Love and creativity

Does love transform your creativity? Those couples who create as a duo.

🔸 Your creative letter is written with care and dedication. Every issue is a selection of inspiration and creative thinking (in life, the creative role, the joy of building and beyond). I am grateful for each of my dear readers.

If you enjoy this letter → 🙏 you can support it by sharing it and/or 📩 subscribing below. 💎You can also upgrade to a paid subscription.

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© Keva Epale (inspired by a vintage illustration)

👋 Hello, dear reader. How are you doing today?

Love is a powerful force that can reveal gifts and talents. Let's look into the changes love can bring to your creative fire.

• Self-love. It starts there. I always found it peaceful how taking care of myself did echo with my work, with things I get inspired by and themes I am curious about.

• Couple love. We all know how we change with love in our lives. With a partner in synch with us, and that inspires us to become the best version of ourselves. It does transfer into our way of creating. It may also unleash a creative side. We never allowed ourselves to experiment. A few years ago, I discovered this famous couple of illustrators on Instagram. They share their couple-life stories and journey. Their power of being a duo makes their art resonate and shed light on a creative power couple.

• Family & friends. This love creates an environment where we can create with support. In families where art, design, or music is celebrated, many generations are inspired to grow that spirit as a life mission. The love of a craft as a heritage empowers creativity. We nurture the love and dedication we received.

Happy love day! Enjoy with your dear ones, may it be a stepping stone for a renewed and refreshed creative spirit. You can read here my love issue of last year.

Sending butterfly vibes 🦋

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Power couple: Doshi Levien

Doshi Levien is an international acclaimed design studio founded by designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien. I have been in awe of their work and partnership for years. When I thought of writing this issue, their name immediately popped into my mind. They have built a balanced co-creation of tradition, culture-spark, and playfulness. I always wondered what makes a couple create and not overpower each other: communication, complementary skills, and audacity to follow and question one another... perhaps.

They met at the Royal College of Art in London. They challenged each other and ventured into building a leading and innovative design studio. One develops an industrial technicity, the other an acute visual power for weaving together ideas. Quite a match and inspiration → They are super cute together as well!

If you need to be creative, you’re not happy unless you are creative.

Nipa Doshi & Jonathan Levien

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A little list of some famous power couples in art, design, architecture, business…
🔸Charles & Ray Eames 🔸 Frida Kahlo et Diego Rivera 🔸 Niki de Saint Phalle et Jean Tinguely 🔸 Rodin et Camille Claudel 🔸 Man Ray et Lee Miller 🔸 Sonia & Robert Delaunay 🔸 Christo & Jeanne-Claude 🔸 Jacques Demy et Agnès Varda 🔸 David Bowie and Iman 🔸 Barack and Michelle Obama 🔸 François Busnel and Delphine de Vigan 🔸 Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade…

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🐎 Opportunity knocks

In every letter, I share opportunities I stumbled upon. There are so many cool grants, funding, competitions, and more to enter to experience progress. I hope the list of the week will be useful.

• Bold database (the first global open database of female entrepreneurs)

• Adobe Creative Residency (prepare your application)

• Artist in Residence (artists, creators, and theoreticians. Deadline: 15/02/23)

• Femina 2023 (expression of femininity and women)

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3 books → 3 love ideas

Three books to shower some love. John Keats will have my ears and attention. Dostoïevski will open my eyes to newness in dark and light places. Margaux Motin & Pacco will bring play into imaginaries. Enjoy the selection!

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Pépites music

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🤩 Cool links to click on

• I 😍 these 3D illustrations (super cool free Valentine’s day assets)

• Domicile conjugale (one of my favourite movies, classic!)

• Korean melting moment (the soul, the high notes, the swag… I love it)

• The love of colour heals a neighbourhood (the man who created a playground)

• 14 black architects & designers you should know (a much-needed list)

• Architects and married (couples in architecture do raise curiosity: equilibrium)

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I hope you enjoyed the read of the week. Feel free to share it with friends and family. Sharing is loving.

Yours creatively,
Keva.