do what you love interviews
Here you can find inspiring and insightful interviews with amazing people doing what they love:
(a-z)
Cristina Adami, Tara Agakayak, Abigail Borg, Flora Bowley, Yvonne Carmichael, Christine Castro, Juliette Collet, Juliette Crane, Russell Crook, Cori Dantini, Emma Dolan, Rachel Hazell, Claudine Hellmuth, Kathy Heslop, Priscilla Jones, Niel Jonker, Dimitri Koulioussis, Danielle LaPorte, Jennifer Lee, Monica Lee, Mark McGuinness, Vivienne McMaster, Tim Moss, Matt Nicholls, Hannah Nunn, Sania Pell, Christina Sbarro, Victoria Smith (sfgirlbybay), Jessica Swift, Rachael Taylor, Melissa Vest, Kresse Wesling, Suzanne Woolcott
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interview snapshots
Cristina Adami
Talented up-and-coming fashion designer and artist Cristina Adami is literally a ‘rockstar designer’, having created costumes for Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence and the Machine, for the band’s latest tour, and recently established her own label. Cristina’s gorgeous ethereal work caught my eye at a fair in London recently. It is hard to describe just how beautiful her work is – light as air, romantically wispy, other-worldly – so I asked Cristina describe it herself, and tell us how she has gone about making her way in the industry.
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(image with kind permission of Tara Agacayak)
Tara Agacayak, creative enterprise coach
Tara Agacayak is a coach for creative entrepreneurs, and an American living in Turkey. After marrying her Turkish husband in 2002, Tara followed him to their first home in a small town near Istanbul on the Marmara Sea. Battling culture shock, isolation and an identity crisis, Tara tried to find herself in a series of unfulfilling English teaching jobs and web-based endeavors. The end result was that evolving her professional self became a personal journey – and that is why her own coaching enterprise ’Turquoise Poppy’ suggests that we “bloom where we’re planted” – to thrive despite the circumstances.
In this interview I talk to Tara about life as a businesswoman in Turkey, and what she has learned working with her clients as they have grown their creative enterprises.
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Image with kind permission of Abigail Borg
Abigail Borg, surface pattern designer and illustrator
Multi award winning young surface pattern designer and illustrator Abigail Borg is riding high, having just been awarded ‘Best British Pattern Design 2010′ by Elle Decoration at The British Design Awards. Just two years since winning New Designer of the Year 2008 award for her collection of hand-drawn and digitally-printed wallpapers, Abigail’s wallpapers, cushions and fabrics are now stocked in Liberty of London and in stores across the world. She also has freelance illustration clients like Laura Ashley Home.
I talked to Abigail about her phenomenal success, and how she is managing her rapidly growing creative business.
See here for the full interview
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(photo credit: Tyson Robichaud)
Flora Bowley – Bloom True!
Flora Bowley lives and works full-time as a painter in Portland, Oregon, where she is inspired by magical forests, abundant gardens and a thriving community of fellow artists. Flora’s love for life and spontaneous nature are clearly visible in her vibrant, easily recognizable paintings. Flora will be travelling to England in May to teach at the Do What You Love retreat. Her work can be found in numerous galleries and homes across the US and internationally, and also on a variety of unique products made in collaboration with Papaya!
Listen to the interview podcast here.
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Image with the kind permission of Yvonne Carmichael
Yvonne Carmichael – Curator of ‘Art in Unusual Spaces’
Yvonne Carmichael is the curator of Art in Unusual Spaces, a scheme which opens up empty shop units in city centres for use by artist as project or exhibition spaces, inspiring and sometimes surprising busy shoppers. Artworks have so far have ranged from miniature prams to giant robots and from den-making to really short artist films. Yvonne shares her thoughts on exhibiting art from a curator’s perspective.
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Christine Castro – web designer and veteran blogger
I am particularly fond of Christine Castro of Darling Design as she designed this lovely new home for Do What You Love. Christine is a veteran blogger, who has been posting about her life for over a decade, first on maganda.org and now on Brunch. Christine has designed websites for wildly popular artists like Sabrina Ward Harrison and Kelly Rae Roberts. Here Christine talks about brunch, lessons and working with artists to help them communicate their work to the world.
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Juliette Collet
After falling for her adorable creations, I was excited to interview French designer Juliette Collet, owner of Zü. Juliette lives in Marseille with her husband
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Image with kind permission of Juliette Crane
Juliette Crane, mixed media artist
Juliette creates whimsical characters by layering collage and paint, and fusing them together with love! Her creative business has grown rapidly, taking her from her first showing to being published in Somerset Studio in just 12 months.
Listen to the first ever Do What You Love interview podcast to hear how she has done this, and just what makes her style so unique.
