We took ten to catch up with South West artist Lauren Marina, whose interpretations of the 12 different Zodiacs formed our latest collection. Read on for a glimpse behind the scenes and an insight into the wonderful world of star signs, mantras and creative lifestyle in Poole.
First thing’s first - what’s your Zodiac?
Leo!
Nice! In which ways do you resonate with being a Leo?
First and foremost I love basking in the rays and being in the sunshine, a true fire sign. I’ve read recently that Leos need to be able to express their creativity with complete freedom to feel fulfilled, and I certainly feel like that rings true with my line of work. Creating art and performing poetry does bring me so much joy.
Have you always been interested in the Zodiac and the universe's higher meanings?
I’ve always thought that exploring star signs provides a wonderful way to self-reflect. To me, they act as questions and tools to delve into ourselves a little deeper, to better understand our traits and to navigate our experience here on Earth.
Talk us through your process for creating each illustration: Was it easy to interpret each Zodiac in your own style, and where did you start?
I started by doing some reading on the history of the Zodiacs to further familiarise myself with this world. I found a wonderful book called ‘Astrological Aromatherapy’ by Patricia Davis in my local charity shop that provided some brilliant additional contextual information on each sign.
From here I began to construct a feeling of each sign with words and sketches - with the aim of effectively capturing the spirit of each Zodiac. I then worked on final designs and refined them to ensure they felt cohesive as a set as well as individual pieces.
We also love the mantras you’ve written for each Zodiac - they’re so poetic and distilled. How did you arrive at each of these when there is so much to say about each Zodiac?
It was really key to have a deep understanding of the essence of each sign. I compared different research sources to find the commonalities of opinion on each of the signs. From here I added a squeeze of my own creativity to compose the poetic mantras. It was challenging since each sign is so multifaceted - as are we! My hope is that Wanderlust Life customers see a little part of themselves reflected in their star design.
Do you have a favourite Zodiac illustration in the pendant collection? (and why)
I really like the illustrations that offer a less traditional picture of their signs. It was important for me to have clearly recognisable star sign illustrations, but I loved that there was flexibility in the brief to allow for my own interpretation too. Gemini is a good example of this. Gemini relates to the twins, light and dark, laugher and pain, so I used a butterfly to reference these two matching sides of balance. In addition the fluttery butterfly motif links nicely to the air sign element of Gemini.
We love how nature is so prominent in your work - what's the story behind nature as your key inspiration?
When I walk slowly in nature, when I carve the time to sit and be present in the woods, or feel every sensation as I plunge into the sea, it’s when I feel most alive and most free. The natural world is endlessly fascinating as long as we tune in to be with it. Our world is full of digital distractions and chaos, nature supports me in feeling grounded and alive so I suppose my art is an ode to the gratitude I feel for it.
What tools do you use to create your signature black and white print style?
My black and white palette is largely influenced by my history in printmaking and my adoration for the aesthetic of this world. I love the stark contrast and bold lines, but I also appreciate drawing and sketching. So, my style is a blend of the two. At the moment I work digitally using organic-style brushes - I love the rough edge on a pencil line!
How is life in Poole?
Poole is great, especially at this time of year as we burst into spring. There’s so many amazing natural spaces to explore. From wonderful heathland with rare reptiles and spiders, to coves and coastline, to beautiful beaches and so much forest. Alongside that there’s a great creative community here of like minded folks.
How do you find enough creative inspiration throughout your day?
I ensure I have regular time and solace to myself, to meander through my mind and reflect. If I’m feeling creatively blocked in a day I’ll usually meditate and then have a coffee quietly in the garden and allow my thoughts to wander whilst I watch the birds.
How do you set the scene when you sit down to complete your work?
At this time of year I have all the windows open to allow the fresh air to flow and the birdsong to be my background music. I’ll have some incense burning, the cat on my lap and some tea brewing. I really love working from home and being able to be so comfortable in my own space.
What does an ideal day in the life of Lauren look like?
I’d get up and the sun would be shining, I’d go down to the beach with my breakfast and flask for a sea swim and an hour watching the waves and sketchbooking. After this I’d go and do some bird watching at my local reserve which I find so calming and interesting! I’d then find a spot in a cafe to do some drawing and eat some cake. I’d have time later in the day to read a book in a garden full of fragrant flowers and I’d end the day with some meditation. What a beautiful day that would be!
Do you have a mantra that you’re focusing on at the moment?
‘You can rest here’. A mantra to provide a moment to pause, to prompt us to stop rushing from A to B, to put down our endless To-Do lists and just be… to rest ourselves, our mind and our body.
