Mindful Matter
Q&A with Flávia Mayer
This month’s art is by Latin illustrator, Flávia Mayer. Flávia illustrates feelings and thoughts through bold imagery — from serene women to wild tigers, her artwork approaches complex themes such as mental health, our connection to nature, to the universe, and our deepest selves. She says, "Creativity and metamorphosis are deeply connected. In the same way a butterfly must go through caterpillar and cocoon stages in order to become this exquisite, unique creature, our ideas, too, need to go through several shapes before they reach their final destination." For a little more about Flávia, here's a short Q&A. Where is home for you? This year I’ve decided to embrace the so-called ‘digital nomad’ life for a bit. I’m currently living in Spain, with plans to go to France, UK and then Brazil to visit my family! What is your definition of a successful life? For me, success is not about having the perfect job or lots of money. These things are important, sure, but more important is to have time to do what truly makes you happy. So a successful life would be a life where I can have a balance between spending time with friends and family, working with what I love and taking care of myself. Not that easy, I know! Describe your perfect day. I love slow mornings so my perfect day would start with a lie-in, breakfast in bed with lots of coffee and maybe an avocado toast. It would definitely be a sunny day so I would go for a stroll around the beach or by a river, maybe visit a local market, have a picnic with friends and family. To end the day, definitely a good film under the blankets! How did you get into design? I have loved drawing since I was little. I used to sell my drawings in school! Then one day a friend of mine suggested that I should study Graphic Design to combine my drawing skills with something more practical (because I’m quite a practical person and Art seemed a bit too abstract for me). And that was it! I think if she hadn’t suggested it I would have ended up studying astrophysics or something like that. Where do you find inspiration? Ooh, everywhere I guess! Nature is a big inspiration for me, as well as going to museums or simply walking on the street. I also love spending time on Pinterest and Dribbble when I want to look for more specific inspiration, there is so much good stuff out there! What's your dream design project? I have so many projects I’d like to do! Right now I’m talking to a friend who’s a composer about doing short animations with her music. I’m new to animation so it’s a big challenge but I hope it works out! Which designers or thinkers influence/inspire you? There are so many! Lauren Hom has always been a great inspiration for me to follow my own voice. Studio Muti illustrations are something out of this world and I always looked up to them. Elizabeth Gilbert and Julia Cameron are both great thinkers and can help a lot when you get a creative block, or even just to keep your mental health in check. What was the inspiration behind this design? Butterflies are such beautiful creatures. Each one with their own uniqueness, they inspire us to be creative in our most authentic way, to grow in each cycle we go through in our lives, to cocoon our ideas for a while only to let them fly into the world one day. At the moment, what is your favorite… Color: Light blue Food: Avocado Toast Song: Atravesao by Elsa y El Mar Quote: "Maybe with good luck we’ll find what eluded us in the places we once called home” The French Dispatch (2021)
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Q&A with Kate O’Hara
This month we partner with Nevada-based illustrator Kate O’Hara. Kate creates intricate botanical illustrations, inspired by the flora and fauna that surrounds us. On this month's theme, Kate says, "To me, adventure means always striving for new experiences and growth. Choosing to contend with the urge to do what’s comfortable and in order to evolve." For a little more about Kate, here's a short Q&A! Where is home for you? The biggest little city, Reno, Nevada What is your definition of a successful life? To be comfortable and healthy, connected and loved, and to have a creative passion that I’m engaging with, whether it’s art or that evolves into something else. Describe your perfect day. A day where I get into the flow on a project I’m enjoying working on, then take my dog for a long walk in sunny weather and go on a bike ride to a brewery with my boyfriend and friends. How did you get into design? I was a very shy and artistic kid, drawing was the way I could get noticed, accepted and connect with people. I ended up going to art school for college and discovered that illustration was a possible career path. I started freelancing when I graduated from school and have been doing that ever since. Where do you find inspiration? I find most of my inspiration in nature, whenever I’m outside I’m always on the hunt for interesting leaves, patterns, and small botanical details that I can add to my art. What's your dream design project? I