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Interview with artist Caitlin Alejandre

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Caitlin Alejandre and I am a Mexican-American artist and illustrator based in the USA. I work in both digital and traditional mediums creating art for character designs, posters, and picture books! I also love experimenting and have done some 2D animation, 3D digital sculpting, and screen printing. When I am not making art, I prefer being outside hiking and critter watching.

When did you start practicing illustration?

While I have created art for as long as I can remember, it wasn’t until 2020 that I started practicing illustration. I took a beginning illustration class at University and I fell in love with the field. I switched my major from a BA in Art to a BFA in Illustration and I am so glad I did! I love how versatile and never ending the opportunities are in illustration.

Describe your style of work in 3 words.

I would say playful, whimsical, and surreal.

"Take a Break". Digital. 2021. 11" x 14". © Caitlin Alejandre

Current favourite artists?

I admire Marija Tiurina, Ampreh, and Nuria Tamarit. Their concepts, techniques, and styles are so well executed. I look up to them and I feel inspired whenever I see their work. They definitely inspire me to push myself as an artist.

What is your favourite piece from your portfolio and why?

Currently, “Food for the Soul”. I think it embodies myself, and my art, as a whole. It is one of my more recent pieces, so it shows a lot of the techniques and stylistic choices I have been practicing and developing. It was also a lot of fun to make and I am thankful others seem to really like it.

"Food for the Soul". Watercolor, Ink. 2023. 8.5"x11". © Caitlin Alejandre

How do you find inspiration for your illustrations?

I often use my own interests and experiences for inspiration. There is so much around me that I enjoy and I want to pay tribute to through my art. I also enjoy incorporating culture into my work- whether it be of my own Mexican culture or other forms such as food and outdoor culture.  

What does success mean to you?

To me, it is the feeling of pride in my work. It is not easy to love everything we create as artists, so when I do make something I am proud of- it is a great feeling. I then can’t wait to share what I made with others.

Proudest moment to date?

I won a design contest hosted by the paint marker brand POSCA. It was such a cool experience. It was shortly after I graduated university and was the confidence builder I needed as I began my journey as a freelance artist. It helped reassure me that others, even professional brands, enjoy my style of art.

What helps you to stay motivated and organised in order to achieve a productive work day?

Remembering to take a break helps a lot. It is so easy to stay seated for hours when working. I like going for a walk to momentarily get away from my work. This allows me to reset and think about the next steps I need to take with a piece. It also motivates me to get back to work afterwards so I can finish it!

What are you working on at the moment?

I have lots of things going on! I am designing merchandise for my online shop as well as the upcoming art festivals and artist alleys that I will be vending. I also have a gallery show coming up with some new pieces I am excited about. Oh, and in between all of that I am illustrating a children’s book! 

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Instagram: @caitalejandre

Website: Artwork - CAIT ALEJANDRE (weebly.com)

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Interview with artist Niamh Ryan

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm Niamh. I'm an artist living in Wicklow. After seeing the beautiful sets and costumes in The Lord of the Rings movie, a creative spark was lit. I immediately applied to an art portfolio course which led to studying Model Making and Design for Film and Television.

How has studying Model Making and Design for Film and Television helped shape your work?

Part of the course included miniature set design which involved perfecting various painting and visual effects. This has lent itself very well to my work.

Describe your work in 3 words.

Colourful, detailed, enchanting.

What has been the high point of your career so far?

Selling one of my pieces in my very first group exhibition. It was a wonderful moment.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

"Forget Me Not" because it happened so organically. I was moved by a documentary about elephants and their imminent demise. I urgently needed to capture the sadness and my love for these powerful yet vulnerable animals. The image came to me with such clarity. The finished piece is my homage to elephants, ancient artists and their cave paintings and our fleeting time on earth. The painting can be viewed and bought in Gallery Eleven in Stillorgan, Dublin.

What helps you to stay motivated?

My motivation comes from the feeling of joy and peace I get when I create.

What kind of impact do you hope that your work has?

I hope that when people view my work that they are inspired themselves and that it brings them joy too.

Your top 3 favourite artists?

Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo and Irish landscape artist Janet Murran.

Is there any advice you'd give to aspiring artists?

Practice your craft every day, even if you only have five minutes. If you show up and create something, anything, then you're already on the path. You're doing it. You're an artist! What are you working on at the moment?

I'm working on a dreamscape inspired by the desire, as a woman, to move through this world freely, unencumbered, and unafraid.

Instagram: @niamh.the.artist

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Interview with designer Ceire Shannon Cunningham

Tell us about your business and how you got started.

I run a small "side hustle" of taking custom clothing orders through my Instagram page @maison_ceire. I started this page in November of 2017, my first year of uni. I studied a 4 year degree called Bconsumer Science: Clothing Retail Management. Part of the requirements for my degree was to fulfill 480 hours of experiential work in our field. I had made myself a handful of very rough festival outfits at the time when a girl I had gone to school with had asked me if I could make her some outfits for her Matric Vac. My dad invested in me quite a bit and purchased me a new sewing machine and I fell in love with making outfits and decided to make an Instagram page to see if it would carry further. The name came with help from one of my uni friends as well as inspiration from some high-end fashion brands such as Maison Valentino. Maison translates to 'house' in French so the name reads House of Ceire, "Maison Céire. There was a fair gap in the market for custom clothes for girls, mainly, in South Africa and I decided to run with it. How would you describe your brand aesthetics? How would you describe your brand aesthetic?

I would describe my brand aesthetic as trendy/funky yet simplistic with a whole lot of comfort. Due to producing predominantly custom orders for people, I haven't been able to showcase the aesthetic that I would really LOVE to produce. Ultimately the goal would be to have a sustainable fashion page where I produce very simple, neutral garments with pops of colour, made from natural fibers such as cotton or linen.

