At what age did you first feel creative? 

The furthest back I can remember being creative was probably around four years old?

Did someone inspire you to be creative?

I remember my dad would take my sister and I to the art store and I loved looking at all the different supplies and tools. We would often bring home a giant block of clay and I would just go wild creating whatever my little mind imagined. Creativity was really in everything I did as a child. From drawing, to playing dress up, taking photos, creating short videos, even sewing tiny purses and stuffed animals.

How did you start your creative business?

Since I always knew I wanted to be creative for my career, I’d say falling into this “profession” was a mix of purpose and by accident. I used to think I’d have one title; fashion designer, photographer, illustrator. But as I’ve grown more as a human and an artist, I realized I can be anything and everything I want to be.  I don’t have to label myself as one thing. Initially I set out to be a photographer. I thought that was all I was meant to do and all I wanted to fulfill my creative soul. But come 2020 and all that it was that year, I was forced to find some other outlet other than photos. Since, well, no one was really willing to shoot at that time. So, I started drawing. At first just for fun, but then I picked up painting, then it got a little more serious when people actually wanted to buy my work. So, I guess I accidentally became a painter as part of my profession. But I still do photography which I’ve done for many years now.

Do you feel the environment / geographic location where you live affects your work? If so, how does this influence show up in your work?

I do feel my surroundings have an impact on my work. Being close to the coast has always been a big inspiration for me. The ocean resets me and grounds me but also puts me in a meditative mindset to let go and I definitely carry that into my painting process. It’s undeniable that we as humans have such a strong connection to the ocean. I love painting birds and fish, I love creating flowy lines and shapes. So yeah I’d say a lot of coastal influence can be seen throughout my work.

Where do you draw inspiration from
for your work?

Surfing, swimming, or just laying on the sand always bring me the most inspiration.

What are the main influences of
your artistic style?

I gathered a lot of inspiration from psychedelic and spiritual artist Hilma af Klint, legendary graphic artist Margaret Kilgallen, and various Inuit artists such as Kenojuak Ashevak, Marion Tuu'lug, and Irene Avaalaagiag. The human character you see through my work is actually inspired by Japanese kokeshi dolls. Many unique styles of artwork but all very inspiring to me.

How would you describe your work's palette?

My color palette is a rainbow! Recently I’m experimenting with more of a muted rainbow palette to balance the brightness and pop. It’s a bit odd but I actually reference vintage home decor when mixing colors. A wool blanket from the 50s, a velvet couch from the 70s, a funky lamp from the 60s. Good stuff!

Do you have any tools for getting
out of a creative "funk"?

Usually when I’m trying to get out of a creative funk, I step away from working. I go outside more, hangout with friends, get myself into some deep conversations about life haha. But seriously! Try something new, watch a movie, eat some tasty food, go see some live music. all great things to get out of a funk and inspire me to keep going.

What is your favorite medium?

It’s so hard to choose a favorite between painting and photography. I do love going between the two. I feel like being out and shooting really inspires me to go inward and be still with painting. And vise versa.

Is there anything you hope a viewer will feel or think of when they experience your work?

I hope my work makes the viewer feel happy and inspired. I hope it inspires more sunshine soaks, ocean dips, time in nature and time to ponder the world like we did as children. There’s a lot of chaos in the world and if I can contribute something to bring peace and joy, that’s ultimate fulfillment.

Was there a turning point in your work where you feel you found your way or style?

My artistic style came from my inability to draw anything realistic haha. I never saw myself as a good artist growing up. But I still loved to draw and paint. There came a point where I wanted to find a way of drawing that suited me, that I felt like I could execute well. So simple shapes and cartoon like characters became really enjoyable for me to create.

How has your work / style changed / evolved since you started?

My photo work has changed a lot in that I don’t only shoot black and white! And with painting, recently I started incorporating more of a darkness with my work, while still keeping a lot of color. I love balance so I try to show that through all my work.

Lauryn Alvarez is an artist
based in Laguna Beach, California.

You can view more of her work on her website: www.laurynalvarez.com and Instagram: @laurynalvarez

At what age did you first feel creative?

I started feeling creative when I was really young – around elementary school age I think. I was obsessed with drawing and painting from an early age and then photography took over in my early teens.

Did someone in your life inspire you to be creative?

Definitely my parents. I wouldn’t say they are creative types, but they have always been supportive of me being myself and not trying to conform to a mold. This helped me discover my passions from an early age.

How did you start your creative business?

I never planned on being a professional photographer – it kind of fell into my lap at the beginning. When I was around 14-15 years old, I started taking photos of my friends and uploading them to Flickr. I saw so many images on there that really inspired me. I became curious about fashion photography and filled out a sign-up form of the Ford Models website to check out more photos and get inspiration (this was back in the day when modeling agencies often had private websites). One day when I came home from school, someone who worked at the agency had passed my work around to a few of the different divisions internally. I went in for a meeting and started working with their younger/newer models on weekends, after school, etc. From there, I realized photography had potential to be a career and decided to pursue it.

Do you feel the environment / geographic location where you live affects your work? If so, how does this influence show up in your work?

Absolutely. I live in New York – and while I love it, it’s not my favorite place to shoot outside. It feels a bit overwhelming and chaotic at times. I’ve found that I love shooting studio work here. It’s a way to focus on quiet and intimate moments while escaping the hustle and bustle. When I’m in cities like Los Angeles for example, I love shooting outdoors. You have easy access to nature locations, tons of daylight, quieter streets, etc.

When / where do you think of your best / favorite ideas?

Usually when I am traveling or somewhere new! It can be anywhere from being in a new city to walking down a street I haven’t been on. I also love people watching and going to museums. There is something about seeing work physically hanging on a wall that speaks to me more than a digital screen.

How would you describe your work's palette?

I play with color a lot in my work – especially using color blocking and
creating monochromatic images. I’m big on using warm tones even when
working with cooler colors. I use colors to help set the tone and feeling for a lot of my images.

Do you feel like your ideas are always translated as you planned / expected / imagined?

Honestly no, and that is the fun of it! This is a big part of why I shoot a lot of personal work outside of commissions for clients. I love to have a general direction of where I’m going but leave a lot open to the moment. This is usually how I make ‘happy mistakes’ or discover something I wouldn’t have tried.

Do you have any tools or practices for getting out of a creative "funk"?

I’ve found that doing things outside of my normal routine usually helps. Sometimes I need time away from photography for a bit – and other times taking on odd jobs or projects that wouldn’t normally speak to me can spark something. While it may sound corny, I always say follow your gut and listen to what your mind/body is trying to tell you.

Is there anything you hope a viewer will feel or think of when they experience your work?

I’m big on capturing intimate moments and I hope that my images bring a sense of quietness and peace. One of the goals I have when shooting portraiture is for there to be an emotion conveyed from the person in the image – and that it’s open to interpretation how this makes you feel (or how you perceive them to feel).

What piece stands out to you as a favorite in your body of work right now & why?

One of my most recent favorites that I’ve shot is a portrait project I did in Paris with triplets named Jean-David, Jean-Dieudonne & Jean-Jacques. I met them on the street by chance and we ended up setting up a shoot. A few days later, they came met me where I was staying – we picked outfits their own wardrobe together and walked around taking photos. This shoot was different for me for a lot of reasons: I work a lot with bright colors (these were neutral tones), most of my shoots are in studio (this was outdoors), I’d never shot triplets, and it was my first time in Paris. There was no real plan other than being inspired by them as people and exploring a new city - I absolutely love what came of it.

Was there a turning point in your work where you feel you found your way or style?

I think so – this would probably be around 2017 for me. I joined my first photo studio share with a few other artists. I’d always been someone that shot outdoors more, and not necessarily by choice, but because it was what I had access to. Being in the studio gave me a bit more control over the environment/elements and helped me discover what I wanted my voice to be. Now I equally love shooting indoors and outdoors, but I’d say having access to a studio space even altered how I approach outdoor work.

Do you have any steps, tools or methods in your creative process that you’ve developed in your practice that feel unique to you?

