So many of us are looking for little girl room ideas that are let’s say “more sophisticated” than the typical pink Barbie room and maybe closer to our own grown-up aesthetic but still fun and girly. Our friend Kassandra was kind enough to let us play around with her daughter’s bedroom and create two different looks in Olivia’s room – yet keep the same furniture and wallpaper. It was so fun to create a completely different ambiance just with two sets of accessories. You’ll see it’s quite easy to change things up while keeping the same furniture.
This bedroom look is the one we love to call “Bohemian Princess” and it’s definitely girly. Here’s Olivia, sitting proudly on her cute gold bed. I’d say that the bed Kassandra picked is the main focus point of the room. It’s from Pottery Barn and it’s the cutest thing. We’re not sure if it’s still available here in Canada but we found this cute gold bed from Souris Mini that has a similar vintage gold look. We styled Olivia’s room with one of our cute pink Boucherouite rugs – which are incredibly cute for a girl’s bedroom –
Of course, we had to incorporate our must-have Moroccan Leather Pouf in the room because it’s THE best accessory in any kid’s room. Kids love to sit and play with them and mommy loves to kick her feet up while rocking her little one to sleep or reading a bedtime story. We picked the white leather pouf for this sweet decor. (The gold vegan pouf is also a great pick for a girl’s room) We decorated with touches of pink and whimsical accessories, like this sweet Peace & Love Poster on Olivia’s dresser. One of my faves for a little girl’s room because I just love the message.
Here you can see all the cute details. It doesn’t take much to add a bit of magic to a girl’s dresser.
I love her dark wood antique dressers, they look so grown-up and are not a typical choice for a girl’s room but her mom made magic by adding beautiful flower knobs that add some feminity. You can find lots of beautiful knob options at Anthropologie or Zara Home and it’s a great way to update a piece of furniture. We also added a beautiful gold tassel to make it even more magical. Look at the giant tassel on her door knob, its a pretty cute detail for a girl’s room. We love our Ophelia Pang art print with it’s beautiful pink and red flowers. This art print is so pretty and we love to use it in both adult and girly decors.
Little Girl Room Ideas – Shop the Boho Princess Look:
In the second decor, we wanted something a little more gender neutral and we were inspired by the “California desert” style to create the look. It’s a little less pink and a little more grown-up. This Boucherouite rug is the perfect rug for a kid’s room. It’s super colorful so it’s easier to take care of, it’s made of recycled fabric and the texture is really fun. We also love the warm color of our tan leather Moroccan pouf.
This look could easily be interpreted for a boy’s room (I’d change the bed, pink pillows, and the poster). The antique dressers and rocking chair are so perfect for this California bedroom. We love these Moroccan Kilim Pillows combined with our African Mudcloth Pillows on Olivia’s bed. It’s the perfect California mix!
The cute dresser details have been changed, and we’ve added some plants, a few baskets and this super cute Yes M’a’am screenprint poster which is a great addition to any girl’s room, it has the most beautiful coral background. We don’t usually think of adding plants in a kid’s room but they make such a great (and inexpensive) decor addition.
Little Girl Room Ideas – Shop the California Girl Look:
We are very curious to hear which of these looks you prefer! I can’t even decide myself, as much as I would typically pick the pink Boho Princess look (I know, I know, pink is an obsession over here) I also REALLY love the California Girl style. As for Olivia, she was really into her Boho princess room! Nevertheless, this exercise was so fun and it made me realise how switching accessories can really change the look in a room. I need to try this in other rooms! I hope these Little Girl Room Ideas inspired you!
We get so many questions about our custom Beni Ourain rugs that we just had to write an entire blog post about them and hopefully answer all your questions! Also, as you know, we LOVE Beni Ourain rugs and consider them a classic that will never go out of style – I’ll show you why.
This is a classic Beni Ourain rug with thick black lines.
Let’s start with some frequenty asked questions:
Why can’t I find a Beni Ourain rug in American standard size?
They are very hard to find in American standard size because Moroccans work with centimeters and follow European sizings. We can have a custom Beni Ourain rug made in American standard sizes for you. They can be made in 4’x6′, 5’x8′, 8’x10′ or any other size you need. (Maximum width is 9’8″, maximum lenght is 13′)
How can I order my custom Rug?
