Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Louisa Dunn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Louisa, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents are amazing – in most ways we could not be more different (they both are in medicine), but they nurtured all the soft skills in me that I would need to pursue something I was passionate about. They loved me and took me seriously, and I think that’s the most important thing. Anything I was interested in, they wanted me to pursue and believed that if you care about something enough and work at it enough – as unconventional as it may be – it’s worth doing and it’s possible.

They also taught me to stick to things when it got difficult or lost its fun, because commitments are important and oftentimes what lies on the other side of the problem is worth it. When I little and taking piano lessons, I went through a phase of wanting to quit and hating piano. My mom would set the timer for thirty minutes of practice time, and place a quarter on the piano for me at the end as a treat. Bribing? Maybe – but quarters add up. This went on for about a week or two, and then I forgot about hating piano. I ended up taking lessons for twelve years and it’s one of the things in my life I’m most grateful for! Sometimes a little treat goes a long way.

Louisa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a textile designer and artist based in Charleston, South Carolina. I grew up in Spartanburg and attended the Savannah College of Art and Design where I studied to received a BFA in Fibers. Shortly after I graduated I moved to Charleston to work for Lulie Wallace, whom I had interned for when I was 19 and was one of my biggest inspirations! I love working and designing on a team with Lulie and Megan Simon, and feel so proud every time we launch a new textile collection and any time I see it in someone’s home!

Outside of working for Lulie, I work as a mixed media artist whose practice includes exploring color and shape interactions by incorporating sewing, collage, and drawing into my artwork. I think of collage as a kind of daily practice, that I started taking more seriously three years ago when I studied abroad in Japan researching indigenous textiles. My favorite part of collaging is that it can be as precious or as inconsequential as you want it to be. It’s a forgiving medium that allows you to play and arrange space until you stumble across something new that you might just love.

Last fall I started hosting collage workshops in Charleston, and it has been one of the greatest and most inspiring things for me! I absolutely love sharing my practice with others and seeing what they create themselves – most of them entering feeling a bit shy and leaving feeling so confident! I just hosted one at Weezie Atlanta last month and am excited to be heading to Italy this fall to teach my collage workshop on the Bland Badger retreat!

I’m most proud of the artist collaboration that launched with Hôtel Magique in December, which is a collection of four prints I designed exclusively for them!! I have been a fan of Hôtel Magique for years and am so thrilled to have prints of my work available on their website.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Community, connection, and peace! I am so grateful that I am surrounded by so many creatives in my life that get excited about the things I am excited about and make me feel seen. I also know that I’m the best version of myself if I’ve been creative that day, and I’m thankful I have that! Excercizing my creative muscles is just as important for mind and my heart as moving my body, it helps me be present and thoughtful.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I am constantly reading, listening to podcasts, watching AD Home Tours and House and Garden UK videos on Youtube. For me, I find it really encouraging to see the myriad of ways creatives have founded their business and there doesn’t appear to be “one way” to do it. I really enjoy listening to the Business of Home podcast with Dennis Scully while I work, and honestly believe that reading, listening to, and looking at as much as you can is the best way to train your eye, develop your taste, point of view, and learn how to edit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.louisadunn.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisacatherined/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-dunn-78b373157/

Image Credits
Lizzy Rollins https://www.lizzyrollins.com/