Qrator

LADIES WE’RE FLAWLESS!

Stunning Paintings by Marta Zawadzka 

"Looking for Love" and discovering color! Not being one to shy away from a vivid colour palette, Polish artist Zawadzka draws inspiration from her urban surroundings. Buy now on Qrator ;) 

In the Rdesign universe, nothing is as it seems. Using industrial design to recontextualize everyday objects, a brick is cast in the role of a table lamp, while an eye poses as a keyholder!

Keeping her lines characteristically clean, Anastasiadou likes to experiment with diverse materials and techniques, still her work is easily identifiable and even easier to love.

Taking in every little detail in her surroundings, graphic designer and visual artist Ritsa Anastasiadou keeps a backlog of sketches that sooner or later find their way into production, transformed into delectable objects d'art and museum shop favorites. Keeping her lines characteristically clean, she likes to experiment with diverse materials and techniques, still her work is easily identifiable and even easier to love. Take, for example, the R-fan created in collaboration with the Knossos Museum in Crete, inspired by the “Argonaut Fresco” from the late Minoan period, depicting octopus! “The awards alone will tell you that Greek designers don’t lack creativity and innovation,” she says. “The local market simply lacks the appropriate infrastructure.” With a lot of manufacturers going out of business and consumers unable to support the pricey homegrown production, industrial design has certainly seen better days, but the passionate always find a way to survive. A quick look at Rdesign’s magnificent Qrator profile and you’ll know the brand is here to stay. Inspired by nature, everyday life and even fragments of conversations, Anastasiadou loves to redefine and recontextualize objects, casting a brick in the role of a table lamp, or transforming an eye into a key holder. In her whimsical, yet fully functional universe, nothing is as it seems...

They may not be located 20,000 leagues under the sea, but the Tsouros brothers are equally removed from the steampunk scene, crafting Victorian-inspired jewelry on the island of Chios.

Recognizing their watchmaking origins in steampunk, a charming subgenre of science fiction, the Tsouros bros decided to carve their own unconventional path, despite living on an island that revels in local tradition.

Finding an unlikely niche in steampunk jewelry, twin brothers Periklis and Leonidas Tsouros first got into the business by way of watchmaking. Based in Chios, the Tsouros brothers moved to Athens to study and apprentice with a string of well-regarded jewelers, only to return to their homeland determined to start their own business. Recognizing their watchmaking origins in steampunk, a charming subgenre of science fiction that has morphed into a fashion and lifestyle movement, they decided to carve their own unconventional path, despite living on an island that revels in local tradition. For those not in the know, Steampunk - which runs the entire cultural gamut, from literature to cinema -  incorporates 19th-century aesthetics in a retro-futuristic reality, where steam-powered machinery is the order of the day. Watches and intricate machine parts feature heavily in this alternate universe, capturing the twin brothers’ imagination the minute it caught their eye. Inspired by Jules Verne and Georges Méliès, they combine silver, brass, leather and glass in a bejeweled Victorian fantasy that any self-respecting goth would kill for. Only problem is, they need to find them first and Qrator is the perfect platform to help them reach their ideal customer, worlds away from their workshop in the Aegean Sea. And if that doesn’t sound like the beginning of a great novel, then I don’t know what does...

Based in Austin Texas, jewelry designer Chelsea Jones cuts through the clutter arriving at the treasured simplicity that sets her work apart from the crowd.

With a background in fashion, Chelsea Jones quickly learned that fickle trends were not for her. Her minimal jewelry is forged and finished by hand and each piece is built to last.

Chelsea Jones does not call herself a jeweler. In her serene, earthbound universe, she’s a metalsmith and a designer, whose work approximates art by respecting the natural beauty of her materials. With a background in fashion, she quickly learned that fickle trends were not for her. Her minimal, handmade jewelry is forged and finished by hand and each piece is elegant and built to last. Her one-woman design company Jacq Jones (stemming from her middle name Jacquelyn) is focused on simplicity, producing classic pieces that  bond form and function, and there’s nothing she likes better than collaborating on one-of-a-kind projects. “I love creating custom work that fits the wearer,” she says. “Every person is unique, with their own story. This is how I like to look at my craft. Every item is truly a unique piece of art.” Her Qrations are a testament to the organic nature of her work, where patience is paramount and fast fashion never even had a foot in the door. Just like Anne Brontë beautifully put it, “But he who dares not grasp the thorn, Should never crave the rose.”

Rock-painting is a unique art form that dates back to the 70s, carrying echoes of primordial caves, although as Ernestina Gallina explains it's a universe unto itself.

A walk to the seaside can turn into a fun safari, as if hunting for animals that are already there, just waiting to be picked up and given a new home.

