This Women’s History Month, we’re thrilled to be partnering with The Locker Room, a creative house in New York City. Throughout March, we’ll be spotlighting incredible femme-identifying creatives from The Locker Room’s 2022 residency.
Creatively will also be helping to present The Locker Room’s much-anticipated gallery show. Learn more about The Locker Room’s exciting exhibit here, and follow @hellocreatively to see all the incredible creators from the Creatively community we’re showcasing this month!
Brittany Franzo has over 15 years of experience as a musician, working with electric bass, guitar, synthesizer, and the digital audio software, Ableton Live. She is currently a member of the band 2C-B. Apart from making music, Franzo is pursuing a career in mortuary science which led her to work at Frank E. Campbell, New York City’s prestigious funeral home on Madison Avenue.
Born in Hong Kong and based in New York, Winnie Cheung is an award-winning director and editor who works in short film, illustration, sound-design, and animation. Specializing in the “delightfully dark and uncomfortable,” her thrillers and chillers have been screened at Sundance, Fantastic Fest, Slamdance, and Fantasia International Film Festival.
Lily Rogers is an interdisciplinary artist and musician in multiple bands including The Mystery Lights, a rock group signed to Daptone Records’ subsidiary rock label, Wick. As a visual artist, Rogers is drawn to analog collage and acrylic on canvas as her primary mediums. When she isn’t painting or composing, you can find her crafting custom masks out of paper mâché and clay.
Performance artist Amanda Mehl was born in Buenos Aires, immigrated to New York as a child, and spent time in Tel Aviv where she studied art and was exhibited in several gallery shows. Settling down in Brooklyn, Mehl founded Amehl, an experimental fashion and digital content production label that blurs the lines of art and fashion. Mehl creates in the interdisciplinary realm as a creative director, filmmaker, photographer, visual artist, and fashion designer.
Rachel van der Nacht is a French creative director and visual artist based in New York. She has worked with an array of fashion, luxury, and lifestyle clients including Adidas, Refinery29, Nike, Puma, and Konbini, among others. She is best known for “Night Emperors,” an ongoing series of illustrations that capture the bustling nocturnal scenes of NYC after dark. Her work has been exhibited in Paris, Berlin, and New York.
Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.
Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life
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This Women’s History Month, we’re thrilled to be partnering with The Locker Room, a creative house in New York City. Throughout March, we’ll be spotlighting incredible femme-identifying creatives from The Locker Room’s 2022 residency.
Creatively will also be helping to present The Locker Room’s much-anticipated gallery show. Learn more about The Locker Room’s exciting exhibit here, and follow @hellocreatively to see all the incredible creators from the Creatively community we’re showcasing this month!
Chase Noelle is a multi-instrumentalist, visual artist, and founding member of cumgirl8, a three-woman experimental rock band that ventures into interdisciplinary practices. Most recently, the band designed and created a fashion collection that earned them a feature in Vogue magazine.
Kalina Winters is a Brooklyn-based visual artist who holds a BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. She specializes in two-dimensional works that play with perspective and explore the relationship between flatness and space. Winters works across an array of mediums including watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, gouache, and more.
Documentary and portrait photographer Mara Catalan hails from Spain and is based in Brooklyn, NY. She has devoted decades to capturing New York’s urban landscape and underground art scenes. With over 20 years of experience working on commercial and editorial projects, Catalan has found her niche in capturing the behind-the-scenes.
As an emerging mixed-media artist, Innua Anna Maria is inspired by experimental mediums and African-American folk art. She is currently a student at The Cooper Union School of Art and has recently been exploring the intersection of tradition and technology by etching patterns into canvas using a laser cutter, and sewing the pieces together to create quilt-like tapestries.
Chilean painter and installation artist Manuela Viera-Gallo was born during her parents’ exile in Rome, Italy. Her work is shaped by the socio-political violence endured by Latin Americans and their constant migration. Drawing from her own experience, Viera-Gallo’s large-scale, abstract works invoke cultural anxieties, fears, dreams, and shared memories. Her multidisciplinary practice explores topics ranging from social instability and the American Dream, to domestic violence and belonging.
Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.
Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life
This Black History Month, we’re championing the extraordinary Black entrepreneurs at the heart of our creative community: from workshops featuring Black trailblazers during Creatively Classes to content programming that spotlights intrepid Black creators, including Hadiya Williams.
Ceramic objects, surface design, visual art. Hadiya Williams might have begun her artistic career as a graphic designer, but she was always destined for a more hands-on practice. So it was no surprise when she founded her mixed-media art and design studio, Black Pepper Paperie Co. (BPPCo), in 2017. Her work is shaped by the history of Black culture and its rituals, resulting in a striking collection that can be described as “lineal” in both its nod to ancestral crafts and an aesthetic defined by lines.
BPPCo focuses on creating eclectic surface pattern designs and one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces that include wearable ceramic art, home decor, paper goods, and apparel. Williams has collaborated with Wall Pops and West Elm on wall-paper designs and prints, respectively. Her work has been featured in publications including Print Magazine, Domino, Curbed, and Travel + Leisure, among other outlets. Williams is also a member of the Black Artists and Designers Guild as well as the Art Brand Alliance. From sweatshirts and woven blankets to colorful, handmade tableware, Williams is continually inspired by the rich and complex history of Black communities, her work serving as a tribute to those who, for centuries, have always managed to turn the quotidian into art.
Meet designer, artist, and owner of Black Pepper Paperie Co., Hadiya Williams.
What is the first creative project you remember?
It’s so funny and kind of sad that I can’t recall any creative school projects from childhood, and there were plenty of creative activities going on. Maybe that’s what was good about it: there was always something happening at school, at home, etc.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Thoughtful, bold, memorable.
What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
I have had many memorable experiences and connections through my work as a graphic designer and as a visual artist. One that stands out is the work I did in 2018 for Makers in the Mansion at the Woodlawn Pope-Leighey House in Mt. Vernon, VA. I was invited to be part of an exhibition where five Black artists created installations in the rooms of Eleanor Parke Custis’ former plantation, daughter of George Washington. I learned so much on that project. I felt so connected to the people that were enslaved there. She enslaved over 100 people on that 2,000 acre lot.
I worked with a friend, Risikat Okedeyi, who helped me develop the concept. We wanted to honor those formerly enslaved, the Black women and men that served in the house, those who were only documented by their first names. I was given the dining room, so we created a space that was meant to serve them, not the other way around—it became a living altar room, a sacred place. The table was set with ceramic pieces that I created, table linens, hand-painted bowls, etc. The placecards and menus were a timeline with dates and information of what was happening on that Plantation, juxtaposed with what was happening in the country regarding slavery. This room sparked so much emotion from visitors who experienced it. It brought tears and joy and some anger. It was one of the most memorable and transformative collaborations that I’ve done to date.
What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
I created decorative bells and dishes in 2018 for the Eaton Hotel in Washington, DC. It was a huge undertaking: 250 rooms, two objects (multiple pieces per object), 500 objects total. I had the honor of having my family and friends pitch in to help me get things done in a fairly short window. I learned that those who love you want to help and are excited to see you succeed. I learned that I don’t have to do this by myself and that all I have to do is ask. I also learned that having a plan usually helps.
Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
I think it’s both. I do believe we are all creative as people. Cultivation and exposure are key. There are some people who have a truly innate skill and talent and it can show up very early. I speak about intuition a great deal regarding my work. There is something spiritual that guides what I’m doing. I sometimes have trouble discussing my creative process or explaining my work because I don’t always know what I’m experiencing intellectually. Sometimes I look at my old work and I’m amazed and surprised because those moments can feel so ephemeral. Then, there are those who are great learners and are very calculated and ordered. I have seen exceptional work produced in those cases as well. If you think about people who work in trade or craft for a living, they are learning to create, and that skill evolves over time to become intuitive.
What’s the last dream you had?
I’m pretty sure I had a dream last night that involved the cast and set of “The Gilded Age.” It’s been my latest distraction. “Encanto” had me enchanted for a while before that. Lots of dreaming about that one.
One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
I want people to be aware of my work enough for it to be included. I want people to talk about the impact my work had on culture, other artists, and designers, and how I was able to successfully create a diasporic connection between my craft and my people.
What advice would you give fellow Black creatives/entrepreneurs just getting started?
Be your full self, always. Intuition is a valuable business tool. Move at your own pace and tap into who you are as a person, creator, artist, etc. The biggest lesson I’ve learned over these past five years is that I can create my own rules for how I want to do things. Continue to challenge yourself, but don’t be afraid to shift gears if what you are doing doesn’t align with who you are at your core.
Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.
Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life
This Black History Month, we’re championing the extraordinary Black entrepreneurs at the heart of our creative community: from workshops featuring Black trailblazers during Creatively Classes to content programming that spotlights intrepid Black creators, including Maxie.j.
With a reputation for always being the best-dressed in the room, fashion designer Maxie.j got used to being the guru all her friends would come to for fashion advice. Wanting to share her sense of style with a broader audience, she founded her own brand, Ellaé Lisqué, launching with a ready-to-wear dress line crafted to make women feel sexy, fabulous, and sophisticated. Hailing from Inglewood, California, the self-made entrepreneur founded Ellaé Lisqué as an e-commerce brand in 2014 with a small collection of only six dresses—the line has since grown to a multi-million dollar company that caters to women of all shapes and sizes, priding itself on inclusivity.
Aside from its online presence, Ellaé Lisqué has a showroom in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. The brand has hosted annual fashion shows since 2015 and has been featured in Milan, Paris, and New York Fashion Week. Maxie.j’s styles have been worn by celebrities such as Saweetie, Bebe Rexha, Summer Walker, and Keisha Cole, among others. With her latest, innovative designs and upcoming projects like a “Fashionaire Academy” master class, Maxie.j continues to break barriers and is set to take 2022 by storm, one body-skimming sequin dress at a time.
My first creative project was the very first fashion show I put on by myself when I started my brand. That was my first major production and it was all me.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
My brand aesthetic in three words would have to be prominent, classy, yet daring.
What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
The Lexus collab was the most fulfilling for me because it was about my story, where I come from and what I’ve built over the years. The campaign was geared towards inspiring others who were coming up in their respective fields.
What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
The fashion show I had on my 34th birthday had 1,000 attendees and showed me the influence I can have on the culture. I still can’t believe I brought out that many people and was the only brand that was featured.
From Maxie.j’s 34th birthday fashion show.
Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
I think everyone is born with a talent or a gift from God of some sort that makes you creative in your own right.
What’s the last dream you had?
The last dream I had was that I grew Ellaé Lisqué to a billion dollar company. Periodttttt.
One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
I pray that 100 years from now, people remember my work as the best high-end, affordable brand they’ve ever shopped! Being known for high-end pieces that are actually affordable without compromising quality is truly what my brand represents and I never want to lose that.
What advice would you give fellow Black creatives/entrepreneurs just getting started?
Don’t worry about the competition. Focus on doing the work to the best of your ability. Don’t worry about how many people are doing exactly what you’re doing because Whole Foods isn’t worried about Trader Joes. Get out there and do your thing no matter how saturated you feel the industry may be. Make them see you over others and let your work speak for itself.
Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.
Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life
This Black History Month, we’re championing the extraordinary Black entrepreneurs at the heart of our creative community: from workshops featuring Black trailblazers during Creatively Classes to content programming that spotlights intrepid Black creators, including Lauren Pearce.
When Lauren Pearce sits down to paint a portrait, she prepares her palette not only with rich skin tones but also seagreen blues, fiery reds, and canary yellows. Pearce is a visual artist based in Cleveland, Ohio, who finds inspiration from her community when creating the powerful, mixed-media masterpieces she’s become known for. Focusing on the human form, her work explores themes of motherhood, trauma, race, identity, and self-acceptance. Pearce has exhibited her work in both solo and group shows in New York, London, Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.
