Describe your workspace and/or send in photos.

I normally work at my desk in my bedroom, but will sometimes draw just on my bed or when I’m bored at uni. I have to keep my desk pretty simple as it’s not very big, so I have a shelf in my cupboard where I actually keep all my art supplies. I have a lot of posters and random things stuck to my walls, bare walls are boring.

Thank you Elly for being so cool, creative and apart of Artist Colony!

If you guys like what you see and want to purchase one of Elly's designs head over here, or check out her instagram.                If you missed out on my last Artist Colony click here to meet Marta.

Seeya,

Camille

Artist Colony // Marta- Almost Iris

Intro- Artist Colony A lot of people consider art as something that we don't need to have to achieve in life. But that's not true. The Arts are really important and without them, the world would just be dull and boring. I have wanted to do an artsy series for a while now, but had no idea what to do. Then, one night, BAM! the idea came to me. "Artist Colony" is a series where I interview different kinds of creatives. These people who have proven that algebra isn't all you need in life... (thank gawd!) So without further ado, meet Marta, aka 'Almost Iris'. I came across Marta via her instagram and was really intrigued by her illustrations. I loved the simplicity of them and how she puts humor into each of her prints. I really wanted to get to know this "Almost Iris" so I sent her some questions just so we could all get to know this new, talented illustrator. She kindly sent me some prints in return. I defiantly recommend you purchase some from her shop because they are so darn good!

What's your daily routine? My day usually starts off with breakfast and day daydreaming in the garden. I usually don’t start making in the studio until the late afternoon. At the moment I’m also studying a BA in Visual Arts. I absorb myself so much into my studies that during the trimester I go into lockdown mode with creating. Somewhere during my day I will fit in a walk to stop my mind from thinking.

What is your ultimate playlist? I’m known for obsessing solely over one album at a time. Even after I have had enough I find myself going back to an album just to relive the memories of my complete obsession. At the moment I’ve gone back to The Black Keys album Brothers.

What is your favourite thing about your job? I get to create with my hands. It’s really rewarding. And the worst? The administration side of things.

Describe your illustrations in three words. How can I?

Who and what inspires you the most? As much as I try and live in the present moment the future of the unknown inspires me incredibly. With the constant flow of artists on social media I try to step back from it all and visit galleries. I was in complete awe of Kirra Jamison’s last solo exhibition Drink, Salt, Moon.

What did you want to be when you where a kid? I was always that quiet kid sitting in the arts and craft corner. During high school I took every art based class possible. Secretly I always wanted to be an artist but self-doubt took over and I didn’t chase my dream till last year.

What is your favourite thing to draw? Girls.

Favourite item in your wardrobe is... A few years ago I invested in a gorgeous pair of leather boots. They have walked every winter with me since.

Thank you Marta for being the first artist apart of "Artist Colony"! Your prints are incredible and very inspiring. I hope you guys enjoyed the first Artist Colony, Camille