| Girl-Crush: CLAIRE ORING |
| Written by Sacha Young | |||||||||
| Friday, 11 February 2011 18:24 | |||||||||
Introducing our latest girl crush... CLAIRE ORING! This American beauty is heading to 'the land of the long white cloud' for a holiday oh-so-soon, so we thought it would be a suitable chance to profile her, before she came to visit our part of the world.
Her delightful photographs, beautifully detailed illustrations and strong work ethic have seen her interning for Disney in the Art Department and becoming a part of the 'big family', from the cast all the way to the crew. We are super jealous!
Coup De Main are excited to share with you an exclusive interview with Claire, just for you...
COUP DE MAIN: How did you get into photography and illustration?
CLAIRE ORING: I think I’ve always had an overactive imagination. I’ve always loved dreaming something up and then creating it from scratch. Nothing beats that feeling. My first drawings were just scribbles, but I kept at it. In my early teens my photography was a basically a candid documentation of my life, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve developed my own style. A lot of my work now draws on the themes of youth culture, adventure, gaze, nature, and magic. I try to capture what I think is interesting and romantic or show an alternate perspective.
CDM: Where or whom do you draw your inspirations from?
CLAIRE: Everyday life. I always try to notice detail and pay attention to how beautiful everything around me is. I notice I get a lot of ideas whenever it’s quiet. Laying in bed at night or on a long train ride. It’s like my muse is next to me whispering in my ear. Artists that inspire me: Gustav Klimt, Alphonse Mucha, Michelle Gondry, Ryan McGinley, and the Pre-Raphaelites. CDM: What was your internship for Disney like? CLAIRE: I was lucky enough to work under the head Art Director/Production Designer for about eight months, learning the 'ins' and 'outs' of the art department. Every week I assisted in the design of new sets for new episodes. I tried my hand at production for a few months after, but I definitely feel more at home in the art department. Production was a bit too left-brained for me. I worked on four of the shows in total throughout the year. Disney was such a fun company to work for. Each show’s crew and cast are like a big family, and I was so grateful to be included.
CDM: What does your day-to-day life consist of?
CLAIRE: My current motto: 'Work hard, play later'. This time last year I was studying animation and art history abroad at the University of Westminster in London, England. I did some pretty heavy traveling for about six months. Now I’m finishing up my senior year of university at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. I’m working day and night to finish my computer animated short, “The Sandman”. I’m also working on various photography projects and short experimental films. CDM: Who would be at the top of your 'Best Dressed' list? CLAIRE: Florence Welch! Aside from the fact she has the most beautiful voice and powerful energy, she also has my dream wardrobe. CDM: What are three things you can't live without? CLAIRE: A camera, family, and good conversation. CDM: What did you dream of becoming when you were younger? CLAIRE: In kindergarten I wanted to be a vet because I thought I could talk to animals. I also had ambitions of becoming a mermaid. CDM: Rumour has it, that you're on your way to little old New Zealand very soon! What are you looking forward to the most? CLAIRE: A close girlfriend of mine lives in Auckland so I’m really excited to visit her. Also bungee jumping and trekking the fjords at Milford Sound!
CDM: Apart from traveling, what does this year hold for you? Or at least what would you like it to? CLAIRE: Everything’s up in the air until I graduate in May, but there’s a handful of projects in the works. I love collaborating on projects so I will definitely do more in the future. I have a lot of big dreams and I’m going after them with all my heart. I’ve never felt more open to new experiences than I have recently. I might run away and live abroad again. I want to explore the world, meet new people and photograph everything. When the impulse is there and it feels right I’ll go for it. CDM: Finish this sentence: CLAIRE: By day I... dream. By night I... dream.
HEART LISTENING = Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s 'Up from Below' album. Some friends and I went to a drum circle in a teepee [see above photo] with them very late one night after a music festival in Joshua Tree, California. Whenever I look back I feel like it couldn’t have been real life. It was too perfect.
HEART WATCHING = Anything by Sophia Coppola. HEART READING = Johnathan Safran Foer, Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath. HEART IN GENERAL = Bodypaint + Morning faces.
CDM: Where can we go to keep an eye on your future projects?! CLAIRE ORING: My website! www.claireoring.com... I also have Twitter and Tumblr. http://twitter.com/claire_oring http://claire-o.tumblr.com/
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