As a black, biracial woman, Pearce’s craving to express her identity quickly turned into an artistic career. Utilizing an array of materials, Pearce taps into her imagination to bring forth the colorful language of identity, race, and womanhood that shape her experience of the world. Although her output ranges from self portraits and blind contour line drawings to ceramic masks and large-scale murals, one element is consistent across her body of work: color. Pearce’s “Geo” series features geometric portraits in an aesthetic reminiscent of Cubism, whereas “Life in Color” makes use of bold, bright hues in patchwork patterns with a Fauvist flair. Make no mistake, Pearce is also a virtuosic realist whose incredible talent for depicting every nuance of a person’s face grants her a certain freedom: it’s the masters of realism who can turn most easily to abstraction, creating an expanded vocabulary with which to portray their subjects.
The creative project that stands out the most is from the time I spent in France. I was a junior heading into my senior year of high school and I went on a three-week summer program with my art teachers. During this time, we got to see where Cezanne painted. We each had our own studios to work and create everyday. I remember one piece in particular that I created, it was a dress. It was my first time sewing and I so desperately wanted to create something that came from these beautiful textiles that I saw on one of our trips while we were there. There was something so whimsical about it that I wanted to translate into a garment.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
My aesthetic in art would have to be along the lines of peace and joy. I think when I really meditate on what I want to convey through my work I want the viewer to feel a sense of ease and curiosity, asking “who are these people?” Many of my works give off a sense of knowing. It’s as though the individuals I am painting really see the person you are.
What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
Hands down, my collaboration with both of my children. The series “Us” was about our journey with autism as a family. My son, Keegan, who is autistic, would spend hours upon hours drawing and creating at our dining room table. For many years, this was his form of communication. It was important to me as his mother to give him the space to share a part of his story. Not just for Keegan but also for Dylan, being the older sibling of an autistic individual. I truly believe that this gift I have has helped me in understanding my son better. It has been a bridge of communication when words could not be. We got to share parts of ourselves as a family through art; that was the show that meant the most to me.
What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
I just recently had an opening in my hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida. It was in the process of creating this work that I truly embraced all parts of myself. It was in this show that I felt the most grounded in who I am, the most secure in what I have to offer, and the most alive. This show sparked something very real and true in myself. I learned that I am enough, that I am capable, and how to rely on the people around me. I often struggle with asking for help but this show forced me to have to ask. There was this sense of peace, even in the setbacks. It’s as though this work was guiding me to a more secure and peaceful place. There was a lot of surrendering that had to happen during this experience.
Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
I feel like this is the question, the one that so many people are torn between. Honestly, I think creativity is something that can be taught. However, being a true artist and a creative person are very different. I think there are people that are born with true, raw, undeniable talent. There are also people who have been taught to break down the barriers and who have been shown the way to creativity. I think there are artists who are just born with that fire, that capability to stir your emotions and make you feel completely connected to what they are manifesting and creating.
What’s the last dream you had?
I honestly can’t even remember the last dream I had. The last thought I had about something that I wish would happen was to have a solo show in Paris.
One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
I hope they write about it being honest. I want my work to always be true to myself and to the people around me. I hope that people many, many years from now will still find peace in my subjects’ gaze and feel a kinship with them. I want them to look at my work and know that things are possible.
What advice would you give fellow Black creatives/entrepreneurs just getting started?
Trust yourself, but also build meaningful relationships with other Black artists—it’s not a competition. Find like-minded artists that will support you genuinely. We need each other. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to ask for advice. But also be honest with yourself and your work. We don’t have to create one thing. Know and believe that your individual story carries more weight than any other generalized, stereotypical narrative.
Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.
Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life
This Black History Month, we’re championing the extraordinary Black entrepreneurs at the heart of our creative community: from workshops featuring Black trailblazers during Creatively Classes to content programming that spotlights intrepid Black creators, including Aziza-Abdullah Nicole.
