We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christine Ott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Christine, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
This has always been such a struggle for me. I still give others credit for what I do. I’m worried that maybe an idea really did come from another person. Or that I will sound conceited if I praise myself; that I need to defer to another person to take the credit instead of just saying “thank you” for a compliment. I want to give credit where credit is due but have a tendency to err on the side of not taking any credit for myself. I always assume the other person will pay it back but that doesn’t always happen.
I learned that I cannot live with the regret of not taking the compliment, not letting people know an idea was mine. It used to feel selfish, now I realize it’s just the truth that I’m sharing. If an idea was mine, if the effort was mine, then I can just say “thank you”!
And when there is a collaboration, or inspiration from another source, I always try to remember to give that shout-out because that person may also have imposter syndrome.
We need to build each other up, but we also can build ourselves up too!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been really focusing on learning new models to fold so I can keep practicing new designs but I’ve also been very foused on wearable art. And teaching origami.
The Encinitas brand of the San Diego library had a wonderful Art Night and I was teaching guests how to fold butterflies and it was so much fun!!! It re-invigorates me and is so much fun to share my love of origami with other people and to see them really enjoy the process. It’s such an amazing art form.
And making dresses and doing more installations has been so satisfying. I love the challenge of coming up with an installation that will speak to a theme for an event.
And I would love to be able to create more pieces for restaurants, businesses, to do live folding events, and to teach. I am available!!
And my focus really is to create more opportunities for people to be introduced to origami.
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?
Most impactful for my journey would be something that might be innate but also something that can be learned and that is to be organized and to have good time management.
And to finish what you start. It’s so easy to get distracted and move on to the next thing before what you are working on is finished. And know what you what you want. You can’t get someone else excited about your vision or direction if you don’t have one.
It was helpful for me to be sales. But what it taught me is that it takes persistence, clear direction on what you are trying to accomplish and follow through. It can take 100 calls to get 1 “yes”. But the “yes” is worth it. And, as an artist, you are also selling your vision, yourself, your art. It’s okay if it’s not for everyone. But no one can say “yes” if they don’t know what you do. So, share! And ask for help!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!!
I have so many ideas for ways to work with origami and incorporate it into different art forms and projects.
I would love to work with someone who can create a garment that can incorporate origami. Or a hat!
Someone doing an installation where origami would be a nice add-on. Or a photo-shoot where origami could be used to help finish a theme, add to an idea, create a mood.
To create an installation that is mixed media or participate in an event that celebrates all different art forms.
Work on table decor or flower arrangements that incorporate origami flowers, folded napkins, centerpieces.
Let’s make something amazing!
You can contact me on my Instagram account: OCO_origami
Contact Info:
- Instagram: OCO_origami