   What does success mean to you?

I define success as the feeling I am overcome with when a project of mine comes out in exactly the way I had imagined and I am proud of what I have produced. Most importantly I feel successful when a customer is genuinely ecstatic and very satisfied with what I have made them.  What helps you to stay motivated?

Motivation can easily be lost when you are tired or sore or lacking inspiration. I stay motivated when I know the outcome is going to make people really excited to order from me and I can get a positive response out of a garment or project. My motivation comes in bursts or not at all and I tend to just run with the burst until it ends (and hope that it doesn't until the product or order is complete). My biggest motivation is Erin Robertson who won Project Runway in season 15. Her Instagram handle is @an_erin.

What is your proudest moment to date?

My proudest moment to date would be completing a project for Jagermeister SA. I was approached by the general manager of Jagermeister for Africa to make some promotional outfits for their Jager girls. I made 166 sequins crop tops and 166 custom t-shirt dresses all with the Jagermeister branding on. The outfits went to various countries all over Africa. I went through the entire process of purchasing the fabric, making patterns, cutting out the fabric and sewing all 332 items.  What do you enjoy most about your job and what do you find challenging?

I enjoy the physical aspect of sewing the actual garments, this is where I have most fun and it is sort of therapeutic for me, especially if I am sewing something that I have done a million times. I find it challenging when customers ask me for something that I don't even know where to begin with. If some garments really are above my skill set I am honest with customers but if I feel as though I can do it, I always take on the challenge and then spend time in my sewing books or on Youtube to help me out.

What is your typical work day like?

A typical day at work for me is actually not predominantly sewing as I have taken on a full-time job as a sales and marketing manager for a textiles/homeware business. I work from 9-5 every day and only on weekends will I get time to go to the fabric stores to source material and my time for sewing is split up between evenings in the week. All while juggling finding time to go to gym, see my friends and go on hot dates.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on sourcing super soft and high quality winter fabric (as South Africa is in Autumn at the moment) for tracksuits, as they were super popular last winter in lock-down, winter coats/jackets and some more loungey yet sophisticated winter pieces. I don't see us being open for any concerts or festivals any time soon so I don't have to worry about festival orders for the remainder of the year. Hopefully next year I can spend more time on my Maison Ceire and doing what I love.

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[cuckoomagazine]

Interview with Celaviedmai

photo by Helton Gomes

Who or what inspired you to start creating music?

I always loved music because my parents played all kinds of music in our house when I was growing up. But if I had to pinpoint one artist it was Missy Elliot who made me think like WOW! If she can do that, then why can't I?

When did you record your first song and where was it recorded?

It was called Wavy with a group called Mic a Blaze and that was in Galway, 2013.

Who are your biggest influences in the music industry?

I am inspired by so many amazing artists across different genres but at the moment I'm loving Tyler the Creator, J Dilla and always alwaysss inspired by Beyoncé, I mean, who isn't?

Where are you based at the moment?

I moved from Galway to Dublin during the pandemic last year, so I can't wait for things to go back to normal and take proper advantage of being here in Dublin.

How would you describe your style of work?

My music is not defined by one genre, I go where my creativity and inspiration takes me. Whether that be rap, hip-hop, afro beats, pop - whatever it is, I love being flexible.

What is success to you?

Success is getting to the point that everyone I work with and everyone on my team is happy and getting paid really well (including me!) so that we can have the freedom to create together without worrying about the next paycheck. 

What is your proudest moment to date?

I've done some amazing things, in and outside of music but in 2019 when I had my first headline event in the Workman's Club - man that was special!

photo by Ben Pobjoy

What would be your dream collaboration?

Collabing is my favourite thing, nothing beats working with other artists to make something amazing. There's so many, but at the moment my dream would be to work with Kali Uchis.

Have you any particular goals for the future?

It's hard to set goals after having had so many setbacks due to COVID, but I do it anyway cause I'm gonna win a Grammy some day!

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The Link between your Mental Heath and Your Sexual Health.

by Sarah Keogh

Sex is not a magic medicine that will cure all however it does release feel good hormones that can temporarily reduce and relieve stress, anxiety and even feelings of depression. These sexy mood boosters include dopamine, endorphins and oxytocin. Sex also plays a major part in decreasing levels of cortisol, otherwise known as the primary stress hormone. In other words, more sex, less stress! 

We've all heard by now that exercise can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety however this doesn't have to mean a 6am run or an after-work yoga class. One study found that during 25 minutes of sex men burn 100 calories whereas women coincidentally burn 69 calories. According to another study whilst walking a mile a 180 pound person loses about 100 calories and a 120 pound person burns about 65 calories per mile walked, therefore in comparing these two studies participating in sex for 25 minutes results in the same calories burned in walking a mile. Sex can be considered a light cardiovascular exercise with other physical health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, burning calories, increasing heart health and strengthening muscles this leads to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and hypertension. 

However you don't have to feel pressured to jump into anything (or onto anyone), masturbation can offer similar health benefits such as the release of happy hormones and a great way to exercise as well as having its own advantages such as learning to understand your own body which leads to an increase ability to orgasm and sexual satisfaction in turn leading to a boosted self-esteem and body image. A recent study found an increase in white blood cells after reaching 'solo orgasm'. With our current status there has never been a better time to work on that immune system single handily, get it? Because your hand...moving on. 

Your sex life plays an undeniable role with your mental health and can be the cause of some amazing benefits however this does not mean you have to be having sex as I said before participating in solo pleasure has the same benefits and many of its own. If neither of these play a part in your life at the moment that's okay too you can achieve similar benefits through exercise, hobbies and having a strong and supportive friendship and family network. The most important thing is that if sex is a part of your life you are able to communicate, explore and experience satisfaction in a healthy and positive way!  When exploring sex make sure to stay safe and in terms of your mental health always contact professional help when necessary. 