Founder of Brooklyn-based jewelry company Aziza Handcrafted, contemporary fine jewelry designer Aziza-Abdulla Nicole is revolutionizing what it means to accessorize. Palm cuffs that sit at the crux of the thumb and forefinger, cuticle rings designed to bedazzle a manicure, gemstone teeth caps—even her more traditional styles, like earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, are anything but. Nicole’s one-of-a-kind adornments have been featured in Vogue, L’Officiel, and Refinery29, and landed her an appearance on Project Runway.
Growing up in PG County, Maryland (Washington D.C. / DMV metropolitan area), Nicole was encouraged to express herself artistically and explore numerous art forms such as sculpting, painting, and crafting. Eventually, she gravitated towards jewelry-making, molding silver, gold, and brass in ways that are reminiscent of ancient Egyptian ornamentation that adorned the living dead. Her unisex collection of heirloom “layerings” draws inspiration from history and her personal, multi-layered heritage. Nicole’s transcendent creations are crafted to make the wearer feel like a god or goddess—particularly one with a million dollar smile.
Meet contemporary fine jewelry designer, Aziza-Abdullah Nicole.
What is the first creative project you remember?
The first creative project I remember was at art camp when I was 11 years old. We made a mold of a body part, hands or feet, and I did my foot. I painted it and gave it to my mom, and she still proudly has it today.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Fluid, simplistic, regal, and moody. I’m all four.
What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
The most fulfilling collaboration I’ve worked on so far was Project Runway. I was featured last year [on Season 19 Episode 6] where the designers’ challenge was to collaborate and create looks that incorporated pieces from some of New York’s best accessory designers, ranging from hats and shoes to handcrafted jewelry.
Aziza-Abdullah Nicole wearing the brooch featured in Project Runway.
What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
Project Runway taught me how to work and collaborate with another artist who is as passionate as I am about my craft.
Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
Everyone is creative, but it comes easier for some than most. I think some people haven’t found their creative field and try to pursue lanes that may not be for them, so their creative output suffers in return.
What’s the last dream you had?
My last dream was about someone that I wish I grew more with [as a person].
One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
That it was magic and you could feel the energy and live in each creation. As long as that is felt, my job is done.
Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.
Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life
“The guy with big hair.” That’s what Josh Liu became known as around campus while an undergraduate at Pepperdine University, where he studied public relations. And what’s a budding publicist to do with a reputation for big hair, chic style and jaw-dropping looks? Parlay it into a business, of course. Today, Liu is a celebrity hair stylist and founder of Útiles Beauty, a hair tools brand focused on the essentials. Liu’s impressive roster of clients include Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and Miranda Kerr, among others. Based in Los Angeles, Liu has experience styling hair for television, commercials, music videos, and editorial shoots.
Prior to working in hair, Liu worked at one of the top talent publicity firms for over a year and a half, an experience that would undoubtedly inform his future work with big personalities. After much reflection, he decided to pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist and enrolled at the renowned Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy, where he trained under celebrity hairstylists Chris Appleton, Christian Wood, Anthony Turner, John Ruggiero, Anna Cofone, and more. Most recently, he worked with Ariana Grande on her international Dangerous Woman Tour. When dreaming up his modern, sometimes futuristic creations, Liu draws inspiration from past and present fashion trends, nature, and even architecture. To Liu, the client is the canvas, and the final product is a walking work of art.
Meet celebrity hairstylist and founder of Útiles Beauty, Josh Liu.
What is the first creative project you remember?
The very first creative project for hair that I remember doing was when I was a junior at Pepperdine University. My friend was doing a pseudo campaign for a graphic design marketing class and she needed to shoot models with creative hair and makeup from different eras, so I happily volunteered! I had attempted an Amy Winehouse look, a classic, old Hollywood vibe, ‘70s woodstock hair, beach waves, and a Lady Gaga inspired look. I definitely didn’t nail it, but it got my creative gears turning with zero formal training.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Sleek. Forward. Fierce.
