The artist Fátima Lemes is from Lanzarote through and through, she grew up in Tías and currently resides in Puerto Calero where she has her studio. Currently, sales of her artistic production, under the brand el.mundo.de.faa, inspired by Lanzarote and La Graciosa, are going very well, but it wasn't always like that.
Lemes, who studied Fine Arts in Tenerife and Milan, worked for ten years in island shops as a sales assistant before daring to take the leap and start her own artistic production.
“It was going to be something temporary until I found something of my own, but ten years passed and I told myself I can't go on like this, I need to dedicate myself to my own thing,” shares the Lanzarote artist.
Three years ago, little by little, she got to work: “I started by painting things for myself, then for my friends and family. That's how I started to believe a little more that I was capable and I went for it.”
Lemes then presented her brand, which currently includes bags, hats, caps, t-shirts, hand-painted and made from 100% cotton, “which you can wash without a problem,” as well as keychains and magnets, all inspired by Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
“Lanzarote and La Graciosa inspire my pieces because of their light, because of their clarity. Also because of their colors and landscapes of volcanoes, cacti, and camels, the iconic images of Lanzarote that I carry in my blood.”
For a year and a half now, Lemes has dedicated herself exclusively to art and lives off it: “I admit it's tough because there are months with uncertainty because there are no markets or fairs, but I am super happy, it took me a while to make the decision, if I had known I would have jumped much sooner.”
The sun hats, the cacti, and the doors of Lanzarote and La Graciosa
One of the motifs chosen by Lemes that is having the most impact are the island's sun hats, which star in some of her pieces.
“I hadn't thought about the sun hats, it was born out of an order, they asked me for them so much that I decided to release a collection with bags, keychains, magnets, pencil cases, and even t-shirts. It's being well-received in all formats.”
Lemes' latest collection, in addition to the sun hat line, includes a series of prints inspired by the typical green doors of Lanzarote.
Going back to the beginning, the Lanzarotean creator shares that her first collection was inspired by the cacti of Lanzarote, in different colors.
“I continue to release cactus pieces because they are still very popular. Now I have made a small variation for the new craft fairs by adding phrases to the cactus design.”
"I will be at the Feria de Los Dolores: many people who know, value, and buy crafts attend"
The main clients of El.mundo.de.faa are “residents, especially women. I also have people from outside who buy as a souvenir of their trip, of the island, or to give to someone”.
To acquire a piece from the Lanzarote artist, you can contact her through her social networks and also find her at craft fairs. Lemes will be at the Lanzarote Craft Fair in Mancha Blanca during the Festivities of Los Dolores.
“This edition will be the second time I go, the first was great, I had a great experience, many people who know about crafts attend, they value it and buy it”.
A tribute to pets: "They are one more member of the family"
The artist from Lanzarote also has a line of pieces in tribute to pets in tote bag format as a cushion. In this latter format, “it is the gift most given to men,” shares Lemes.
“The pets also came about by pure chance from a commission I received, and it was liked so much that then they commissioned another, and then another”.
“I am a pet lover, they are one more member of the family, I have a dog, and I had another before who passed away, they are Auri and Nera, I have bags of both and I use them a lot”.
“For me it is very emotional when they see the drawing and recognize their pet and get emotional, the vast majority are pets that are no longer here”. Every time I receive a commission for a pet, I focus entirely on that work so that it turns out as perfect as possible, because I know the importance that drawing has for the person who is going to receive it”.
Looking to the future, the Lanzarote creator reveals that she would like to launch a collection of hand-painted clothing and participate in Lanzarote Moda.
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