Conversations with Creators: Heart of Oddity

Welcome to the third instalment of Conversations with Creators, today I'm chatting with Hollie who owns Heart of Oddity. The store features a variety of products with beautiful, original and unique illustrations.

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How would you describe your store to someone that has never seen it?

I would describe Heart of Oddity as the ideal store for those who are bored of seeing the same-old, generic designs on store shelves when on the hunt for unique gifts, accessories, or home decor. Heart of Oddity was created because I believe that the world needs more art that makes us feel something. Whether it is in the form of a greeting card, a mug, or a tote bag, what makes Heart of Oddity special is that each design tells a bespoke story as an attempt to ignite some sort of spark within oneself. My store was created for the souls, like myself, who desire and dream of stranger worlds.

What inspired you to start creating?

A combination of things! Before I even thought about opening my own store, drawing and painting were always therapeutic hobbies of mine. Unintentionally, all of my designs seemed to be influenced by my love for spooky things, Tim Burton films, or celestial aesthetics - which I would say are prevalent themes throughout Heart of Oddity.

I also have two university degrees in Theatre Studies, and the assignments I enjoyed the most were always the creative ones which required me to build something from scratch, such as props and miniature models of buildings and set designs. This process of making something out of nothing and bringing my imagination to life definitely played an important part in terms of encouraging my need to create.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a creator so far?

Perfectionism…otherwise known as the thief of contentment! Don’t get me wrong, perfectionism isn’t all bad in the sense that the quality of my creations is kept to a high standard. But on the other hand, it also means that a new creation never feels finished! A lot of the time, I find it difficult to leave a piece alone as an attempt to make it better and better, which can often make the piece a lot worse instead! Something I need to work on as a creator is to accept that it is 100 percent possible for something to be brilliant without it being perfect. Although attention to detail is very important, the idea of ‘perfect’ is restrictive and completely contradicts the sense of freedom that art provides.

What is your favourite design that you have made?

That is a hard one to decide, I love them all! If I had to pick just one, I would have to say the ‘Lack of Caffeine’ skeleton design. Partly because it is so relatable, I have way too much caffeine than I would like to admit! I am practically a walking, talking coffee bean. But mainly because it was one of the very first designs, so for that reason it will always have a special place in my heart. I am also obsessed with Halloween, so to incorporate elements of my favourite time of year into the design with the skeleton makes it extra special to me!

Are you working on anything new at the moment?

Always! Given the current situation of the world right now (Covid-19), it is not exactly the right time to be launching a new product line. However, I have been working on some new homeware products that I think will make a lovely addition to my store. I won’t reveal any details, it’s much more exciting to keep it as a surprise! I am very excited about the direction Heart of Oddity is heading.

Do you have a schedule or routine that you follow on working days?

Not so much of a schedule, but definitely a routine. My working days start at 7:30 in the morning and I gradually work my way through my to-do list throughout the day. I usually start the day by packing any orders I have to post and take them to the post-office before anything else. Although, since the start of the current pandemic, I have been limiting my visits to the post-office to once a week for the safety of myself and others. I usually allocate different days of the week for different tasks which often varies depending on how many orders I have to fulfil that week and which products need restocking. I try not to put too much pressure on a timed schedule because it is inevitable that some days will go to plan, and some days a million curve balls will be thrown your way. Sometimes, what seems like a small job turns into a 3-hour long job, or technology does everything in its power to work against you…or unexpected hiccups occur during the production process that can completely disrupt your day. As long as I make my way through my to-do lists, progress is made. To-do lists keep me on track so I write them the night before so I can start my working day with a plan. As my business is still very new, my working day routine is still constantly evolving for the better.

What advice would you give to other creators that want to start a small business?

Have confidence in your ideas and believe in your products! There has been plenty of times when I’ve spent so long working on a design and for whatever reason I’ve decided that it’s not good enough to put in my store, and funnily enough those are usually the designs that have sold the quickest! So, trust in your ideas and do not overthink too much because as long as you believe in your work, other people will too. Be brave and take risks. She who dares, wins.

If your store had a theme song what would it be?

“The Whole of the Moon” by The Waterboys. My interpretation of the song is that it compares two types of people in life; one sees the crescent, the other sees the whole of the moon. In other words, it compares ordinary thought with open-minded visionary. Heart of Oddity was created because, in my opinion, there was a gap in the market for unique art that you do not often discover in mainstream stores selling mass-produced products. Like other creatives, Heart of Oddity sees the whole of the moon!

Has your creative process changed much since you first started out?

I don’t think it has changed much at all! New ideas always pop into my head at the most random of times. Ideas for new designs can spark from conversations I have had with a friend, or I will stumble across a quote and my brain will instantly start visualising an illustration to fit. Sometimes, I will be working on a design and one tiny aspect of it can influence an entirely new, separate design. Once I have an idea, I sketch out the first initial draft on paper and then start creating the digital illustration. It takes a lot of adaptation, adding new bits and removing bits, and experimenting with colours and perspectives until I am happy with the finished result. The more experienced I have gotten with digital art, the quicker the creative process has become.

