Entrevue with Monia Boubaker, painter

Monia Boubaker is an artist I came across selling her paintings on a French website, let's have a little interbiew with her and discover her creative process.

name of shop

Ô Clair De Lune

 

can you please introduce yourself   ?

I am Monia, I am French, 31 years old, and I live with my boyfriend in south west of France, in Bordeaux.

What is your business/craft and give a summary of your handmade process.

I paint on canvas, with acrylic paint and I always add pieces of fabrics, papers, or others materials that I collect where I can !

I can also customise a painting, for exemple working in the wanted colors, adding a name of a child, or a message, if it is for a present.

My little world is made of bright colors, a lot of dreams, travels, poetry.

What event, series of events, or situations allowed you to start your business and make money with your crafts?

For years, I used to do many jobs that I never liked, and I was painting only when I had time.

But at the end of last year, I realized that it was time to start my own project to finally do the thing I love the most : paint and make people dreaming with my paintings.

Where does your inspiration for your designs come from?

My inspiration comes from people, children I meet, my travels, the fabrics I find : all these colors, materials...my imagination do the rest !

How does your culture, upbringing, and/or environment influence your designs/crafts?

The different countries where I lived, or went for holidays, inspired me a lot. I love meeting and talking with people who has a different way of life, different culture, I love travelling for that reason, and I am always thinking about travelling again or setting up somewhere, finally !

What are some of the ways you market and promote your business/Craft?

I use a lot internet to contact people, introduce myself and my artwork.

I talk a lot about it to people I meet, I always look around me, if I see a store that I really like, and where I can expose my paintings, I try to participate to differents markets...

Now, something different. FOOD ! What is your favorite recipe ?

I really like cooking and especially asian food. And as I love indian food, I would say : The Tikka Masala Chicken with a cheese naan of course ;)

Based on your experience, what advice would you give to other crafters selling or looking to start selling their creations ?

I don't know what kind of advice I could give, because I am still at the beginning... But there is something that I can say : If you love create, if you know you will be more happy doing it, do not hesitate ! You should try and see how it goes.

There is a quotation that I remember : You have to choose between living your dreams or dreaming your life.

We shouldn't have any regret later, we just have one life, so do !!

Aside from running your business what are some of the fun things you like to do in life?

What I really like to do when I have free time is spending time with my boyfriend, I love travelling with him, I also like reading, seeing my friends, and doing horse riding (usually in holidays).

To know you better, The craziest thing you have done ?
When I decided a few years ago, to leave France to go to London without knowing anybody, with no job, no flat.... meet my boyfriend there, and six months later, move in with him in Barcelona, without kwowing any single spanish word !

Which place would you recommend to go to ?
It was my dream to go there, and I did it for the first time 2 years ago with my boyfriend : Bali ! A wonderful island, nice and kind people, beautiful landscapes, it is just a world apart. 

Your favourite designers / artists

I have so many !!! but I can already say : Anna Laura Cantone, Joann Sfar, Rebecca Dautremer, Lucie Georger.

Mini Bague perle de Culture

your favourite jewelry from me  

My favourite one is the small silver ring with the pearl « Mini bague perle de culture en argent massif » 

Visit her websites to see more and get your own

www.o-clair-de-lune.com

http://o-clair-de-lune.alittlemarket.com/

Les Bijoux Ofelyne

Porter un bijou de créateur, c’est la marque de votre identité, c’est aussi la possibilité de personnaliser votre bijou ou même de le faire fabriquer selon votre inspiration. Sophistiqués ou décontractés, classiques ou branchés, colorés ou discrets, les bijoux OFELYNE exprimeront votre style dans une multitude de couleurs et de matières. 

 
OFELYNE vous propose des bijoux modernes et raffinés, tendances ou indémodables. Les bijoux OFELYNE sont réalisés en pièce unique ou en petite série .

Son site est mis à jour régulièrement avec de nouvelles créations : n’hésitez pas à venir le consulter régulièrement pour les découvrir. Retrouvez Ofelyne également sur facebook, sa boutique et sur son site internet

Amazing Pillows

With the emphasis on individuality, it is always great fun to have many comfy pillows.
Here is Amazing Pillows who makes trendy, individual cushions for your home, for people who are looking for an alternative to department stores and chains.


