Dream Ladies Shano Mulhall mini Interview

One of life’s simple but sweet pleasures (beside crepes with Nutella and hot chocolate) is the ability of women to talk for hours about unimportant, for the surroundings trivial subjects which probably (read, definitely) aren’t of worldly importance and don’t offer a permanent solution for the problem in the Middle East, nor can stop the famine in Africa (but, if given a chance I’m sure women could do it more successfully than men).  Not only do these conversations, this “girl talk,” give a more profound meaning to the term “morning coffee,” but they also embellish our unvaried and sometimes dreary reality.

The pleasure is even greater when you are able to exchange thoughts on beauty and its secrets with women who are not only beautiful but talented, ambitious and interesting, with fulfilled lives AND great sense of humor. One of them is Shano Mulhall, an artist who lives the life of a diva and seductress through her bold and sexy heroines who are a main subject of her paintings and prints, which are bursting with color, glamour and glitter.

Shano’s art is featured in galleries and boutiques across America. Her artwork appears on handbags, cosmetic bags, t-shirts, and Italian charm bracelets. The intensity and liveliness of the colors, the playfulness of her cat-women, her fairytalish angels, sirens and fairies, the elegance of her horses and cats hypnotize, inspire and yield the scent of a woman, the kind of woman we secretly want to resemble( admit it!).

This is a girl talk with Shano Mulhall.

Fragrantica: You are a self proclaimed gypsy? What does that exactly mean?

Shano Mulhall: I have lived in so many places! I grew up in the country on a farm until I was 14 years old then moved across the country to live in the mountains outside of Los Angeles. When I was old enough for college, I lived in the Los Angeles area including the "valley" and then the beach. After a few years I moved to Santa Barbara and eventually onto Park City Utah for school (and the skiing!). And then back to living outside of the Los Angeles area. Shortly thereafter I met my husband who transported me to the Pacific Northwest where we now live on a little island. I moved and moved and kept moving until I found the place that I believe I will live the rest of my life.

Fragrantica: You said that you’re devoted to pop-art, fashion and that you are a magazine junky? How much do you find yourself influenced by these in your everyday life?

Shano Mulhall: Unfortunately I am obsessed. Regardless of if I even leave the house, I always wear make-up and fix my hair. I watch television and see women wearing clothing and accessories that I have to have. I see hair cuts and styles that I want to try out. I notice lip colors that I want to buy. I notice eye make-up and I try to imitate it the next day. Most of the time I think, "How much does she NOT have to eat to be that thin?" I'm not sure why I am so intrigued, but I had a hot Mom who fixed herself up and wore make up every day so I blame her for planting that seed.

Fragrantica: What is your fashion/beauty style?

Shano Mulhall: I live on a small island of about 15,000 (seasonally). Jeans and t-shirts are pretty much the standard. I stay far, far away from prints, with the exception of one crazy Pucci-like dress, and another Diane von Furstenberg vintage wrap dress.

But for everyday clothing, I like to mix it up with accessories--especially bold necklaces, shoes, jackets, or long scarves. I feel naked without earrings and a necklace. Oh, and I'm always in search of the perfect "cute butt jeans". God and my parents gave me a non-existent white girl butt.

Fragrantica: How similar are you with the audacious divas that feature on your paintings?

Shano Mulhall:Oh dear. In social situations I can become quite audacious. I'm working on toning that down a bit. At home my husband is constantly laughing at my girlishness.

Fragrantica: What’s your favorite perfume?

Shano Mulhall: Narciso Rodriguez "For Her". Notes: Honey Flower, Solar Musk, Orange Blossom, Osmanthus, Amberlyn, Vanilla, Tactile Musk, Tactile Woods, Vetiver.

Style: Warm. Sensual. Feminine.

Fragrantica:How do scents and fragrances influence you and your art?

Shano Mulhall: I'm actually quite sensitive to perfumes and scents. I am allergic to a lot of it- most of it. But my home is filled with essential oils and scented soy candles of clove, cinnamon, and Oriental themed scents (Lit all at once it has the most unique scent). I love exotic, bold, earthy, flavors and Narciso Rodriguez "For Her"' perfume embodies my personality, and the best thing is that I don't seem to be allergic or sensitive to it! Scents and music can greatly influence and set the tone of a painting.

Fragrantica: You are a very beautiful woman. Are there are beauty secrets you’d like to share or do you believe that beauty "comes from the inside?"

Shano Mulhall: Aw, thanks! Beauty comes from the inside? Definitely. Nothing is sexier than a self-assured woman, or a girl with attitude and style. But as far as the outside goes ... I swear by Yves Rocher's Riche Creme Wrinkle smoothing Eye Creme, and anti-aging face lotions with SPF. I love Sebastian Potion 9 and Biosilk Silk Therapy for the hair. For the body I like Bath and Body Works' Jasmine Vanilla lotion and BOBE Bath Essential's Whipped Soy Body butter in "Cherub" (Bobe bath esentials).

For makeup I like EveryDayMineral.com eye color "exhale" which I use dry as a brow color, and wet as an eye liner. It stays on all day. I'm still in search of the perfect foundation. Right now I'm using Cover Girl's Advanced Radiance which covers well, but stays a bit too shiny all day so I mix it with a tinted moisturizer, also with SPF.

Fragrantica: In which things do you search for beauty? What is beauty to you?

Shano Mulhall: Beauty to me is anything that arouses the visual senses. The color of the autumn leaves, misty mornings, my horses' grace, beauty, and strength. I can find beauty in almost anything. Old, quirky, unique items that I find at thrift stores. I love to hear my friends and family laugh. I love to watch my dogs run and play in the field with all their fur dancing with the motion of their muscles. I love the soft fur and exotic blue eyes of my Siamese Cats. Quiet Sundays where we all curl up in soft blankets read books in the living room around the wood stove. Beauty isn't just fashion to me, it is what warms the soul.

Fragrantica: If you could chose a scent/smell/perfume that best describes your art what would it be?

Shano Mulhall: Spicy. Quiet. Feminine. Raw Musk. Oriental. Exotic flowers. Earthy. Ethereal.

Interviewed by: Dora Vagiana (doroula)
Fragrantica Member