What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
The most fulfilling collaboration I’ve worked on would probably be my work on Ariana Grande’s music video, “Positions.” It had such iconic retro glam beauty moments that became an inspiration for so many. It feels like such an accomplishment to know you helped inspire shifts in the beauty industry and when your work is on other creatives’ moodboards, inspiring their drag looks and halloween costumes.
From Ariana Grande’s “Positions” music video.
What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
Creating my brand Útiles Beauty has taught me that my creativity really knows no bounds, it doesn’t end with hair. We sometimes convince ourselves to stay in our respective lanes and fields, but I’ve learned that it’s healthy to expand your creative skillset as it really helps you understand the context and perspective in which you exist. The whole conception of a brand is the biggest creative challenge I’ve encountered. Creating a logo, establishing my brand’s identity, packaging, web design, and photoshoots, all of these aspects require a creative eye with a vision.
Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
I like to think that creativity is something you’re born with. The way in which a creative’s brain processes the world is so different. We have an innate itch to exercise the creative side of our brain and we can’t really shut it off. I feel that everyone has a layer of creativity to them, but if unused, that part of their brain won’t grow. I’d like to pose a question to people: when you were given a coloring book as a child, did you only color inside the lines, or did you venture outside of the lines, embellish, add your own touch? I feel like the answer to this question can measure one’s creativity level and propensity to be a creative, even at an early age.
What’s the last dream you had?
The last dream I had was to start my own business, and prior to that it was being a “successful” hairstylist. I really wanted to start a hair tools beauty line featuring only essential hair tools that are tried and true. There is so much oversaturation in the beauty industry, so many different tools, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused. So, my dream was to create a brand with a focus on minimalism, creating products that would work well for all hair types and textures. This dream was the inspiration behind “The Hairtie” by Útiles Beauty in 2021, and I’m continuing to dream even bigger for the years to come.
“The Hairtie” by Útiles Beauty.
One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
I hope my work will make people feel empowered, inspired, and even challenged. I want them to have so many questions about it, maybe as to how I did it, what inspired me, and what my work means in the context of time.
Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.
Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life
It all starts with an outline, a sketch, then builds, layer by intricate layer, into a fully realized character complete with dramatized facial features grounded by details like dangly earrings and dainty barrettes. In between, illustrator and content creator Tina Tran, or “I’m a Wonder” as she is known on YouTube, saturates her sketches in pinks, blues, and purples, layering hues to add dimension to her figures. Tran works in a variety of mediums including watercolors, gouache paint, markers, and colored pencil to create her signature realism-meets-cartoonish style.
Tran draws inspiration from pop culture and fashion when dreaming up the strong, feminine figures that dominate her work. Warm, rosy skin tones contrasted against cool-tone shadows enhance her sometimes witchy aesthetic. Tran will often use a digital graphics program called Procreate when drawing her initial sketches, printing out the final outline and lightly tracing it onto paper using a light pad before diving into color. Based in Toronto, Canada, Tran’s YouTube channel is dedicated to providing her hundreds of thousands of followers with an inside-look into her artistic processes, testing out new tools and taking suggestions on what to sketch next. Press play on any of her uploads and you’ll find yourself entranced by Tina Tran’s effortless virtuosity.
The first thing that comes to mind was when I was in high school. There was a school project in my art class where we were split up into small groups and assigned to design and paint one of the classroom doors. My group chose the Cosmetology classroom which was and is perfectly suited for the type of illustration work I like to make, heavily influenced by beauty trends and fashion. Even though it was just a school project, I think the reason it stands out for me is because it was the first time I was seeing my work in a different kind of context other than just in my sketchbook.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Vibrant, magical, fierce.
What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
Thus far, I think the most fulfilling collaboration I’ve been a part of is becoming a brand ambassador for DeSerres, a Canadian art supply company. I used to be a sales employee at DeSerres for many years, so it is really gratifying to now be working with them in a totally different capacity as an artist and not just a retail worker. It really felt like a full circle moment and helped give me some perspective on how far I’ve come.
