Daily Rituals
The symbols and practices that keep us grounded and inspired.
Our homes and everyday routines are filled with rituals and symbols. They help us feel more productive and keep us sane. They shore us up when we need reinforcement or a taste of the familiar. They are the practices we perform on autopilot to help us face the day and the sights that make us smile or exhale as we pass them by. We hone our rituals over time to learn what serves our needs best and carefully curate items to create a space that feels safe and welcoming.
The products featured this week are both symbols of who I am and what I enjoy, as well as part of my daily rituals. They make me feel like me and fit easily into day-to-day life. This edition also includes an interview with an artist who explores the themes and symbols of Greek mythology in breathtaking color.
Take time this week to revel in those rituals.
1. Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant (£73)
Skin care is a ritual I’ve had since junior high. This mask from iconic French beauty brand Biologique Recherche (previously featured here), is one I truly cannot live without. With a blend of ingredients that includes witch hazel, bentonite clay, cider vinegar and yeast extract (hence the unique color and smell), this mask tones, purifies and balances the skin without stripping it. It’s pricey, but like all of their masks, you don’t need to slather on half the tube to get the benefits. I only buy it twice a year and am able to use it three times a week. A real desert island pick for me.
2. Zara Faux Leather Blazer (£59)
Getting dressed is a daily ritual we all practice, and the clothing we choose to wear out into the world is symbolic of who we are, what we believe in and how we’re doing in that moment. For me, I feel my most confident, chic and sexy in leather pieces (real or faux). And while I love the look of a traditional blazer, a leather one turns a classic silhouette into more of a statement piece, polished with a bit of an edge. This faux-leather option from Zara isn’t too oversized, with the familiar lines of a menswear suit jacket. If you’ve ever thought about creating a capsule wardrobe, this is one to grab.
3. The Liberty Figurine (£55)
When you live abroad, having physical reminders of where you came from helps you feel connected to both of your worlds. I simply couldn’t resist this little wooden figurine modeled after the Statue of Liberty created by Diego Martinez Pereira and David Beirne of UK design studio Bright Potato, which is part of their collection called the Motleys. She reminded me of a kokeshi doll, and I also liked that I could instantly tell it was Lady Liberty without the design being obnoxiously patriotic, an aesthetic I’ve never been big on. Seeing her in our entryway always makes me think of home.
It’s time you met … Petra Baral
Us Petras have to stick together. The second I saw German artist Petra Baral’s work, I was instantly drawn in. With all of the rich colors and symbolism, I could stare at her paintings for hours. Check out Petra’s Instagram to see more of her art and find out where you can buy one of her original pieces or prints for your home.
Describe your artistic style and medium.
My artistic style consists primarily of geometric shapes, lines and vibrant colors. The figures in my paintings are abstract shapes and oftentimes only partially shown or separated with lines.
My preferred and most used medium is acrylic on canvas, but canvas is not the only medium I use for my art. Other mediums such as paper, clay, porcelain and oil paint are also sometimes part of my creative process. It's fun to experiment with different styles and mediums that you're not used to from time to time.
Share your journey to becoming an artist.
I've always wanted to become an artist. So after I finished school, I applied to go to art school, where my major was graphic design. While in art school, I developed the style I'm known for today. Over the years, my work has been shown in multiple exhibitions, galleries, press outlets and art fairs. Nowadays, I sell paintings to a global audience, from Germany and Europe to the United States and places like Kuwait.
Why were you drawn to Greek mythology?
What initially interested me in Greek mythology was the fact that the stories are still relevant today, and oftentimes repeat themselves similarly in our own time.
Where else do you draw inspiration from?
I also draw inspiration from a multitude of other things like nature, history, literature, life experiences, etc.
Do you have a favorite work you've created?
My favorite is a painting created in 2009 called “Universe” (above). I love it so much that I recreated it in 2021 as a coffee table that was quickly bought by a private collector from Miami who fell in love with it.
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