Sarah Creighton Keogh 

taboobies.blogspot.com

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Interview with Fiona Smiddy, the founder of Green Outlook

by Julia Cuprina

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Fiona Smiddy the Founder of Green Outlook www.greenoutlook.ie.

I grew up in Glanmire, Cork just down the road from my grandparents’ farm where I spent a lot of time with my two brothers. I played a lot of team sports but now I really enjoy going to the gym and getting out exercising in any form. I was heavily involved in Scouts growing up and this nurtured my love for the outdoors and being respectful of nature.

I studied Commerce and French in UCC, and college is also where I met my boyfriend who is from Kildare and the reason I now live in Kildare. After college I trained with KPMG in Dublin working in Risk and Management Consulting. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2016. I wanted to further enhance my accounting knowledge, so I took a role in Industry. I worked with a renewable energy company for two years as Senior Accountant preparing accounts for a portfolio of Irish windfarms. It was so interesting to see the tangible correlation between the stormy Irish weather, and the equivalent fluctuations in Revenue generated on a windfarm.

In June 2018 the renewable energy company closed due to a lack of funding for future projects. I was pretty disappointed as I really enjoyed the company, the people and my role. I had always wanted to do some travelling and now that I had no job it was the perfect opportunity. I spent some time travelling both solo travel and with friends and family across South America, Australia and New Zealand. It was while travelling I got the idea to start my own business. I returned home in December 2018 and moved to Kildare and set about brainstorming what is now Green Outlook. I launched Green Outlook in March 2019.

What inspired you to start your business? Tell us about your journey.

While travelling in 2018 I visited countries that were directly facing the impact of the climate crisis. The San Blas islands were being impacted by rising sea levels and the glaciers of New Zealand were in a state of constant recession. I read Mary Robinsons book Climate Justice and I also read a book called Zero Waste Home and it amazed me how Bea Johnson’s household waste for one year fit in a small jar. I thought back to when I had packed up my apartment in Dublin before travelling and all the junk I had accumulated. I was beginning to make the correlation between my daily consumer choices and my personal environmental impact which I had never fully considered before.

I had always wanted to have my own business but was never sure what form that would take. In 2018 it finally clicked that I could combine my business education and work experience with my passion for the environment to bring solutions for sustainable living to Irish consumers. 

At Green Outlook I combine the educational aspect around sustainability and simple lifestyle changes for the environment with a sustainable lifestyle and plastic free shop. The issue with plastic pollution is huge so I wanted to do something to combat this. I source a range of plastic free products that are all sustainable and made with the best natural ingredients. I support local suppliers as this is so important to me and links it with the sustainable ethos of the business. The product range has grown over the last few months and there are now nearly 200 products available online at Green Outlook. I also attend markets and events across Ireland, doing pop up shops and working with corporate customers providing gifting services and corporate speaking services.

Describe your brand in 3 words.

Solutions for sustainability! 

buy here

buy here

What do you enjoy most about your job and what do you find challenging?

I enjoy bringing amazing sustainable Irish products together and getting out to meet like-minded people at markets and events.

As a sole trader I’m jack of all trades which is interesting as I’m always learning, however, I probably tend to do the jobs I like first and put some other things on the long finger. Even as an accountant I shy away from budgets and KPIs, I’m learning to be more disciplined, particularly as Green Outlook grows and I’m planning for the future.

Do you work from home?

Yes, I mostly work from home but most weeks I’ll be out and about at meetings, events or markets. Working from home has lots of pros but there are some downsides to working alone so it’s important I schedule in a mix and don’t get cabin fever home alone. 

What helps you to stay motivated?

My customers and their feedback! Every so often I question if I’ve made the right decision by starting out on my own with no security. I compare it to the financial stability an accounting role would offer me but then I remember why I started Green Outlook and all the positive change it has created so far. 

What are your top 5 favourite products at the moment, from your online store?

I’ve recently added a range of skin care products including a cleanser, moisturiser, toner, eye serum and body oil. I can’t wait to start hearing the customer feedback on these new additions as I think they are amazing. The Green Outlook firm favourites though must be the shampoo bars, natural deodorants, the safety razor and the bee’s wraps.

buy here

buy here

What is your proudest moment to date?

There’s a few including my first market and my first online sale but the highlight of 2019 was appearing on Ireland AM with a range of Green Outlook products. It was such a fun experience being on live TV and I learnt a lot from that experience.

I’ve been very fortunate to be involved with some brilliant programmes for entrepreneurs too including Acorns 5 and I’ve just been accepted on the DCU Ryan Academy Female High Fliers programme.

What does success mean to you?

Personally, it’s about being happy! Although I gained so much experience from working in Dublin, I don’t think I would have ever been truly happy commuting, especially during the winter months when you’d barely see any daylight. My business is pretty much all online and I’m much happier having the flexibility to work from anywhere. 

For Green Outlook it’s about protecting the planet and helping people implement sustainability into their lives. The more people I reach, the more changes will happen and the better the fight against the climate crisis we will have.  

Have you any particular goals for 2020?

I want to continue to grow the brand awareness of Green Outlook. In 2019 I worked hard to get the online retail business up and running efficiently and testing the waters with my talks on sustainability. In 2020 it’s about building on the success of 2019 and spreading the message about the sustainable offering at Green Outlook including the retail, gifting and speaking offerings.

 I really want to continue to provide inspiration for people that sustainability doesn’t have to be extreme or mean a complete lifestyle change. I will continue to give tips and help people to reduce their environmental impact through social media and my weekly newsletter. If we all do a little, we’ll be in a much better place.

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Interview with Jewellery Designer Jolene Smith

by Julia Cuprina

What inspired you to start your business?