love packaging design, my dream project would be to illustrate a whole line of some sort of botanical product like tea, or spices. I’d also love to have the time to design an entire tarot card deck. Which designers or thinkers influence/inspire you? There’s so many amazing artists that I follow on social media that keep me inspired everyday. I also always go back to the work of greats like John James Audubon, William Morris, Beatrix Potter, Hokusai and Maria Sibylla Merian. What was the inspiration behind this design? The quote Onwards Ever Upwards was the inspiration for this design–to make an uplifting design representing always moving forwards intentionally. In what ways does the theme of Adventure play out in your life? I love to travel, especially to new places where there’s a sense of the unexpected. I’m currently getting into backpacking and working my way up to a multi week backpacking trip with my sister and my dog Ned. At the moment, what is your favorite… Color: Yellow Ochre Food: Mangos Song: Can I Believe You, Fleet Foxes Quote: “If I could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint it.” –Georgia O’Keeffe
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Q&A with Alanah Sarginson
This month we partner with London-based illustrator Alanah Sarginson. Alanah is a London-based illustrator whose pieces merge her sensitivities with the beauty she finds in nature. Alanah says her May art "connects to the theme of Simplicity through its very stripped back representation of growth...[it's] a simple mindmap of what growth can feel like.” For a little more about Alanah, here's a short Q&A! Where is home for you? South London. What is your definition of a successful life? A successful life is one that aligns with your spirit. It’s not ever a destination, nor is it ever going to feel completely perfect, but it’s a life that you want to wake up and work on every day. It’s for that reason that I feel successful now! Even when I have days where I feel overwhelmed or generally down, I’m grateful that I feel those things while living a life that I’ve chosen for myself. Describe your perfect day. It would be a day in the summer, and I’d wake up early, have a nice breakfast with my housemates. I’d sit outside a coffee shop, read some philosophy, do some art, eat a pan au chocolat with an oat milk latte. Maybe go for a walk in nature with a friend, then have some time left over to cook a nice meal before going out with my friends in a beer garden while it’s still light. My dream is to live a bit like my favourite poem in the world - The Orange by Wendy Cope! Just living peacefully and with content. How did you get into design? As cliche as it is, I’ve been drawing and designing ever since I can remember! I’ve been posting my art on my Instagram account since I was 13, and have just gradually morphed from a girl with a love for drawing to a young professional illustrator. I have to thank all of the people and companies that have believed in me along my journey, as it’s really been them that have given me the opportunity and confidence to push myself and get my passion out into the world. Where do you find inspiration? I get a lot of inspiration from my studies in philosophy, especially (and possibly surprisingly) philosophy of science, particularly physics. I’m really drawn to visualizing relations, not only between people, but between objects and concepts. On the other side of things, I also get a lot of inspiration from moral philosophy, where questions of how to lead a good life really guide the purpose of my work. What's your dream design project? Gosh, I don’t think I could pin down one! I think one that’s out in the world for my friends and family to find would be so cool. Which designers or thinkers influence/inspire you? Matisse and Picasso are my first two classical inspirations. I credit Manjit Thapp for getting me into digital illustration - I actually commented on her Instagram during A-Levels for advice before I even got my iPad and Apple Pencil! Nowadays I just scroll through Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration. What was the inspiration behind this design? My works are rarely products of any single inspiration or idea, but I can look at the piece in retrospect and say that it reflects my emotional state during summer 2020. It was a time of naive hope as the first lockdown measures were starting to ease, and it felt like there was this rebirth happening in society as we all reconnected. On top of that, I’d just finished my first year exams at university so I felt quite free to unwind, so I feel like this period of my life was just one of relaxation and looking ahead into an exciting future. In what ways does the theme of Simplicity play out in your life? Simplicity runs through how I try to organize my life as well as how I go about my work, both as an artist and a student. I’m a bit of an organization freak, so I try my best to avoid any clutter in my life - whether that’s physical, mental, or emotional. I think having simple habits, attitudes, and approaches to things makes life so much easier to handle. It’s so rewarding breaking down something so seemingly complex into its smaller, simpler parts. At the moment, what is your favorite… Color: Baby blue Food: Garlic and chili oil ramen noodles Song: Ghost Town by Sassy 009 Quote: “Healthy minds make sexy bodies” - a lyric by Car Seat Headrest
