We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Monica Duymich a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Monica, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity is a tricky beast. I think we are all born creative, in a sense it is a survival skill. Yet the world tries to fit us in a box to look like everyone else (“because that is acceptable”) through that I think we lose our sense of creativity and follow the pack like mindless robots. My creativity comes from a place of curiosity and playfulness that I try to tap into as much as possible. Through slowing down, being more present, and observing the world around me; I remain curious and creativity thrives. Over the past few years I have taken notice of the times in my creative career where I feel more stifled and closed off from the creative flow. What I have come to noticed is when life becomes hectic and stressful, my schedule becomes overwhelmed, and I am not allowing time to play (whether it be with my kids, my pets, a new art medium, sketching for the fun of it, learning a new skill like an instrument, skateboarding, or a new language, traveling to a new place) in those lack of playful moments, my creativity feels harder to tap into, almost like forcing it, which lets be honest… creativity can’t be forced. And what fun is a creative art career if you can find your creativity. So I play and stay curious!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a freelance artist and single momma of two beautiful kiddos. I run my own business- IKAROS ART which I do commission artwork such as murals, interior design paintings, beer label designs, pet portraits, and truly anything creative to keep me painting. One of my favorite aspects of my business, besides being covered in paint all the time, is connecting and building relationships with my clients. I love working along side my clients and truly getting to know them and have their creative vision incorporated in what I do. I am so proud to be able to live my dream of being an artist and show my kids that they can make their dreams come true too. Currently I am evolving my artwork into a way to positively impact the world, because I love nature and animals so much. Art with Impact… beautiful nature/ animal inspired paintings that give back to conservation and sustainability efforts. Check out my website at ikarosart.com and my social media @ikaros_art_pgh
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For me the most impactful thing in my journey was never losing focus on my passion and dream, art. No matter what was happening in my life, from the moment I could hold a pencil, art was always what made me feel alive and 100% me. With that realization from very early on (I was 3 when I claimed I would be an artist when I grew up) I have been able to stay focused on what I feel is my purpose in life. There were definitely times when life would throw me off course but by reconnecting to me, I could always find my way back.
I would also say create, all the time, every day, no matter what. I have learned by playing and creating in some sense every day, no only do I feel better mentally and physically, but my skills continue to improve. Do it because you love it not because you have too! No one needs another to do on their list so why not have a fun outlet for some self care time.
Lastly I would say don’t be afraid to try something new or push yourself to the next level. The only way to grow is through pushing past the comfort zone with drive and persistence. Yes new things or changes can be scary, but acknowledge that and push past it. If things don’t go the way you hoped, learn from the situation and get up and try again with that new knowledge. No one ever said life would be easy, the challenges are where the growth happens, so look for it and grow from it.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The book The Artist Way by Julia Cameron has made a huge impact on my creative life. She taught me to never lose sight of my curiosity and playfulness, because being creative is all about that sense of wonder. Through artist pages (journaling), artist dates and her amazing insight I also learned more about self care and how important it is to care and love yourself so you can flourish in every way for everyone else around you. I am not great at taking care of me, so it was a lovely reminder to love myself. The Artist Way has also been a wonderful way to connect with other creative people in the world and build a strong community of support for the ever changing creative life I live. Honestly, each year I re-read the Artist Way to keep the knowledge and insight fresh in my mind. This book definitely made a huge impact, not only my creative career, but my life!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ikarosart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ikaros_art_pgh/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ikarosart/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