Welcome to the quirky world of Ernestina Gallina, rock-painter extraordinaire with a taste for stone animals. Living in picture-perfect Cesenatico, a tiny Italian port town with a renaissance canal, said to have been surveyed and drawn by Leonardo da Vinci, what’s a girl to do but dip into the arts? Gallina first started rock painting in 1998, an art form that goes all the way back to primordial cave painting - although in this case, volume gives the finished product a sculpture-like dimension. Her stone menagerie has been known to include anything from beavers to owls, using acrylic paints to bring rocks to life thanks to the powers of illustration. It all starts with the endless search for the perfect natural canvas. A walk to the seaside or along the shores of a river can turn into a fun safari, as if hunting for animals that are already there, just waiting to be picked up and given a new home. Gallina’s fairytale world is proudly featured on Qrator, offering a behind-the-scenes tour of her incredible process, where nature meets creativity, one colorful explosion at a time!

Scottish portrait artist Eleanor Milligan does not lead a picture-perfect life and makes no bones about it, an oddly refreshing proposition in the instagram age!

Milligan does not mince her words about the hardships of pursuing art in modern-day Scotland and regularly urges her social media community to support their local artists - the dead ones don’t need you anyway!

Struggling artist Eleanor Milligan likes to share. In fact, if you follow her Facebook page you can probably witness the completion of a Milli Arts portrait from the very first steps down to its final details. Dabbling as a portrait and wedding photographer, Milligan does not mince her words about the hardships of pursuing her art in modern-day Scotland and regularly urges her social media community to support their local artists - the dead ones don’t really need you anyway! A dedicated mother to her cat Townsend, she has a penchant for animal portraits and favors graphite pencil above all else, as she likes to build up color in delicate and well-executed strokes. A music-lover with a keen eye for leading men with an imposing bone structure, her portfolio includes stunning portraits of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, John Lennon and Jimmy Morrison, while she recently sold a frankly jaw-dropping drawing of Sid Vicious. Check her Qrator profile for regular updates on all things art and life and keep her in mind next time you want to give somebody a gift to remember!

Dave Wood has conquered the calligraphy world one word at a time, evoking a depth of emotion you wouldn’t normally associate with handwriting!

Embossing, paper-cutting and screen-printing are all part and parcel of calligraphy, combining different techniques to expand the lettering arts beyond paper stock.

Dave Wood is reluctant to admit which one he feels more passionate about, growing orchids or doing calligraphy! His daily pilgrimage to his studio would certainly suggest the latter, having spent a lifetime devoted to design and the lettering arts, although his journey is far from over. Embossing, paper-cutting and screen-printing are all part and parcel of what he does, combining all these different techniques in his lifelong mission to expanding calligraphy above and beyond paper stock. He’s also somewhat of a pioneer, holding the first ever calligraphy show in New Zealand in 1983 and opening Australia’s first and only Calligraphy Gallery, a notion surely very few people have even considered – lettering as a stand-alone, museum worthy art form. Well folks, you’d better get used it! Dave Wood’s Qrator profile does a brilliant job of showcasing the different uses of this highly emotional medium, where each beautifully hand-written word is capable of provoking a depth of feeling you’d never even consider possible!

Artist Richard Upchurch gives the best gifts. In fact, the handmade recording device he made for his nephew was so good he turned it into a business!

What do RZA, The Black Keys, Bon Iver, David Byrne and Brandnewnoise founder Richard Upchurch’s mother all have in common?

What do RZA (of Wu Tang Clan fame), The Black Keys, Bon Iver, David Byrne and Brandnewnoise founder Richard Upchurch’s mother all have in common? Well, not very much, besides the fact they all love his simple, handmade recording devices. It all started when Upchurch built a little wooden contraption for his nephew that records and distorts sound, perfect for some crazy beatboxing. Next thing he knew, he was building five more for his teachers. Word of mouth travelled fast and Upchurch realized he had a good thing going. Hence ten more units for his online store. But don’t be fooled into thinking that Brandnewnoise –already featured in Vogue, TimeOut New York, Architectural Digest, Wired Magazine and Vice – is just any old company. It’s a community. They offer internships for Brooklyn-based organizations, elevating expectations of personal success and self-sufficiency for inner-city students, aged 15-19. Just check out the intern line-up in the Brandnewnoise Qrator profile and you’ll now Upchurch is really onto something. And it’s not just handcrafted sound gadgets for kids, musicians, lovers, and aliens looking to explore. Although that’s a big part of it too!

A luthier and a gentleman, Andy Manson has not only made a name for himself in the global fine instrument market, but has helped others do the same!