If you’re interested in our custom Beni Ourain rugs, please get in touch with us via email with the rug size you’d like to order, and if you have a picture of a rug you like (you can pick from our site or send any picture you might have) We’ll get back to you with more information on pricing. We ask for a 50% deposit to start making the rug, then when the rug is ready, we send a picture for our client’s approval. We ask for the final payment prior to shipping the rug.
What can be customizable?
– The rug size – The background color – The line color – The diamond pattern style and size – The pile (or thickness of the rug)
The Rug Size
The maximum width of our custom Beni Ourain rugs is 9’8″ and a maximum length is 13′. Anything below that is doable. The pricing for different sizing changes from time to time so if you’d like a quote on a specific size, just contact us via email with your request. We’ll get back to you promptly. Note: We can have square rugs made but we can’t have round rugs made.
The background color
– What’s the difference between natural white & cream? This is the most frequently asked question for sure!
Here’s a picture showing both, a Natural white rug beside a cream rug. They are lighter shades of cream rugs but this will give you an idea.
Natural white: It’s a beautiful creamy white color that is not pure white because the wool is natural and will never be as white as a synthetic white. Natural white is the palest shade of wool on the market, it’s a beautiful rich natural white and it’s our personal fave here at Baba Souk.
Cream: It’s a creamier off-white with more yellow in it. It’s great if you’re looking fro a warmer look and is great with dark wood and brown leather.
The diamond line color
They are most typically black or dark brown which are natural wool colors but you can have them made in almost any color you’d like. We LOVE the classic black lines but we have already had Beni Ourain rugs with pink lines, blue lines and even turquoise lines made! Send us your special request by email, we’ll do our best to make it happen for you.
Here’s a custom Beni Ourain rug with hot pink lines. It looks pretty cute in a girl’s room!
Here’s a more classic look, the background of this Beni Ourain rug is cream and the lines are dark brown. Notice the contour line, which is also an option.
The Diamond pattern and style
There you can have fun! Pick the size of your diamonds. Do you prefer small argyles or large ones? Thick lines or thin lines? We even have custom Beni Ourain rugs with Berber symbols, we love this design. It’s super design and the minimalist symbols give it a really cool modern look. See the pictures below for different types of patterns and lines. We even make dotted beni rugs! Have a look right below.
Here you have a natural white Beni Ourain rug with thin lines and large diamonds.
This Beni Ourain rug has small argyles and is low pile.
This Moroccan rug has a natural white background, black dots and is medium pile, which is very cozy!
The pile (or the thickness of the wool)
Walking on a Beni Ourain rug might be the comfiest feeling ever! It feels so wonderful. We have three custom Beni Ourain pile options: Low pile: (about 0.25″) Medium Pile: (about 1″) High Pile (More than 1″)
We always recommend medium pile because we think they look at their best and are the coziest without being too much trouble to take care of. Higher pile requires more maintenance but they sure are cozy! (See the picture below for an example of higher pile). The medium rug pile is a great compromise, it has a more uniform look and is still amazingly cozy.
The picture shows a natural white rug in medium pile and thick lines. Fringes are usually only on one side of a Beni Ourain rug, at the end. They can also be removed or we can ask the maker to add fringes on both ends if you prefer.
This is a high pile rug with double diamond lines, which is also an option for custom Beni Ourain rugs.
Why are they so popular?
The reason why everybody loves them so much is certainly their versatility and the fact that their minimalist design will never go out of style. They look amazing in so many décor styles, from Bohemian to minimalist, girly to masculine, classic to eclectic. Check all the different decor styles we have in this blog post!
How long does it take to make a custom Beni Ourain rug?
Depending on the size of the rug you order, it can take 6-8 weeks to complete a rug. Weaving a handmade Beni Ourain is a long process! We have several women working on the same rug at the same time, depending on their workload, the lead time may vary a little. When the rug is finished, we send you a picture so you can see the rug and make sure you love it before we ship it to you. Then, it takes about 15 days to be shipped (via standard shipping to Canada or the USA). We can also ship it faster if you’re willing to pay extra to get it in 5-7 days once it’s ready.
We love the California style where modern meets quirky and traditional.
