{local markets} :: maria joão arnaud

and here we are… it is tuesday and i am listening to adele (i cannot resist this voice, though the excessive use of this song for so many things will turn this into a very common music in a matter of days, i know it), and before starting cooking lunch, i wanted to share with you one of the last guests here on {local markets}! it has been such an experience to meet all these independent artists, no matter what they create. and for me, starting the blog in english and turning it completely to a foreign place, kept me a little bit away of what was happening in my own country, so this feature has also given me the opportunity to turn my attention to what is going on here… and of course, this place had the chance to be known and visited by those who live in portugal as well. so let’s move on to a girl that i met online a few weeks ago… by coincidence. when i was talking about {le cool} with susana of {simplesmente branco}, she mentioned that one of my favourite covers had been designed by one of her friends… and when i looked for this friend of hers, i found a very talented woman… and brave one as well, as she lived in india for 6 months to learn more about handprinting and textiles, and immediately wanted her here on {local markets}! so, here is maria joão arnaud!

hello there, how are you? so thank you for being here… let’s start with a simple question! what can you tell us about yourself? my name is maria joao and i’m from aveiro. i have a degree in graphic design but i do a lot of things at the same time. i illustrate, i print textiles, i draw, i sew, i travel, i like adventure, books, music and cinema and, fortunately, my professional and personal life has always been surrounded by these skills and passions i have.

how did your business start? what made you take the plunge? i really don’t own a business – i have been working as a freelancer, since i finished my degree in 2004. i worked in 2 companies, as a junior designer but i felt i needed new projects and some freedom to experiment, and do what i really like. so, since an early age i started to work on my own and i had the chance to participate in very good and profitable projects, so i can’t complain, the beginning of my professional life has been very fortunate. but i always work hard to get more work and to challenge myself with different projects. having my own business is a dream and step by step i am trying to get there. i just don’t know what the future will bring and i know life happens and unpredictable things usually change our paths. so, let’s see, i am open to any challenge that allows me to improve myself as an artist and as a person.

do you do anything else besides that or is it possible for you to make a living out of your business? i do a lot of things at the same time and this is because i like it that way, i have many interests and i need to update my skills constantly. i have been lucky all these years, i managed to be an independent girl and to make a good living out of my work, but since i came back from India (8 months ago), i felt like i had to start all over again and this is being a really hard task. my parents have been a great help, without them it wouldn’t be possible, and now i’m trying to recover from this crisis and lack of opportunities we are facing in portugal. my projects and ideas are happening, but at the same time, i am working with other areas, because my projects are not enough to pay the rent. i am also considering to find a 9 to 5 job inside some textile companies, just to gain more experience and to have a salary so i can settle my bank account, for some time. but things will get better, these are just some bumps in the way.

where do you seek for inspiration? my inspiration comes from life, it’s simple. living the days, having experiences that enrich me in some way, the good, the bad moments, people i meet, things i see… everything is useful when i need to feel inspired. and music and being in love with life and people… are also two things i need, to feel motivated and to be creative.

what do you do to promote your business? what has been helpful? to promote my work online, i own a website, where i keep my portfolio; a blog where i post some of my daily ideas and projects and a shop online where i sell my textile creations. also, facebook pages are an excelent way to promote work, because everyone is on this social network, nowadays. but, i still need the face-to-face contact and the analogic world, so whenever i have the chance i like to participate in the craft and art fairs, exhbitions and other public events where my work can be actually seen and touched. printed magazines are also a good way to promote one’s work, and i am currently trying to invest in this more traditional way of publicize my work, trying to focus on the good magazines that are more related to what i do.

what advice would you give for those small business owners/design-makers in portugal? i don’t like to give advices, specially because i don’t see myself as an example or as a role model. i just try to be authentic, to follow my heart, my dreams and my instinct. i believe we are all here to be happy and to live the life we want to live. sometimes things get tough and dark, but i believe in karma and that good things always come to those who work hard and to those who do good.

 

after reading what maria joão said, i feel so good with my decision of being self-employed. and sometimes we do have a hard time explaining to people that we do what we love, and we do it at our own pace… it is our passion and we need to search for our passion, work it out, make it work… and be happy. saying that we are here to be happy might sound a bit childish… but come on! if we are not here to live happy lives (and by this i don’t mean happy lives all the time, every day), what are we here for? so, sometimes we need to work a little hard to find that happiness… we might need to step out of that comfort zone… but good things will come in our way! i also believe in karma.

you can find maria joão on {facebook}, {portfolio}… and also explore more of her daily routines on her {blog}… and of course, here is her {shop}!

images: maria joão arnaud (click on each image for further details)