Behind the Natural Love: A series
Welcome to my Behind the Natural Love series! Natural Love is about reflection and taking time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. By doing so, we inevitably exist as a conduit to only extend that love we've observed. To me, art is a reflection of that Love. I'm honored to be surrounded by so many talented individuals who have taken time to hone in on that Love and it shows in their craft. They have collaborated with me to express their unique art forms, all inspired by mine. Explore this series in episodes as I dedicate a video, photos and an interview to each artist to learn more about their art creation process.
Episode 1: Kickin' it with Natural Love ft. @jmcreationsss
Watch Shoe unboxing video here! --->
Jasmine Mooney of @jmcreationsss is one of my dear friends from college. We used to play volleyball together. Although our lives were dominated by athletics, we always found ways to express our art forms here and there while in school. It's so wonderful to see that although so much has changed for us since those times, the love for the art has remained the same. This is the 2nd pair of shoes she has beautifully created for me so I am no stranger to her talent but boy did she go off on these shoes! Here is a look behind her Natural Love:
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What is your preferred/ favorite art form and why?
- I'm not sure I prefer any. I really enjoy trying new ones. Most recently, I have tried photography and design.
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What is your favorite art form to experience?
-Music. I love jamming out in my car or going to live shows and concerts.
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What about Natural Love inspired the creation for your design?
-I based a majority of my design for the shoes off of the cover art. I tried to incorporate the various colors as well as the small details such as the gold accents used.
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How long have you been pursuing your art?
-I've been into art as long as I can remember, but I really got into it around 8th grade. That is when I began creating things as gifts for other people.
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What is art to you?
- Anything that is created as a form of expression.
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What is another art form that you may not practice but resonates with you still?
I absolutely love music but don't create it personally.
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How can people get a hold of you for your business?
-I'm available through DM. My personal page is preferred. Art page: @jmcreationsss Personal Page: @jasmineannmooney
Episode 2: A Passion for Fashion and Natural Love
My Pretty Oddities style bundle video
I have loved everything about Pretty Oddities since they opened up shop in 2022! Leah and Bella are the owners and I have had the pleasure of connecting with them since I started shopping there. Their shop offers a fresh take on what a thrift store is, and they provide personalized styling services too! Their space carries such a colorful and unique vibe, and you can tell how much Love they put into their craft. From supporting local artists with live events, to constantly expressing their love for the art of fashion, I very much resonate with how they exude their own Natural Love. It was so much fun collaborating with them for my show and this series! Here's a look Behind their Natural Love:
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What is your preferred/favorite art form to create? Why?
-Styling! We love understanding someone's vision and delivering a curated look.
What is your favorite art form to experience?
-Human connection through clothing. We love seeing someone's face light up and their confidence bloom when they’re in an outfit they feel good in.
What about Natural Love inspired the creation for your design?
-The beauty of interconnection. Loving oneself fully and in return, loving others the same.
How long have you pursuing your art?
-It all started in high school. We didn’t have money to afford the “cool” clothes so we took to thrifting to score some inexpensive pieces. This is where it all began!
What is art to you?
-Art is a feeling. Whatever invokes a visceral reaction- thats art.
What is another form of art that you may not practice at the moment but resonates with you still?
-Any musical skills! Unfortunately, neither of us have any musical skills ourselves so we admire anyone (like yourself) who does. Music has played an integral part of the friendship we have!
Any quirky pieces of info that you'd like to share in caption about creating?
-Never feel imposer syndrome with your art! you are your thoughts critic.
Episode 3: Crocheted with
Natural Love,
one stitch at a time
Watch our SMITTIExKrochetedbyKai
collab video here!
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![Screenshot_20240510_233400_Instagram[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf851_45c317c9b94f4b92a5c4e907f061dad9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_360,h_362,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Screenshot_20240510_233400_Instagram%5B1%5D.jpg)
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This episode features my friend Kaiari of KrochetedbyKaiari! When I say she is a crocheting wizard, I am not being dramatic. You can be anywhere with her, and she will magically pull out a ball of yarn, a needle and get straight to her craft. It's the funniest, most inspiring thing ever. I admire how dedicated and in love she is with expressing her art. I met Kai through our local YMCA (she can sang too!!) and we are both YMCA music event/ Sadies' regulars, so us crossing paths was inevitable. Fun fact: She also helped me with background vocals for Natural Love, so if you have listened to the song, you've gotten a little preview into Kai's Natural Love but there's always more than meets the eye (or ear). She has a crocheting business so if any of her work interests you, then click here. She makes the best baby blankets, apparel and more! Otherwise, here's a deeper look Behind her Natural Love:
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What is your preferred/favorite art form to create? Why?
