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Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with Fleur Schim from Leucadia, California, United States

Our forty third interview in this new series of intimate interviews is with talented mobile photography and artist, Fleur Schim from Leucadia, California in the United States.  Schim displays immense virtuosity with narrative fizz and grace throughout this interview, enjoy!

To read the other published interviews in this series including artists, Adria Ellis, Rino Rossi, Mehmet Duyulmus, Alexis Rotella, Lou Ann Sanford Donahue, Irene Oleksiuk, Kerry Mitchell, Filiz Ak, Dale Botha, Lisa Mitchell, M. Cecilia Sao Thiago, Deborah McMillion, Rita Colantonio, Amy Ecenbarger, Jane Schultz, Anca Balaj, Joyce Harkin, Armineh Hovanesian, Kate Zari Roberts, Vicki Cooper, Peter Wilkin, Barbara Braman, Becky Menzies, Sukru Mehmet Omur, Sarah Bichachi, Michel Pretterklieber, Alon Goldsmith, Judy Lurie Whalberg, Andrea Bigiarni, Sean Hayes, Oola Cristina, Kathleen Magner-Rios, Linda Toki, Deb Field, Emilo Nadales, Lydia Cassatt, David Hayes, Jean Hutter, Frederic Deschênes, Mark Schnidman, Fatma Korkut and myself, go here.

All images ©Fleur Schim

First Recognition

Fastest runner at my elementary school.

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‘Purposeful’ ©Fleur Schim

First Job

Summer volunteer at a facility for Autism.

Private or State school

Primary school was at a teaching facility attached to the University of Miami; A teaching laboratory. I went to public school, thereafter.

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‘Back to the future’ ©Fleur Schim

University or work

I graduated University of Miami, where I began my studies in art history, ceramics, and anthropology.

Who was or still is your mentor?

My mother was my first mentor, as she regularly immersed me in the arts: galleries, museums, ballet, Shakespearean comedies and tragedies. Our house was covered in contemporary art that she collected. She also encouraged me to study art history in Florence, while in college.

My husband, Jack, continues to be my artistic mentor and muse. We inspire each other and collaborate. His curiosity is boundless and contagious! As an undergrad, I took a photography class at the university, because he did. My first iphoneography exposure was a result of his ongoing interests, at a photo seminar on Molokai, 2016: Creative Photography for the Soul. I did not even know that mobile art was a thing! This opportunity was where and when I had the pleasure of meeting many great talents, including Jack Davis, Lynette Sheppard, Dewitt Jones, and Robin Robertis.

That primal experience opened my eyes to my own creativity. Many other talented individuals who I met at subsequent Creative Photography seminars inspired me. I follow and am virtual friends with incredible artists on Instagram, TheAppWhisperer, New Era Museum, and Flickr. I collect and display some of their art in my house.

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‘Inhale, Breathe Deep’ ©Fleur Schim

How physically fit are you?

I hike or powerwalk three miles every day, with my husband or alone. Being in nature affords me the opportunity to enjoy the views. Many of my images are captures from my walks. I am grateful for my many travel opportunities where I capture daily life, street photos, and scenic vistas along my walks.

Ambition or Talent. What matters more to success?

I have always had an eye for beauty. My childhood was spent in museums and galleries, as that was my mother’s passion.

I am fortunate that I am able to follow my passions and explore my creativity through travel exploration, mobile photography, and cuisine.

I create images. I enjoy exploring my vision. I am always pleasantly surprised when my art receives recognition. I enjoy challenging myself to push my artistic self. I have fun! That is what matters.

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‘Trudging’ ©Fleur Schim

How politically committed are you?

I was very politically committed during the Vietnam war. I attended rallies and marched as part of a larger social movement. It was a very exciting time.  Now, I am aware of the turmoil in my own and other countries, but am not excited about participating, other than voting and staying intellectually involved.  

I find my art keeps me centered, when the rest of the world is in flux.

What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?

I do not need nor want anything. I live in a lovely community where the weather is almost always perfect. I have all the creature comforts that we have accumulated over a 46-year marriage. All I desire is more time to spend with my family. All I want is continued good health for my husband, children, grandchildren and myself.

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‘Sheer Beauty’ ©Fleur Schim

What is my biggest extravagance?

Traveling! I enjoy traveling, a lot. I am always working on another itinerary, to another destination. I am fortunate that my husband’s work takes us to wonderful, and exotic destinations. I also really enjoy staying in beautiful hotels and eating delicious cuisine.  I am very grateful that my husband shares these passions.

In what places are you happiest?