The desire to create something unique and handmade and also to follow my dreams.

Where are you based?

I’m in Walsall but I did have a workshop in London in the 80’s. 

What materials do you work with?

I work with silver mainly and sometimes like to mix it with copper and brass.  

Describe your jewellery design in 3 words.

Bold, Rustic, Light.  

What is your favourite part about being a designer?

Being able to experiment in whatever direction my creativity takes me. Sometimes it doesn't quite work but it may lead to a happy accident.

What advice would you give to someone interested in getting into the jewellery design business?

Get creating and make what you like as it’s part of you people will love that.

What is success to you?

It’s being happy that I’ve made a piece and my customer is really happy, whether it’s £20 or £200.

What is your typical work day like?

Each day can be different but having a swim first then going to my studio is how I like to start, then get creating.

What’s your proudest moment to date?

Having my children. Also, seeing how pleased my students are after doing my workshop makes me proud.

What are you working in at the moment?

Some large rustic earrings and a new venture with crystals.

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Photos by Yvonne Keane

‘’The inspiration for this shoot came from my own experiences as a lone parent having escaped an abusive relationship and how I've embraced nature to deepen the connection with self and overcome personal difficulty. I believe instilling the importance of this in our kids as a balance to the ever-growing digital landscape we are bombarded with is so vitally important. My ideas have been mostly informed by an interest in mindful, minimal living and how this can help you connect with your kids and overall become a better parent.’‘

The clothes featured are thoughtfully designed, sustainable pieces that embrace the freedom of childhood - from Irish shops Mira Mira and Chaos n Harmony.

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Interview with the founder of Sana Naturals, Kasia O’Reilly.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Kasia, I’m Polish and a Cavan man stole my heart over 10 years ago. We live in the Cavan countryside, with our little boy, where we moved nearly 4 years ago to lead a greener life closer to Nature and my husband’s family. We have a beautiful Nadreegeel Lough at our doorstep and we feel very lucky to call this stunning lake land our home.  

How did you get started in skincare business?

My love for Nature has been passed down in my family for generations. Growing up I’d spend days in my granny's luscious garden picking wild plants and digging clay from the rich Polish soil. Since I was little I’ve been making herbal potions and forcing anyone I could to drink them. 

 I’ve done several courses in natural therapies and this passion has developed into making my own natural skincare products, especially important for me as I struggle with challenging skin. It's dry and oily in places, sensitive, easily irritated and prone to breakouts and broken capillaries. I’ve discovered throughout the years that when it comes to our skin, less is often more. 

I’m a big believer in simplicity and back to basics. I find the current skincare routines complicated, confusing and time consuming. Personally, I don’t see the need for, and don’t feel like applying, so many layers of products onto my skin twice daily. In my opinion all we need is only a few skincare essentials that are truly natural and effective, and my skin has never been happier for it.   

 Sana Naturals simple yet luxurious collection of skincare essentials is created with problematic skin in mind, offering superfood nutrition to skins of all types and ages.  

Do you work from home? Tell us about your working space, where do you create your products?

Yes, my studio is based at my home. For me, this beautiful part of the countryside is a perfect place to live and work. I spend a lot of time in my studio hand making the products and doing the office work. 

Every single jar and bottle of the skincare bliss is handmade and individually poured here. With some of the products, the production continues over a few days, after which the products reach maturity and are then hand labelled with attention to the smallest detail. 

Describe your brand in 3 words.

Natural, eco- friendly, pure.

What is success to you?

Getting positive feedback from customers who tell me that my products helped them feel good in their skin again makes me incredibly happy. It's the inspiration and the motivation for what I do.  I'd love to sell more products nationwide and start exporting abroad with the main goal to share the beautifying magic of plants and minerals to help heal and nurture the skin, bring joy and a peaceful mind and inspire to reconnect with the healing powers of Nature.

Working for yourself can be tricky in terms of planning your days / weeks. What helps to stay motivated and organised in order to achieve a productive work day?

Running your own business and a household means juggling millions of tasks at the same time. I work irregular hours and often work until late evenings when my boy is in bed and weekends. It isn’t easy to have a perfect work and personal life balance this way. Planning ahead and making lists is the key but I always have a feeling that the day is too short. 

I read an interesting article recently on how to get more productive. A very top tip I learnt is very simple - schedule regular breaks throughout your day. You are more productive when you are recharged.  

I knew that before but naively I thought that a 15 min tea break while scheduling social media posts counts as a break. But a real break should be just for YOU to help you replenish your energy in one of the three areas: physical, emotional, spiritual. So now during a work break, to replenish my physical energy I go for a walk in Nature or do a few minutes of yoga. For emotional energy I ring my friend for a chat or listen to my favourite song and really tune in. For spiritual energy I keep a gratitude journal. It has made an enormous difference to my work productivity and life in general.        

  What do you enjoy most about your job and what do you find challenging?

 I find great delight in working with the beautiful natural ingredients, such as nourishing oils, healing clays, smooth waxes etc. I love their vibrant colours, different textures and scents, mixing them up and playing until a formula resonates with me is so blissful. I also love engaging with customers, either directly at the events where I sell my products or via social media. I also enjoy packing orders for individual customers. If you have ever been at the receiving end of one of these packages you’d know how much love, care and attention goes to them.     

As cliché as it sounds, my work is my passion, except for doing the accounts. That to me feels like paying for all my sins!   

You have recently promoted your products on Ireland AM and you did a great job! How did you come across this opportunity and has it helped you in your business?

I contacted Virgin Media months ago about an opportunity to be featured on Boost My Business program. Luckily my brand fitted the sustainability topic that was scheduled to be featured at the time and I was invited to the studio. 

I was expecting just a couple of inquiries after the program but I was very surprised with a great viewers’ response. The volume of inquiries, possibilities of collaboration with different brands, new social media followers and the engagement was incredible. I’m very grateful for this opportunity as it helps small businesses like mine grow. 

