Meet Cynthia Edwards | Artist & maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cynthia Edwards and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cynthia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I always knew without ever really knowing that the only way for me to be happy was to be a creative. Simply put, I can’t imagine any other way of being. Many years ago I was living and working abroad and I visited an incredible exhibition of hand-printed wallpapers and textiles which sort of unlocked something in my brain. I realised that making stuff by hand was something I could pursue as a career and it was the first time I felt like I had a true idea of who and what I wanted to be, despite having already completed a fine art degree. It was something about the practical nature of the work, which felt accessible to my way of making and being artistic. The details have slowly been ironed out over the past 9 years as I have returned home, took a leap of faith to be self-employed and experimented with many things to find myself where I am now.

While the dream of success was always there, I found myself more motivated by the dream of happiness. I only truly felt content while I had a creative output and I naively thought the rest would easily fall into place. It certainly has been a wild process and steep learning curve but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This creative business journey hasn’t been easy! I didn’t start with much capital added to which I make fairly niche products in a country with limited spending power so in short it has been a constant hustle! But I am proud of my resilience and ability to grow considering the circumstances. I am making work I absolutely love, I feel I am getting better at my craft all the time and I am still excited and motivated by the processes.

I think the first challenge, and something I still struggle with, is realising my self-value. It boils down to pricing your work right, and while I feel I should charge more for what I do, one has to meet the local economy where its at. There is also a certain guilt around making people pay for my work which I still don’t really understand and so between these two points of knowing what I should charge while feeling like an imposter is where I constantly find myself.

I really wouldn’t be here without the support system I have, my partner and my family and the friends that encourage and motivate me. Sometimes the failures can take on an epic proportion in my mind and it takes this community around me to scale it back down to size. Failure is inevitable and mostly I can utilise it as a motivational tool, to help me be motivated to learn and take on new challenges. But truthfully I find it very hard sometimes and I know this is true for many creatives. I think having your sense of self-worth as an artist and creative so closely tied in with your career success can be uniquely challenging. At these times in my life, I have found that communicating with others and taking time out can be very helpful, while seeking new inspiration to reawaken the creative spark and find joy in the process once more.

I really hope to motivate others with a creative itch to dive in and try something new. In the future I’d love to hold space for others who wish to take on a creative challenge, especially people who may not necessarily have ever had the opportunity before. I believe creativity and play have strong ties to enabling a person to realise their self-worth and can be a facilitator for opening up new opportunities. This is why sharing my process has always been important to me, letting people access the satisfaction of making something with your hands and start a new dialogue in their mind about their own capabilities.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We live in the coastal “village” of Muizenberg, situated close to the southern tip of the peninsula of Cape Town, and while it may not have the grandeur and allure of the Atlantic side, we think it is very special indeed. Our community is of the down tempo, laid back, surfing type and we have warmer waters and a great deal of diversity. The tidal pools in the area, namely St James and Dalebrook are two of my favourite places and are 100% worth a visit!

Our city is also uniquely situated around a nature reserve, that of Table Mountain, giving us easy accessibility to being in nature. There are loads of hikes on and around the mountain and going at different times of the year can be a very different experience as the fynbos plant kingdom changes throughout the seasons. One of my favourite hikes is Myburgh’s Ravine, a beautiful scramble up a rocky, deep cut ravine, smothered in mosses and lichens, little rivers and delicate water loving plants. Go up Constantia Nek between December to March and you might spot the Disa growing at the edges of the streams – an orchid unique to the Western Cape and a truly beautiful sight!

Cape Point is an absolute gem, and if you’re persistent enough you might discover Venus Pools, just the best rock pool ever! In the area is the Scone Shack, a rough and tumble off the grid farm serving fire roasted scones and jam. Pet the pigs and shoo some chickens and enjoy!

To find other local crafts and design I would definitely make a plan to visit the Oranjezicht City Farmers Market for a morning of delicious food and finds. The city bowl is full of amazing restaurants and bars, one of our favourite lunch-time takeaways is NY Bagels and if we’re in the area in the evening looking for something to eat we often find ourselves at Bodega for some yummy ramen. Downstairs is the Gin Bar, pop in for some delicious cocktails before your meal!

Sea Point is an incredible place to walk around and enjoy, with the promenade for epic ocean views and the hustle and bustle of the main road area.

Our favourite big spoil spot is Chefs Warehouse, Constantia. Or if you’re feeling extra Tinstwalo. Just amazing food, both restaurants with incredible views.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My partner, Andrew Sutherland, has been an incredible support system for me over the years. From the word go he has believed in me and been unfailingly positive and generous. I really could not have done any of this without him! I receive invaluable advice and critique from him as we are both artists and I couldn’t be luckier for it.

Website: www.lichenandleaf.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gwynstudios

Image Credits
On location images shot @nimalodge