The trick to conquering such dizzy heights, no matter what your line of work, is to start at base camp with both feet planted firmly on the ground

Some people go to the shrink, others go to Andy Manson. They all have a dream, although the second category mostly dreams about fine, string instruments. Welcome to Andy’s dream interpretation couch. His mission it to exceed expectations and all he ever wants is to see the instrument and the player speak as one. He is the mastermind behind the mermaid guitar after all, a working musical sculpture that’s definitely worth googling! But let’s take things from the top. The trick to conquering such dizzy heights, no matter what your line of work, is to start at base camp with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Andy Manson, for example, built his first instrument in 1967 in his father’s garage purely out of necessity. As an avid guitar player, he’s been on a never-ending quest for tone ever since! The first breakthrough came when part of his instrument got smashed in a car accident and he was forced to replace it with a different quality wood. It sounded completely different! “Most of the science in my luthiery is that of experience and intuition,” he admits. After four decades of building some of the world’s finest guitars, lutes, mandolins, dulcimers and multi-necked/stringed instruments in the UK, Manson relocated to Portugal and has been enjoying the change of pace and climate. If his Qrator profile is any indication, it’s perfect weather for guitar building!

Tickling viewers with each brushstroke, Lazaro Hurtado is a Buenos Aires-based painter with a penchant for surrealism and a holistic approach to painting.

Surrealism weaves in and out of his brushstrokes like an old friend, reminding the viewer that, much more than an artist, Lazaro Hurtado is a thinker.

Lazaro Hurtado approaches painting with all five senses. Sound is just important as imagery, which is probably why each piece goes with its own music track selected by the artist himself. Tactile and curious, Hurtado was one of those kids who liked to get their hands dirty, building mud sculptures that positively buzzed with life, mostly thanks to the live insects he introduced in their cavities! Discovering alien landscapes or otherworldly creatures in the moisture forming on the walls, it was obvious right from the start that he had a deep need to explore and explain the world around him in his own special way. Human behavior and the perception of reality became central to his artistic process and each painting represents a thought or an idea, reinterpreted in a tactile medium. Surrealism abounds, weaving in and out of his brushstrokes like an old friend, reminding the viewer again and again that, much more than an artist, Lazaro Hurtado is a thinker.

Innovative photographer Mark Mawson has pretty much carved his own niche with liquid and underwater photography, discovering a new visual language of otherworldly tranquility.

My Aqueous series resemble sea creatures or alien landscapes and I like the way the viewer forms their own interpretation of what they look like.

Mark Mawson has had a camera in his hand since he was eight years old. He’s also one of the few photographers that could genuinely surprise you with imagery that’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before. It all started when he noticed the effect of liquid on liquid as we was pouring milk in his coffee. “I had seen lots of ink and water shots but wanted to try something different,” he says. His liquid work, beautifully entitled Aqueous, started out as a personal exploration and is fast becoming his signature technique. “They resemble sea creatures or alien landscapes and I like the way the viewer forms their own interpretation of what they look like.” The Aqueous series soon gave way to fully-fledged underwater shoots, complete with sets, models, lighting and even waterproof beauty! His first attempt involved a stuntwoman chained to a concrete block on the bottom of the sea. “The way the water acted with the hair and fabric of the dress was beautiful. I really enjoy the peaceful atmosphere it creates.” Only problem is, he has to wait until the models resurface to give them any direction! His Qrator profile has a little bit of everything and even includes a shot of the Aqueous video projected onto the walls of Buckingham Palace in London as the backdrop to The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It was originally shot for Elton John to use in his Las Vegas gigs and surprisingly, Mawson wasn’t allowed to keep a copy of it to show people! A small price to pay in the grand scheme of things, which includes campaigns for Versace, Gap, Havaianas and IMAX3D. Next stop: smoke photography!

Entering the pastry industry with prior experience in engineering Rhonda Yap combined structural integrity with buttercream for some amazing results!

After four years wearing hard hats, she realized her future lay in something a lot more dainty: cakes!

Rhonda Yap is a trained civil engineer with a brief career in construction and a sharp eye for detail. After four years wearing hard hats, she realized her future lay in something a lot more dainty: cakes! Off she went to study a course in pastry arts in the US and the minute she set foot back home (that would be Sydney), she started her own business. Before she even got the chance to let out a deep sigh of relief at having escaped a life of misery surrounded by concrete mixers, orders started pouring and she’s barely had the chance to catch her breath since. Her sweet little venture, newly established in 2013, is called The Dainty Baker and specializes in couture cakes and sweets, already making waves in the pastry industry. Not that dealing with brides these days is that much easier than dealing with contractors (we blame pinterest cake boards)! Luckily, her command of structural integrity, and perhaps a certain familiarity with scaffolding, has certainly come in handy when having to hold up some of her more majestic creations. Her beautiful Qrator account showcases a few different dessert trends currently on the ups, but has yet to touch on her specialty, the towering croquembouche that has elicited the most cheers so far! We await patiently...

Inspired by an “Alice in Wonderland” quote to create their signature doll cabinet, Holyscrap are a cut above the rest.