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Image with kind permission of Russell Crook
Russell Crook, visual merchandiser
This Do What You Love interview is with Russell Crook, a freelance visual merchandiser whose client list includes Liberty’s, Nicole Farhi, L’Oreal, Disney and British retail giants BHS and George at Asda.
See here for the full interview
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Cori Dantini, professional illustrator
(image with kind permission of Cori Dantini)
American Illustrator Cori Dantini’s gorgeous images caught my eye and drew me in some time back. Cori’s whimsical illustrations have been featured on design*sponge and she sells her work across the USA and internationally via her thriving Etsy shop. I talked to Cori about life as a professional illustrator and young mum, and asked her advice for people who think they can’t draw.
See here for the full interview
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Emma Dolan, textile artist
Emma Dolan is a Leeds-based contemporary textile artist who creates adorable teacups and saucers from iconic fabric known as ‘Harris Tweed’. Her unique cups won the ‘Best New Product’ award at the Scotland Trade Show, and Emma will be teaching a teacup workshop at the V&A in London soon. I was fascinated by her creations, and went along to her studio – in a lovely converted mid 19th Century schoolhouse to find out more.
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Rachel Hazell, world-travelling book artist (podcast)
[Photo credit: Kelly Whybrow]
Meet Rachell Hazell, an incredibly talented book artist who resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, but frequently travels the world to make books in extraordinary places. Rachel will be teaching ‘Maps, charts and other discoveries: An extraordinary expandable sketchbook journal’ at the Do What You Love retreat in England in May 2011. I caught up with her to discuss paper, Paris and penguins. We also talked about really important things like chocolate, artistic residencies and getting commissions.
Listen to the full interview here
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Claudine Hellmuth, artist, author and illustrator
Image with the kind permission of Claudine Hellmuth
Claudine combines photos, paint, paper and pen into quirky, whimsical-retro collages that she calls Poppets®. Claudine has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show and she has developed her own signature product line with Ranger Inc (how cool is that?). Claudine has written 3 books and 3 DVDs about her techniques, and recently taught a techniques e-course ‘At Home with Claudine Hellmuth’ (which I took and loved) Originally from Orlando FL, Claudine lives in Washington DC with her husband Paul and their very spoiled pets.
She talks to us about Martha Stewart, commissions and her creative business life.
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Image with the kind permission of Kathy Heslop
Kathy Heslop – Make your creative business fly (advice from a woman who knows)
Kathy is an incredible woman who has lived many lives already, as professional musician, nautical globetrotter and serial entrepreneur who has seen multi-million dollar success for her creative businesses. She also happens to be one of the funniest women I know. Here Kathy shares some very valuable insight and practical commercial advice for those of you trying to start or grow your creative business…
Read part 1 of the interview here
Read part 2 of the interview here
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Priscilla Jones, mixed media artist
Priscilla Jones is an award-winning mixed media artist based in Lancaster, in the north of England who has exported her designs to Japan, the USA and across Europe, including freelance designs for greeting cards, wallpaper, fashion and interior fabrics. Priscilla’s unique art work in both 2D and 3D is known for its etherial feel and shabby chic colouring. Priscilla also owns an art gallery and lectures in embroidery, drawing, professional practice and the designer maker development pathway on the BA (Hons) Contemporary Textiles at the University of Blackburn.
Priscilla will be teaching a delicious workshop – ’Structure and surface: 3D sculpture with wax, wire, fabric, paper and found materials’ – at the Do What You Love retreat in May. Today we explore her work and influences and find out more about her creative business. (All photo credits: Priscilla Jones)
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Image with the kind permission of Niel Jonker
Niel Jonker – artisan breadmaker, bronze sculptor and painter in South Africa
This interview came hot off the press from South Africa, where I was on a little adventure of my own. Niel Jonker is an artisan breadmaker, bronze sculptor and painter living in the remote village of Baardskeerdersbos, in the Western Cape.
In this interview Niel shares his deep love of creating, his view on the business of art, and his favourite aspects of being an artist.
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Dimitri Koulioussis – one of Greece’s last true icon painters
This is a conversation with one of the last real professional Icon Painters in Greece, whom I visited recently at his studio on the beautiful island of Santorini. Dimitri learnt all the important things he knows about painting from the elders in his village. His work is so revered that he has been commissioned to paint 14 icons for the legendary Panagia Episkopi Church on Santorini, a church which has existed on the island for over 1000 years. Dimitri is the first artist I have ever met who expects his work to last ‘for hundreds of years’.
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Image with the kind permission of Danielle LaPorte
Danielle LaPorte – Lighting your entrepreneurial fire
If you want to put a rocket under your ideas and ambition, start or grow your own business or revolutionise your current business, and make your own choices and your own money, then you need to meet Danielle LaPorte. She is one white hot woman.
