Artist Collaboration: An Interview with Nasaya Mafaridik / @synasaya

Immerse yourself in the serene sanctuary Nasaya creates through her art. Inspired by serene moments in the morning, she captures the beauty of nature awakening from its slumber.

In a world filled with chaos and hectic schedules,@synasaya invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature. Where the tranquility and serenity of the early morning hours, the chirping of birds, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the slow dance of clouds serve as her muses.

Read on to unravel Nasaya's creative process, the challenges she encounters and the profound insights she gains throughout her artistic journey.

We are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Nasaya Mafaridik once again. After the immense success of the first two stunning covers, now we are eager to explore the creative process and stories behind the other captivating covers for this collaboration.

Hi Nasaya, welcome back! What was the creative process like for designing these covers?

Two days before I came up with the design, I experienced an immense feeling of serenity in the morning. I captured the feeling in my journal, calling it the “heavenly day”. I always have it at the back of my mind that it will be filled with pink skies and other soft colours. I want the design to look painterly and a bit playful, not losing my usual scribbles and doodles.

What inspired you to create the cover design for Mossery?

My design is inspired by a serene moment in the morning, right after dawn time, when you hear all the birds chirping and the world starts waking up. I usually go outside after my morning prayer, looking up at the sky, watching the clouds moving slowly, and closing my eyes while hearing the gentle sound of the rustling leaves.

Are there any specific themes or messages you wanted to convey through the cover?

Morning is sacred. I often greet the sky and the trees by saying good morning to them. I feel energized and grateful to be alive when I did that, and I hope people can appreciate early morning more. I also include some small green hills which resemble the ups and downs of our life. If you look at just that, it doesn’t seem special or beautiful. But zooming out, we see the landscape of our life, which is very unique and majestic. The sun is round and bright, like The Light we always seek to guide us through our days. It is always there, we just have to open our eyes.

Which is your favourite cover? What makes them special to you?

I like Zestful Night the most. If you look at the illustration closely, you can find some dots and dashes, it is actually a Morse code. While I was working on Zestful Night, I was really addicted to Morse code so I think that it is such a fun way to incorporate my hobby into my illustration. It also adds a fun anecdote for people who buy the book. Not just that, I also design each of the covers with interesting spines, so when we put it on the shelf, we can see it from afar and immediately know that it’s our notebook. I hope these notebooks will be the book of your life, a place where you can record your progress.

How would you describe your artistic style and influences?

I love to infuse my illustrations with scribbles, doodles and textures to display the imperfection of being human. I like using pastels and bright colours, while adding lots of hearts, flowers and sparkles because the message that I always want to convey is hope, gratitude and patience. I’m inspired by my past experiences and observation of my surroundings, they made me understand myself better. Each time I look at the artwork I have created, I learn something new about myself. That’s how I get my inspiration from and I hope people can get inspired by it as well.

Did you face any challenges or obstacles while creating the design? If so, how did you overcome them?

I was having a hard time coming up with a design that clicks. I already illustrated two other designs but I don’t think it align with my vision of a Mossery cover. On Friday night, right before the dawn prayer, I did a voluntary prayer, asking God to help me because I honestly felt desperate. Right after the prayer, I picked up my iPad and started to draw, then I came up with this design. I feel like I am getting an enlightenment. I love it so much because it opens a new style and technique for me.

Do you have any favorite Mossery products or designs from other artists that have caught your attention?

I love them all, especially the greeting cards designed by Bea Vaquero.I treasure them and I’m so happy that I can customize them to my liking

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the Mossery community and those who appreciate your work?

These days, our minds are filled with terrible things. We get stressed, depressed, and anxious. But we can find a way to escape from it which is by making art, listening to your heart, and telling people how precious this life is. Not only does this make our life beautiful, but we also bring brilliance to others’ life as well. We have the power to change how we see the world. Yes, it is not always perfect, but we can be grateful and patient with everything that comes along. On days when everything is overwhelming, turn off the devices, and let’s make paper and pencil our best friend again.

How do you see the role of art and creativity in enhancing the overall experience of using a notebook?

I’ve been an avid doodler ever since I was a child. In fact, used to sell graphics like Hello Kitty and Doraemon doodle when I was in primary school. Looking back, I’ve been doodling a lot, from my childhood up until now. For me, doodling and taking notes is such a fun way to de-stress. I am a stay-at-home wife so my routine is pretty much the same, I just do my daily chores at home and it gets boring at times. If I don’t draw, I don't have things to do. You can also see that I upload a lot of sketchnotes on my Instagram. Because that’s what I love to do and that’s how I express myself and see my progress as a person.

What do you hope people feel or experience when they see and interact with your notebook cover designs?

I am grateful to be a part of this journey. To know that your illustration is part of someone's life is incredibly rewarding for me especially when I look at it from a Muslim perspective since I get a share of blessings from it as well. While from an illustrator's perspective, the fact that people have my illustration as a decoration in their house really means a lot to me. Moreover, having my illustration on the covers, I feel like I am actually a part of their journey. When they use the notebook to record their sad days and their good days, it’s like a part of me will always be there with them even though we are just a stranger.

Heavenly Day, Zestful Night and Perpetual Spring Covers are now available for Planners, Notebooks and Sketchbooks so order yours today!

Dive into @synasaya's captivating world of illustrations and let these artistic creations inspire you to embrace joy and appreciate the beauty found within life's simple moments.

Let’s embrace serenity and find inspiration in the simple joys of life.