✝what does the word “beautiful” evoke for you? 💚i think of softness, kindness, a loving and tolerant heart.

✝when you think of the word “ethereal,” what do you think of? 💚grace.

✝and how about “pretty?”💚it feels stale to call someone pretty. i see pinks and feel cold. PRETTY IS OVER

✝what about “beauty?” How would you define that?💚beauty is what radiates from your soul for others to experience. It is sacred and unique for each human.

✝who do you find beautiful IRL?💚all humans and living things are beautiful.

✝what celebrities do you find beautiful? do you even care about celebrities?💚not particularly.

✝how has Instagram affected beauty? do you follow any “instagram models,” or people of the like?💚instagram prevents us from being with ourselves and falling in love with ourselves. it is a perfect distraction from the perfect moment… i follow a few “hot” celebrities, but i see “hot” being different.

✝How do you glow? What makes you glow?💚i glow if i am spiritually fit. i feel like bringing color and joy to others allows me to glow. i do this through art and fashion.

✝on to the physical plane… what does your skincare routine consist of?💚i have very sensitive skin, rosacea, so i am always trying new things. what is really working for me now is washing my face with an all natural oil (kumari oil by @wildegatherings), then a rose water spray mist, and then i finish with another hydrating serum (soma face serum by @shoppalosantowellness). i do this AM and PM. 🙂

✝makeup?💚the two most important things are darkening my eyebrows and a red lipstick. i use some tonal stuff to work with the redness of my cheeks, but other than that, i really don’t like lots of makeup.

✝we certainly differ in that realm… but okay, tell me about your jewelry!💚oh man… I wear lots. i wear the same pieces daily. It’s like part of my skin. rings on every finger, and chains on chains. staple hoop earrings are key. i also keep a wrist full of junky bracelets mixed with a Baby-G watch and some gold bangles from my mother.

✝how can women better support other women?💚keep supporting independent/ women owned businesses! keep creating and sharing ourselves as we are! find your local witch and make a friend bb’s!!!!!!

✝And what about your “birthday necklace?”
💚:) when I turned 30 I started buying myself one fabulous bday gift. that year it was my gold “HOLLY” nameplate. i love treating myself. it is an action of self love! for my birthday this year i went into @joanshepp and fell in love with the charms there. i picked some unique charms to create an epic necklace. the charms are ridiculous and were perfect for that moment in time.

✝your parents and grandparents were pretty stylish. how would you describe them?
💚wow my grandparents were SO CHÍC! Especially my grandmother. She was like an Italian Gypsy Queen, and was my idol. she wore layers of color and pattern, and would dress to the nines on Sundays, covered in gold. my Memere is the most demure woman I know, and from her i learned class and taste in clothing. my mother, also an artist has always had her staple uniform: dads button down and army fatigues. the men in my family were very straight laced. but always looked dapper AF (partly because of the women in their lives, duh).

✝those photos of your grandmother are truly exquisite… okay, on to something completely new. why do you run?💚running for me is my time with myself. no phone no distractions. it is very grounding for me to run outdoors. i get my most epic and creative ideas when I am running. my spirit guides often visit me too when i am in that zone, i know it sounds crazy, but I have some bird friends that follow me 🙂

✝bird friends!!! amazing. what were you like in high school?💚in high school i was a complete weirdo. i did not find myself a part of any “crew” but was friends with people in most crews (if that makes sense). i was a butterfly seeking connection. i dressed like a teenage boy (still do) and was an artist, dancer and track athlete. i hodgepodge of identities. i was confused but had lots of distractions which in turn, prevented me from getting to know myself.

✝what advice would you give your 18 year old self, in regards to beauty and self confidence?
💚slow down. Follow the light and love. trust the universe. buy a tarot deck.
✝how about your 24 year old self?
💚STOP COMPARING. Find a therapist.

✝what is your best friend like, and what makes her beautiful?💚!!!!!!!!!!!! meghan was the first red head I ever knew. that immediately made her magical to me. she is the most loving friend and now mother. she is constantly working on her soul and shows up for others unconditionally. she is a creative genius and is the reason i started making comics many years ago!

✝what color is your aura?💚i believe my aura is purple and blue… which is funny because I absolutely despise purple. i am desperate to get it photographed, can we go to NYC soon?

✝we can ALWAYS go to NYC… anyways, what message do you try to convey with your appearance? 💚i am my art and my art is my soul. ✝your art spills beauty. how does it feel to be the creator of such gorgeous and pieces?💚CRYING! OMG THANK YOU! It is an honor and privilege to create work that serves other. I literally feel so blessed. I believe it is my souls purpose.

 

✝what is your ride or die item of clothing?💚HAT (BEANIE, BERET OR CAP) ALWAYS.

✝How does it feel to be told you’re beautiful?💚it depends from who lol. i am working on taking compliments gracefully.

✝how has your self confidence changed as you’ve gotten older?
💚OH GOD like 180 degrees. it took hitting a bottom of hating myself so much to then start on the part of liking, then loving myself. with age, i keep learning more about myself and liking what i discover. i have found my personal style and and essence and am proud of who i am. i used to change for others, and that ended up not working very well. lol. i am very confident in who i am today.

✝what makes an older woman, say a woman in her 60s or 70s, beautiful?💚grace, experience, and a sense of knowing themselves through and through. how can you not? that beauty of knowing shines through with “advanced style”… GOALS!!!!!!!!!

✝why do you think that women have such a difficult time aging?💚fear and ego based thinking.

✝do you think that men face the same struggles as women in obtaining beauty?
💚i don’t. i always go back to barbaric days. it is the caveman who chooses a mate. is she healthy? attractive? able to make babies? It is in our human condition… unfortunately i do not think men are seeking beauty for themselves. i believe there are men who are attune to their femininity however, and are working on balancing their masculine / feminine energies. where are they BTW???? Call me!

✝has becoming an established artist changed your perception of beauty?
💚it has shown me that if i pursue my passions and disregard what society expects of me that i can fall more in love with the universe. i feel more connected to the sunlight of the spirit when i am creating. it’s my sacred space.

✝is everyone beautiful?💚100%

follow holly at @holly_simple, or www.hollysimplestudio.com. she is currently hosting a Kickstarter campaign, and Kickstarter party at Ritual Ritual in the Rittenhouse area of Philadelphia.