Hmm, I’m not sure if these are unique to me, but they are a big part of my approach and process. It is really important for me to get to know the people I am photographing, even if it is just for a few minutes, before a shoot. This can’t always happen, so I’m always talking to people a lot as I photograph them. Even in a tight shoot frame, I’m still holding down my camera and talking to people so we can build a comfort level with each other (and they can see my face).

I think the way I do post processing is a unique combo – I never had a formal education with photography, so I’ve pieced together different things I’ve learned over the years. My initial coloring is done in Capture One, then I export to Photoshop and do additional edits in Camera Raw. From there I retouch, and will do little final tweaks in Lightroom. It’s not always the most time effective but it works for me.

What is your favorite medium/subject?

I mostly shoot digital photography and my favorite thing to photograph are people.

David Urbanke is a photographer and director based in New York City.

You can view more of his work on his website: davidurbanke.com and Instagram: @davidurbanke

At what age did you first feel creative? 

Looking back, I can’t remember a time were I wasn’t.

Did someone inspire you to be creative?

Probably my earliest inspiration was my Mum as she was a painter and introduced me to different artists.

How did you start your creative business?

We moved from London to Manchester six years ago. This coincided with my daughter starting school. The move was an opportunity that allowed me the space and time to revisit my creative practice.

Do you feel the environment / geographic location where you live affects your work? If so, how does this influence show up in your work?

I have a studio at home and find that to have my own separate space / environment is very important. I find having a comfortable and practical space also feed into my creativity. My geographic location doesn’t directly influence my work but it moving out of London to South Manchester has allowed me to explore my creative practice.

When / where do you think of your best / favorite ideas?

I find that wherever / whenever you have the time to let your mind wander can produce great ideas. Some of my best ideas have come from stepping away from the studio for a break, like making a cup of tea or cooking for example.

How would you describe your work's palette?

I either like to work with a single maybe muted colour, or as many jarring colours all at once.

Do you feel like your ideas are always translated as you planned / expected / imagined?

I mostly guide with how the material reacts to being cast. I have ideas on shapes and forms but my studio is full of different cast materials. I tend to play with cast shapes and see what comes together as possible sculptures. 

Do you have any tools or practices for getting out of a creative "funk"?

Yes! This has definitely happened to me before. When I left college I found I was thinking too much about the finished piece and it was all getting too overwhelming. A fellow artist that I shared a studio with at the time said to me, "start at the basics: just play, enjoy the art of making, and the ideas will follow." I found that advice has worked for me and that is pretty much how I work now.

Is there anything you hope a viewer will feel or think of when they experience your work?

It's always lovely to see when the viewer finds a connection to my pieces. But I think my sculptures are open to the viewer's own interpretation.

What piece stands out to you as a favorite in your body of work right now & why?

I don’t really have a favourite as such. I find that I’m most excited about the piece I’m currently working on. Generally one sculpture sparks an idea for the next.

Was there a turning point in your work where you feel you found your way or style?

I’m not sure? I feel if you were to look at my body of work there would properly be a style and as a viewer you would be able to tell that it is a piece of mine. But I think if you look back at my pieces from five years ago I was working on a much smaller scale. I have incrementally been trying to get my sculptures bigger in scale – something that working with reusable silicone moulds has allowed me to do. So maybe looking back using silicone moulds to cast in was the turning point.

What is your favorite medium / subject?

My favourite material to use is a base material of fine white casting cement.

Do you have any steps, tools or methods in your creative process that you’ve developed in your practice that feel unique to you?

I grow my own crystals on cement elements to attach to my sculptures. Not sure if I could lay claim to developing crystal growing, but using them in my work is something I enjoy greatly.

How has your work / style changed / evolved since you started?

I’ve just completed my largest sculptures so far, which is huge for me as I used to work on a tiny scale in comparison. I’d like to see if I can go even bigger and maybe make work that can live outdoors.

Vic Wright is a sculptor based in South Manchester.

You can view more of her work on her website: www.vicwrightstudio.co.uk and Instagram: @vic_wright_studio  All Images above by Laura Hutchinson.