Leah Goren is a California native who currently resides in Brooklyn, New York where she is finishing up school at Parsons The New School for Design. Leah’s work is very reminiscent of her sunny California roots, with lots of bright floral patterns, girls and niche culture illustrations. She first caught our eye with her scarves and headbands, and continues to excite us with new illustrations and textile prints. There’s no doubt that she will continue to do great things in the future, and we are happy to share some insight into her work as she’s on the way there!
When did you first become interested in illustrating/drawing?
My mom is an artist, a painter among many other things, so I grew up always making and creating. Some of my first memories are making large-scale paintings with her. One of the photos I included is a really epic one – I painted my family, and my grandma is the one in the center with the huge brain. The other is me looking really serious next to my chalk board – it looks like that may have been my first cat drawing.
Anyway, I kept with art my whole life, and realized around age 16 it was actually a viable career path. I took life drawing classes outside of high school, and did the Pre-College Program at California College of the Arts for two summers. After studying drawing, painting, and printmaking at CCA, I knew art school was where I wanted to be.
You appear to wear so many hats; student, artist, blogger…what keeps you motivated and going every day?
Making my own schedule and keeping it balanced. I’m an obsessive planner, and I keep lists and daily schedules of what needs to get done. I only have school two half-days a week this coming (and final!) semester, so everything else will fit around that. It’s more fun making time for a variety of projects, than just one thing over and over again. As soon as I get tired of one thing, it’s on to the next! I also spend as much time as possible doing things I want to do, rather than things I have to do. Etsy is a time-consuming, repetitive job — making multiples of objects is rarely creative — so I have to set limits for how much time and work I’ll put into it. I recently stopped making the cat dress, at least for now, because it was interfering with making new things. Coming up with my own projects is usually exciting and motivating. I also love working with others. Kaye Blegvad and I recently did a project together, and now my boyfriend, Dylan Ousley, and I are working on a couple jobs together, as well as our new blog, A Future Present.
Who, would you say, is/are the biggest influences of your work?
I’m always inspired by California, where I grew up, and how it seems so much bigger and brighter now that I’m not there. My work is very colorful, which reminds me of that – New York can feel so drab. I draw a lot of flowers, plants, and girls with this in mind. As for inspiring artists, Sonia Delaunay and Vera Neumann are always on top. I also love Matisse, Tina Berning, Maira Kalman, Leanne Shapton, and tons of young illustrators I’m always finding on the internet.
What piece of work are you the most proud of?
That’s a tough question! I get so tired of everything after looking at it for so long. I am pretty proud of the pattern portfolio I’ve put together so far, and the girls faces print is one of my favorites.
I think that the Internet Girls installation you did is so interesting. Do you have plans of exploring this subject any more or creating new pieces that tie in with the internet girl phenomenon?
Thank you! The pieces I created and the exhibit feel specific to where I was last summer, right after I was thrust into this whole internet girl blog world because of my work on Etsy. But, the themes are still constant through my work. Many of the pieces I make, unless they are for a specific assignment or client, refer back to that type of girl, what she likes, the kind of illustration and textiles she’ll want to buy or blog about.
You’ve been sending out some signals that you’re partnering up with a big shop! When do we get to know who/what it is?
Oh man, I didn’t think I’d said a word! The project should be out late spring or early summer, and I’ll definitely let everyone know when it is.
What are three things you never leave your house without?
iPhone, keys, and wallet. And also chapstick, I can’t go anywhere without that.
What is your favorite part about living in Brooklyn, NY?
Living in Brooklyn, I feel like I’m a tiny part of a something much greater that’s happening in art, design, and the current handmade movement. So many people I admire live right here, and even if I don’t personally know them, and I’m nowhere near as great as them (yet), at least I’m here making it happen too.
Thank you, Leah!
All image credits: Leah Goren
- Katelyn
