23 Self-Care Gifts You Deserve to Give Yourself This Season

Lisa Congdon on Creativity, Activism, and Discovering Your Stream

In the event you’re a fan of vibrant colours, people artwork, social justice and heartstring-pulling work, you’ve got positively seen the artwork of Lisa Congdon. Lisa’s capacity to seize difficult emotions and feelings in her work is really magical. She manages to infuse a breath of recent air into significant tales and heavy matters, and places simply as a lot care and love into the sunshine and ethereal items she’s been creating for over 20 years.

Anjelika Temple here, co-founder of Brit + Co. I first turned acquainted with Lisa Congdon’s work over 10 years in the past, once I labored at 20×200 and was in contact together with her about an upcoming print version we had been within the midst of manufacturing. Since then, I have been a complete fangirl and am deeply honored to have the ability to share a slice of her artistic journey with all of you on this version of Creative Crushin’.

From her first artwork present by way of a Flickr connection to her most up-to-date challenge, a playful kids’s image e book referred to as “Round“, Lisa is as prolific as she is genuine, real and so giving of herself and what she’s discovered to everybody that is sport to study. Learn on and take within the artistic inspiration.

Anj: Let’s kick issues off by attending to know you! What is the fast model of your life story?

Lisa: I used to be born in upstate New York in a bit metropolis referred to as Schenectady, which is outdoors of the capital, Albany, and that was in 1968. My dad is a scientist. He is retired now. Each my dad and mom are of their 80s now, and my mother is an artist, however she was type of much like me, very a lot a pastime artist, and now takes commissions and does issues on a extra skilled degree, even nonetheless in her 80s.

I take after her in so some ways. She’s a threat taker. She does stuff although she would not know what she’s doing. She’ll attempt something. She would not have that type of perfectionist concern gene that so many individuals have, and I inherited that from her. That is to not say I haven’t got concern, it is simply that a part of why I’ve made this skilled profession out of my creativity is that I am keen to attempt issues although I do not know what I am doing.

So in my 20s, once I found creativity as a pastime, much like what my mother was doing, it was type of a shock to everybody. I believe folks anticipated me to possibly do nice issues on this planet, however not essentially as an artist. In truth, I assumed I used to be a horrible artist. Then, once I was in my early 30s, so 20 years in the past, I went by way of an enormous breakup with any individual I had been with for nearly a decade, and I modified jobs. I went from working as an elementary college instructor to working in an workplace.

I believe what occurred was that I actually felt this sort of dearth of creativity in my life. Educating little youngsters forces you to make issues fascinating for them, so it’s important to be actually artistic. I went to work at an workplace job and I discovered myself type of depressed. I used to be lonely as a result of I used to be single for the primary time in my grownup life, and I simply type of arrange this little artwork station at my kitchen desk. I would not have even referred to as it a studio. I simply began experimenting, and I began taking courses at group faculties. On the LGTBQ middle, I took this drawing class, and I simply type of fell in love with the method of constructing.

This was within the early 2000s, so this was on the delivery of the Web… not the delivery of the Web at giant, however the delivery of the Web as an area for artistic folks. Flickr was turning into a factor, running a blog was turning into a factor, and there weren’t but on-line courses, Brit + Co, or studying platforms, no social media, however there was this DIY motion occurring on the Web. I began a weblog and I began sharing footage of the crappy stuff I used to be making. Let’s be clear, my work didn’t look the best way it appears to be like now. I used to be very a lot a newbie, however I cherished it, and I simply stored working at it. Then, sooner or later afterward, I noticed I may make a dwelling at it if I type of pivoted in all the proper instructions, which included each getting higher, creating my abilities, but in addition engaged on the enterprise aspect of it, too. So, that is the quick lengthy model.

Anj: Inform me extra about what it was like if you realized “Hey, possibly this may be my profession?” Was there a selected spark or turning level if you thought, “All proper, let’s have a look at?”

Lisa: One of many moments was in 2006 once I had my first present, and that took place as a result of I believe I had posted some pictures of some stuff on Flickr, which a few of you’re most likely too younger to recollect. It was this photo-sharing website, which I wish to name the unique social media, since you may observe folks and submit your work and like and remark and all of the issues that are actually so regular in our lives. I began assembly folks on Flickr, and this lady who owned a retailer in Seattle requested me if I wished to have a present. My thoughts was blown. She requested me if I wished to have a present as a result of she was seeing the stuff I used to be making, and I bear in mind sitting at my desk the day that she … and I used to be like “Oh my God, that is actual.” Butterflies and every part. “I am an artist. Wow, that is so cool!” Then, I began getting inquiries from the hair salon the place I went to get my hair accomplished in San Francisco, and there was one other little store in San Francisco referred to as the Sweet Retailer the place I had a present, and this was all 2006-2007. So, that began occurring. I acquired an inquiry from Poketo, a brand-new (on the time) Los Angeles-based model, and I launched a bunch of merchandise with them actually early on.

So, it was type of like “Okay, let’s have a look at.” On the time, this entire thought of being an illustrator was one thing I could not actually wrap my head round, however I assumed, “All proper, possibly if I can determine the illustration half and do these different issues, after which type of cobble collectively some type of earnings … ” On the time, social media was type of beginning. There was no Instagram but, however there was Fb. I made a fan web page. I acquired on Twitter. I had this weblog and I simply began directing site visitors to my weblog. I began an Etsy store in 2007, and I began to make a bit bit of cash, and in 2008, I used to be so fortunate. I signed with an agent, and slowly, issues began to occur. Now, what that did not equal on the time was cash. I used to be nonetheless working part-time at my job and, even after I left my job, I used to be freelancing for my outdated training non-profit the place I labored as a result of it was so onerous at first, however I used to be decided.

In hindsight, I noticed it occurred actually shortly, but it surely felt prefer it took endlessly, particularly to get to the purpose the place I used to be making sufficient cash to pay my mortgage, purchase meals, get myself out of debt, and that type of factor.

Anj: Bringing it again to your artistic course of, discuss to me extra about what the artistic circulation seems like for you, and what you’re keen on about making issues.

Lisa: We had been speaking earlier concerning the pleasure I felt when any individual wished to offer me their area to take over to hold artwork. For me, it is this mix of the enjoyment of constructing one thing that, to me, appears to be like cool or is gorgeous, fascinating, or says one thing, but it surely’s additionally about how different folks react to it. There’s my artistic course of, which is tremendous satisfying to me as a result of it is downside fixing, it is type of seeing your concepts come to life, and that’s all tremendous satisfying.

That is why I believe being an artist on this time in historical past is such a blessing for me as a result of I get to share my work with different folks, after which that’s tremendous thrilling to me, too. I am actually excited by seeing different folks’s reactions to my work, whether or not it is by way of my books or by way of social media, and that, to me, is simply as motivating as the emotions I’ve once I’m creating one thing. I acquired my first style of that again within the day once I had my first present. There’s one thing about interacting with my viewers that I really like.

I believe folks think about that folks like me who do quite a lot of work and are recognized as being prolific, that we sit round all day on this state of circulation, and that we’re drawing and portray, listening to NPR and classical music, consuming tea, and it is all really easy. I imply, there are positively days which might be like that. There are positively days the place I am identical to “God, I am the luckiest particular person on the Earth. I get to do that for a dwelling and I like it,” every part’s flowing out of me completely, and I am so happy with every part I am doing, however that is possibly 20% of the time, which is not dangerous. The remainder of the time, it is frustration, deadlines, not being within the temper to attract one thing however I’ve to for this job that I accepted two weeks in the past, or not having any good concepts. Particularly at first, I wasn’t as expert as I’m now, so simply rendering issues that I used to be imagined to make took longer, and so it was exhausting. So, I do positively have that circulation state generally, the place I am simply actually into it, however more often than not, it is onerous.

Anj: Your work is so playful, colourful, a transparent people artwork affect, and has such a recognizable colour palette and aesthetic. How did you hone in on it?

Lisa: You already know, I’ve all the time been influenced by two of the issues that you simply talked about, which is people artwork and likewise colour. It appears bizarre to say you are influenced by colour, however I actually am. I am drawn to different folks’s artwork based mostly on colour or lack of, you understand what I imply? Or the palette. It is a factor that quite a lot of artists do not get. They’re actually good at rendering issues, however they do not essentially have a way of colour. One other factor that has all the time been an enormous affect to me is mid-century artwork and design. Alexander Girard is my absolute all-time favourite artist. Apparently, he was additionally influenced by people artwork and was a founding father of the Folks Artwork Museum in Santa Fe. So, he is all the time the instance I give of stylistically. He additionally was a collector of quite a lot of issues and that is an enormous a part of my story. I draw quite a lot of my collections or imaginary collections. I really like drawing preparations of issues, so order can also be crucial to me. I am all the time drawing on the imaginary grid.

All of that has form of been a part of my story all alongside, even when my skillset wasn’t as developed as it’s now, however I might additionally say that, and I speak about this rather a lot: I wrote this e book referred to as “Find Your Artistic Voice“, and one of many issues that folks ask me essentially the most is how does one discover their model? How does one arrive at a spot the place issues are form of locked and issues are recognizable? For me, I all the time say I may paraphrase the e book in a single sentence, which is present up and simply work at it: draw day-after-day, make ceramics day-after-day, or no matter your factor is, do it day-after-day. You may’t do one thing day-after-day, observe it, refine it, et cetera, with out it creating into one thing that is actually, an extension of your DNA.

Loads of what an individual’s model is, is already in there from influences or the stuff that we discover lovely. Our brains are continuously filtering visible stimuli, particularly these days. You may’t stroll down the road with out seeing a cool billboard or a mural, or stroll into Goal and see cool issues on t-shirts. We’re bombarded, to not point out what’s on our telephones and what we’re scrolling by way of. Your mind, even when you’re not acutely aware of it, is continually saying sure, no, sure, no, sure, no. You might stroll by 1,000,000 murals, billboards or no matter, stroll right into a stationery retailer, and stroll by 1,000,000 playing cards, however then you definately cease at one as a result of it speaks to you. You are like “That is essentially the most lovely card,” or “That is essentially the most lovely mural.” There is a motive: as a result of it is one thing about your style that resonates.

So, we’re all the time gathering this and that, and “Oh, who made that? Okay, I will look her up once I get residence. Oh, wow, she has a web site. Oh, have a look at her influences. Oh, I will go down that rabbit gap and see who she’s influenced by.” So, that is the place we acquire influences, after which, hopefully, we’re gathering numerous them in order that ultimately, our work may look similar to any individual who we’re influenced by, however ultimately, we type of develop our personal model, and that is simply type of a standard a part of the trajectory.

For me, it was like that. It was simply gathering influences, immersing myself on this planet of artwork and design. I like this. I need my work to be extra like this. I really like the feel and appear of this. It is form of a mishmash of all of these issues. Additionally, simply getting higher at drawing and executing, and my abilities improved. I really feel like, within the final 5 or 6 years, I type of arrived on this place the place yeah, I’ve this identifiable model, and it is loopy as a result of individuals are like “It solely occurred 5 or 6 years in the past? You have been making artwork for 20 years,” and I am like “Yeah, it takes a extremely very long time.” I lastly do not feel like I am nonetheless looking out. That does not imply that my work nonetheless will not evolve. It does not imply that, ultimately, I will not land on some new inspiration that makes my work pivot otherwise, however that is what discovering your voice seems like, or really discovering that circulation.

It is such as you arrive at this place the place you really like your work as a lot as different folks do. I began getting my work tattooed on my physique and it took me endlessly to get there as a result of I noticed I did not actually like my work very a lot earlier than, after which I lastly was like “Okay, I prefer it sufficient to tattoo it by myself physique. That is an enormous deal.”

Anj: So, simply riffing off of that, I believe that lots of people, myself included, after they’re embarking on a brand new physique of labor or looking for their voice, really feel intimidated by all of the artists/people on the market doing comparable issues. How do you give recommendation and even take care of this your self? That self-doubt and that “I do not know that I’ve one thing to visually say?”

Lisa: That is a very regular feeling. I really feel like I type of, in the previous few years, acquired over a hump, and it was across the time that I felt very type of stable in my very own work. It’s so pure to match your self to different folks. I imply, how can we not? Not simply the standard of our work or the concepts behind our work, like “That is such a fantastic thought, why did not I consider that,” type of factor, but in addition, on social media, it is like “Oh, so many individuals like her work. I really feel like my work is simply pretty much as good. Why do not as many individuals prefer it? We’ve got the identical quantity of Instagram followers.” There’s this entire thoughts sport we play with ourselves.

I noticed about three or 4 years in the past that I used to be spending an inordinate quantity of vitality having these ideas, and I believe lots of people would’ve imagined that somebody as far alongside in my profession would not have had them anymore. I might admit to folks that I additionally had anxiousness round social media, and folks had been stunned. They’re like “Oh, you appear so assured, so many individuals love what you do, you could have a lot engagement,” and blah, blah, blah. But, I used to be actually struggling, to not the purpose of it being debilitating, however I might submit one thing that I wished folks to be enthusiastic about and possibly they weren’t as excited as I wished them to be, after which I might put an excessive amount of weight on that as a substitute of my very own emotions about no matter it’s I used to be posting. It could bum me out, you understand what I imply? I believe most individuals can relate to that.

So, one summer season, I began working with a coach, and one of many essential issues I labored with him on was letting go of those expectations round social media and solely posting once I felt like I actually had one thing to say, and posting no matter whether or not or not I assumed the factor was going to be Instagram-friendly or not. Actually being genuine and actually honoring my very own artistic course of and my very own voice versus whether or not or not different folks appreciated it, it acquired engagement, or it bought in my store, if it was one thing I used to be promoting. I set my thoughts to it. It was extraordinarily intentional on my half. I did quite a lot of work with him, speaking by way of what that was like and the way I may shift my perspective.

I additionally needed to recover from this impostor syndrome state of affairs, which was “I suck, I am simply fortunate to be right here,” and actually, that was associated to the social media anxiousness. I actually turned a nook that 12 months. I wrote about it, I meditated on it, and each time I posted, I promised myself that I used to be going to honor my very own expertise and never fear about what different folks thought. It took quite a lot of effort, however I can truthfully say I’ve labored by way of it. There are moments each on occasion the place I really feel disillusioned, there are moments once I nonetheless have a slight little bit of impostor syndrome, there are moments once I nonetheless examine myself to different folks. I am human, however do I dwell on it? Does it management my life? No.

Anj: On the observe of placing all of it on the market, discuss to me extra about how activism comes into play along with your work.

[Editor’s Note: This interview and conversation took place before the November 2020 election.]

Lisa: I’ve built-in a lot activism into my postings and to my Instagram particularly, and into my work, I needed to actually let go of what different folks thought as a result of the minute you begin doing that, you are going to lose followers, individuals are going to not agree with you, and I continuously needed to say “I am right here to be me. I am not right here to make you comfy, I am not right here to please you. I am right here to be me.” That additionally actually helped me. I’ve all the time type of been open about the place I am coming from … I say type of as a result of I’ve positively accomplished extra recently, however even earlier than the 2016 election, I have been brazenly homosexual since I used to be in my early 20s, I’ve by no means hidden it from wherever, at any job, at any platform. In truth, I speak about it prefer it’s no huge deal as a result of I believe that is type of higher than something: simply folks casually seeing me with my spouse and issues like that. That is all the time form of been a part of my life.

My greatest pal is black. The explanation I carry that up is it is an vital a part of how I form of present up on this planet: that I’m in fixed interplay each single day with any individual whose expertise is vastly totally different than mine. We’re so comparable in so some ways, we’re each artists, however our expertise strolling by way of the world is completely totally different. That has been personally crucial expertise of my life: to aim to see the world by way of this individual that I really like a lot. The ache that she experiences, the confusion she experiences, and the anger she experiences, and form of waking myself as much as that. That, along with my very own form of being a part of a marginalized group myself has made it nearly inconceivable for me to not speak about social justice in my work as a result of it is such an vital a part of my on a regular basis expertise, together with my must do work on myself.

After the 2016 election, I used to be so indignant concerning the rights of individuals being taken away and the huge shift in insurance policies within the US authorities, and I began writing about it. I used to be like “I do not care what anyone says, that is too vital.” I really feel prefer it looks as if all people does that now, however I used to be one among only a few artists at first who was keen to only actually put her neck on the market. So, I began speaking about stuff. I began writing about it. Then, it simply type of turned one thing I used to be recognized for, and I began getting requested to design issues for non-profit organizations and for various marches and initiatives. I began elevating cash by way of that work and drawing consideration to totally different causes. I began actually loving that work, and it turned a extremely vital a part of my voice and my identification. Then, within the final 12 months, issues have been so wack that it is simply occasions 10 now. Now, I am unable to think about ever going again.

It is so vital to me personally, and it is so vital for the world, that I really feel like I’ve a accountability. Individuals typically say … “We’re not excited by your politics, we simply need your fairly footage,” principally. I needed to write a pair very intense posts about why I used to be making this work and that lots of people argue that every one artwork is political… what you select to not characterize is a political assertion in and of itself, in order that I used to be making overtly political work was one factor, however actually, all artwork is political, and that was one thing that I did not essentially even understand till the final 5 years.