International Shipping:
We do ship Internationally! Get in touch with us via email to get a shipping quote for your location.
Can Custom Beni Ourain Rugs Be returned?
Unfortunately not! As you can now imagine, making a custom rug is a long process and it takes lots of effort. From communication, to ordering, to making, to wrapping, to shipping, – it’s a lot of work. We also do send a picture of the rug prior to shipping, so we make sure you’re satisfied before sending it to you. If ever there were a defect or a problem with the measurements, we would, of course, do our best to accommodate our customers as we strive to offer the best customer service and truly value our customers.However, anything like this very rarely happens.
What is the difference between “Ready-Made” Beni Ourain rugs and “Custom Beni Ourain Rugs
”
?
We have a few rug sizes that we keep in stock in Morocco because they are European standard sizes, They are just as beautiful and their selling price is great! It’s a great option if you are able to play around with sizing in your room. They’re ready to ship so it’s a faster option if you’re in a rush to get a beautiful Beni Ourain rug in your home. We ship them directly from Morocco and here are the sizes and prices we have available right now:
7’x10” (200cm x 300cm), CAN$1300 including shipping from Morocco 8’x11.5’ (250 cm x 350 cm) CAN $2400 including shipping from Morocco 13’ x 10’ (300cm x 400 cm) CAN $3300 + shipping costs to be confirmed depending on your location.
Most of the rugs we have in stock are natural white with black lines and the pile is medium. (which is what we prefer and the most popular option too!) We can send you a picture of a ready-made Beni Ourain rug prior to your buying it, just get in touch by email if you’d like more information or if you’d like to see some rug pictures prior to making your purchase. You can buy your ready-made Beni Ourain rug directly online, right here!
Where are your custom Beni Ourain rugs made, are they authentic?
First of all, all our rugs are authentic and handmade in Morocco out of 100% wool. They are entirely made by hand by a group of traditional women artisan weavers just outside Marrakech. Antique Beni Ourain rugs used to be made by the eponym Berber tribe but nowadays, let’s be honest, you’ll rarely find an Antique Beni Ourain rug, and if you find one, it will be very pricey and will look antique. So don’t get yourself fooled by vendors. The new ones are still made by hand in Morocco, following the Berber weaving tradition and they are just as delightful. They come in whiter shades of wool (which we love) and can be made in different sizes and patterns.
Watch it if you think you’re buying a Beni Ourain rug and the price is particularly low, it’s a bad sign! These rugs are being knocked off by Turkish and Chinese factories a lot lately. If you want to make sure your rug is the real deal, look at the reverse side of the rug. If it’s a real Beni Ourain, the knotting should be irregular. Authentic Beni Ourain rugs are pricey because they are weaved by hand and are made to last a lifetime.
What I like the most about Moroccan rugs is the contrast between their handmade traditional nature and their super modern look in our contemporary homes.
Care Instructions for Custom Beni Ourain Rugs
And, last but not least! We get many emails regarding the care instructions of our custom Beni Ourain rugs. While it’s true that a white rug is a daring choice, especially if you have young kids or animals with dark fur, Beni Ourain rugs are made with natural fibers so the stains do come off, they’re much easier to take care of than synthetic white rugs.
Moroccan rugs are made to be super resistant and last a lifetime. Please follow these simple guidelines:
For regular care
-You can vacuum your rug
-If an accident happens you can spot clean your rug using a white towel, cold water and clothing detergent. Make sure your rug doesn’t stay humid.
-To eliminate odors and humidity, let it dry in the sun for a day.
-Make sure it does not stay wet or humid. If you store it, we do not recommend storing it in a bag.
Shedding: A new rug might shed more but the secret is to brush it frequently. You can use a plastic brush like a hand broom brush. It will remove the excess wool. Then vacuum. You can repeat this once every two weeks in the beginning until all the excess wool is gone. Then the shedding will stop.
Cleaning your rug: Have it cleaned by a professional rug cleaner once a year to keep the wool color white and to refresh it. It should cost about $2 per square foot. Make sure you mention your rug is 100% wool. It should come out like new!
We love this modern bohemian look! A Beni ourain rug is ja great option to balance out a colorful wallpaper.
