happy weekend!

defining yourself, your art and creative business

We live in a time where we are bombarded with so much information. Through social media we are able to look into other people's lives, we face advertising and all kinds of messages about the people we should be and the life we should be living and it can be challenging to stay true to yourself or even know who you are and what you stand for. When you are growing a creative business, it can be even more challenging to know what makes you and your business unique. I think the best place to start is to quiet all the noise out there, stop looking at what everyone else is doing and get back to the basics of your life and the things that define you! Before you can set out on a path of growth for a creative career you MUST take time to really reflect and identify all the things that are unique to you.

I feel lucky to have always known that I want to be an artist, having this foundation has helped me stay on the path of working towards my dreams but along the way I've had to do a lot work and reflection about who I am and what makes me unique. Regardless of the place you are at, I think it is so important to take time to "quiet the noise" and really connect with things that make you special and unique. 

Today I wanted to share the things that I reflect on when it comes to defining my art and my creative business.

WHAT IS YOUR UNIQUE STORY?

We all have a story that is completely unique. Taking time to think about and reflect on your history will help you be aware of the things that make you different.

WHAT DRIVES YOU OR INSPIRES YOU?

Understanding the things that drive and inspire you will help to keep you productive. Keep in mind that your inspiration and drive may change and evolve over time but staying aware of those things will keep you connected and moving forward toward your goals.

TIP: I like to keep visual inspiration in my office and my creative space. From inspiring quotes to inspiring pictures and goals, keeping reminders of what "drives you" close at hand is always helpful. Since a big part of my business drive these days is providing for my family, I have photos of my family and loved ones all over my office. In those moments when I am feeling "BLAH" or discouraged I am able to be reminded of why I am working hard.

WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY?

There is no sense in spending time and energy on things that make you unhappy. I think it is really important to pause to identify the things that bring you joy. Even if these things don't turn into business opportunities, they have the ability to provide authentic inspiration for your art and your business goals. They also have the ability to help you make decisions about your brand as you move forward.

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?

Taking a little time to identify your strengths and weaknesses can shed light on the things that are working (or not working) in your life. While it is pretty easy to name your success, it can be a little harder to focus on failures and weakness. But understanding your challenges, the things that are not working and areas where you are weak can really help you grow and better define where you want to put your energy.

WHAT OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE?

This is not always a fun question to answer or even think about but understanding the things that get in your way or make your goals and dreams difficult to reach will only help you overcome those obstacles. 

WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS AND PASSIONS?

Identifying your interests and passions will help you stay true to yourself and away from copying and comparing. Even if some of your interests may not tie directly into your business they may be the things that fuel your ideas and your inspiration.

FOR EXAMPLE: I love food and anything relating to food! While my business is all about art, I often find inspiration for color, texture and pattern at the grocery store, in a restaurant and in the kitchen. My passion for food is always inspiring me and the different ideas that I come up with! 

WHAT ARE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS?

Regardless of how big or small they are, acknowledging your accomplishments is such an important way to stay encouraged and inspired. Taking a look at things that have been successful is also helpful when making decisions

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR LIFE, YOUR CREATIVITY AND/OR YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE?

Setting goals for all the different areas of your life is one the most important and powerful things you can do for your creative business. While it may feel scary to name the things you want (because it can be disappointing if those things don't happen) but taking time to really set small and BIG things you want for your life will help you focus your energy and give you a direction to move in.

TIPS:

When you take time to reflect on who you are, forget about over-thinking and write down whatever comes to mind first. 

Do your best to forget about trends, fads and people that you admire. At this point, it is important NOT to let other people influence who you are.

Don't be afraid to explore the little things of parts of your life that might seem small. Sometimes it is these tiny details that make you really special. 

Keep in mind that we are always growing and changing (especially if we are creative) which means the definition of who we are, direction, our goals and interests will likely evolve with time and experience and that is ok!

a peek inside my art journal: fast and messy pages

My life is really busy right now and even though art is my job, I always like to work on things that nobody will ever see! Taking time to experiment, practice and play in my sketchbook and art journal is a really important way that I stay inspired. But when I am busy, it can be a challenge making time in to create for myself. 

When my schedule gets hectic, I like to fall back on the things that keep me inspired- simple, colorful and messy techniques. Typically this process happens in my art journal and instead of taking lots of time working on a page, I give myself 10-15 minutes to fill a couple pages with color. I use swipes of color, expressive painting, finger painting, free writing and fast doodling to fill a surface. These colorful pages become the background and the first of many layers.


art journal peek from Alisa Burke on Vimeo.

Interested in seeing more of more of my art journaling process? Head on over the the shop and check out two of my most popular mini classes- Art Journal Delight and Art Journal Bliss, I've got them on SALE for you guys this week!

happy valentines day!

happy weekend!

in the studio with christina power

Christina Power has been obsessed with making pretty things as long as she can remember but still feels that claiming the title "artist" is an incredibly audacious move. She wears many hats and laughingly calls herself a Jill-of-all-trades because she just can't stop trying new ways of expressing herself. She shares a wild and wonderful life with her husband and four children in beautiful small-town Montana.