When you were a kid is this what you saw yourself doing as an adult? If not, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I think I have always known that I was created to create! As a kid, the list of professions I had in mind/things I wanted to do when I grew up was ever-growing! The idea of doing one thing or having only one career path for the entirety of my life scares the living day lights out of me. I think that is what I love the most about being a creative - the possibilities and directions you can take your art are endless. I have never been satisfied with the idea of taking just one path in life, I want to take lots of trips down many.

How did you feel when you first shared you work with someone else? Do you still feel this way when sharing a new creation, or is it different now?

Naked! Very naked. To this day, there is still a sense of vulnerability when sharing a new idea or product for the first time. I like to believe that there is a little piece of myself in every one of my creations, so when they are exposed, I feel like I am exposed too. I think a lot of artists would agree that it is difficult to not feel some sort of personal attachment to your own art, and you hope that others will enjoy the vision you have created in one way or another. This is not always the case of course, which is inevitable as everybody has their own individual artistic tastes. That being said, it is very important to remember that the value of your art does not decrease just because somebody does not like it.

If your store could be represented by a scent, what would it be?

The smell of crisp air after rain on a foggy October morning.

How did you develop your creative style?

I think my creative style has gradually developed through experimentation of repeating particular stylistic elements through my designs, including; a dark colour palette – pastels are pretty much non-existent within Heart of Oddity but black is consistent throughout, and particular imagery/patterns including the star-filled ‘magical hands’ are consistent throughout a number of designs in order to maintain a particular theme.

I would also say that refusing to conform to what everyone else is doing, and only creating art that matters to you plays a big part in establishing your individual artistic voice. My brand is still very new, so I feel as though my creative style is very much still evolving and I am definitely still establishing my artistic voice.

Can you share some of your favourite creators?

A few of my favourites that first come to mind are Red Temple Prayer, Cousins Collective and Life Club. They are all very successful brands in their own right, producing beautifully alternative artwork through multiple forms of merchandise. Anyone who has not discovered these brands yet are definitely missing out!

Do you have a clear picture in your mind of what a product will look like when it is finished when you first start working on it, or do you figure it out as you go along?

I usually have a base idea planned out in my head, which then develops further as soon as I put pen to paper to sketch a first draft. As the creative process goes on, the piece continues to adapt as I add things in or change things around but the original intended theme and motive for the piece remains the same.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?

As I mentioned previously, my university degrees are within the field of Theatre Studies so perhaps I would delve into prop designing or stage and set design. Either way, it would definitely have to be something creative!

Is there a new skill that you would like to learn?

I would love to improve my photography skills. In fact, I have wanted to invest in a high-quality camera for quite some time now in order to maximise the quality of my product images for my website. I have always enjoyed taking photos and experimenting with different angles and lighting in order to create interesting perspectives, so I am very keen to explore that aspect of my online store.

Does your creativity come naturally or is it something that you need to work at?

I would say it generally comes naturally. I actually have a notebook that is full to the brim of scribbled ideas that pop into my head throughout the day. I have to write them down or draw a mini sketch as soon as an idea comes to me so that I don’t forget any. When I feel ready to work on a new product/design and need to spark some inspiration, the notebook comes out and I have hundreds of ideas ready to play with.

Does your creativity flow consistently or does it come and go? Is there anything you do to help this process along?

It usually flows consistently. I often have so many ideas floating around in my head that I can’t focus, similar to when you’re on your computer and you have an overwhelming number of tabs open! However, I do have phases every now and again when it feels like I’ve hit a brick wall and my brain is having a day off. I have found that simply taking a break away from it and coming back to it at a later time is the best way to combat this. Putting a piece of work to bed for a while and taking a little break can do a world of good! Sometimes it can feel like I have completely run dry of good ideas, and then whilst I’m taking a break doing non-creative activities… ping! A light bulb illuminates inside my head and suddenly I know where to take the piece and my mojo is back in full swing.

If you had to choose one of your designs to describe you, which one would it be and why?

This is a hard one because I would like to think that there’s a piece of myself in every design I create! But if I had to choose one, I would probably say my “Don’t Lose Your Fire” design. They are words that have always been very close to my heart, and it is something I tell myself whenever I begin to feel a little uninspired or deflated for whatever reason. I think we should hold onto that fire within us with both hands and burn away any negativity that tries to put out our spark! We have that fire for a reason, we must not waste it.

What’s your favourite scary movie?

It is impossible to read that question without hearing it in Ghostface’s voice, isn’t it?! Speaking of which…I would honestly say that the first Scream movie is my favourite. Horror is my favourite movie genre so choosing one favourite is a pretty bold statement, but I stand by my decision! I have genuinely watched Scream so many times, I would bet money that I could write the script from memory! Jeepers Creepers would take the runner-up position.

What’s your favourite quote?

“No one is you, and that is your power.” In other words, always be authentic to yourself and nobody else. Embrace all of the weird and wonderful parts of you instead of supressing them, because what makes the world interesting is that everybody is different and has their own authentic power. The world needs more of what you have to offer it.

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Massive thank you to Hollie for such an enjoyable interview! Check out the Heart of Oddity store here and keep up to date with new products by following the store on Instagram.

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I would love to know what your favourite design from Heart of Oddity is! Let me know at @curiouslycreepy on Twitter and @creepyandcurious on Instagram. Watch this space for more curious interviews and other creepy content.

Stay creepy and curious, ghouls.