Danielle made me think differently about aspects of my own business, and I wanted to share some of her magic with you.
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Jennifer Lee - the Right Brain Business Plan
Jennifer Lee, author of The Right-Brain Business Plan, is a certified coach, writer, artist, yogini, and the founder of Artizen Coaching. Before pursuing her own passions full-time, she consulted for ten years for companies such as Gap Inc., Accenture, Sony, and HP, helping leaders and organizations manage change. Now she is on a mission to empower people to awaken their innate creativity and make a living doing what they love. When she’s not coaching, writing, or leading groups, she’s either painting up a storm, reading in her hammock, practicing yoga, making arts and crafts, or indulging in a midday nap (one of the fabulous perks of being self-employed). Jenn made the leap from corporate America, when she realized she needed to ‘stop living my dream on the side’.
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Monica Lee, illustrator, licensed artist and textile designer
As I talked to Monica Lee she was busy wrapping up two new fabric collections for Timeless Treasures. Monica’s work can also be found on stationery, wrapping paper and greetings cards and she illustrates book covers and magazine editorials. Monica has been on an incredible journey to get to where she is today, and she generously invites us into her inspiring story today, and shares an insight into the world of licensing.
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(image courtesy of Mark McGuinness)
Mark McGuinness, poet and creative coach
Mark McGuinness – poet, creative coach and trainer and creative entrepreneur - has been coaching artists and creatives since 1996, when he noticed a high proportion of them turning up in his psychotherapy consulting room. He has also consulted for organisations including the BBC, Channel 4, Arts and Business, the Institute for Practitioners in Advertising (UK) and many creative agencies and studios. Since 2006 he has been blogging about creativity and business at Wishful Thinking. In 2008 he launched Lateral Action with Brian Clark and Tony Clark, developing the site as a resource for creative entrepreneurs – first a blog and later the Lateral Action Entrepreneur Roadmap. Mark’s latest course is the Creative Pathfinder, a free 25-week guide to success as a creative professional.
I caught up with Mark to find out what gems he could share from his many years of working with creatives (and find out a bit about poetry too).
See here for the full interview
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Image with kind permission of Vivienne McMaster
Vivienne McMaster, photographer
Vancouver-based photographer and workshop leader Vivienne McMaster has an incredible talent for capturing authentic beauty, and empowering new photographers to find their voice. She also has a wonderful way with self-portraits. I talked to Vivienne about becoming a photographer, taking self-portraits, the challenges of running e-courses and what’s in her kit bag. She also shares some great advice for taking
See here for the full interview
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(image with the kind permission of Tim Moss)
Tim Moss, Adventurer
Do you love adventure like I do? How about skiing to the South Pole? Tim Moss fancies a go at it, but unlike most people who just dream about it, he is actually going. In January he will be accompanied on his ‘Inspired by London 2012 South Pole Adventure’ by an Olympian (Derek Redmond), a Paralympian (Marc Woods), and a Special Olympics athlete (Declan Kerry), as they ski to the bottom of the earth to wave the British flag in the name of participation, inclusivity and accessibility, and marking the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott reaching the Pole. At university Tim decided on a whim to organise a mountaineering expedition to Kyrgyzstan, a country he’d never heard of. In his words, “It all went horribly wrong, I had a wonderful time and have been trying to have as many adventures as humanly possible ever since.”
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Matt Nicholls, industrial sculpture and bespoke metal furniture design
From a very young age, my younger brother Matt drew and made models, and I remember how he used to do the most amazing technical drawings of cars. More recently he has turned industrial welding into a fine art, creating bespoke furniture, sculptures, gates and house signs. He has also just started building bespoke treehouses.
In this interview I talk to Matt about how he has combined his love of nature and passion for creating with the very practical industrial skill of welding.
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Hannah Nunn, designer/maker and owner of Radiance Lighting
Hannah Nunn is a designer/maker who owns a gorgeous lighting shop in the arty town of Hebden Bridge, in Yorkshire, England. Hannah built up her business from scratch whilst being a very young mum. Now her children have grown up and her business is flourishing, both offline and online. The shop doubles up as her studio, where she crafts beautiful hand-made lamps from paper. I am delighted that Hannah will be joining us at the Do What You Love retreat in May 2011, to share her extensive knowledge of design, manufacturing, production and retail from a small business perspective, in one of the retreat’s creative
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Sania Pell, stylist
[Styled by Sania Pell. Images by Emma Mitchell (left) and Penny Wincer for Cico Books]
I have long been intrigued what it is actually like to be a professional stylist. In this interview London-based freelance stylist and author of ‘The Homemade Home’ Sania Pell opens the doors on this profession, sharing what it is like to spend the day surrounded by beautiful things, see your work on the front cover of Elle Decoration and publish your own gorgeous book.
