We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Denise Luce & Lauren Messing a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Denise and Lauren, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Our most meaningful project we have ever worked on was definitely the birth of Corbeaux Magazine. In the first few months of COVID, we had to face the reality that we would not be able to create in our usual roles as a photographer (Denise) and make-up artist (Lauren). As any artist will attest, NOT creating is NOT an option. So we brainstormed and decided we wanted to offer a platform that celebrates artists of any background, age, identity, orientation etc., of any visual media disciplines, at any stage of their career or hobby, from all over the globe – and Corbeaux was born.
Denise and Lauren, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Corbeaux Magazine’s mission is to showcase ALL visual art forms, and more so, we take pride in the fact that we often publish artists who don’t really believe in themselves, or don’t have support from family or friends. Our motto is: “Keep Creating, We Believe In You!” …. and we MEAN that! Being artists ourselves, we have been there: The self-doubt, that brings lack of motivation or inspiration, outside voices having so many opinions on why it doesn’t make sense to be an artist, …. We will forever cheer on our artists to keep creating THEIR personal, unique art. And we will make sure the world gets to experience it too!
So, if you are an artist and reading this: THIS IS YOUR SIGN! Do the thing and submit your artwork!
PS: Our current open theme is our fans’ all-time favorite: Halloween.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Our main goal for Corbeaux Magazine is to keep inspiring our artist community to create, create, create! We always encourage them to submit their own, unique interpretation of our plethora of themes and remind them that every theme can be what THEY want it to be. As human beings, we are definitely NOT cookie-cutter, so that lifestyle definitely flows into all aspects of the magazine. We love nothing more than when our artists submit things that make us go “Oooohhh!! That’s unexpected!”.
What do you find most rewarding about being creative?
Art is literally everywhere and takes on so many forms and beautiful, symbiotic relationships. For example, we always listen to a variety of music while we create – whether it’s while applying make-up to the models/clients, or during the shoots for inspiration in poses/angles, or in the post-editing process for certain moods. Along with working on the magazine’s visual presence, or curating the layout for each theme. Additionally, both Lauren and Denise are avid bakers, crafters, and plant nerds, which are all forms of art as well. We are often inspired by movies and shows, which offer an abundance of different art forms as well – from the storyline, to the set design, wardrobe/costumes, actors, music and sound effects and so much more. The artist life is all about being inspired by other art and artists and inspiring other art and artists in return, and that is so rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: corbeauxmagazine.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/corbeauxmagazine
- Facebook: facebook.com/corbeauxmagazine
- Other: kavyar.com/corbeaux-magazine
Image Credits
Portrait of Corbeaux Editors by Jon Luce