A bit of History
Characterized by thick luxurious white wool and minimalist black lines, the story behind Beni Ourain rugs is quite interesting. These rugs were used to cover the floors of the nomadic Beni Ourain tribes living in tents in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains where winter is particularly rough. These thick pile wool rugs were typically used as floor insulation, bedding, and blankets to keep warm during harsh winters. These tribes lived in remote mountainous locations in the northern Middle Atlas region, therefore, their art was not influenced by the Arab-eastern world, which explains why their style is so particular. Now you understand why Beni Ourain rugs are so comfy and dense!
FUN FACT 🙂
Apparently, Frank Lloyd Wright himself was a big fan, I’ve read he made frequent trips to find rugs for his clients and had a Beni Ourain rug in almost every room of his Falling Water house. These black & white rugs might be trendy right now but they have the type of classic beauty that never goes out of style. In fact, they might seem to be increasingly popular in Canada and the US lately, but they’ve been praised by the French for quite some time. A Beni Ourain rug makes a room, no questions asked!
It’s finally spring and I don’t know if you’re as excited as we are but Spring fever is real over here! Give me all the flowers, the tender greens, and the light! We’ve put together these little Easter brunch ideas for you. And the easiest -of all times- DIY flower wreaths. (Thanks to Atelier Carmel for the idea and the flowers!) Guys, these flower wreaths take literally ONE MINUTE to make. Scroll down to watch the little video we put together with the help of our talented homegirl Maca, she makes the cutest little videos!
Oh! By the way, the pictures were taken at Camille’s place, she just finished renovating her kitchen and her little banquette is the cutest thing. Especially with a bunch of Boucherouite pillows on it 😉 I’m so in love with the tiles she picked for her floors, the light bounces off them like crazy.
Our DIY Tabletop Flower Wreaths would be so cute for an Easter brunch but beyond that, how cute would they be for a Spring wedding or a summer party!! Wait until you watch the video. You’ll laugh at how easy they are to make.
This is us trying to take a decent picture (but honestly we were laughing like crazy) I rarely step in front of the camera but this time I had to, the setting was just too gorgeous. Camille and Maca totally got me with the Rosé 😉
I just adore this color palette, such a great mix of peachy pinks, teals, light blue and mustard yellow! That original painting, Colombes by Zoe Bovin is a stunner too! (It’s available online in our Baba Art Gallery, right here)
Do you like the all-white kitchen look with butcherblock countertops and gold? I think it’s the best thing because then you can add some color pops with your accessories. Accessories are way easier to change than floors and countertops! That cute Boucherouite rug might not be the most practical in a kitchen (especially if you have kids) but hey, how cute!
Happy Easter to all of you! I wish you some sweet times with your family. Let me know if you try out these easy-breezy flower wreaths, I’d love to see them! –Stephanie
Elif, who is now living in Montreal, is the Turkish-born trendsetter behind the Insta-Famous account, The Fashion Medley. She has the coolest edgy-chic look in town. We recently had the pleasure to shoot her Beni Ourain rug in her beautiful living room and got a chance to chat a little.
1. How would you describe your personal style?
Ugh this is my least favorite question 🙂
I think it’s masculine and minimal with edgy and sometimes whimsical details.
2. Do you have a style Icon?
I get inspiration from different people all the time, lately Instagram is my biggest inspiration source – mostly geniune people who are not bloggers or fashion professionals that have really cool Instagram pages. In terms of icons; Lauren Hutton, Caroline Bessette Kennedy, the Olsen twins and mid 2000’s Kate Moss are always my favorites. I’m loving the Hadid sisters’ looks nowadays.
3. You recently moved into a new apartment here in Montreal. What was your inspiration in terms of home décor style?
My interior design aesthetic is a lot simpler than my fashion sense, I love mid century modern. Palm Springs homes were my biggest inspiration and names like Neutra, Breuer, Wegner, Koenig etc.
4. You recently finished decorating your living room and it’s so beautifully curated. How did you go about creating this flawless space?
For me the sense of space is really important, I don’t like cluttered interiors but I also don’t like super-simple and minimal homes either. So my aim was to create a space that looked like a living room/gallery that shows real people are actually living in it. For example, I wanted a leather couch but I made sure we bought the most comfortable one because it’s where we spend almost 80% of our time. I chose a daybed instead of a second couch or many other chairs because I love the architectural aspect it brings to the entire living room.
