For days when “the world is too much with us,” there’s Lush. This adaptation of a line from a William Wordsworth poem (entitled “The World Is Too Much With Us”) provides the inspiration behind eight bespoke artworks that are popping up in the windows of Lush Cosmetics stores across North America from December 1 until mid January. Most exciting? The Lush Vancouver storefront on Robson Street is one of the locations included in this partnership, and will be home to a one-of-a-kind painting from a British Columbia native Catie St. Jacques. We chatted with Catie to learn more about her work.
Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.
I’m a self-taught graphic designer and illustrator based in Kelowna, B.C. My designs are inspired by the energy of the sun and the mystery of life. I love nostalgia, and my work tends to lean toward folksy psychedelia. I’m also a mental health advocate, I promote balanced living with a focus on positive well-being. When I’m not creating, I’m hanging out outside, watching movies, or listening to music.
Congrats on your collaboration with Lush! We hear that your work will be featured in the window of the Lush Vancouver storefront on Robson St.; how did this come about?
Thank you! I’m thrilled to be a part of this project. I received an email from Alex over at Amplifier asking if I’d like to be involved, so we met via Zoom and I was immediately interested.
We understand that this project, in the wider sense, had a lot to do with promoting well-being and affecting social impact. In that vein, please share with our readers, what your painting is about, what’s the message and what inspired it?
It’s meant to be a reminder that the world around us can be fun and playful. Beauty, love, joy, and peace are all around us. The design uses connected flowing colours to represent the feeling of using Lush products (like washing your hair and body or using a bath bomb) and seeing the colours swirling in the bathtub. I’ve got the snails in there as reminders to ‘go slow,’ the butterflies to “go with the flow,” and the flowers to “bloom where you are planted.”
What do you love about Lush? What is your favourite product?
I love that Lush’s products are natural, use minimal packaging, and are animal friendly. My favourite product would have to be their Karma soap, and I also love their bath bombs!
share:
