Chanelle Gallafent is a hawaiian based artist and photographer with a strong love for nature. Get to know a little more about her and what keeps her inspired.

The Basics

Name: Chanelle Gallafent

Date: Sunday, April 14, 2013

Time: 11:50pm

Location: Maui, Hawaii

Occupation: Artist, Stay-at-home mom, Day dreamer

The Nitty Gritty

 1. Before you started this Q&A, what were you doing?

I was picking up a case of pastels that fell off my desk… Oops.

 2. Are you a morning or night person?

Both. My favorite time of day is dawn. I just love the way early morning feels, y’know? Your end of the Earth is waking up, creatures are stirring. The sunlight is soft. But I’m also fond of nighttime (call me night owl). Blame it on my indecisiveness.

 3. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 17, and find line 7, what does it say?

“This one is surrounded by star coral polyps and, like the corals, is feeding on plankton.”

– Ocean: The World’s Last Wilderness Revealed by the American Museum of Natural History

… I’m gonna be honest… pg.17 had only a 4 line caption, so I wrote the last line. It was a beautiful two page close-up shot of a spiny-headed blenny fish (did you know they can walk on land?!)

4. Do you remember your dreams?

Some I remember vividly, some fade within minutes after waking. Few I don’t remember at all, but the feeling of having dreamt lingers. But I do keep a dream journal of the ones that stand out. I wish we could watch videos of our dreams… wouldn’t that be amazing / frightening / mind-blowing?

5. Tell us something about you that most people don’t know.

I really, really wish I was a singer or musician. My passion in life is to move people, to stir up something within them, and I was given the gift of art to carry out that desire. But to be able to move people through music is on an entirely different level. I have an extreme admiration for those gifted in this way. If only I could carry a tune!

6. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?

This is such a loaded and intimidating question. I guess I would want people to have a stronger sense of wonder. For them to question and seek out truth, to have a desire for wisdom and knowledge. I see people stuck in this bubble of complacency and ignorance to the world buzzing around them. A great deal of people just don’t care much about… anything. I’d love to see people have more compassion and selflessness; for all of us to really understand how to love one another and then carry out that understanding.

7. Do you like to dance?

I do, very very much. I’m not gonna lie, out of all the genre’s to dance to, I’d choose disco any day, over almost anything. Or most ‘oldies’. I wish that at my old school dances they had played cooler music like “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes. I’d get down to that song in a heartbeat.

8. What did your last text message say?

“What are you up to?” …oops I should probably reply to that.

9. If you could have lunch with one famous person, who would it be?

I’d probably have to say (if I could even decide after an excruciating elimination process) it’d be Joanna Newsom. She is a gorgeous, incredibly talented harpist, singer, songwriter, the list goes on. Her heart and soul seem so kind and gentle, and I could spend all day in her presence. (If you don’t know her, look-up to her album “Have One on Me”. Then you’ll see how magical she truly is)

10. What are you currently obsessed with?

One: The song ‘Nara’ by E.S. Posthumus – so powerful and haunting.

Two: (BBC) SHERLOCK. The anticipation of the new season three is torturous. My friends and I are HUGE fans. I’ve never been such a fan girl over anything.

Three: Crossing off all the movies on my “Movies Yet To Watch” list

Four: Any National Geographic nature special / documentary / show I can find.

Five: Giant Clams, Mandarinfish, Peacock Mantis Shrimps

Six: Beautiful poetry

11. What word do you use the most?

This is hard, because I have no clue. I think the word every human being uses most is “I”, whether we realize it or not.

12. 3 things you’d like to do before you die?

One: Meet a special little girl named Jeah Cabilin. She’s the 9 year old girl I sponsor through Compassion International. To see her adorable face in person would turn me into a babbling baby… I would cry happy, happy tears.

Two: Visit the Titanic shipwreck before it deteriorates completely.

Three: Write at least one book and make one full length independent film.

13. Have you ever been in love?

As wordy as my answers have been, all I can simply say here is yes. A deep and profound yes.

 14. If given a yacht. What would you name it?

My favorite name of all time, Echo Lawrence. I’ve never heard a more perfect name (I’m weird). It’s one of the characters in Chuck Palahniuk’s ‘RANT’.

 15. Who do you admire the most?

To oversimplify, I admire those close to me. My family, my friends. I have a beautiful support system. I admire people who aren’t afraid of a little weirdness and silliness. I admire those that bring out the best in others.

 16. If handed 10,000 dollars what would you blow it on?

In all honesty, the very selfish part of me would want to spend it on things like an art studio. My wish-list on Etsy. To go back to Europe. Every book I could get my hands on. To support an extremely unhealthy plant hoarding problem. But I know I’d end up giving most of it away to charity or to those I know really need it. To organizations that do the work I wish I was doing. I’d want to do something good, It’d only feel right.

 17. What is the one thing you can’t live without?

I really couldn’t imagine my life without vision. Not to take anything away from the lives of those without, but the ability to see is so incredible. It’s just that my heart burns for the things in which I can see… the canvas in front of me, my children’s faces, the magnificence of nature, a beautiful film. It would be heartbreaking for me to live without it. But of course I’d be grateful for life regardless.

 18. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Since it’s 1am, I was technically filling this Q&A out!

 19. What did you want to be when you grew up?

In preschool my answer to this was “A doctor… so I can help someone get a life” haha. But I really wanted to do something that either involved nature or some kind of philanthropy. Or both. Eventually it dwindled down into (so many things, like) an interior designer, potter, botanist / florist, marine biologist, veterinarian, human rights activist, missionary, teacher, guidance counselor, filmmaker, author, and of course an artist.

 20. What would you tell your 13 year-old self?

Oh man… a million and one things. Boys aren’t worth the time and headspace. Stick to your convictions. Seek after a passionate artistic life. Care less about yourself and more about others. Train yourself in discernment. Be faithful and love deeply. Don’t judge anyone. Be driven to be an example to others. Trials and tribulations are temporary. God is more important than anything else. Everything has a purpose. Concentrate on what makes a person noble, like trustworthiness, honesty, kindness, altruism, diligence, integrity, courage, generosity. Pray more. Pay attention in school. If you’re gonna keep a diary at least learn to hide it well. STOP CUTTING YOUR HAIR! And love yourself no matter how much you think you shouldn’t. ♡

 Artwork & Photos By Chanelle Gallafent

For more information about Chanelle Gallafent check out:

Site: chanellegallafent.blogspot.com

Twitter: @anowlsoul

Instagram: @anowlsoul