Our light fixtures and coffee table are vintage, so they actually are mid century furniture. I also have a lot of original vintage artwork. It was important to me that nothing in the living room looked so familiar, I wanted everything to look unique – which is why the Beni Ourain rug is one of my favorite pieces in the entire living room. It has imperfect lines and it brightens up the entire space. Even though it’s a bohemian rug it somehow fits my home perfectly and I think it’s what takes the room from a generic “space” to a living room.
5. We know you’re such a trendsetter and you have an eye for design. Would you mind sharing what you think will be the next big trend in home décor?
As I’m still following the interior design concepts of 60 years ago, I’m not the best person to ask about new trends 😉 I know terrazzo is huge right now, also Vladimir Kagan style legless, curved couches. I don’t know if it can be considered new but painted ceilings also seem to be trending well.
6. We know you love neutrals but what’s your take on the next HIT color?
Terra cota, camel, taupe (do these count as not-neutrals?) 😉 Peach and light pink too.
Thank you so much for sharing Elif. I’ll be dreaming of Palm Springs for a while. – Stephanie.
Zoe Boivin is an upcoming Canadian painter. We are delighted to present our collaborative collection inspired by her latest trip to Morocco. It’s a visual explosion of colours and emotions on canvas and as they often say in Morocco “It’s a pleasure for your eyes”. We also had an inspiring little chatt with her, scroll down to read our little interview.
1- How do you approach a blank canvas? Do you already have a plan? For example, have you already worked on some sketches or have you chosen a colour palette?
I love drawing no matter where I am. I always bring a small sketchbook with me so I can draw whatever happens to catch my eye. I take pictures of shapes that inspire me, often at the most unexpected moments (graffiti on a wall, an unlikely object in a room, some strangely aligned leaves on the ground, etc.) I then use these pictures and sketches as visual references in my studio that guide me when I’m working.
1- Par où commences-tu quand tu te retrouves devant un canevas blanc ? As-tu déjà une bonne idée de ce qui va se passer ? As-tu déjà par exemple fait des croquis au préalable ou bien as-tu choisi ta palette de couleurs ?
J’aime dessiner partout où je vais. Je traine pratiquement toujours un petit calepin avec moi pour faire des esquisses de mes idées et des couleurs qui interpellent mon œil au quotidien. J’aime aussi photographier les formes qui m’inspirent, souvent à des moments totalement inattendus (une section de graffiti sur un mur, un objet inusité dans une pièce, des feuilles drôlement placées sur le sol, etc.). L’ensemble de ces photos et de mes croquis me donne une base de repères visuelles qui seront ensuite disposées sur les murs de mon studio, et qui m’aideront à travailler lors de la création.
When I get to work on a given day, I let my feelings guide me. I take time to refocus before I actually start painting. I never set out with a specific idea. I often start with a few ink blotches that I have let dry on my canvas beforehand, this organic composition becomes the starting point in a piece. Then the dance begins, my hands guide me in the flow of the creative process. I listen to very loud music that helps me express my emotions with colour and images on canvas.
I always try to eliminate any resistance and give free reign to my intuition and emotions that guide my movements. I never choose colours or shapes beforehand; they emerge naturally in the process, and I am always surprised and even astonished at the results. Amusing fact: the process is really messy!
Au moment de se mettre au travail, je me laisse d’abord guider par ce que je ressens cette journée-là. Je prends toujours un instant pour me recentrer avant de débuter une séance de création. Je n’ai jamais une idée préétablie de ce qui va se passer sur la toile. Je débute souvent mes pièces avec des taches d’encre séchées que j’ai créées sur la toile au préalable, et c’est à partir de cette composition organique que je vais débuter mon œuvre.
Par la suite c’est une forme de danse, je suis à l’écoute de mes mains qui me guident dans le processus qui se fait dans un état de « flow ». J’écoute de la musique très fort dans mes oreilles qui m’aident à exprimer mes émotions en couleurs et en images sur le tableau – j’essaie toujours d’enlever toute résistance et de me fier seulement à mon intuition et mes émotions, qui guident mes gestes. Les couleurs ne sont pas choisies à l’avance, ni les formes ; elles émergent simplement durant le processus, qui me surprend et m’étonne à chaque fois ! Fait cocasse; c’est également un processus super salissant!
