A Holistic Living
Camila Mae Navas on how to redefine aesthetics and design.
Camila Mae Navas is a talented multidisciplinary artist and the visionary behind Nlumec, a brand creating sculptural, modern candles that transform as they burn. Camila’s fascination with the interplay of light and space began in her youth, fueling her passion for designing illuminating experiences within interior environments. As a San Francisco native, Camila has immersed herself in the worlds of art, film, production, and museum curation. Currently splitting her time between New York City and Miami, she embraces a sustainable lifestyle while pursuing her love for art and holistic living.
Camila’s expertise and artistic sensibilities have garnered attention from international audiences, leading her to consult on interior design and art projects. Her formative experiences visiting museums with her family and exploring diverse architectural styles have shaped her artistic journey. For her, being a businesswoman means uplifting and supporting other women on their journeys to success. She believes in the strength of expression through art and uses her company and creativity as tools to empower herself and others.
Photo: Courtesy of @camimaecool.
Karen: When scrolling through your Instagram account, I realized that you keep an important connection with nature, the earth, and the care of the self. What influenced you to choose this kind of lifestyle?
Camila: Growing up in California, I have always had a strong connection to nature and the earth. I grew up hiking and camping and connecting with the elements. I am an Earth baby born on Earth Day and I am also a Taurus. For me, everything starts with a connection to nature and feeling grounded. I feel my best when I have the ability to escape to the ocean or take my dog to an empty open space where we can just be free. I am fascinated by all that mother earth has to offer and I want to make sure she is treated well by me and those around me. There is also beauty in the rawness of earthy elements in their truest form like raw wood, stone, and handmade raw materials like linen. I feel the same way about the body and care of the self, I don't do much. I am not fussy when it comes to nails, hair, or makeup. I love to do self-care but aim to use natural products and maintain effortless upkeep. The closer to its truest form and least processed, the better for me.
Karen: Where do you take your inspiration from to develop yourself between interior design, fashion, art, and entrepreneurship?
Camila: I am driven by the beauty all around me whether it be art, spaces, or people. Relationship with beauty can mean different things to you and me and I think the beauty lies there in the unknown. What sparks excitement for me is being able to cultivate beauty in everyday life like my space and fashion but also with relationships that I build with people or even a stranger who ends up striking up a beautiful and unexpected conversation. As to entrepreneurship, I grew up knowing I didn’t only want to work one job, I wanted the flexibility to explore all facets of my being and the talents or hobbies that drive me. I started my architectural candle company Nlumec just after graduating college during the peak pandemic of 2020. I was bored in the house and longing for creativity after just finishing schooling in art history, painting, and sculpting. I created a natural product and combined that with my love for art, design, and ambiance. That boredom led me to create Nlumec and everything flowed so effortlessly that people enjoyed what I was creating and I love sharing that energy with people I love gift giving.
Photos: Courtesy of @camimaecool.
Karen: What common thread exists between all these projects?
Camila: I would say the common thread is beauty and independence! I am driven by all the beautiful things in this world and being free to do what brings me joy.
Karen: Your company Nlumec brings all your expertise into one brand. Can you guide us through the process that takes place in your studio?
Camila: I took a sculpting class with a professor that made me fall in love with the world of sculpture and ways of expressing emotion through art. I graduated during the height of the pandemic and I did not get to walk in a graduation ceremony. Bored and filled with creativity after finishing my studies at Hunter College, I wanted to create a business and I was really into casting and molding. I found the possibilities endless. I won't share too much of the magic but I came up with a proprietary process to get these shapes out of beeswax that are almost futuristic while still being organic like the body. There is a familiarity with the shapes and the material that I connected to right away.
Photos: Courtesy of the artist.
Karen: What meaning does interior design have in your life?
Camila: Interior design to me means comfort and familiarity. It is a way of expression just like when you dress yourself in the morning. You are designing your look for the day and it becomes part of your persona. The interior design of a space is that persona; it is another way of reflecting who you are. I am an artist and expression means everything to me. I need to be around people that I feel I can be myself and express myself fully- the same goes for my space. This is true for any space, a restaurant, or a hotel - it is a reflection of the experience they have designed for you to have. The ambiance is everything.
Karen: Being a multidisciplinary artist in so many different fields must be something that takes a lot of hard work and nights without sleep. How do you find a balance between them?
Camila: What is balance anyways? I have a very strong connection to my sense of self and I listen to what my gut is telling me. I go where I am wanted and stay home when I am feeling like I need to recharge. I follow what excites me at the moment and try to live in the present.
“I don't believe that you have to lose sleep to be a hard worker. It is just about prioritizing what I have to do on any given day and saying no to people or plans if I need to.”
Karen: What do you do when you are not focusing on your professional projects?
Camila: I love to go swimming in the ocean, catch up with friends and eat! I am very passionate about food. I love to cook and visit my favorite restaurants that make my taste buds tingle- this always brings me so much joy. I love to dance and listen to music.
Photos: Courtesy of @camimaecool.
Karen: What is something that today no longer takes time from your thoughts in your life but long ago you cared a lot?
Camila: I used to worry so much about what I was going to do in life. The constant question ruminating in my mind about who I will be? What am I meant to do? Where do I fit in? I found out that by following my heart and just letting excitement guide me I found exactly where I needed to be and what I was meant to do.
Karen: As an art consultant, what do you think are some of the most important factors you consider when selecting art for a client?
Camila: Everyone has different tastes and I have to respect that. I try to see where their inner child is pulling towards more color or more fine lines. Some people like abstract and some want refined portraiture or more silly or more serious. I like to find what makes the other person light up and say “Yes, that! I like that!” Considering the size, color, subject, and price are all very important factors when it comes to finding the right art for a client but I also love to do research and learn about artists and see if I can find a connection that goes deeper than the piece itself and more into a human to human connection. Maybe the artist is from the same hometown or has a similar upbringing or drive in life that I think a client would connect well with and appreciate having their art that much more.
Photos: Courtesy of @camimaecool.
Karen: Why is it important to surround ourselves with art?
Camila: Art makes life colorful. I also think it can be deeply meditative to lose yourself in a work of art and follow the lines with your eyes and get lost in the colors or emotions. Art often tells a story and artists sometimes end up being the lens that captures our society best. It is about connection and how a human can connect with another human who is a total stranger through a work of art. It also brings about introspection and that is SO important - to stop and go inwards.
Karen: Tell us how you invest in self-development outside your professional life.
Camila: I visit museums and galleries often, I love to connect with others and learn about what they do and how they came to be. I do a ton of research about art and interior design, fashion, trends, etc. I love to learn and observe. Eating healthy and dancing/ exercising and spending time grounding myself in nature.
Photo: Courtesy of @camimaecool.
Karen: Living in chaotic cities like NYC and Miami takes a lot of patience, self-restraint, and attitude. Is there any advice you would give to someone that is just starting to find their way in?
Camila: I guess my personality is pretty calm and introverted so I don't get caught up in nightlife and partying. My advice would be to spend your time wisely focusing on making yourself better in every way, stronger, smarter, and better than yesterday. I work on practicing kindness and empathy but also know when to assert myself and stand my ground or speak up.
Karen: What do you think is the most precious and important thing that gives meaning to your life?
Camila: Family and nature. Time is all we have and I think it is so important to make time for family and enjoy this beautiful earth. We all end up the same way in the end so living a peaceful life is all that matters in the end.