Prudence Caroline
Physically, where are you right now? Are you at home, on holiday, in the office or elsewhere else?
At home, Torquay Victoria. Its a wintery 11 degrees outside. I’m sitting in the dining room with it’s full height windows, today it’s drenched in bone warming sunlight. Always with the pets.
How does your current environment inform your creative process and what is inspiring you right now?
We’re in the middle of home renovations, so it depends on which direction I look as to how I feel about my current placement! When we first moved in we concentrated on the garden and pool so if I look out the window I can see the benefit of all our hard work and am encouraged to keep going! But behind me is a jungle of boxes and books from the ‘mid renovated’ mudroom. I’m into dopamine interiors/ artwork, so a recent trip to colourful Morocco has really nourished that love of colour.
Prudence with her daughter Lulu, 6.
For every good idea there are many more we reject. Do you ever salvage ideas that didn’t come to fruition at a later stage or do you just move on?
I’ve held onto designs / artworks much longer than I’d like to admit. I know there’s something that they’ll become one day.. but that just hasn’t ‘clicked’ yet! I just released some artworks, a combination of patterns and objects I’d had in the studio for years to create a little series, which I love! It’s like a mini merge of years of studio pottering..
What have been some of your most profound personal challenges and have they ever informed your creative process or interrupted it?
Having children definitely interrupted the flow of my business! I choose to focus my energy on them (Teddy, 10 & Lulu, 6) before they were both off to school. I really loved those years when they were tiny. But there’s guilt either way, if you’re not working enough / working too much and not spending enough time with the kids! Or is that just me..!?
Prudence's artwork - available here.
If you analysed the most important factors in your success, what would say these have been?
Balance between work and precious family time and persistence even when I’ve wanted to move to the country and start a hobby farm!
What are your personal and creative rituals, if any?
I’ve just starting morning mediations, and not looking at my phone until I sit down with my first coffee. I also love a good cup of tea. Brewing a fresh tea signals the beginning of ‘work’ - be it design work, or painting in the studio.
Our Wave Fire Screen in Prudence's Home.
Where do you go to find creative refuge?
I love to get in the garden. Not only is it a creative outlet, but you’re outside in the fresh air & sunshine. It gets the whole family outside, dogs included.
If you could go back in time and begin again without knowing what you do now, would you?
No, I wouldn’t want to loose all the wisdom I’ve acquired over the years! ‘Turn your wounds into wisdom’ Learn from your mistakes.
Our Grace Dining Chair as styled by Prudence
What piece of wisdom currently resonates with you and how does it inform your approach to life right now?
As above - ‘Turn your wounds into wisdom’
Each day on the way to school, the kids and I talk about having love in our hearts, treating others, and yourself with kindness & empathy. In hope it will kick start their day in a positive way.
PRUDENCE'S EDIT:
