ELE Interview: Taking Five with Artist and Photographer - Justina Ramanauskienė, Sugar to Dust -

Every now and again when we are scrolling through Instagram we come across an account that immediately grabs our attention, this was the case when we found the beautiful Instagram feed of artist Justina Ramanauskiene from Sugar to Dust. Photography that looks like a 17th Century still life and food so beautifully captured it’s almost too pretty to eat, we knew we needed to chat to Lithanian talent Justina to find out out more. Here is our interview with the incredibly talented artist and photographer.

1. Where is your favourite travel destination and why?

As a European I mostly travel in Europe. My favourite places are Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London… I travel for food and art and friends of course. Amsterdam for its Rijksmuseum and beautiful architecture and canals. It is just an amazing city for a lovely weekend. London for the smog over the Thames river, beer and meet pies – that’s what I love there. Paris is my love. I even named my son the same name.

2. What is your go-to recipe to cook at home?

Quiche with roquefort cheese and cherry tomatoes. It always goes well and everyone loves it. Pavlova to sweeten a hot summer’s day. Creme brûlée. I’m looking for the best creme brûlée in Lithuania, and in my travels, but most of the time it’s mediocre or even just an omelet in sugar coating.

3. What can’t you live without in the garden?

I am not very much in to gardening even though I have one. I plant flowers and my favourites are hydrangeas which I have in different varieties. They are my beauties in the garden. I also grow spice herbs, peas and edible flowers. I like to cook with edible flowers because it is always very beautiful to finish a cake or some other dish with a beautiful flower, which you can eat, not just enjoy its beauty.

4. What inspires you?

Life! Movies, music, traveling, meeting new people, cooking, reading books, visiting museums and exhibitions, my kids. Sometimes I feel a lack of inspiration and then I just try not to think about it. I let my thoughts flow easy. Then I am walking a lot in parks and forests and most of a time the inspiration comes back to me.

5. Describe your perfect day.

I wake up early. Do some easy simple exercises to wake up my body. Then I make a cup of coffee. While drinking my coffee I plan my day. When kids wake we all make breakfast — french toasts or pancakes. After breakfast I drive my kids to school and kindergarten, then come back home and start cooking and shooting or arrange some still lifes inspired by old master’s and again take some pictures.