What is your most popular product at the moment?

The most loved product by the customers at the moment is the Serum. This unique blend of botanical oils and a powerful antioxidant vitamin C serves as a moisturiser, serum and an under eye serum all in one. This multitasking superhero is especially designed to tackle multiple skin issues at once, depending where the skin resides each day, helping to restore its natural balance. It’s especially formulated with problematic skin in mind but it offers indulgence and soothing comfort to skins of all ages and types. I’m often told that it’s a skin saviour.      

Shop Here

Your dedication to sustainability is so refreshing! The eco-friendly recyclable packaging is what sets you apart from many skincare brands. Is it challenging to avoid plastic in terms of the cost?

Production of all skincare products to some extent impacts the environment, however all the choices and steps are taken with the wellness of our planet on top of my mind. And although not perfect, I’m constantly learning how to improve things and I’m thriving to lead this small business as sustainably as possible.  

Plastic packaging is certainly cheaper, lighter and safer to post and transport in terms of the risk of breakage but as sustainability is one of the brand’s core values, using glass containers is non-negotiable. 

I also opted for no outer cardboard box to reduce waste and instead, the products come with a reusable cotton eco pouch. I’m committed to using as little plastic as possible. Any inside filling in the postage boxes, e.g. paper insert, bubble wrap or the filling chips are reused from the ingredients and containers packaging. I’m delighted that many of my suppliers choose green alternatives too, such as compostable filling chips made of potato starch, even though these ‘greener’ options are more expensive. 

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of starting a beauty business?

To be honest I'm not yet an expert by any means as I'm still learning. But I would say start with your local enterprise office that usually offers a wide range of trainings and is very helpful to new start-ups, as well as existing businesses. Joining your local networking group may also be useful. I’m blessed with a continuous support from very talented women from my local Cavan Business Women Club.  

Follow your dream, move one step at the time while enjoying the journey and hope for the best.

 What are you working on at the moment?

I’m often asked by customers for a face toner and to fulfil the requests I’m currently working on a new toner formula. The oil Serum needs water or a water based product to penetrate the skin and seal in the moisture and I feel that a face toner would complement the existing collection very well. It will take much more time though to test and it will be sometime next year by the time it’s launched so stay tuned.    

https://www.sananaturals.ie/

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Interview with Joana Leite

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, I’m Joana, a Portuguese that, has been calling Dublin home for the past 4 years.

Once dreamt about being a rocket scientist, became an Engineer and now I live among style, styling and photography.

I think I’ve always been passionate about photography and styling, since a little girl playing on my brother’s amateur photography adventures… and growing up, moving the passion for shooting to the other side of the camera too :)

When did you start a blog and what inspired you?

I started blogging a long time ago, 9 years or so! Before Style Traces, I had a blog about my dog adventures and a blog sharing my daily looks - every post would have the look I was wearing that day, something like Instagram but blogging.

I guess that’s how the passion for blogging started, with a style diary that later would become the place where I would be sharing my photography passion too, upgrading my skills on product photography - with beauty posts and #flatlays.

You always have gorgeous, professional photos on your blog. Who is your photographer?

Thanks so much! :)

The photos I’m not in, I take them myself and the others, I have a photographer working with me - Remi from @all_about_portraits on Instagram, for all the street style photos I work mostly with him and once in while, or when I’m away from Dublin I have my husband working with me on that.

Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use?

I edit all of my photos, even the ones I’m in :)

I use the Lightroom and Photoshop and, when publishing on Instagram, sometimes I use the VSCO app on my phone too.

Describe your style in 3 words.

Uncomplicated, comfy, chic.

What keeps you motivated?

Being passionate about creating and sharing.

Your top 3 favourite bloggers?

I have an hand full (or maybe more) of bloggers I really love to follow for their lovely style and cheerfulness, but here are 3 that I’ve following for years now:

Marie Swen from Happily Grey @happilygrey

Blair Eadie from Atlantic Pacific @blaireadiebee

Sílvia Garcia from BartabacMode @bartabacmode

What is your proudest moment to date?

Having people recognising my work, calling me the “Flatlay Queen” when I had no clue how many my photos and my work were reaching.

...and, being recognised on the street, from my work, from my blog, having lovely followers coming to me to say “Hi” and share the cutest words about my work, it’s priceless :)

What do you enjoy most about blogging and what do you find challenging?

Sharing, inspiring and being inspired… connecting with people from all over the globe with the same tastes as you.

The lovely support you can get from the other side of the world, from people you had never seen but you share something in common...

When you have a blog around yourself sometimes it can get too personal, and sometimes it can get tricky to define the working hours, it can feel you work 24/7 with no days off.

It can be really challenging too, be in constant creation of content, expecting your audience to love your new content as much, or more, than the before and keep motivated to keep moving forward.

What are you working on at the moment?

Besides blogging, I work as a photographer and social media consultant and manager.

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Interview with Kara Leigh Ford

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm Kara, I live and work in Somerset, South West England. I am a full time potter making tableware and art from my studio at the bottom of my garden. My work is inspired by the textures and colours of the south west coastline. I live with my husband Tom and two rescue cats Luna and Flora.

When did you start working with ceramics and how did it all begin?

This is a bit of a long story, so here it is in a nutshell. I studied fine art at university but never touched clay until after I graduated in 2005. Due to the lack of jobs in the arts sector and no skills to speak of on how to making a living from being an artist I took a job in branding and marketing. I decided to do an evening class in pottery to keep my creative juices flowing - from that moment on I was hooked. Painting was always a source of frustration for me -  I was never really able to get across what I wanted to say on canvas but clay afforded the extensity I was always looking for - seeing a lump of mud transform into a bowl was like alchemy to me. In 2014, a close friend of mine died of cancer - at the age of 32 - it was a huge wake up call that we only have one life. After much discussion with my family and friends - I packed in the career I had grown to resent and became a full time potter. With hindsight the marketing job gave me a lot of business skills the degree did not - how to build a brand, copy writing, budget management so I am actually very grateful for that time now.

