The Saya® Woman is an interview series with extraordinary women, representing what Saya® as a brand is all about. They are conscious, empowered women who share their experience, insights and of course, their beauty routines. We hope their stories inspire you as much as they inspire us.
Lisa Morgan is a Noosa-based artist who created the piece ‘The Bay Noosa Heads’, featured on our holiday gifting boxes. This heart-warming interview with Lisa gives you an insight into the life of an extraordinary woman and artist, who has spent much of her life being surrounded by nature. She draws inspiration from natural landscapes, much the same as our Founder Saya. Her beauty and skincare routine is simple and uncomplicated.
1. Tell us about your childhood, did you grow up around other creatives?
My childhood was wonderful, we were free-range kids, always outside and exploring and having adventures, roaming over farmland near our home, climbing trees, and swimming in the creek or beach. My mother, Margaret Sewell, always had a pencil or paintbrush in her hand. She was a graduate of the Elam School of Arts in NZ and was a wonderful painter and later in life a beautiful sculptor. She married my stepfather, John Blackwood-Sewell when I was in my early twenties. John was an adventurous man who bought the lease to Old Woman Island off Mudjimba back in the 60s. He built a small stone cottage, a dam and a cyclone shelter with his bare hands, also building a pontoon down at Mooloolaba and towing supplies to the island with a prawn trawler. He started making jewellery on the island which became a lifelong passion for him. He met my mother in the 70s and together they went on to make pottery and bronze sculptures together as well as painting and generally remaining very creative until the end of their lives. I was very fortunate to be inspired by these two very special people and miss them tremendously.
2. We are so excited to use your piece, ‘The Bay Noosa Heads’, for our holiday gifting boxes. Tell us more about the creative process of this piece, and where you drew inspiration.
I painted the piece ‘The Bay Noosa Heads’ in response to a perfectly beautiful period of weather. After one particular sunny Noosa National Park walk, and subsequent sunset drinks on Mt Timbeerwah with friends, I felt joy for the privilege of living in this sparkling blue environment. On canvas, I have attempted to capture and paint these feelings, intuitively and organically. Hopefully, I have taken a meaningful moment in time and expressed it through a playful and abstract style.
3. We would love to know about your beauty routine! What are some staples in your routine that you can’t go without?
My one regret with my beauty routine, over many decades, has been that I did not regularly apply sunscreen to my face and body! If only I had listened to my mother!! Nevertheless have always kept it very simple and uncomplicated. I never go to bed without cleansing, washing my face and applying a night cream. My morning routine is fairly quick - a moisturiser, a light foundation with SP 40+, a little mascara and lippy and I am ready to go. I do like to do a clay mask from time to time and also use a serum either with my moisturiser or night cream several times a week. I love shopping locally and supporting the wonderful products we can buy here on the Coast. I discovered Saya skincare well over ten years ago and was immediately drawn to the integrity, the story and the lineup of Australian organic native products they use and am a great fan of this range.
4. What’s next for Lisa Morgan?
Many women my age are beginning to slow down a little. Luckily I am surrounded by strong, creative and inspiring women who see the years after children and grandchildren as being some of the best years ever. I have no inclination to stop making art. My dream is to have a larger studio with a corner dedicated to other creative processes. My husband and I were potters for the first five years of our marriage and I would love to return to some clay work to complement my art practice. I am excited to visualise what I may be painting and creating ten years from now. Life is rich and full of wonderful surprises if we only take the opportunity to grasp hold of them firmly and trust ourselves to new adventures.