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Q&A with Jonathan Calugi
This month we partner with Italy-based illustrator Jonathan Calugi. Jonathan is an independent, self-taught, artist whose message is about love, "Use your time to love your time. Enjoy and spread love." His Compassion inspired art centers on our human connection. "Colors, body, language, shape…We are just a series of points united with a line in this universe.” For a little more about Jonathan, here's a short Q&A! Where is home for you? Pistoia, Italy. What is your definition of a successful life? Use your time to have your time. Be happy. Describe your perfect day. Wake up early. Play with my son. Go to the studio. Make some drawings. Go out and play basketball with friends. Lunch with my girl. Afternoon in the studio (half work, half research). Back to home for dinner with family, some good wine and a lot of laughter. :) How did you get into design? It’s more how design got into my life :) I think it was totally an instant love. Design teaches me how to do more with less. Where do you find inspiration? Life, nature, sea, and books. What's your dream design project? The next one. My dream is to produce more and more for all the days of my life. Which designers or thinkers influence/inspire you? Paul Rand, Pablo Picasso, Marino Marini, Pino Tovaglia, and many, many more. What was the inspiration behind this design? Like much of my art, the idea is to stay connected. We are one. In what ways does the theme of Compassion play out in your life? The main idea is that where my line finishes your line starts. A loop without an end. At the moment, what is your favorite… Color: Yellow Food: Avocado Song: Paid in Full, Eric B. & Rakim
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Active listening boils down to this.
“Being a good listener is one of the most important and enchanting life skills anyone can have, yet few of us know how to do it. Not because we are evil, but because no one has taught us how.” — Alain de Botton When I first read about active listening, it helped me shift from trying to be interesting to being interested in conversation. As the concept resurfaced this month, for our theme of Kinship, I wanted to share the four key steps: Give your full attention. Orient your body and complete focus towards the speaker. This step might be obvious, and because of that, it is the easiest to forget. Think about times when you are speaking; you can feel the difference when someone has put away distractions and is truly listening to you. Don’t speak (until later). Surprise! A key part of listening, and maybe the hardest part, is simply not speaking. Avoid interrupting the speaker and filling any occasional pockets of silence with your own voice. Do feel free to signal that you are following along with an occasional head nod or “mhhm.” Share back what they’ve said. Show that you are listening by summarizing what you’ve heard, beginning with a phrase like “So, what I hear you saying is...” or “It sounds as though you…” This allows the speaker to feel heard, and also confirms your understanding. Ask open-ended questions. It’s likely that after listening you’ll have questions. Prioritize open-ended questions that help you get clarity without sending the conversation in a different direction. Psychologist and author Tania Israel suggests this simple and concise method for encouraging dialogue. “Repeat back a key word with an upward intonation. For example, if somebody says, ‘I just feel like the world is so dangerous,’ you can say, ‘Dangerous?’ By using the upward intonation, the word becomes a question. It says, ‘Tell me more about how the world is dangerous.’” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Holstee (@holstee) What I really appreciate about these steps is they help me resist the urge to offer suggestions (“You should xyz!”) or pass judgment (“That is xyz!”) without understanding what's really being said. Here is the Active Listening graphic we shared on instagram recently. If you are interested in learning more about active listening, and other activities that help you connect deeply with others, check out our Kinship Guide. In celebration of feeling heard, Mike RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee & Reflection.app
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Q&A with Alix Northrup
