Poppie VAN HERWERDEN

What was your very first job?

When I was 13, I worked at a skateboard shop in Los Angeles.

Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails.

Coming up with concepts for photo shoots, laying out magazines, designing fonts and logos, filming and editing videos, writing, exploring ideas.

How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? What was there train of events that brought you to where you are today?

Many people in my family had or have creative occupations. Growing up surrounded by interesting people, stories and visuals, it was nurtured and all around. When I was a teenager I knew that I had to be in New York for it’s energy and diversity, even though it would take me across the country. Sometimes I think that I was more decisive then than I am now.

In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?

Everything is fleeting. I try to keep my work true to the human experience as a whole, however possible that might be.

If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, more for the creative work and innovation it required, rather than its recognition or industry “success,” what would it be?

I filmed an edited a video for a band called The Jack Moves who play Soul music in the style of the 70s greats. The Chicano Lowrider community in California are heavy followers of that sound – mostly love songs – and through that connection we travelled to Oakland to meet and film them for a song called Joyride. We spent two days hopping into cars and cruising… listening to music. It was the first video I’d ever shot and it was invigorating to be thrust into a new medium, and to be so graciously invited into another community with such trust. I still feel inspired by the experience and am proud of the video that came out of it.