Artist Collab with Leyla Bulmer

It has been an absolute pleasure collaborating with the talented artist and muse, Leyla Bulmer. Her creative spirit has been a long-standing inspiration for Atmosea, and we are thrilled to share this incredible collection, filled with whimsical nostalgia that she has dreamed up!

 

Below, you’ll find a visual look into Leyla’s imaginative world, beautifully captured by photographer Bri Horne. We had the opportunity to chat with Leyla about all things creative, so take a moment to read on and discover the ins and outs of her artistic practice.

 

 

 

 

 

How did you first become interested in Body Portraits, Art, and the Ocean? And how does it influence your artwork?

I used to hide the fact that I painted self-portraits. I was way too shy or embarrassed to admit that they were me. Having myself as the muse felt indulgent, too proud—values we Irish folk wouldn’t say are great. The practice came from a pretty practical place—not always having another body on hand whene I felt like painting one, and it evolved along the way. I realised that painting myself helped me move through beliefs about myself and my body. It may sound like a contradiction, but seeing myself on paper as “just another body” made me the same as everyone else. Painting self-portraits continues to create distance between who I am and how I look, which I believe is a healthy practice for my identity and me. I noticed how creating in this way altered my relationship with myself, so I started to offer Body Portraits to others. Every one of us is unique, so this practice has become whatever my client needs it to be—a way to honor, celebrate, commemorate, and/or connect with self.

 

Art in general has always been part of my life; when I was young, creating was where I found comfort. My connection to the ocean came through a little later via my dad. We moved from Australia to countryside Ireland when I was five, so the ocean and surf became this place that he’d dream of and tell stories about. When Dad left to come back to Australia, I think that’s where I always pictured him. I think my connection to the ocean was an attempt to get to know him. Now, living back in Australia and so close to the sea, how could it not influence my art? All my experiences, surroundings, and connections influence what I create.

 

 

 

 

 

How has your own connection to the ocean shaped your artistic perspective?

I can be quite busy, in my head if not outside it. I’m always doing or wanting to do something, a way to validate my time here on earth perhaps, or maybe it just comes with being human, a Western one. Over time, this particular part of me has been softened as I’ve found more ways to allow stillness. Surfing creates a spacious, an in-tune feeling for me. I believe my art represents a longing within for simplicity, for quiet, for peace. Rather than my art being influenced by the ocean directly (although sometimes it is), I think it’s the same feeling that I’m searching for and experiencing through both, art and the ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite thing about Life Drawing?

I love Life Drawing for showing how we all express ourselves so differently. Maybe we can say this about everything in life, but I love how obvious it is that we all have our own way and style. I can give a group of people the same exercise to do, and they all innately create uniquely. It also brings us together in a way that not many other gatherings do; we are there to practice creative expression inspired by our muse while a feeling of vulnerability, respect, and understanding is present. There is an amazing balance between individual perspectives and shared aspects of the human experience in a Life Drawing session.

 

 

 

 

 

Was there any particular emotional or sensory experience that sparked the idea for this artwork? What was your main focus when dreaming up this Artist Collab?

 

Last year, a friend invited another friend and I to join her on a residency on Yaegl country in Yamba. That land and water sparked the ideas for these artworks. I think the fact that this wasn’t my residency allowed for ideas to come through naturally; there was space to play. My work had time to breathe, it got more messy and experimental. With no need for deep ideas and profound reasons, creating felt more fun and free. I created a series of shells, and they held this sentiment. They are simply an appreciation of life’s/nature’s beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

Tell us about your creative process...

After a couple of months of feeling quite disconnected from my creative practice in Autumn of this year, I’ve gone from rest to experimentation. Now I’ve got one foot there while I figure out my direction and one in “crafting”, as a few shows get close. It was important for me to allow space and time between what wasn’t feeling aligned any longer and the next wave of creativity.

 

My creative process involves a lot of thinking and dreaming. I write to sift through ideas and images I see in my mind's eye; this. What ends up as art are those ideas that linger. Once they have taken root, these almost seem to grow by themselves. From here, I research, sketch, and if it’s painting, I paint. I often gather the words that the ideas began with and organise them a little. This feels like a nice way to remind myself of a particular creative process and finalize a project or body of work, ready for sharing.

 

 

 

 

 

What elements of your art resonate with the surf culture Atmosea represents?

Many! Of course, my paintings, which are literally a celebration of water women, resonate with the culture that Atmosea represents, but there is also part of all of my work that is beautifully aligned with the message that Atmosea shares. For us to feel welcome, included, safe, seen, and free! In the water, but generally in the world and, most importantly, in our own bodies. This embodiment of power and pride needs to be felt within, but it sure helps when we have a supportive community that accepts us as we are and reminds us that we belong. I believe in this so strongly that I got together with a few friends here on the Mornington Peninsula, and we founded The Peninsula’s Surf Sisters, which, like Atmosea’s community, is a safe space for women who share a love of the water.

 

 

 

 

What does community mean to you?

So much! I’ve noticed over the past few years that all of my “love projects” have had community at their heart. I think that moving quite a lot as a child has made me value connection and community deeply. Community to me means belonging; it feels like home, and somewhere I feel seen. My community is an everlasting source of inspiration too.

 

 

 

 

 

If you could sum up your art in 3 words...

Fluid, expressive, bold, abstract, organic—That’s hard, three is hard.

 

What are you working on at the moment? Any exciting new projects to come?

Late last year, three friends and I formed Deep See Survey, an artist collective creating on Bunurong/Boonwurrung Country here in Shoreham. My opening season project, Bodies of Nature, is coming up in November and delves into our relationship with the body and connection to nature. It explores how these shape our unique perspectives and, in turn, alter our experiences. I’m also working on an exhibition with Bri Horne and Emma Shepard, a wonderful photographer and weaver I went on that residency with. That show is inspired by the love of process—the practice itself.

 

 

 

 

Shop the Artist Collab Leyla Bulmer Collection online now ~

 

All beautiful photos by Photographer Bri Horne, you can find her @brihorne_ on instagram and at brihorne.com

 

To view more of Leyla's stunning work you can find her @artbyleylabulmer on instagram and at leylabulmer.com