Describe your style in 3 words.

Calm, Uncluttered, Natural

Do you sell your work online?

I do indeed! I sell predominantly from my website karaleighfordceramics.com I also have an Etsy shop - and ship internationally.

What is your proudest moment to date?

Seeing my travel mugs for sale in Fortnum and Mason was a pretty mind blowing experience. I was asked to go and meet one of the buyers in their Piccadilly store - I don't think I have ever been so nervous. I also supply pottery to a restaurant in York called Le Cochon Avegule - they have been voted one of top 100 restaurants in the country - I am very proud that their exquisite food is served on my plates.

Tell us about your work space.

I originally began working from a tiny 9ft x 6ft shed painted like a beach hut - but soon out grew it. Last summer, I invested in a purpose built pottery studio. I have two wheels, lots of shelving and a beautiful reclaimed wood and gas pipe work bench. My original little studio now houses my two kilns.

What do you enjoy most about your job and what do you find challenging?

I love the freedom to create, I'm an introvert so love nothing more than spending my days in my studio playing about with new forms or discovering new glaze combinations. I find focusing on tasks quite challenging - I struggle to concentrate on one thing at a time and tend to waste time flitting from one project to another, this results in working longer days than I really need to - it's something I am working on. Im also very easily distracted by emails or social media plus dyslexia means writing is often a cause of anxiety.

What is success to you?

Success for me is a feeling or a state of being rather than a destination. It's all too easy to say: 'when my business reaches 50K followers on Instagram I'll be successful' or 'when I am turning over 60K a year I'll be successful'. I try and be really mindful about how lucky I am to do what I love every day.

What keeps you motivated?

Discovery and learning keeps me coming back to the potter's wheel/ work bench. There is so much depth to my craft, it would take many life times to explore it all fully but I am giving it a really good go.

Have you any particular goals for the future?

I want my business to be able to facilitate my life (not the other way round)  - I want it to give me the freedom to travel and see the world, experience other cultures and truly make the most of my time on planet earth. I'd also love my business to be carbon neutral -  it would be the dream to be able to run my kilns on solar power one day. I've already cut out 99% of plastic from my packaging.

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Interview with Nina Michael

by Julia Cuprina

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Nina and I am the owner/founder of Sophia Mya Cupcakes. Im originally from Chicago, born and raised and moved to Australia to be with my husband(he had me at g’day mate. I have 2 beautiful girls, Sophia & Mya, hence the name. 

When did you start baking?

I started baking just over 5 years ago. I had 2 young kids and as rewarding as motherhood is, I was bored with the routine of it all.  We also threw annual halloween parties which weren’t big in Australia back then so I wanted to have home baked goods them and their friends could enjoy.  I had never baked before that. I fell in love with how therapeutic and fun I found working with frosting was. My friends and husband pushed me into starting my side hustle, Sophia Mya Cupcakes. They saw in me what I didn’t at the time. I’m so glad I had the support around me, its pretty special to have people like that in your life.

What other treats do you make apart from cupcakes?

I specialise in cupcakes, but i also make shortbread cookies, edible crystal candy and baked donuts.

Describe your style in 3 words.

Whimsical, dreamy and elegant.

What types of events do you cater?

I cater anything from small parties, to engagements and my largest to date has been for Warner Bros which was a highlight.  

Do you meet your clients in person or do you mostly communicate via email?

I mostly communicate via email with all my clients.  Its a lot easier to have a hard copy to refer back to in terms  of design etc.  If they prefer to meet in person, I would definitely meet at a cafe.

What is your proudest moment to date?

My most proudest moment would be winning the Australian Cake Decorating Network’s Cupcake Award in February 2018.  To me, theres no better feeling than the satisfaction I get from the work I envision, plan and ultimately bring to life. To be recognised for my work was so unexpected and so rewarding.

What is the best piece of advice you would offer to someone thinking about starting their own business?

The best piece of advice I would offer someone thinking of starting their own business is to just do it! Don’t let anything stop you, not your age not your limitations. Do what makes you feel alive and happy. You won’t know unless you try.

What are the pros and cons of being your own boss?

There's a lot of hard work that goes hand in hand with a registered home business. You can’t underestimate how much time goes into the actual idealising, baking, decorating  and the cleaning up chores, but for me the positives far outweigh the negatives. I wanted to raise my children and spend time with them, to me that was important.  I also, love to produce unique, beautiful and tasty homemade treats which truly is a labour of love.

What is success to you?

For me success is feeling happy in what i’m doing and to be able to inspire so many to give it a shot.  You won’t know unless you try.  I enjoy creating unique, glam and delicious homemade sweets and that’s what happiness and baking is about to me. 

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Interview with artist Margherita Paoletti

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello! My name is Margherita and I’m an artist and illustrator. Actually I’ve been many things. I wanted to be a textile designer, a pianist, a singer, an animator, a graphic designer...I can go forever. I took the decision to go for illustration and art because those were the two things that I never really gave up during my life. 

What materials do you work with?

I work with paint (acrylics, watercolours, gauche), printmaking and digitally.

Which ones are your favourite at the moment?

Acrylic and digital painting are my favourite at the moment.

Your biggest influences?

I’d say Henri Rousseau, Frida and Matisse are my biggest influences. But I do a lot of research on social media to find new inspiring artists. Describe your style of work in 3 words.

Desperation, creation, joy.

Tell us about your journey, how did you get started?

