"Macramé, Fish Sculptures, and Thinking Outside the Box" — A Conversation with Dalila Peixe, Art and Craft Teacher from Porto Santo island, Portugal

Dalila Peixe is an art teacher and craftswoman from the small island of Porto Santo. A chance meeting with her sparked the beginning of a bold new project — creating sustainable FISH craft sculpture that connect nature, community, and creativity. Today, we sat down with Dalila to ask a few questions about her journey, her vision, and what it really takes to survive as an artist and crafter on a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic.

How your journey into craft began?

Ah, that was back in Lisbon! I was 15, still in school, and started making macramé pieces just for fun. One day, I packed a few and took them to a little local shop. I told the owner, “Just try to sell them, if you want.” By the end of the day, everything was gone!

She called me and asked for more.

And that’s how I started earning money from craft.

But shhh... I had school, so I only worked weekends. I secretly roped in my little brothers to help. I guess that was my first lesson in management!

And now you’re teaching art and craft on a small island — what’s it like?

It’s a tiny community here on Porto Santo. Everyone knows everyone. I’ve had students since they were in diapers! There’s something magical — the kids are incredibly talented.Maybe because they have less “noise” around them? They listen differently. They see differently. I have a group of five now who are just... brilliant. They don’t work for grades or hours — they work because they love it. That’s gold.

What makes a difference in how young people engage with art?

Time. And trust. I always say: we adults can’t just demand results — we need to stand beside them, not above them.

Art doesn’t always happen in an hour-long class. Sometimes it flows, sometimes it doesn’t.

But when they see that I, as their teacher, am giving them time — they feel it. And they begin to believe they’re good. Because they are good. Even when they make very little — it’s already beautiful.

What opportunities do young artists have to show their work?

We have an “art fortnight” in May, part of the school exhibition week. Students show what they’ve created throughout the year. Sometimes we even invite community members to see it — not just within the school walls.

Art needs to be seen. Otherwise, it’s forgotten.

What about earning money? Is there a market for young creators?

Well... the island is small, right? But there is interest, especially from visitors. We need to value our own people — I keep telling my students: you’re not just as good as others; you can be better.

Do you think there’s a lack of entrepreneurial spirit among the youth?

Yes, absolutely.

They need to learn that creativity can feed them.

I’ve given so many ideas: draw portraits in summer, paint on t-shirts, make mini-postcards of Porto Santo — things tourists can buy and take. I told them about a girl from Georgia — an artist who drew portraits on coffee cups! People bought coffee just to keep the cup. Genius, right?

And do they follow your advice?

No! (laughs) They’d rather work in restaurants. Which is fine — but why not also make money doing what you love? I keep telling them: do something small.... t-shirts, start simple. But it’s like there’s this mental block. A kind of internal limit.

You talk a lot about thinking outside the box. What does that mean to you?

Oh, that’s everything. I was never trained to be a teacher — I just love it. I love working with teens, seeing them grow. I want to change them — not for me, but for them.But they struggle with the idea of being different. I get it. We’re trained to be the same. But why should we be? Being different doesn’t mean being wrong. It means being you — and doing it well.Professionalism matters.

We need to encourage kids to believe they can do things differently — and that’s where real talent blossoms.

Final message to young crafters andartists from remote areas

Believe in yourself. Really. But also — get out. Sometimes you have to leave to value where you come from. Some of my students only appreciated Porto Santo after they left. And that’s fine. Some came back, some didn’t. But they grew. They succeeded.

And remember — don’t wait for someone to give you a chance. Make your own.

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