I get quite a lot of satisfaction and pleasure from it. I imply, the stuff we’re coping with is not joyful, however making work to shift folks’s attitudes or give folks one thing to be hopeful about feels vital to me.

Anj: Now shifting gears to your new kids’s e book! Authored by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by you, inform us what impressed it and what the expertise was like. Speak to us extra about “Round.”

Lisa: I believe it was essentially the most enjoyable illustration challenge I’ve ever labored on and one of many causes it was enjoyable is as a result of I wasn’t connected to the phrases. I cherished the textual content within the e book however the beauty of image books is that the textual content is often actually easy.

On this e book particularly, there is a narrative, but it surely’s fairly unfastened. It isn’t like there are characters. I imply, some characters emerge a bit bit within the e book within the type of among the animals reappearing, but it surely was a very easy place to start out as a result of I may actually be me, and likewise honor the textual content within the e book.

Spherical… I wish to name it a lyrical poem all about spherical issues that we discover out on this planet. Some are actually spherical and a few are extra … effectively, not figuratively spherical, however much less completely spherical. It is all in nature, and that is one of many issues I really like to attract are animals and vegetation. They wished me to be me. In truth, the duvet is like this sort of huge explosion of spherical issues organized actually shut collectively. It is like one thing I might draw for enjoyable, and it really was impressed by some drawings I had product of issues type of drawn actually shut collectively and in an association. And I really like the duvet a lot. Covers are often the factor I hate most a few e book, which sucks as a result of it is the factor that folks see on the shelf, and it causes them to open it or not, so I am hoping it has shelf life as a result of the duvet is so colourful.

Anj: Once you’re feeling burnt out, otherwise you’re beginning a challenge, what are ways in which you reset? What are issues that be just right for you, issues that you possibly can advocate to others?

Lisa: Once I can, the very very first thing I do is take a break. That is not all the time doable, as you understand from any individual who runs a enterprise. Generally, you simply have to point out up and do the work, even when you do not really feel prefer it, and there is a specific amount of grit concerned. So, generally, I simply plow by way of, drive myself to do it, after which I really feel higher when it is accomplished. If I am not engaged on any consumer initiatives or consumer initiatives which have fast deadlines, I give myself this passcard. “You do not have to submit something on social media, you need not make any new work proper now. In the event you do not feel prefer it, do not do something, simply go learn a e book, go take a hike, buy groceries,” which is, in fact, tougher now besides doing it on-line due to the pandemic, however go do one thing else and provides your self permission to not be productive and to type of give your self a relaxation.

Then, throughout that relaxation time, what I am going to typically do is type of dive into inspiration. I’m going down a Pinterest rabbit gap or I’m going to Powell’s Books in Portland and plant myself in some aisle that has books about one thing I am excited by. Not essentially artwork books, possibly historical past books, image books, or no matter, and that can generally assist me type of get excited a few new course. Generally, I simply go to my studio and fiddle with clay. I’ve a kiln. It isn’t one thing I am recognized for, however I do type of make and promote ceramics a bit bit. It is type of my enjoyable getting my fingers soiled experimental low-pressure nothing rarely will get placed on Instagram, it is simply type of this enjoyable factor that I do.

I additionally love to stitch. Quilting is a type of issues that is so simple to me. Points of the method take some creativity, however as soon as it is pieced, I can simply sit there and sew and watch Netflix. So, I believe taking breaks, permitting your self to go down rabbit holes of recent inspiration that is going to wake you up and light-weight you up a bit bit. Within the outdated days, earlier than the pandemic, I might go to museums even, or buy groceries in my favourite shops.

Then, the mix of a break, gathering inspiration, possibly getting my fingers soiled with some work that is a bit bit extra tactile and rather less cerebral, ultimately, I type of am capable of work by way of blocks, however they occur to everybody, particularly after they’re burned out. Even if you’re not burned out on artwork, possibly you are burned out in your youngsters, the enterprise half, your relationship, or some concern you are having with a member of the family.

Making artwork in occasions of stress is like attempting to run in humidity. You are able to do it, but it surely feels so exhausting and uncomfortable. We have all been, within the final 12 months, on this actually bizarre time of stress, and I believe some individuals are stunned that they are depressed and anxious, they usually cannot make artwork. It is utterly regular. Creativity requires a specific amount of rest and letting go, and that is actually onerous when there are such a lot of issues on this planet which might be so onerous to wrap your head round.