I started going to design schools, even though I was quiet young and I never really knew what was my real thing. During my years at university I realized  that my  approach was always quiet artistic. So I decided to try and go for art!

What do you enjoy most about your job and what do you find challenging?

I love the fact that I have the chance of doing what I’m passionate about and what my all life is about. I decided to stay in Italy even if the economic situation it’s not so good, and further most creativity is not always seen as a work field (especially in small cities). Where I live is all about networking and meeting the right people, so I’d say that’s the challenge! Thankfully I got to meet a wonderful art gallery (Cellar contemporary) that organises exhibitions and amazing events!

What keeps you motivated? 

Going to exhibitions, events, doing and taking workshops, talking to people about art, looking up at my favorite artists, move and never stay still.

You have done artistic residencies in Japan and Estonia. Would you recommend it to emerging artists? 

Artistic residencies are super good, I’d recommend doing them especially to emerging artists (like myself). You get to know new people and develop artistic connections.

You have worked as a jewellery designer in London 2 years ago. Tell us about your experience.

I met this incredible lady Rebecca Manners of Bex Rox Studio, that I still work with, and she gave me the chance to do something else with my drawing skills. I’ve always made handmade jewelleries but never thought of going further than that. She is a super Art Director full of ideas, and she pushed my abilities and let me experiment with animation, illustration, jewellery design and graphic design. Now she is Bali where she is developing new ideas and she kept me on her team. So I’m still drawing jewellery and helping her with new ideas and projects. Distance is no longer a problem with whatsapp and social media! 

What are you working on at the moment? 

I’m developing my illustration portfolio and my art. I’ve a new exhibition coming up in august and I’m applying to a lot of artistic contest in Italy and abroad. I’m also developing an illustration book with one of my best friend! And trying to figure out a way to paint a giant mural.

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Efference Copy Mechanism review

by Hayley Carr

Efference Copy Mechanism by Ronan McCrea is the latest exhibition on show at the Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, and is comprised of a complex arrangement of superimposed slide and 16 mm film projections, sourced from the artist’s personal archive and accumulated image bank. The large-scale installation explores the materiality of film, and is fundamentally about how we view images. This is investigated through the use of appropriated and found images, as well as instructional and pedagogical films, which are reproduced and archived in a reimagined context in order to create new images and to destabilise our preconceived expectations of them.

The gallery space is completely blacked out in order to accommodate the installation, and the projectors and other necessary mechanisms sit atop archive storage shelves placed in the centre of the room, subverting their function as a space for storing inanimate information. From this central system, images act as signals which are sent out and received by the viewer. This process is a key to the exhibition’s title. In neurology, an efference is a motor signal sent outwards from the central nervous system. An efference copy is then created as the signal exits the brain and is rerouted to the sensory cortex, thus explaining our perception of stability despite constant eye movement, and our ability to distinguish external stimuli from signals generated by our own actions. This neurological system is metaphorically enacted within the artist’s work, confronting us with a perception that is imperceptibly skewed. By raising questions about perception, and how that relates to our sense of stability both internally and externally, McCrea tries to present us with a more objective way of seeing, which is divested of preconceptions and expectations.

Structures of Feeling (named after a work by Marxist theorist and critic Raymond Williams, which explores a historical understanding of “affective elements of consciousness and relationships”) is a double screening of two 16 mm films: a thirty minute segment of Robert Flaherty’s ethnofiction documentary, Man of Aran, superimposed on a 10 minute segment of a Soviet educational film, The Structure of Atoms. Both films aim to visualise what we don’t usually see—the first, a remote island culture, the second microscopic particles. The latter is played asynchronous to the former, at 16 frames per second, which creates an unstable and volatile combination of images, a visual structure that is constantly in flux. Different cultural ideas, styles, and narratives are organised into a shared and unified experience. The artist physically restructures what we see to create something that is at first affective and visceral, which destabilises our expectations and preconceptions.

Twelve by Twelve by Two is a projection of 35 mm slides from 12 sets of 24 images. The images are organised into sets based on different typologies, and are sourced from an archive of ready- made images. These images constitute the fragments and unrealised material of previous projects and studies, and include depictions of uninhabited zoos, seascapes, hand gestures, abandoned buildings, instructional pictures, and a plethora of other subjects and ideas. The slides are programmed to create 12 systematic sequences of superimposed images, lasting approximately two minutes each. In this way, the images are recombined into a newly imagined context. Visual fragments are stitched together to create an image that is stabilised by patterns that are imperceptibly recognised by the viewer, in a way that draws influence from structural films, minimalism, and conceptual art.

The last piece in this exhibition is titled North Sea Dissolve, which consists of a 35 mm slide film shot at sea, in which the exposures on the roll are extended from fractions of a second to minutes in a rolling dissolve sequence, ultimately creating a play between proto-cinematic temporality and a captivating optical effect. The title is a partial reference to Marcel Broodthaers’s 1974 film and book, A Voyage on the North Sea, although images of the ocean tie in with themes present in other artworks in the exhibition. Overall, while exploring the materiality of analogue photography and film, and his own relationship to it within his practice, Ronan McCrea’s introspective installation also challenges the viewer’s expectations of perceiving by destabilising and restructuring what we see and how we see it. He creates a unique environment in which archival material is reorganized into coalescing stimuli in which vying ideas and imagery emerge as a single visual signal.

Efference Copy Mechanism is currently on show at the Temple Bar Gallery + Studios until April 13.

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Adrian Jing Song is an art student based in Melbourne. Adrian’s series, 'How Still We Stood' deals with the agency of memory and how photographs function as a tool for feeding a particular narrative. These images capture integral moments during his childhood that transcend underlying tension and unrevealed family dynamics. Adrian uses a mix of mediums, from watercolor, injket prints, scanned photographs, gouache, and mixed media.