Holyscrap put their collectibles to good use, building imaginative furniture out of wood scraps, mannequin body parts and old television antennas, part functional, part amusing.

What would you do if you happened to come across an old, slightly creepy-looking doll? Probably walk away. Collectors and innovative furniture designers Holyscrap on the other hand based an entire cabinet series on it and, holy crap, is it good! Starting out as Made.up Interior works in October 2005, partners-in-crime Marieke van Genderen and Edwin Booms had been hiring themselves out, taking both private and commercial commissions before reversing the process. Under their new Holyscrap moniker, they put their collectibles to good use, building imaginative furniture out of wood scraps, mannequin body parts and old television antennas, that are part functional, part amusing. Their scathing sense of humor, that’s front and center on their Qrator account, hasn't stopped them from turning out one stunning piece after another, proving good taste is no joke.

Combining rugedness with old-world nostalgia, Vintage Industrial makes industrial-style furniture for retromaniacs and the occasional superhero with a taste for luxury.

When your flagship design makes an appearance on one of your favorite TV shows, that's when you know you've made it!

When your flagship design makes an appearance on one of your favorite TV shows, that's when you know you've made it. Vintage Industrial co-owner  Greg Hankerson found meaning in the everyday when life threw him a curveball: at 19 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and managed to survive both the disease and the family business – investment banking! – which he eventually quit in his mid-30s, although he was slated to take over. Vintage Industrial, an all-American furniture company that combines old world craftsmanship with modern technology, started as a backyard hobby and only turned into a full-fledged business when Hankerson’s wife asked him to build a patio table for her. The company went from solo endeavor with zero facilities to 20+ employees and 65,000 square of warehouse, building a solid reputation in the luxury market that even reached ABC studios’s ears. Last January, they were asked to build a Hure table for Marvel’s “Agents of Shield”, making an appearance at a futuristic conference room only to be used as a bullet shield in a superhero face-off. Fanboys (and girls) are welcome to look them up on Qrator, where their signature table makes a glorious appearance, although it is usually aimed at mere mortals for more humble uses!

Two modern-day dressmakers, Maria and Stavroula, have decided to throw all caution to the wind and specialize in a single garment. Can you guess what it is?

Q: Let’s put a face to the name. Who are The Waistliners²?

W: There’s two of us, Maria and Stavroula. We’ve known each other since childhood and our mothers always encouraged us to take up sewing. So when looking for something fresh and creative to do, we decided to take advantage of our knowledge of female garmentry and specialized in skirts!

Q: What lies behind your vintage aesthetics?

W: We’d like to revive femininity and help women rediscover their inherent sweetness. Skirts are the ultimate female expression. The design, the fabric, the texture, the color... it’s a means of tapping into your inner beauty and that’s what we’re trying to drag to the surface.

Q: What inspires you and who is your ideal customer?

W: We have accumulated a wealth of aesthetic references, from haute couture and nature all the way to interiors and ethics. There’s no ideal customer when it comes to the Waistliners, we just strive to make the perfect custom-made skirt to fit the different needs (and body types) of each woman.  

Q: What do you think Qrator can do for your brand?

W: We like how users can filter creators, it’s a very well-structured medium for those looking to showcase their work, it’s organized and well-coordinated and offers countless networking opportunities. If you’re a creator, it’s a wonderful way to discover other designers, get to know them and get inspired.  

Q: Where do you see yourselves 10 years from now?

W: We’d just like to evolve in every possible direction and I’m not just talking about design, but in terms of personal growth as well!

Inspired by mountain peaks and natural geometry, Gopi Shah creates functional pottery for people who treasure longevity in everything that surrounds them.

Every single set of bowls or plates she’s ever made, always seems to want to take on a life of its own, which is probably why no two items are ever the same!

Gopi Shah has been working with clay for 12 years. That’s a long time for someone so young, but thanks to its incredible volatility, things at the studio never get boring. Every single set of bowls or plates she’s ever made, always seems to want to take on a life of its own, which is probably why no two items are ever the same. Working close to home – in her case, downstairs! – means she’s constantly connected to each and every piece, drawn to the smell of wet clay and caring for all her objects deeply until they find a new home. But it doesn’t stop there. Gopi loves to be privy of the impact her work has on other people. “The ability to make another person happy is what fuels my creative drive,” she says. “The stories and photos I receive from customers about how a tumbler or planter brings them joy is why I continue creating wares.” An avid beachcomber that never returns from a trip or a hiking expedition without a precious little treasure to add to her collection, she knows exactly how it feels to have beautiful found objects to hold as keepsakes. Her ceramic highlights on Qrator feel organic and effortless, like they’ve always been a part of your household. And although you don’t get to meet Gopi herself, like her lucky craft fair clientele, you still get to take a little piece of her inspiration home with you!