What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
Creating my YouTube channel, which is more like an ongoing series of projects rather than just one, has been rewarding and eye opening for me as an artist and a person. It has reminded me that we as people and artists can have a significant impact and occupy a larger space in people’s lives than we might think. Sometimes I will question the work that I make and feel as though what I am contributing is not enough, but then I’ll receive a comment from someone telling me that I inspired them to get back into painting, or to quit their corporate job to pursue their passion. I continue to be surprised and humbled by the generosity of my followers.
Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
I think that it’s a little bit of both. I’m sure that some people are born with a higher inclination for creativity than the average person but how one cultivates that creativity over their lifetime makes a big difference. The environment that you grow up in, the type of content you consume, the hobbies you adopt, the people you surround yourself with, all of these things contribute to enriching your creativity and the work you produce.
What’s the last dream you had?
Unfortunately, I rarely remember my dreams and if I do, they are usually extremely mundane. My friend once joked that perhaps my brain uses up all of its creative ideas while I’m awake and thus, there is nothing creative left for when I am asleep.
One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
To be honest, I am not the type of person or artist who has the desire for a long term legacy. Knowing that my art lives in people’s homes as decoration and inspiration, knowing that people take time out of their day to watch my videos as motivation for their own art creation or to just simply keep them company, if my work resonates with people in any way, whether it be on a small or large scale, then that is perfectly good enough for me.
Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.
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When Filipa “Pypah” Santos puts pen to paper, it’s only a matter of minutes before a whole universe begins to take shape. Santos’ experience ranges from character design and 2D animation to storyboarding, directing, and producing, empowering her to lead projects from conception to completion. As an illustrator and animator, Santos is in the business of bringing images to life: ink blots swirl to form calligraphic lettering, charming characters dance across the screen, crafting an enchanted, mystical aesthetic defined by dramatic features and earthy palettes.
Born and raised in Porto, Portugal, Santos moved to England to study animation at Leeds Arts University. Upon graduating in 2020, she relocated to Manchester, where she has since worked on numerous projects for Kilogramme Animation Studio. Although her career is just getting started, Santos has already won awards like Best Character Based Short at the Los Angeles Animation Festival for “Ribera” and the Yorkshire Student Television Award for “Not Alone.” On the side, Santos runs a highly successful Youtube channel where viewers are given an inside look at her dreamy scenes that’ll make you forget the world around you, beckoning you to dive into hers.
I’m pretty sure I was at some sort of daycare and they asked us to draw our mornings that day. I had just come from the dentist, so I distinctly remember drawing myself in a dentist’s chair and having tons of fun remembering and drawing out all the detailed tools from the dentist’s office.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Cozy, bright, cute.
What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
I had the pleasure to work with a company called Archer & Olive last year on a collaboration. I had been a huge fan of theirs for years and when they reached out to work on a sketchbook and pen bundle set collaboration, I was overjoyed! It was one of the longest projects I’ve worked on (about a year in the making) so it was definitely the most rewarding one to see finished and launched.
What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
I did a book cover illustration job recently that had been my first illustration work in a few months. It definitely reminded me of how much I truly love doing commissioned illustration work. I made it one of my resolutions this year to do more work in that realm.
Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
I think it’s a bit of both! I was always a creativity-drawn child from the get-go and my family was not at all, so I was definitely born with a creative brain at least. That said, I think providing someone with a creative environment and exercising your creative side is very important. Everyone has a creative side, you just have to exercise it and nurture it.
What’s the last dream you had?
I had a dream that I was one of the Spidermans in the Spiderverse (I saw the latest film in the cinemas recently) and it was set in some theme park. It was super fun but just as stressful to try and fight all the bad guys. Needless to say, I love Spiderman.
One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
It would be a dream for anyone to write about me in general, but I would love for them to describe how my style and techniques have evolved since my early years and that I’ve been telling a sort of story about my life through my portfolio. Hopefully I do more and more work about mental health that will hopefully become a prominent part of my body of work that people in the future will point out!