Inspiration for the title and theme comes from a poem by Adrienne Rich titled, "For An Album". "Our story isn’t a file of photographs faces laughing under green leaves or snowlit doorways, on the verge of driving away, our story is not about women victoriously perched on the one sunny day of the conference, nor lovers displaying love: Our story is of moments when even slow motion moved too fast for the shutter of the camera: words that blew our lives apart, like so, eyes that cut and caught each other, mime of the operating room where gas and knives quote each other moments before the telephone starts ringing: our story is how still we stood, how fast."

Website: https://adrianjsong.com Instagram: @adrianjsong

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77 Million Paintings review

by Hayley Carr

77 Million Paintings is an immersive sound and image installation piece by British musician and visual artist, Brian Eno. The work involves a process of randomly generated visual and aural elements being combined and overlapped to create innumerable, transitory compositions that evolve and shift around the viewer. Eno terms this ‘generative art’, as the outcomes displayed are arbitrarily generated by software which randomly selects four images at a time from a selection of 296 glass paintings created by Eno by hand. These are then interwoven with ambient sound pieces,from which discernible sounds—such as choral voices and bells—emerge out of soundscape of abstract musical components. The result is an eerily hypnotic experience, in which the viewer finds themselves drawn ever deeper into a suspenseful environment which strips them of the familiarities of the outside world. We step into a dark, desolate forest, in which branchless trees stretch barrenly through the ceiling, and mounds of gravel are lit with strangely coloured spotlights. We make our way through this artificial forest, as sounds swoop ominously around us like birds of prey. One gets a sense of being lost in a vast and unfamiliar wood and, despite the finite size of the room in which the exhibition is housed, the play between soft, glowing light and thick, shrouded darkness lends the room an immensity that is surreal and unsettling.

The viewer is ultimately drawn to a large geometric composition which hangs portentously in the blackness like an arcane relic. This composition is comprised of square panels that interlock like a stain glass window, and subtly shift in colour and image. This change is almost imperceptible, and the viewer looks on, entranced, as colours meld and slip away, and stylised patterns appear and integrate to create images akin to hieroglyphs or runes. The set-up feels similar to a church, with couches serving as pews that look out on what is essentially a rose window. Chanting voices that precipitate out of the strange soundscape, and the arboreal environment, relate these religious connotations back to paganism.

There is something primitive about the environment that appeals to the innate instincts of human beings—a primal fear is aroused by the haunting music which seems to evoke a sense of being watched or hunted by something unknown. This fear is compounded by allusions to death that are implied through the barren trees and arid mounds of soil that occupy the environment. These symbols lurk on the fringes of the darkness, always held in our peripheral vision as we navigate our surroundings, serving as a reminder of the transience of life. And so we seek salvation from this bleak, symbolic wasteland through images of light. Transfixed by these constantly evolving pictorial narratives, we forget our fear; our minds are preoccupied by the soothing and hypnotic pulsing lights, which have a meditative effect on the viewer. In a more positive sense, the viewer becomes lost in this visual metamorphosis, their minds adjusting to the changes in colour and image without perceiving it with their eyes. In this sense, we are liberated from our confrontation with transience, as sound and image combine harmoniously to create an infinite stream of consciousness that echoes within our bodies. This primal fear is provoked only to be conquered by our immersion in it, and once this fear and endurance is experienced, the viewer is left with an alleviating sense of peace.

77 Million Paintings is on display in the Gallagher Gallery in the RHA, Ely Place, Dublin from the 18th January to the 24th February. It’s not one to miss.

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How to spend a weekend in London.

by Anne Carty

London is by far one of my favourite cities. I visited this beautiful city for the first time last year and I fell in love immediately. In those two days that I visited, I saw almost all of London. In this blog post, you will find out how to do this too! 

Hop on Hop off Bus

My first day in London was spent on the top deck of a hop on hop off bus. I saw practically all of London in about three hours! I saw the Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, The London eye and so, so much more. This is a must when you are visiting London. I loved my experience on this bus even though it was freezing on the top deck!

Jack the Ripper tour

Seeing as it was Halloween during my first day in London, Jack the Ripper tour was the best way to spend the evening. The story of the Jack the Ripper murders is known across the world. This is an activity you can do any time of the year.

Not only do you get to see some parts of London that you would probably ever see, you get taken back to the time Jack the Ripper was running rampage through Victorian London. It’s a really interesting tour and I highly recommend it.

Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum is a great place to visit for all you history buffs. The Holocaust exhibition was what interested me so that’s where I spent my morning on my second day in London. This exhibition was amazing, with artifacts found in Auschwitz, a huge replica of Auschwitz and so much more was found in here.

Many other exhibitions can be found in this museum. You could honestly spend all day in here. The most amazing part of this museum that I found was that they had a piece of the Berlin wall outside.

image courtesy of Casson Mann

London Dungeons

The London Dungeons were my favourite part of these two days. Step back in time and witness the dark and gruesome past of London with live actors. Walk towards your execution, come face to face with Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper. Visit London during the black plague and the great fire. Will you survive this haunting past?

The London Eye

An amazing activity that you need to experience. I got on the London eye and reached the top as the sun began to fade into the horizon. Isn’t this just the perfect way to end a wonderful visit in London? You get to see the magical view of London as you slowly rise to the top of the eye.

Buckingham Palace

Once I got back onto the ground I made my way to Buckingham Palace to get some pictures. Although I never got to see the changing of the Guard at this time it is on my to do list during my next visit.

The changing of the guard always attracts a huge audience so make sure you get there a bit early so can get a good spot and see it.

When visiting London I would recommend that you look into buying combo tickets. You can save a ton of money by doing this. While visiting I had got a two attractions for the price of one! 

I hope you found my recommendations helpful and if you visit any of these places, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

With love,

Anne xx