-My preferred art form to create with is crocheting, but my favorite art form is painting. I love being able to create crocheted items for others and help bring their ideas and wants to life. I love painting because I get to play the drums to my own beat. It's also very relaxing
What is your favorite art form to experience?
-My favorite art form to experience, despite my love for crochet, is singing
What about Natural Love inspired the creation for your design?
-The piece I designed is 100% all natural, I did not follow a pattern. The love part comes in when I think of the meticulous work put behind this beautiful song, its refreshing and beyond meaningful. I felt like the blush pink color was soft and gave a loving feel when I saw it. I also added the beaded piece it has little crystal-like beads which adds to the simplicity of the style. It was also cut from the same cloth of the flowers.
How long have you pursuing your art?
-Almost 10 yrs. I started crocheting when I was about 11 or 12 years old
What is art to you?
-Art is Life. “It reminds me how to live” Art makes the world better. In times of heartache and despair it adds the light you need to keep going
What is another form of art that you may not practice at the moment but resonates with you still?
-So recently i've been super into finger knitting believe it or not. It’s actually super cool.
Any quirky pieces of info that you'd like to share in caption about creating?
-Natural love has been my morning Jam since its release date!
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Episode 4: Natural Love goes Digital
Watch episode 4 here -->
New Merch alert! This episode features my lovely friend Courtney Gebhardt that goes by @courtgeb on Instagram. She is another friend I met in the athletic world (like Jasmine from episode 1) that has always had the arts near and dear to her heart. This is actually our 2nd collaboration as she is artist that designed my retro SMITTIE merch logo so I am no stranger to her fire artistic abilities. As a visual artist, she works with a bunch of different mediums. From watercolor, to acrylic she is a genius with a brush! For our collab, she did a digital painting and I must say it came out beautifully! She also offers private art lessons, so if you are looking to learn more about it, check out her contact info above. For now, here is a deeper look Behind her Natural Love:
What is your preferred/favorite art form to create? Why?
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-My favorite art form to create is my oil on canvas paintings. I was first introduced to oil paint in 2018 and since then, it has been my #1 medium to work with and create my art with. It flows and blends so easily and allows for so many useful techniques to depict many subjects.
What is your favorite art form to experience?
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-My favorite art form to experience would be oil painting. Setting up my easel in the studio and being able to just leave it and come back and still be able to manipulate the paint how I want is my favorite part of the process.
What about Natural Love inspired the creation for your design?
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-The combination of Nature and love inspired the nature-like design including seasons and foliage to contrast against the subject, Sarah. I wanted something that created a spotlight for Sarah while still holding meaning in the background. When I think of Sarah, I think of brightness and vibrancy which is also why I wanted to include bright, vibrant colors!
How long have you pursuing your art?
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-I have been drawing since I could hold a pencil. I took my art seriously when I decided to change my major my junior year of College- focusing on Visual Arts Education. Before then, I would keep sketchbooks of random sketches and drawings on whatever it was I wanted to draw. As I went into college, I started to find my style (and mediums) of what I liked to work with. It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I found my style and focus.
What is art to you?
-To me, art is the freedom of expression. It’s a powerful and beautiful tool to express oneself and spread your message and talent to all.
What is another form of art that you may not practice at the moment but resonates with you still?
-I used to use pen and ink on paper a lot. From time to time I like to still create with that medium. It’s so easy and you can take it anywhere with just a pen and a sketchbook.
Any quirky pieces of info that you'd like to share about creating?
-I’m a high school studio art teacher!
Episode 5: Nothing like
Nae-tural Love
Photos captured on film by Dajahnae. These were from the day we shot my cover art for Natural Love.