2- You often say that you paint your emotions and that your travels often inspire your work. This series was inspired by your trip to Morocco. Can you describe specific moments that inspired you?
One specific day, I was really inspired. We were in a bus with a lot of other people crossing the High Atlas region on our way to the desert to spend the night in a Berber camp. It was a long journey, more or less 10 hours, but time went by really fast. I was hypnotized by the seemingly endless snow-capped mountains and huge reddish-brown sand dunes with white striations, a veritable visual delight. Along the way, I worked in my sketchbook a lot, in the company of our bus driver Mohammed who sang along with the local radio.
2- Tu dis souvent que tu peins des émotions et que tu puises ton inspiration dans tes voyages. Cette série est inspirée de ton récent voyage au Maroc, peux-tu nous décrire quelques moments qui t’ont inspirée ?
Une journée précise m’a beaucoup inspirée. Nous étions un groupe de voyageurs dans un autobus, et nous traversions la région du Haut Atlas afin de se rendre dans le désert, pour y passer la nuit dans un campement Berbère. C’était une longue route, plus ou moins 10 heures, mais le temps a filé très vite, car j’étais hypnotisé par la vue de la chaîne de montagnes à demi enneigée, celle-ci s’étalant à perte de vue. D’immenses dunes rougeâtres et brunâtres traversées de stries blanches, c’était un véritable délice pour les yeux ! J’ai travaillé beaucoup dans mon journal visuel durant la route, accompagnée par notre chauffeur Mohammed, qui chantait au son de sa musique locale.
We would stop to eat, take a break and enjoy a cup of mint tea (yummy) and the mountain monkeys would come join us along the road.Once we arrived at our destination, we set out at sunset to cross the desert on camels to get to the camp. The colours and shapes created by the shadows and the last sun rays of the day were so carved out, it was breathtaking. It felt like I was roaming and meditating on a large abstract canvas. Then we ate a traditional tajine dinner (with our fingers), and ended the evening with Berber dances and songs, under the brightest starlit sky I had ever seen.I will never forget this day, the most emotionally and visually inspiring day I have ever experienced.
Nous nous arrêtions parfois pour manger, prendre une pause et déguster un thé à la menthe (miam), et les singes de montagne venaient nous retrouver sur le bord de la route. Arrivés à destination, nous avons traversé le désert à dos de chameau, au coucher du soleil afin de se rendre au campement. Les couleurs et les formes créées par les ombres et les derniers rayons de la journée sur les bosses de sables étaient si découpées, c’était littéralement à couper le souffle. J’avais l’impression de me promener et de méditer dans une grande toile abstraite ! Nous avons ensuite dégusté un repas traditionnel de tajines (avec les mains), et avons terminé la soirée avec une danse et des chants Berbères, avant de se coucher devant le ciel le plus étoilé et le plus brillant que je n’avais jamais vu. Je n’oublierai jamais cette journée, qui était des plus inspirantes autant au niveau émotionnel que visuel!
Finally, every moment I spent in the souks, whether in Fes, Essaouira or Marrakech, were incredibly inspiring.It is a unique experience to meander down the narrow alleyways, filled with people, sounds, odors, colours and crafts of all kinds.Despite the frenzy that can sometimes be overwhelming, I have fond memories of moroccan life where inspiration lies around every corner.
Finalement, chaque instant passé dans les souks, que ce soit à Fès, Essaouira ou Marrakech, ont été des plus inspirants. C’est une expérience unique de déambuler dans des allées étroites, remplies de gens, de sons, d’odeurs, de couleurs et de fabriques de toutes sortes. Malgré une frénésie qui peut parfois sembler envahissante, je garde des beaux et heureux souvenirs de la vie marocaine, où l’inspiration se trouve partout.
3- When did you decide to pursue painting as a career? What triggered it? Was it a hard decision?
When I was 24 years old, I went through a life-changing period in my personal life that made me reflect on my identity as a human being and as a woman. I was looking for my voice. I had done a bit of sketching before then, but only for myself.
3- A quel âge as-tu décidé de t’investir dans ta carrière de peintre? Quel a été le déclic? Étais-ce un choix difficile?
À l’âge de 24 ans j’ai vécu des changements importants dans ma vie personnelle qui m’ont poussée à de grosses réflexions sur mon identité en tant qu’être humain, en tant que femme. Je cherchais en quelque sorte ma voix. Je dessinais un peu avant cela, mais seulement pour moi-même.
At that moment, I was also working as a stand-in on the set of of the Xavier Dolan movie, The Life and Death of John Donavan. I found the experience very rewarding. It was very inspiring to rub shoulders every day with a young talented artist and watch him work. His drive and passion resonated within me, and I understood something very important: you cannot be afraid to do what you love and to follow your instincts.
À ce moment je travaillais aussi comme doublure lumière sur des plateaux de tournages en terminant mes études, et c’est ainsi que j’ai eu la chance de travailler sur le film de Xavier Dolan, The Life and Death of John Donovan. Cette expérience professionnelle fut très enrichissante. De côtoyer un jeune artiste talentueux et de l’observer travailler à chaque jour m’a beaucoup inspiré. Sa drive et sa passion ont résonné en moi, et j’ai compris quelque chose d’important : qu’il ne faut pas avoir peur de faire ce que l’on aime dans la vie, et de suivre son instinct.
I then started to share my work on social medias and to reflect further on my approach, to work on my technique, to become more confident as an person and an artist,etc. I started to work hard, even while we were filming. I would use my breaks every day to work on small collages in my exercise book, and I slowly integrated watercolours, then paint, and eventually all kinds of mixed media, all of this on mounted canvases that I now paint in my studio.
J’ai alors commencé à partager mon travail artistique sur les réseaux sociaux, et à pousser ma réflexion sur mon approche, à travailler ma technique, à prendre confiance en moi et en mon art, etc. Je me suis ainsi mise à créer de manière assidue, même lorsque j’étais encore en tournage. J’allais faire des collages dans un petit cahier à chaque jour au moment de la pause, et tranquillement j’ai intégré l’aquarelle, puis la peinture, jusqu’à intégrer une multitude d’autres techniques mixed media, le tout sur des toiles montées que je peins maintenant en studio.
Do you work as an artist full-time? What are your days like? Do you have a routine that allows you to paint regularly?
Yes, I am now a full-time artist. I work in my studio every day, and occasionally, I work on movie sets. I like to be immersed in the universe of fiction. It really inspires me in my work as a painter.
4- Es tu artiste à temps plein? De quoi on l’air tes journées? As tu une routine qui te permet de peindre régulièrement?
Oui, je suis maintenant artiste à temps plein. Je travaille en studio sur mes œuvres au quotidien, et je travaille encore à l’occasion sur les plateaux de tournages. J’aime le fait de m’immerger dans des contextes d’univers fictifs. Cela m’inspire beaucoup dans mon travail de peintre.
My ideal day starts bright and early with a walk outdoors where I can calmly observe nature.Then I get ready and go to my studio for a session not having even glanced at my computer or my cellphone.That’s how I keep my creativity , my dreams and my thought-process fresh in my memory. However, I also have to maintain a balance between my artistic work and my obligations such as office work, correspondence, emails, meetings, etc.The life of an entrepreneur and an artist both require attention. It is a wonderful balance, and I feel privileged to pursue such fulfilling work.
Une journée idéale pour moi est de me réveiller très tôt et de débuter ma journée en prenant une marche à l’extérieur qui me permet d’observer la nature calmement. Ensuite je me prépare et je me rends au studio pour y passer la journée en séance de création, alors que je n’ai pas mis mon attention sur l’ordinateur ou sur mon cellulaire ; la créativité, les rêves et les pensées y sont plus frais dans ma mémoire. Je dois cependant balancer la création avec mon travail de bureau, faire mes communications, répondre aux courriels, aller à des meetings, etc. La vie d’entrepreneur et d’artiste demande que l’on consacre du temps à tous nos différents « postes ». C’est une belle balance, et je me sens choyée de faire un travail qui me comble à tous les niveaux.
Thank you so much sharing Zoe! I hope you guys will have a look at the complete collection inspired by Morocco right here.
