Emily Faulstich

Today's Brand New Art comes from Californian photographer, illustrator, traveller and creator of fashion brand Wildfox, Emily Faulstich. Producing some of the most envy inducing images around, Emily's photography is a constant stream of palm trees, blue skies, white beaches, Parisian streets, beautiful hotel rooms, and every well designed product under the sun. Check out our interview with Emily below where we chatted travel, beauty and exploring her creativity:

Can you introduce your work to us briefly?

Fun, colourful, weirdo. (That's for my illustrations of little creatures I call "The Guys").

Travel is a massive theme in your photography and illustrations, how do you come to travel so much?

Growing up in California, my parents would take me to a different country each year. They thought it was the best kind of education, to see other cultures, and I agree. This made me a restless & curious person who craves new places and experiencing the world from different perspectives. I love seeing the small things in each new place I go. I love photographing everything, tasting different food and seeing how a local person would spend their day to day time. Also I love the sensory experiences in new places - like the heavy air at night in Greece, or the warm salt water in the Bahamas, the creamy smell of plumerias in Hawaii and the sugary smell of bakeries in Paris.

Do you have a favourite place to travel to and why?

I always get a feeling of coming home when I go to London, I can't explain it, but England is my favourite place to arrive in. I love the cloudy skies and how they make everything drenched in green. There's a sort of magic to London that hangs over the city. Paris also is somewhere I've been spending more time, mostly drinking hot chocolate in parks and pretending I can speak French (definitely cannot, yet). I really treasure the process of getting to know a city. Anywhere tropical also is usually the best since I look much better tan and love mangoes.

A lot of your pictures are of random objects, what do you think draws you to certain things or how do you know they’ll make a good picture?

I love objects and have more fun photographing them than people. I love that all objects were once just an idea, and they were made into something physical. I find so much beauty in things like a vintage striped towel, a tacky keychain or the colours of ice cream. I love good packaging and love finding products that actually work. The things I photograph are either things I think are beautifully presented or products that have made a difference beauty, skin and hair-wise. I would love to have a website called Products That Work. I've actually bought that domain and it's just sitting there. A good picture is made by conveying your passion for the subject through the photo. I just made that up.

Beauty and fashion are also a huge part of your photography, do you have any favourite products or brands?

YES. As far as beauty; I love Mane and Tail shampoo which made my hair grow so much, Chanel cream bronzer, rose water spray to keep in the fridge, Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil, coconut lip balms, Source Naturals Hyaluronic skin cream, and the Ocean Potion "Ever Glow" lotion that smells like creamsicles. As far as fashion: right now I'm loving the knitwear brand Lauren Manoogian, and the beautiful basics from Black Crane, an underwear line called Pansy that has the best basics, and a line called Loup Charmant which makes dreamy dresses. I am attracted to "simple" pieces and cozy fabrics. My favourite outfit would be a tan cashmere sweater, black pants, simple leather sandals and a very cold Perrier.

You started the fashion brand Wildfox and you can still see so much of your aesthetic style running through it. What was your inspiration for the brand and how did you bring it to life?

Thank you! I started the line in 2007 with the intention to fill the hole in the market for flattering and fun graphic tees. We wanted to make cool t-shirts that weren't vintage, but felt soft and worn-in. We started from our investor's guest house, didn't sleep, and wheeled our first samples around downtown in the ugliest purple suitcases on earth. It took off when we got into Kitson in LA and had a window of our own, and then from there it's all a blur of 20,000 t-shirts and photoshoots. Hahah. I'm so glad you can see my aesthetic in it still! When I left, I left behind my entire graphic catalogue of thousands of graphics I had made there, and they are still being used today on new pieces - so I guess I'm still a part of the brand in that way. I'm proud of the company but looking forward to moving onto new things.

As well as photography and videography you also illustrate. What projects can we expect to see next?

I love illustrating and would love to do more with that. I'd love to make a children's book or something fun. Maybe funny illustrated travel guides? I had a two year contract after I left Wildfox where I wasn't allowed to work, so I had to explore my creativity in other ways besides fashion which led to photography and drawing. But now that contract is over and I'm coming out with a new clothing label next year! It will be geared towards the grown up WIldfox customer, with a beachy vacation feeling, for a girl who loves to travel and loves soft fabrics and tongue-in-cheek tees. Basically it will be my dream wardrobe released seasonally. I also will start a print shop of my photos and artwork online and would love to release some photo books of my adventures soon. I have six years of Hawaiian Coconut photos that I'd love to assemble into a pretty book. It could be called "Jet Lag Forever".

Finally our Muse issue is on sale now, do you have a muse?

Paul Rudd.

Check out more of Emily's photography on her blog.