This month we partner with Ohio-based illustrator Alix Northrup. Alix is an independent hand letterer, illustrator and designer based in Ohio. Her pieces tend to focus on bold, colorful and energetic styles that often incorporate layered textures and intricate details. Her Wellness inspired art is about, "discovering the balance between the internal and external states of being." Alix says,"Finding a harmonious relationship between these allows us to continue to grow and thrive.” For a little more about Alix, here's a short Q&A! Where is home for you? I live in a very small, quaint riverboat town in Ohio. What is your definition of a successful life? The idea of “success” is something that has changed and evolved constantly throughout my life, so trying to define it is challenging. Ultimately, a life that is lived fully and without regret is what I strive for. Describe your perfect day. The best days are the ones filled with simple things that make me feel happy like beautiful weather, good friends and delicious food. How did you get into design? My father is a fine art photographer. So growing up, I was surrounded by and exposed to art early on which ignited my passion for it. I can’t imagine working in a profession where I am not creating...it is a need I have carried with me since I was a child. Where do you find inspiration? My inspiration stems from a wide variety of both tangible and conceptual sources. Sometimes I pull ideas from songs, movies or books and visuals from nature or vintage ephemera. Typically it ends up being a mixture of many different things that resonate with me. What's your dream design project? I really enjoy creating work that has a strong conceptual basis. Communicating ideas and emotions visually is what excites me the most about being an artist. Which designers or thinkers influence/inspire you? These days, the youth of this generation have really been a source of inspiration for me. Their openness, vulnerability and authenticity is something to be admired. I have great respect and reverence for the brilliant artists and thinkers of the past but for me, I am always looking ahead and trying to soak in new thoughts and ideas. What was the inspiration behind this design? The way we approach our day-to-day lives and all aspects of them is so intertwined with our well being, both physically and mentally. This piece alludes to the ability we have within us to unlock our greatest potential. In what ways does the theme of Wellness play out in your life? Finding a healthy balance in my life is something I am continually working on. Being a freelance artist comes with many challenges that can easily get your health off track and I try my best to counteract this through daily habits and behaviors. Physical activity, mindfulness and rituals all help me to stay in a good place of well-being. At the moment, what is your favorite… Color: LavenderFood: Ice creamSong: Smooth Sailing’ - Leon BridgesQuote: “Here’s to seeking out joy in the waiting, beauty in the ordinary, and hope in unexpected places.” - Morgan Harper Nichols
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Q&A with Miles Tewson
In Feb, we welcome back Miles Tewson, an illustrator living in Brighton, UK. Miles is interested in capturing moments in time, using only a few colors in his artwork to achieve a sense of atmosphere and place. For his Kinship illustration, Miles says, “This design is all about human connection and the feeling of being close, which I feel are the most important aspects of Kinship." For a little more about Miles, here's a short Q&A: Where is home for you? Brighton, UK. What is your definition of a successful life? Contentment. Describe your perfect day. Waking up nice and early as the sun rises to take the dog for a walk. After, I’d head up to my little studio to draw throughout the day and then head out to see some friends in the evening. How did you get into design? I’ve been drawing pretty much throughout my whole life. I wouldn’t say there was necessarily anything that got me into design; it was just something that I’ve always gravitated towards and been interested in. Where do you find inspiration? I get asked this a lot and I wish I had a more cohesive answer, but I get inspiration from literally anywhere and everywhere, I’m just always on the lookout for little things that I think could work as a design. What's your dream design project? I’d love to be commissioned to make some huge screen prints with a company. I haven’t been able to screen print in awhile, so I’m super keen to get back into it again. Which designers or thinkers influence/inspire you? With Instagram and Pinterest, I’m finding so many different amazing artists everyday. Some artists I’m really into at the moment are: Ellen Von Wiegand, Ness Lee, Jon McNaught and I’m always looking at David Hockney’s work. What was the inspiration behind this design? This design was inspired by the theme of togetherness and connection. How does Kinship play out in your life? Day to day I never try to take kinship for granted, daily interactions with people I care about is something to be very thankful for. At the moment, what is your favorite… Color: OrangeFood: PizzaSong: Yefkir Engurguro - Haliu Mergia Thanks again for sharing with us, Miles!
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The difference between a goal and an intention.
“Unlike your goal, which will be accomplished sometime in the future, your intention is a state of being that can start the moment you decide to make it happen." The new year offers a natural moment to set some goals and intentions. "Are goals and intentions the same thing?" If you aren’t sure, you’re not alone; it’s one of the most common questions we get this time of year. What’s the difference between a goal and an intention? A goal describes what you want to do in the future. It focuses on external accomplishments and is something you can clearly check off a list: “Go rock climbing” or “Learn to make tiramisu.” An intention describes how you want to feel. Its focus is internal – on your relationship with yourself. Your intention could be to feel joyful or peaceful. Unlike your goal, which will be accomplished sometime in the future, your intention is a state of being that can start the moment you decide to make it happen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Holstee (@holstee) Identifying my intention was a fuzzy process for me until I found a hack to get me there. I’d like to share it with you. Here’s my intention-setting method: Step 1: Think of a big goal that you’d like to accomplish this year. Step 2: Imagine you have just crushed this goal. Knocked it out of the park. You’ve crossed the finish line — how do you feel? Step 3: Allow the feeling that comes to mind to be your intention. My intention is to be / feel ______. Bonus step: Turn your intention into an affirmation, and test it out as your mantra for the remainder of the month. I am [insert your intention]. We walked through these steps in our recent Member Gathering, and it was fascinating to see how the process lead each purpose to a different word. If you give it a try, share your intention or affirmation here, I’ve just added mine there as well. Mike RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee & Reflection.app
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Q&A with David Vanadia
This month we partner with illustrator David Vanadia. David is a french artist and illustrator. Through a minimalist style, and the use of techniques such as engraving, paper cut and digital, he offers a singular work with strong graphic identity and illustrations that like to make sense. David says, "This artwork connects to the theme of reflection because closed eyes express both the meditative state of the posture, but also the introspective journey that can result from it. The contact of the body and the water can create a feeling of reflexological plenitude where positive thoughts relating to relaxation and enjoyment of the present moment can arise." For a little more about David, here's a short Q&A: Where is home for you? I live by the Mediterranean Sea, in Marseille, France. What is your definition of a successful life? I don't know if I will be able to define what a successful life can be. This would amount to saying that we could also define what can be a life considered as failed. I cannot define a life with such generic concepts. I believe that a life is made up of a set of experiences from which we can learn to guide us on a path of our own. Our own way of life. Describe your perfect day. The one where I would be in the present moment with every passing second. How did you get into design? I don't know if I got into design on purpose. It came to me naturally. I have always liked to express myself through drawing, I am fascinated by this universal mode of communication, there is this something mystical, even primitive, which makes it possible to transcend thought. Where do you find inspiration? Much of my inspiration comes from philosophical sphere. I like to translate concepts of thoughts into images. Besides, I often use the term of visual metaphor to describe my work. I am also very inspired by antique Mediterranean art and more particularly Egyptian pictorial art. Finally, organic vegetal, floral and mineral forms also have a great influence on my work. What's your dream design project? All those projects that will manage to generate emotion in others. Which designers or thinkers influence/inspire you? Thinkers : Lao Tseu, Confucius, Sénèque, Marc Aurèle, Spinoza, Jean-Paul Sartre,Simone De Beauvoir, Eckart Tolle.Designers and artists : Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Miro, Le Corbusier, DieterRams, Geoff McFetridge, Malika Favre, Severin Millet, Andreas Samuelsson. What was the inspiration behind this design? The regenerating calm of a sea bath is the general feeling that I wanted to express in this work. Water is a fascinating element that is inseparable from the origin of all life. It has its unique power to purify body and soul, in many civilizations it is associated with spiritual and religious rituals. It is a feeling of inner peace that emerges for me when I evoke the original deep relationship of humans to water. How does Reflection play out in your life? Reflection is omnipresent in my life. First, this theme occupies a preponderant place in my artistic practice. I always conceptualize my designs in my head before drawing them. My artistic approach is thus more thoughtful than spontaneous. On the other hand, reflection is also present on a daily basis in my personal life. I impose great discipline on myself in the organization of my thoughts. Taking control of your thoughts is one way of applying self-discovery in a conscious way. I therefore closely associate reflection with introspection and being. At the moment, what is your favorite… Color: I can't isolate just one, I would rather say a midnight blue and ecru combination.Food: SpicySong: BirdsongQuote: Less is more Thanks for sharing with us, David!
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