Freelancing Stories: 'How I Make Art Usable' with Rosa e Turchese

What I love about creative and freelance careers is that they always have a mission behind, a specific purpose that goes beyong making a living out of a job. This is exactly why I needed artist and painter Valeria of Rosa e Turchese to come join me in this month's episode of Freelancing Stories. Her mission is so pure and genuine, yet so interesting and surely not obvious: making art usable and wearable. 

This time we're chatting all things art and painting, running a creative business, but mostly how she's bringing art into the everyday with her beautiful products! A mission, I'm sure, is worth to support.

What do you do?

I’m a painter and I, basically, do art exactly as you mean it. I then turn my artworks into fabrics and create floral-themed bags and unique accessories. But not only that! I’ve also created a small line of stationery items and prints.

I also work in many other different sectors, where my art plays the role of backgrounds, props or elements in photoshoots, just to mention a few examples. Also, just recently with the help of floral designer Daisy Studio, I’ve created a small line of aprons for creatives and nature lovers.

As you may have guessed it, I try and propose art differently, make art usable. We’re often used to think art is purely dedicated to niches, something abstract and very far from our daily routines. But I actually happen to believe art can be accessible to anyone and on the everyday. With Rosa e Turchese, my mission is to bring art into the day-to-day. My purpose, to make art usable, wearable and livable.

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How did it all begin? When did you decide to go for it?

My passion for painting and art is born many many years ago, but it was only after I had my first son that I started taking classes and experimenting with new techniques. When I left my day job to be a full-time mom, I discovered my love for fabrics. Getting into creative sewing felt very natural at that point.

I love the idea of “wearing art” and this concept is what has always forged my unique professional path. Thanks to it I launched my first line of bags and accessories with my own fabrics made from my paintings… And that’s where it all started.

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What was your biggest goal or dream when you started?

Rosa e Turchese was initially a blog, a creative diary where I could finally express my passions. If I think back at those days, I’m sure my younger-self would have never imagined a small blog would ever become my job one day. But mostly, I would have never imagined to be able to create my own career, something that represents me so fully, but also has its own identity.

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How was it, when you took the risk? Anything you didn’t expect?

I started believing in this dream when I saw the first “yes” coming my way. And not only general consenses from my family, but actual custom orders! Yes, I think this is something I wasn’t expecting at all: people asking me to make art usable, making products out of it for their day-to-day.

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Did/do you have to face adversity?

The biggest difficulty of all, I’m sure, is my being so hard with myself. I’m such a severe perfectionist and I find forgiving my own mistakes so tricky! I hate shallowness. It’s been hard to remind to myself I’m human and have limits like anybody else, and I can’t do it all by my own.

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What’s your biggest goal for your freelance career at the moment?

I’m timidly getting to know the world of textile and pattern design and am collaborating with a style expert to offer my customers pieces that are everyday more curated and, obviously, always and rigorously made by hand with passion and hard work.

And of course my plan is to keep inspire people to wear art daily, make art usable. I’m planning to keep doing just that…

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Tell us your secret! Your best tip about freelancing?

I actually have no real secrets. I’m pushed by a strong passion and the desire to see my accessories worn with taste and elegancy. My only tip is to keep believing in your dream, whatever it is, with all yourself and no less!

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Want to be featured in the next episode of Freelancing Stories? I'd love to hear from you! If you run a freelance business (of any kind) and would like to share your inspiring story, please feel free to get in touch!