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Image with the kind permission of Christina Sbarro
Christina Sbarro – The time is now
Christina is a woman who is on a mission to truly do what she loves. She is all wrapped up in the creation of ‘A Field Guide to Now’, a book which combines her beautiful writing and mixed media art, stitched together with the love of a community of supporters.
Christina talks about the road she has taken to become the artist she is, what inspires her, and how she deals with creative challenges.
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(image courtesy of Victoria Smith)
Victoria Smith (aka sfgirlbybay)
Victoria Smith, aka sfgirlbybay, is editor/stylist of sfgirlbybay, a San Francisco based design and decor blog. With a cult following of 12,000+ daily readers Victoria has been voted #10 in the London Times Top 50 Design Blogs, MSN/Glo’s 10 Décor Experts To Watch. Prior to taking up blogging full-time, Victoria worked as a freelance art buyer producing photo shoots for advertising agencies and designers on accounts such as Condé Nast Publications. She has an Advanced Arts degree in Interior Design.
Victoria talks to us about her life as a top blogger.
Full Do What You Love interview here
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(image with kind permission of Jessica Swift)
Jessica Swift, artist
Atlanta-based Jessica is a painter, surface pattern designer and illustrator. I was originally drawn to Jessica’s gorgeous fabric designs but have since seen some of her original art work in the Enormous Tiny Art Show at the Nahcotta Gallery in Portsmouth, NH, which were just as juicy. Jessica has been a working artist since 2003, when she was 23 years old.
In this interview Jess shares a peek into her creative life, and shares her journey from her first trade show through to her recent fabric line launch.
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(image courtesy of Rachel Taylor)
Rachael Taylor, surface pattern designer and illustrator
Voted ‘Happiest Person in Britain’, this really is a girl doing what she loves. Rachael Taylor’s bright and fun designs caught my eye some time ago, and I bought an original piece of her work for my studio. As a surface pattern designer and illustrator, Rachael has clients all over the world, and next year she will be bringing out her own line of stationery with US-based Teneues publishing.
Rachael graduated in 2005 with a BA (Hons) in Textile in Fashion Design. After working in industry for three years, she set up her own design studio in 2008. Now specialising in surface pattern design and illustration, Rachael works as a freelance designer for clients like WH Smith, Target and Graham and Brown, and runs her own design label, Rachael Taylor Designs. Rachael’s international collaborations include a signature collection with Seascape Lamps USA.
I talked to Rachael about loosening up, setting up on her own and getting known.
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Melissa Vest
Author of blog ‘The Frugal Style’, Melissa Vest lives in Arkansas, USA, and is an alumni of the Do What You Love e-course. She found that after years of struggling to understand what she wanted to ‘do’ as a career, the e-course really helped her fit together the pieces of where she wanted to go. She says “I learned that I love the arts, and I am passionate about the impact they can make in our communities. As a result I have created a new Art Does Good Project, so that I can learn more about what communities are doing right now with the arts.” In this special Do What You Love interview Melissa shares details of the big step she is taking to do what she loves – an exciting project looking into how art can be used as a tool to tackle social issues.
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Image with the kind permission of Kresse Wesling
Kresse Wesling – Waste not, want not: creative business tips from a leading social entrepreneur
Meet Kresse Wesling, young sparky British creator of unique accessories for Hollywood superstars. Kresse is not your average fashion designer. She is one half of the very cool ‘Elvis and Kresse’ brand which took London Fashion Week by storm and has recently announced a collaboration with apple. She is one of the British Prime Minister’s Ambassadors for Social Entrepreneurship and a champion of responsible business practices. And the belt she made for Cameron Diaz to model in a Mario Testino shoot for American Vogue used to be a piece of fire hose.
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Image with the kind permission of Suzanne Woolcott
Suzanne Woolcott, creator of Gorjuss™
Suzanne Woolcott is the inspiring creative brains behind the Gorjuss™ empire. Some of her fans are so crazy about her work, they have had her designs tattooed on their bodies! Suzanne’s Gorjuss™ Girls are licensed by Santoro, a brand creator, design and publishing company with distribution in over 50 countries around the world. 33 year-old Suzanne runs her company with her husband Grant, from their studio in Glasgow, Scotland, where they live with their three children. Her work has been exhibited in galleries across the globe, but most regularly in Hollywood, LA , New York, NY, and Hong Kong (how cool is that?!)
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YOUR CALL: Are there any artists or creative entrepreneurs you would like to see interviewed on Do What You Love? Email me and let me know!
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