My beautiful home makes me very happy. It is an eclectic gallery of art, including beautiful rugs, paintings, photographs, serigraphs, and etchings. Both my husband’s and my imagery is also displayed.

I love to walk around the yard and view the flowers, their colors, and textures of my plants. I enjoy ending the day on the patio, with my husband, chatting and drinking wine. I also love to travel and experience other cultures, cuisine, and capture the views. But, there is no place like home. My happiest place.

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‘Wandering the Alcazar’ ©Fleur Schim

What ambitions do you still have?

My biggest ambition is to push my image making creativity. The bonus of this is self-satisfaction, centreing, greater happiness and calm.

What drives you on?

I get inspired by other artist’s images on mobile photography sharing sites. I look forward to seeing what various artists create each day. This challenges and pushes me. It is like I ‘riff’ off their creative energy. My creative process is what drives me.

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‘At the museum’ ©Fleur Schim

What is the greatest achievement of my life so far?

Not letting fear create roadblocks to my happiness and success. If I decide I am strong, talented and capable, then I will allow myself to be open to new ideas and challenges. This new ‘lens’ to view myself creates ever-expanding opportunities for self-exploration through creative art.

What do you find most irritating in other people?

Closed mindedness. Fear.

Judgmental attitudes towards ideas they are not interested nor understand. People who are dismissive and disrespectful regarding other’s who are different. People who are not open to change.

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‘The Look’ ©Fleur Schim

If your twenty year old self could see you now, what would she think?

She would wonder how that shy, quiet Fleur morphed into a strong, self-assured, creative, exciting artist!!!

What object that you lost do you wish you still had?

No idea! The question should be changed to “what have you lost that you wish you still had?” Then, unfortunately, I have a list of dear family and friends who are gone. I have memories of people, not things.

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‘Pinwheel’ ©Fleur Schim

What is the greatest challenge of our time?

Changing the mindset of our fear-mongering society. It is very disturbing to witness so much hate and violence.  I can only hope that we as a society can evolve and become kinder, gentler and a more loving and inclusive society.

Do you believe in the afterlife?

I prefer a more here and now concept that one should be the best person, possible.

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‘Symmetry’ ©Fleur Schim

If you had to rate your life satisfaction so far, out of ten, what would it be?

I am currently trending on ten! I have a great life. I am healthy, and in a wonderful, loving, and supportive marriage spanning almost forty-six years. I am grateful that I have a husband who encourages my creative interests including art, cuisine and travel. I am fortunate that I have a wonderful family, and am able to share precious moments with them. I am able to do anything I really want to do.

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‘Homage to Hopper’ ©Fleur Schim

 

Contact Details for Fleur Schim

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‘Sugar Magnolia’ ©Fleur Schim

Joanne Carter, creator of the world’s most popular mobile photography and art website— TheAppWhisperer.com— TheAppWhisperer platform has been a pivotal cyberspace for mobile artists of all abilities to learn about, to explore, to celebrate and to share mobile artworks. Joanne’s compassion, inclusivity, and humility are hallmarks in all that she does, and is particularly evident in the platform she has built. In her words, “We all have the potential to remove ourselves from the centre of any circle and to expand a sphere of compassion outward; to include everyone interested in mobile art, ensuring every artist is within reach”, she has said. Promotion of mobile artists and the art form as a primary medium in today’s art world, has become her life’s focus. She has presented lectures bolstering mobile artists and their art from as far away as the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea to closer to her home in the UK at Focus on Imaging. Her experience as a jurist for mobile art competitions includes: Portugal, Canada, US, S Korea, UK and Italy. And her travels pioneering the breadth of mobile art includes key events in: Frankfurt, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Paris, Brazil, London. Pioneering the world’s first mobile art online gallery - TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com has extended her reach even further, shipping from London, UK to clients in the US, Europe and The Far East to a global group of collectors looking for exclusive art to hang in their homes and offices. The online gallery specialises in prints for discerning collectors of unique, previously unseen signed limited edition art. Her journey towards becoming The App Whisperer, includes (but is not limited to) working for a paparazzi photo agency for several years and as a deputy editor for a photo print magazine. Her own freelance photographic journalistic work is also widely acclaimed. She has been published extensively both within the UK and the US in national and international titles. These include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Popular Photography & Imaging, dpreview, NikonPro, Which? and more recently with the BBC as a Contributor, Columnist at Vogue Italia and Contributing Editor at LensCulture. Her professional photography has also been widely exhibited throughout Europe, including Italy, Portugal and the UK. She is currently writing several books, all related to mobile art and is always open to requests for new commissions for either writing or photography projects or a combination of both. Please contact her at: joanne@theappwhisperer.com