X

Designs by Claudia x Sólsse The Label Collaboration

 

Postcards from Paradise Luxe Rug

 

Well we've been keeping this one under wraps, and all I can say is that I am beyond happy to finally be putting it out into the world.... after months and MONTHS of planning. 

From the moment I met Claudia a couple of years back now, I fell in love with her bright and beautiful artwork, her upbeat personality, and her identifying style that has become somewhat of a trademark in the Far North. 

We first met when we happened to be trading next to each other at a Northern Beaches Shopping Centre. We hit it off straight away, instantly bonding over our shared (and slightly off-beat) sense of humour, and our dislike of early morning set-ups.

And from there, quickly stemmed an idea of collaborating on a project of some kind. We tossed around some ideas, and Claudia got to work, delivering what I can only describe as as artwork capturing the epitome FNQ. Tell me what says Port Douglas and FNQ, more than swaying palms, am I right?! Representing Port Douglas with its iconic Palm Trees, along with the colours of the ocean, sand, and sky at dusk. This collaboration is every thing I had hoped for, and teaming up with Claudia felt like such a natural fit. As soon as I saw what she had created, it was a kind of jaw-drop-to-the-ground kind of moment. She'd nailed it with her perfect composition, colour balance and signature style.... and into production our beautiful new collaboration rugs went. 

So in line with the release of this iconic new design, I sat down with the now Cairns-based Artist, to talk all things art, life and future plans. Read on to learn a bit more about the woman and artwork behind our new collaboration Rug.

 

 

Is creating art something that has always come naturally to you, or is it something you have had to work on to perfect your style and technique?

Art has always been a big part of my life, and I’ve loved creating from a young age. Developing my own style and refining my technique has definitely been a journey — experimenting with colour, shapes, and mediums until I found what truly feels like “me.”

From the age of two, I’ve always had a pencil and paper in my hands — and I even have photos to prove it! Growing up on my family farm, I was always making something, inside or out. With a Primary School Teacher mum and a photographer dad, creativity definitely runs in the family. Long trips to visit my grandparents — 8–9 hours in the car — always included pencils and a drawing book to pass the time. At school, Visual Communication became my favourite class and where I discovered my passion for Graphic Design. By Year 12, I submitted four A2 portfolios instead of the usual two. Even with a lifelong love of creating, developing my style has been a journey. Finding your niche is one of the hardest parts of being an artist, but once you do, your work keeps evolving.

You have a real uniqueness to your illustrations that is definitely a signature to your style. How would you describe your art and illustration style? 

I’d describe my art style as having a vintage feel, though it wasn’t something I deliberately aimed for. My love of pastel colours has really shaped the way my work looks today. Many customers at the markets have commented that my style feels like it’s from the 1950s, which I take as a huge compliment! I’ve also had people say my illustrations give off a sense of calm, which is so lovely to hear.

 

You seem to do a fantastic job of working seamlessly across both digital and organic mediums... What's your favourite medium to work with?

My favourite medium has to be Copic markers — I’ve recently rediscovered my love for them after not using them since high school in 2013. I love their ink quality and how you can build and blend colours on paper. They’re, without a doubt, the best markers out there, and I can’t resist a weekly trip to Officeworks to restock my collection! That said, I also love working digitally in Procreate on my iPad. The range of techniques is incredible — from clean line brushes to watercolour and dry ink effects. Plus, the convenience of being able to create full artworks anywhere makes it an amazing tool.

 

It's pretty obvious where you draw your inspiration from, but what would you say is your favourite place or thing to draw? 

My favourite subjects to draw are the tropical sceneries of Far North Queensland. Just walking or driving around Cairns provides endless inspiration. I always make sure to snap reference photos of the lush greenery, palm trees, and charming Queenslander homes I come across on my walks.

 

Do you have a career highlight so far? What is it?

I’d say my biggest achievement has been making the big move from Victoria to Cairns and chasing my dream of attending markets weekly, while growing my business into a full-time career as an Artist and Graphic Designer. Nothing can top what I’ve accomplished over the past 2.5 years, and I’m incredibly grateful for the incredible support of my husband, family, and friends.

.  

What can we expect to see from you in the future in terms of your artwork? 

In the next few weeks, I’ll be releasing my 8th consecutive calendar for 2026, which I’m really excited about! It features many of the artworks I’ve created this year using my beloved Copic markers. I also have a few collaborations coming later in the year, including a big project that will be featured somewhere in Cairns… but you’ll have to wait and see!

On the artwork side, I’d love to get back into painting originals when I can carve out time from admin and business tasks. I’ve always had a soft spot for acrylics, and I’d like to release some originals inspired by Queenslander homes and tropical sceneries, similar to my ‘Home of Tropics’ collection from earlier this year.

 

Since you've had access to the Postcards Luxe Rug prior to its release, and have had some time to use and enjoy it, we would love for you to share with our readers what you enjoy most about our rug, or maybe something that you didn't expect to love? 

I’m absolutely in love with my Postcards Luxe Rug! The quality is incredible, and the colours in the artwork have turned out even better than I imagined. I really appreciate the weight of the material — it’s sturdy enough that it won’t blow away in the wind like some picnic rugs, and you can genuinely feel the quality and care that’s gone into making it. The fringe edging is gorgeous, adding the perfect little finishing touch. I’m obsessed! I’m already planning to keep one in my van and another in our car for picnics and beach days… and I think I might even grab a third to drape over the couch as a beautiful decorative piece for our living room.

 

If you could say one thing to your artist-self 10 years ago, what would it be?