Margo is joined by founder of Lonesome Pictopia, Melanie Nead. Rooted in American tattooing, the wild spaces of the Pacific Northwest, and the belief that all work should be a force for good, Lonesome Pictopia is a woman-owned design collective creating magical worlds with original wallpapers, textiles, and murals. After fifteen years as a custom tattoo artist, Melanie turned her love of plants and pattern to creating one-of-a-kind, hand-painted murals, with an eye on releasing a house line in the spirit of historic wallcoverings. Their deeply designed wallpapers are traditionally printed in the UK by a sustainable manufacturer of some of the finest wallpapers in the world. Her work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Luxe Magazine, Casa Vogue Brazil, and the Business of Home podcast, among many others.
Margo and Melanie discuss:
- Her creative path and the transition from tattoo artist to surface pattern designer
- navigating the balance between tradition and innovation within her art
- How to manage project expectations, setting clear boundaries and communication with clients
- Infusing personal values and making a social impact into her work
- The difficulty that comes with shifting career paths
- Discovering a passion for design after tattooing
- The impact of design and creativity on mental health
- The magic that comes from authenticity and experimental drive
- Business systems for creative entrepreneurship and how platforms like Instagram can still be a powerhouse for business growth
- Balancing the need for creative mental space with the business demands of schedules and deadlines
- Maintaining and revitalizing historic crafts and artistic expressions
- Cinema as a design inspiration
Mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Melanie:
www.instagram.com/lonesomepictopia
People Inspiring Melanie:
Margo Tantau 🙂 !!!
The book A Pattern Language is my most constant companion and inspiration!
Interior designers: Studio Shamshiri, Ortenburg Interiors, Studio Roslyn, and always Jessica Helgerson Interior Design.
Wallpaper makers: Marthe Armitage, Adelphi Paper Hangings, Atelier D’offard, Diane Hill (hand-painted Chinoiserie on silk)
Artists: Marsha Robinson, Becca Fuhrman, Laura Berger
