We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Clair Belleveau. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Clair below.
Hi Clair, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I feel it’s as exact + delightfully worded in the question — I’m the only one like me in the room — so being a concoction only I can offer is the superhuman power to my idea of success.
Being completely unique, your own flavor, your own brand, already opens the pathway to being effectively successful, because I choose to act in whitespace willingly to actively, purposefully do it differently. I have found that other creatives, individuals + groups, resonate much quicker when your brand comes from a place of personal means, because your idea, your brand is an inspiration from or an embodiment of you. Unable to be duplicated. Being vulnerable from the start of building something breeds success in connections, storytelling + expansion when others can show up with you as themselves. It offers instant permission to be different with a desire for connection. Sharing in our creative pursuits is the the most effective way to compound success — because it multiplies positive energy where other’s can hold space + generate from their center as you have decided to — every.single.day. Nothing makes me feel more successful than showing others than can “do this”, too.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
This will sound a bit cliché, but ever since I could walk – I’ve been drawing up my own worlds. My mind has always been a place I found endless color + otherworldly realms that needed to be shared in some way. I’ve never let go of my childlike wonder — that’s was my insurance in building The Speckled Moon. My sense of play, curiosity + freedom to experiment have been the three key ingredients to the “secret sauce” of my devotion to my brand mission in exalting daydreams into the tangible world.
The birth of The Speckled Moon came from my desire to create art that was wearable, crafting a bridge between the realms of both fashion + art. I yearned for pieces one could wear that are an extension of the self, an emblem that they are never leaving a part of themselves on the table. A permission slip to show up, show out, in all their colors, tints, hues + shades. All the fantasy, all mysticism percolating within.
Due to my mom’s adoration for Venetian masks, I grew up with them all over my childhood home + was always drawn to the inherent opulence + saturated metallics used in many of the traditional treatments. It was my first trip to Venice when it felt so full circle getting to experience their birth place on my own. I stumbled upon these blank, white, Venetian plaster masks in every silhouette you can imagine in a couple of workshops we visited + it was the most visceral lightbulb illumination, fireworks popping moment I had experienced in a long time.
My mission is to spin the meaning of mask on its head (literally), where a mask is so unabashedly expressive, to be worn unafraid in every way: unafraid of bright color, unafraid of the innermost parts of ourselves, the metaphysical, the occult, the other-wordly, the fantastical. There’s this unbridled freedom to bring our outrageously, vibrant selves to the forefront without cause, so we can gleam as brightly as we uniquely deserve. Full frontal, in full color.
The masks I create are made to feel like your highest, most spectacular self during the most unparalleled, magical moments, events or expressions in your life. Whether it be for your wedding, birthday, festival, party, fashion show, or decorate an interior of your choice – the possibilities are endless. I want my fellow Daydreamers to feel transported to a magnificent place via my effervescent surrealistic, fantastical style.
We just recently launched a website refresh, featuring a new offering “DIY Mask Parties”, or what I’m coining “CYO” — Create Your Own. A CYO mask party is your opportunity to take the paintbrush into your hands + dream up your very own mask during a curated mask-painting event. Whether it be an intimate paint n’ sip soirée, immersive corporate retreat, or an inspirational experience during a grand celebration – you become the artist + the canvas is your very own mask.
Upcoming events + partnerships for The Speckled Moon — perhaps at a cosmos near you!
“Celestial Gathering: Gemini” w/Sun Moon Rising Wines, Lower East Side, New York City, June ‘25
“Let Them Eat Cake! Marie Antoinette Brunch”, Hamptons, New York, July ‘25
“The Red Party” w/The JCB Collection, St. Helena, California, Fall ’25
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Stay curious – this sounds like a simple one, but this is such an important quality to operate within as an entrepreneur, especially as a creative-preneur. There will be days you are uninspired, demotivated or lacking energy, but it’s important to know that anything done in pursuit of expanding your viewpoint on your journey, vernacular, or craft, still moves the needle forward, even if incrementally. Any momentum is positive momentum, specifically made in the spirit of curiosity, desire to learn, and grow. A subject matter expert makes you ripe and rich with more of your community wanting to be a part of your world, being an individual other’s feel inspired by and want to partner or work with you over and over again.
Self-teaching – I’m all for taking courses, online or in person, to up-level your business acumen skills or even venturing into a new technique within your craft — but there is something so incredibly rewarding about delving into YouTube videos, reading books, listening to podcasts, plastering mood boards, even writing out a preliminary business plan that is a springboard you created from your own experimental process. It incites a sense of accomplishment that brings a different sense of clarity because it all came from your efforts — you were the genesis. That’s one of the greatest recurring gifts of entrepreneurship is that all the juice you’re squeezing comes from you — you are the source that showed up for yourself in such a big way (even if it’s in small ways) to bring your own brilliance to life. I feel it also builds an incredible self-awareness and up-level in confidence that you can do this. If you won’t dig deep for you, who will?
Intentional rest – It’s easy to talk about being inspired and staying excited about your dream, but none of this will last if it comes from an empty well. As a creative, it’s easy to keep wanting to create, create, create since it all comes from the heart, from our ideas — which is all positive. That makes being a creative-preneur all the more sneaky when it still uses up your energy source, even if process comes from joy. This was a skill that was tougher for me to embrace, going from a 9-5 corporate job in marketing with very clear swim lanes, having to deliver and provide output vs. having the time to take a breather and generate rom abundance. I’ve had to create my own structure all of a sudden being home 24/7 to both create my art and pursue business opportunities within it. It was a true brain and energy shift, that I’m still navigating everyday — but I find writing out my thoughts as a form to slow down my brain, to then head into intentional rest, whether a walk, sitting in nature or watching an episode of a favorite show, doodling — then unplugs me with full mental separation to feel even more ready to plug back in.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert — one of the best pieces of advice I gleaned from her book, although there are so many, was something along the lines of this:
A creative life is something you must commit to, live by and exercise the practice every.single.day. It’s an enchanting, mystical force that requires great attention, care and total devotion. In equal measure, one must not place pressure on your art to “perform” or as a measurement in means of success based on the fervor you force upon it. Make money in other ways to keep your art, your creative pursuit, in a sacred place of evergreen flow that grows naturally the way it is meant to, with light holding, but firm dedication. The tender care is a gentile declaration of your creative intent and total seriousness to define yourself by your vocation to keep generating because you are called to do so, not forced to generate from drive, competition or lack.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thespeckledmoon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespeckledmoon/
Image Credits
Haley Varacallo
Carolina
Tim Pugenchenko
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