I love seeing how other artists set up their creative space. Can you tell us a little bit your studio?

My art studio is tucked into an odd little corner in our master suite. Measuring a mere 4 feet by 7 feet, it is tiny, but that doesn't change the fact that it is both functional and pretty. My desk is flanked with stacks of drawers that store a surprising amount of supplies. Large pads of paper and other flat items too big to fit in the drawers slip vertically between the drawers and the wall. Upcycled tea tins house my collection of pens, and a vintage suitcase decorated with doodles adds whimsy and even more storage space. I try to keep my color palette light and airy and add interest with textures and shape to avoid making my space feel overly crowded. The bunting is created from hand-stitched vintage hankies inherited from my great-grandmother, and the garlands were gifts from friends. My mobile is made from driftwood and lace-imprinted paper clay.

What inspires you? What motivates you to create?

I have two categories of inspiration: lofty inspiration and lowly inspiration. Lofty inspirations are things like majestic mountains, a stunning sunset, the vastness of the ocean, the deep hush of a forest, or spending hours lost in wonder at an art museum. Lowly inspirations include things like the way the light shines out the door and across the hall floor, the way sugar spilled over the counter, or even sometimes gross things like the squiggles of a hair stuck to the shower wall. All those details, those moments--both humble and magnificent--combine to make life magical. I hope to be able to capture and share some of the wonder I feel in my work.

How do you organize your creative schedule?

I try to make a list of my priorities/deadlines and work methodically down from the top. I always have a ton of tabs open in my browser, and I use a LOT of post-it-notes because it seems like no matter how hard I try to pin them down, the lists are always in flux.

What is a typical day like for you?

Oh, this makes me laugh. When you have four children seven and younger there is no "typical day." There is caffeine--definitely caffeine--a lot of action and noise, quite a bit of scrambling to try to make sure the house isn't unsanitary or unsafe, laughing, lots of food making, conflict resolution, and adventures with some creative time squeezed in early in the morning, late in the evening, or during their afternoon rest.

What are you working on right now?

Recently I've been mainly creating with watercolors. I lay down translucent layers of paint with found objects--things like bubble wrap, kids' craft foam, cardboard, scraps of styrofoam, old plastic doilies, toilet paper rolls, suction cups, hand made stamps...really almost anything that has a texture or can make a pattern. I've even incorporated rain into my process of creating the illusion of texture with watercolors! When I'm satisfied with my layered backgrounds, I doodle a whimsical illustration and/or hand letter an inspirational word or phrase on top . Many of the originals are available in a local store, and the prints are listed in my online shop. I'm also working on a line of cards incorporating my quirky watercolor techniques, and I'm just getting started on an all black-and-white collection of images merging the ordinary and fantastical for a local show. So many ideas, so little time...

You can find more of Christina:

Etsy Shop      Facebook     Instagram  

"In the Studio" is a feature here on the blog where I share a glimpse into friends and fellow artists and crafters spaces. If you are interested in submitting your studio to be featured, send me an email at alisaburkesubmissions@gmail.com

canvas supply bag

I do a lot of traveling back and forth between my home and my studio and that means I am always lugging a bunch of supplies with me! Recently I found THIS canvas supply tote (this post is not sponsored) and I thought it would be perfect for transporting supplies.

The tote is heavy duty canvas and has 8 large pockets and 16 small ones and is designed to stay open when you set it down- perfect for a variety of random supplies. There was no way I could leave this tote plain so of course I used acrylic paint and added messy layers of color to it. I used a combination of Golden Fluid Acrylics, High Flow Acrylics and Blick Matte Acrylics. 

TIP: I've found when I am painting on heavy duty canvas, I prefer to use fluid acrylics because them seem to spread and soak into that heavy canvas better.

I gave the tote a quick layer of messy color and a few simple details and just like that it was transformed into something that felt a little more like me!

valentine bouquet

Looking for a simple but creative twist on Valentines Day cards? How about creating a bouquet of hearts!

Start by painting paper with lots of color- the messier the better!

Then add personalized messages, love notes or even drawings to the hearts. 

Glue the hearts to the top of a stick and add a few leaves.

The result is a bouquet of handmade LOVE! 

Looking for more Valentine's Day Inspiration?

handmade candy wrappers  moss hearts  wire hearts  rustic valentines  heart branches  valentine stones  heart art warmers  homemade marshmallows  award ribbon valentine  recycled heart wreath   healed hearts  valentine cards

exploring we will go

A while back we made the promise to each other to always make time to seek adventure as a family (you can read about it here). Exploring new places and going outside is a big part of our daily lives and once in a while I like to share a little peek into our adventures.

Wahclella Falls is an easy but AMAZING hike in the Columbia River Gorge and one of our family favorites!