You can find her creations on internet on www.amazingpillow.fr , her Facebook page is www.facebook.com/AmazingPillow

She is French and says "Vous recherchez un coussin de décoration pour personnaliser votre intérieur? Marre des coussins basiques des grands magasins?

Vous êtes au bon endroit!

Dans ma boutique, vous trouverez des coussins originaux, tendances et décalés.
Ils peuvent tous être modifiés selon vos goûts et vos envies...

Afin de vous tenir au courant des nouveautés, n'hésitez pas à me rajouter à vos créateurs favoris.

Si vous le souhaitez, vous pouvez également visiter le site internet www.amazingpillow.fr et la page Facebook www.facebook.com/AmazingPillow

Bonne visite!"

Meet a Wonderful artist - Gail Miller

The point Being © Gail Miller mixed media; Acrylic inks, watercolour, artists' permanent black marker pen

Gail Milller: Her artwork is quite amazing: full of life and colors, with figurative elements, treated in an abstract expressionist way.
The syle is modern, colourful and sometimes thought provoking.

What inspires you ?
"I have a fascination with colour and fluid, expressive shapes and line, which are evident in my explorations. I paint with gusto and passion each time I begin a new work and I always marvel at the unlimited opportunities available to me for discovery and personal expression. Each piece I create has boundless energy and movement, bright colour and interesting line work. My style could be described as surreal, outsider, art brut, lowbrow, primitive, hipster .... or just plain weird! "

Where can we find your work ?
" My work hangs in private collections all around the world including countries such as Australia, Italy, France, Greece, Israel, Germany, France, Canada, The USA, as well as all over the UK."

I have exhibited in; Dock Gallery, Goole ~ Goole Museum ~ Pink Gallery, Helensburgh ~ Burlington Gallery, Bridlington ~ Gallery 49, Bridlington ~ Christo's Gallery, Glasgow ~ Whitby Galleries, Whitby ~ Priory Gallery, Bridlington ~ Vibrant Arts, Stow on the Wold ~ Seasalt & Passion, Bridlington, The Spa Theatre Gallery ~ Bridlington, Triton Gallery ~ Sledmere.

Muse © Gail Miller

Has you work been published ?
"I have also been featured in several publications, including Picture Business, Hull Daily Mail Culture Supplement, Prestige Lifestyle, and Artist & Illustrator."

You can see, follow and collect Gail's artworks  at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/alteredimage?ref=pr_shop_more
and on her
Website; http://gailmiller.moonfruit.com
Blog; http://gailmillerartblog.moonfruit.com
Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/GailMillerFunkyArt
Twitter; http://twitter.com/gail_miller_art

Thank you Gail and looking forward to see more creations.

Amanda of Little Note Crafts

Here is Amanda, a crafter.
She likes making jewelry and yarn goods.
She says: " I love scarves and mini blankets and fingerless gloves, they just remind me of warm and cozy times at home with family. The beautiful thing about jewelry is that it's portable art!I ".

Here you'll find unique earrings, beautiful pendants, cozy hand knit winter scarves and gloves, travel lap blankets, and other homey treasures! Warm and joyous items created with great care and a flair for color.


To learn about her and her journey, please visit the About page:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleNoteCrafts/about/

"Elsewhere in life, I still feel like I'm crafting all the time. To craft is to make something magnificent from seemingly nothing. I have a passion for cooking (I wrote a cookbook once, though I'm way too shy to have shared it), and baking of course (what girl doesn't like brownies?), and gardening (I did a happy dance around the house when I got pepper plants to sprout from seed). To bring things together, to breath life into an object and put part of yourself into it, it gets my heart all a-flutter!"

And if you like Amada's work or want to follow her adventures in cooking, gardening, and the rest of life, check out her blog at https://homegrownjoy.wordpress.com/

At the moment, Amanda is offering a special 40% off on a selection of articles, fabulous to keep warm this winter in her etsy boutique .
Enjoy!