Artist Highlight: EEP X We Made Something Nice

We caught up with Darina of We Made Something Nice to discuss her inspirations and practice. Read on to learn more and be sure to check her full collection of work here!

Where are you based?

I’m currently based in Amsterdam!

Have you always lived there?

Not at all, I moved to Amsterdam at the end of 2019 before the Brexit deadline so I could have my last chance to live in Europe, before that I was living in Newcastle upon Tyne which is where I’m from!

When and how did you become interested in illustration and design?

To be honest I never had an interest in illustration or design! during the pandemic my boyfriend moved out to Amsterdam with me and he is really into design, one day I asked him to teach me how to use some graphic design programmes (I had so much time on my hands to learn new things) and the love for design slowly grew from there! We Made Something Nice has been a crazy accident!

We love your food themed retro posters! Can you talk a little about that area of your work?

Of course! When I started creating the designs I wanted to make something that I would want in my home. I’m also incredibly passionate about food and often wonder if I should have gone down the route of being a chef, so I thought if I couldn’t be making food, I’ll draw it!

What are some of the thoughts that fuel the direction of your current work?

I want everything I make to evoke the feeling of nostalgia, that’s my driving force!

Give us a sense of a typical day in the studio for you?

At the moment substantial amounts of coffee, reality tv playing in the back ground and bouncing between drawing and replying to emails!

What's your earliest memory related to art?

I’m from a working class background in the North East, so I didn’t have so many toys growing up, when I was younger I would always build things from cereal boxes and play with them.

First museum visit or first artwork that really caused an impact on you?

Curveball, the first piece of artwork that had a lasting impact on me was ‘Requiem For A Dream’ by Darren Aronofsky which I watched when I 14. Film was definitely my first love.

Did you do further college study and if so, what subjects did you take/major in?

After High school I travelled and worked for nearly 8 years, last year I finally made the decision to go back into education, I’m currently studying Art majoring in Moving Image at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam.

What should we expect from you in the near future?

Great question, I definitely want to expand ‘We Made Something Nice’ as well as some other business ventures, the long term goal is to make a film!

Which magazines can we find on your coffee table?

I have every edition of Oh magazine at home, it’s a dream to work with them at some point!

What’s on your playlist in the studio at the moment?

(Its a mix)

Makers - Don’t Challenge Me

Cosmic Dancer - T. rex

Douaa - Haditouni

Weird Fishes - Radiohead

Kokomo - Beach Boys