Moved by the promise of spring and where a fresh new season might take us, this month's Muse Series feature finds us connecting with five different women from around the world, who inspire us (tremendously) with their individual artistic talent. Each shares us a glimpse into their creative space and unique point of view. We hope you enjoy this special edition of the Joie Muse Series as much as we have!
 On your career...
WHAT IS YOUR MAIN CREATIVE IMPETUS OR AREAS OF INSPIRATION?
I don't think of what i'm making as "art". My personal creative freedom with ceramics was full-filled in my early days. Now that it's become my business, I am interested in making fun products that will hopefully delight people to own.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SHAPE AND COLOR, AND WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH WHEN USING IT IN YOUR WORK?
First of all, I love color. When I started Lux Eros as a business, ceramics was just beginning to take off as a trend, but the entire market was saturated with the same minimalist, earthy, white/natural Topanga mama pieces. Not that there's anything wrong with that look; it's gorgeous! But it's just not me, and I wanted to make ceramics that were fun, colorful and confident. most of all, I wanted my ceramics to be like nothing else out there. So, I took a maximalist approach.
On style...
WHAT IS YOUR FASHION MANTRA AND HAS THIS APPROACH EVOLVED DURING TIMES OF QUARANTINE?
I'd love to say something like "if Jane Birkin worked in a ceramics studio" because I love classic effortless style. But truth be told, I think I always just end up looking like Mark Zuckerberg.
WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR STYLE, DO YOU FEEL THAT LIFE IMITATES ART OR ART IMITATES LIFE?
Art imitates life 100%.
On your career...
PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF... AND, HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START AS AN ARTIST? HOW HAS IT EVOLVED TO WHERE IT IS TODAY?
It's just something I've always done; I've been in love with drawing since I was small and I think I always knew it would be the career path I would follow. I studied fashion illustration at the London College of Fashion, but it wasn't until after I graduated that I found my 'style' and that's when things really started falling into place for me.
WHAT IS YOUR MAIN CREATIVE IMPETUS OR AREAS OF INSPIRATION?
I love that art and illustration have no boundaries or constrictions. I draw the human body and having the possibility to play and distort that is what I really enjoy. I like art with an edge, pieces that push our ideas of what a beautiful subject matter is.
On style...
WHAT IS YOUR FASHION MANTRA AND HAS THIS APPROACH EVOLVED DURING TIMES OF QUARANTINE?
I don't restrict myself with fashion, I've always stuck to 'if it makes you feel amazing, wear it.' Quarantine of course has influenced everything. I can admit I lived in loungewear for the first couple of months and sort of forgot what it was like to get dressed. Then I started to really notice a change in my mood if I'd been wearing my favorite shoes or dress that week. So now it's become an important ritual for me, getting dressed up and staying in.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PIECE FROM THE SHOOT?
I love using ink in my work, so the brushstroke pattern on the shirt and jumpsuit really caught my eye. But the vegan leather pieces fall so nicely on the body as well. The top is so flattering and the skirt is so comfy for staying at home. Who knew leather could be my new loungewear?
On your career...
PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF... AND, HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START AS AN ARTIST? HOW HAS IT EVOLVED TO WHERE IT IS TODAY?
In school, I studied product design and now have a master's degree in strategic design. After my studies I started my own business as an illustrator/digital artist and do commissioned work for different brands, magazines and institutions.
My connection to art has been around for a very long time. Ever since I can remember I have preferred to express myself or process my feelings through pen and paper. As a teenager it was clear to me that IÂ wanted to make this my profession, but I did not know how and in what form. I finally found my way to my design studies and in turn to digital illustration/art. My work is mostly about women, emotions, everyday situations and contemporary life.
WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONAL CONNECTION ARE YOU LOOKING TO CREATE WITH YOUR ART?
That depends very much on the topic I treat with my work. It is important to me that it's always authentic. Therefore, I always try to deal with topics that are within my expertise. I hope that people (especially women) who see my work, feel encouraged and confirmed in what they do and who they are.
On style...
WHAT IS YOUR FASHION MANTRA AND HAS THIS APPROACH EVOLVED DURING TIMES OF QUARANTINE?
My fashion mantra is very quarantine friendly, because fashion has to be comfortable for me. I hate too tight or painful clothes and I believe, or hope, that the fashion world has grown beyond this stereotype. I am a very practical person who likes to do things myself, my clothes must do that and look good.
WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR STYLE, DO YOU FEEL THAT LIFE IMITATES ART OR ART IMITATES LIFE?
Both.
On your career...
PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF... AND, HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START AS AN ARTIST? HOW HAS IT EVOLVED TO WHERE IT IS TODAY?
Growing up I was always creative and loved coloring and drawing. I thought I was going to get into fashion but changed my mind after being introduced to fine art during my visual arts classes in grade 10. I took my studies further by studying fine art in varsity, which i am currently still doing. I would say I have always been an artist, but it was in 2019 when my works started getting noticed by the public and I slowly built an audience. Currently I continue to paint and study art.
HOW HAS THE PAST YEAR IMPACTED AND/OR INSPIRED YOUR WORK - HAS THERE BEEN ANY BIG CHANGES IN PROCESS OR OUTCOME?
I think the biggest inspiration comes from the fact that I had taken a leap to start the work. I constantly re-visit it and try to find ways to improve and evolve past ideas and compositions. I wouldn't have been able to move forward without this start.
On style...
WHAT IS YOUR FASHION MANTRA AND HAS THIS APPROACH EVOLVED DURING TIMES OF QUARANTINE?
For someone who tends to be very expressive and creative daily, my style and mantra is keeping it minimal/simple. However, I've realized that there's a kind of drama that I like to present even in my simplicity so I have invested in that over the past few months.
WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR STYLE, DO YOU FEEL THAT LIFE IMITATES ART OR ART IMITATES LIFE?
It's hard to say as I see it as a circle. My works are birthed from life but my life tends to go back and imitate my art.
On your career...
PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF... AND, HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START AS AN ARTIST? HOW HAS IT EVOLVED TO WHERE IT IS TODAY?
I learned the basics of embroidery from my mother as a child. I wasn't attracted to it until i started developing an interest in visual arts as an adult modeling in different cities and countries. It was a medium I explored in tandem with life drawing classes. My subject since childhood has always been women and I found that while my thoughts and ideals around the subject evolved, the feminine form remained the subject of my work.
HOW HAS YOU EXPERIENCE BEING A MODEL INFLUENCED YOUR WORK, IF AT ALL?
Body language is a big part of my figurative work. In a strange way modeling parallels my art in the sense that I often have to use body language as means of expressing a certain sort of mood. It's no different from my embroideries.
On style...
WHAT IS YOUR FASHION MANTRA AND HAS THIS APPROACH EVOLVED DURING TIMES OF QUARANTINE?
It's super-hot in Georgetown, Penang where i've quarantined myself so 'less is more' is definitely my mantra. I think we're confronting very sharply our wasteful lifestyle from before and really reassessing what is true and meaningful to the self.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PIECE FROM THE SHOOT?
The grey jersey dress. Although I love dressing up and definitely put a lot of thought into my style when I have special occasions, my everyday style revolves around convenience. It has to be simple and easy to pair.