Dajah capturing me getting my photos slayed by her best friend Christina. She's another talented photographer
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Flowers in a vase gifted to me from my grandma, captured by my cousin. My family really is the best
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The talent also oozes! My cousin Mia, Dajah's sister, was on makeup and nails for the day and she killed it per usual!!
Independent artist life. You're your own set designer, and everything in between. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Stop to smell the flowers.
This episode features my Cotton Candy Queen, my cousin Dajahnae! As the lyrics of my song dedicated to her say, there's not enough time in the world to describe the greatness that she is. (listen to Cotton Candy Skies to hear more about her) Although she is enjoys many artforms, like crotchet and photography, she has graced this series with her writing. Before she wrote her Natural Love inspired piece, she interviewed me and we had a wonderful conversation. As a fellow writer, I resonate with her on many levels including the beauty and importance of the process of putting thoughts on paper and turning them into a work of art. Dajahnae has such a way with words that always captures her subject so thouroughly so I was so excited before our interview because I knew the questions would be fire. (which they were!!). SO If you'd like to check out our interview, click here. You can also subscribe to her newsletter to recieve future pieces from her. In the meantime, here's a deeper look behind her Natural Love:
What is your preferred/favorite art form to create? Why?
—definitely writing. I’ve been writing since I was a kid, most things going unseen in my journal. It’s always been a safe space for me to explore my feelings and acknowledge/document the world around me. I also love taking pictures on film. It’s so much fun to capture a moment and not worry about whether it’s perfect. Even when they come out different than I expected, I love looking at them and remembering the moment.
What is your favorite art form to experience?
— live music. I love seeing people in their element, creating worlds bigger than I could ever imagine by using their instrument.
What about Natural Love inspired the creation for your design?
— the artist!
How long have you pursuing your art?
— since they made that Password Journal in the early 2000s. I also had a blog in 2016 and that was the beginning of me sharing more with the world.
What is art to you?
— freedom.
What is another form of art that you may not practice at the moment but resonates with you still?
— dancing!! I feel like I have two left feet but I love seeing people dance and tell stories with their body. It’s so cool to me
Any quirky pieces of info that you'd like to share in caption about creating?
— no info, but a reminder to try all of the things and explore what you enjoy. We only have one life, so have fun with it!
Episode 6: Twig and Glow
has a Natural Flow
Watch episode 6 here! ->
An artistry after my own heart, Twig & Glow is a mirror image of Natural Love in so many ways! Owned and operated by my Auntie Jackie, Twig & Glow has long been supporting EveriethingSmittie long before this collaborative series started. From constructing and carving me my very own tip box, to making colorful and custom earrings, fashion and functionality are staples to the Twig & Glow name and I'm so here for it! Not to mention, she is a Jackie of all trades, because her self-care products are 10/10 as well! Although she uses the word "random" when it comes to explaining all of her passions and hobbies that allow her to pursue such a wide variety of artistic expressions, I know that they all go back to a common core and are not random at all... Natural Love! Please check out her Etsy shop linked here and use NATURALLOVE to receive a discount off of your items. In the meantime, take a deeper look Behind her Natural Love below:
What is your preferred/favorite art form to create? Why?
--Too many. I love creating handmade products such as soaps, lotions but also machine embroidery, wood crafting, paper crafting, photography, cake decorating etc. I enjoy the creative process of designing and then executing my vision. The name Twig and Glow was inspired by my focus on embracing and utilizing natural elements to bring out our inner radiant beauty. Twig for natural, organic elements; Glow symbolic for radiance and beauty
What is your favorite art form to experience?
--Not necessarily an art form but I enjoy the natural beauty of nature.
What about Natural Love inspired the creation for your design?
--I try to take into consideration the likes/preferences of the person that I am creating for. For example, with the tip box, I wanted to incorporate sunflowers which you mentioned that you liked as well as bubble letters/font. Likewise for the earrings.
How long have you pursuing your art?
--Too many years. First creative efforts were making/designing birthday cakes which evolved into larger wedding cakes. It is interesting to see the overlap in all of my random hobbies. For example, some of the same tools, techniques and skills that you use to make cakes such as piping are transferable to other artistic endeavors such as making soaps.
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Any quirky pieces of info that you'd like to share in caption about creating?
--Keep on keeping on! Follow your heart and dream big. Success is a journey, not a destination.