Kristina Sostarko and Jason Odd are the hands behind the Inaluxe Art Studio. When we’re not busy in the studio, we spend a lot of time driving. Australia is huge, and there’s nothing like a car trip to fire up the imagination.
LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE YOU WORK? ANYTHING SPECIAL IN YOUR WORK SPACE THAT UNLEASHES YOUR CREATIVE JUICES?
Jason: Music can be a driving factor in a creative experience, some days Radiohead is perfect, other days it might be Grimes or Idles. It could be something ambient and electronic, or French pop from the 1960s, Miles Davis or a Spaghetti western soundtrack or Daft Punk. Sharing a space is sharing your taste, and the two of us find a way through the moods and vibe we want and the weather on the day, there’s no formula or limit. The biggest question is just how much volume is enough.
WHERE DO YOUR BEST IDEAS COME FROM? (DREAMS, SHOWER, MUSEUM, TRAIN?)
Kristina: My interactions with interesting people. Conversations that fuel the imagination, joy, change and transformation. Passionate people inspire me. People’s stories can be so profound and beautiful. Music is huge, and I find nature super exciting. Then there are all those weird moments, like a mismatched tile in a wall, or a paper bag blowing down a deserted street. It’s all about feeling, really. Atmosphere. Something that stands apart.
ANY ACTIVITIES, EXERCISES OR STRATEGIES TO PULL YOURSELF OUT OF THE OCCASIONAL ARTISTIC RUT?
Kristina: When I start to feel overloaded or stuck, getting out of town for a day or two seems to spark something new. Different faces, places, smells and food. It’s all good. When getting away isn’t possible, daily walks, massage and hanging out with the local ducks at the lake is always nice. We don’t have any pets at the moment, so whenever I come across a dog, I’m practically chasing them down the street for a pat. Nothing compares to cute dog eyes to make you happy. Works every time. They totally rock.
WHERE DO YOU WORK? WHAT’S YOUR WORKSPACE LIKE? ANY OBJECTS YOU’VE HAD A LONG TIME?
Jason: Inaluxe workspaces have gone from the tiny and temporary to a many-windowed open space filled with sunlight. A big space can border on industrial, and ours might if we hadn’t made it so homey. Sure, room is important, but the feelings, the art and memories you make in that space are equally as important. Personal touches are what humanizes everything, so it might be a Star Wars figurine we’ve had for decades or some offbeat handcrafted soft toy we saved for ourselves as a purchase from a thrift shop. Sure, it's kind of weird-looking, but it’s our kind of weird-looking.
