We recently had the chance to connect with Krista Townsend and have shared our conversation below.
Krista, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
I get up early and enjoy a cup of coffee and some phone time, catching up on the world and planning my day. I exercise next and that usually means a hike in the woods with my pup, Lu, or hitting the gym and pumping some iron. If it’s a gym day, I try to fit in outside time for me and Lu later. On the days that I don’t consider it exercise for me, I take my camera and take hundreds of photos of the woods and meadows of Central Virginia. The rest of the morning is dedicated to the studio especially in the fall and winter when the light is low and so is my energy. I try to paint daily before lunch. The afternoon is left to business–computer time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Krista Townsend and I’m a landscape painter living in Charlottesville, Virginia. Expressing how I feel about the natural world through paint is what motivates me and gives me balance. But the business of being an artist is equally challenging and rewarding. Over the past 15+ years, I have been developing processes and exploring ever changing digital tools to market my own art. More recently I have begun helping my artist friends do the same by setting up their marketing sites, showing them how I manage my painting inventory, exploring how to sell online, and giving them recommendations for social media and newsletters. I recently started a company called 712 Designs where I help teach other creatives how to be their own digital marketers. My goal is to help small-business owners create processes that work for them and learn how to use digital marketing tools so they are have more time to do their business, create, and explore in real life.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
For almost 20 years, I have worked with an inspirational woman and very good friend who taught me so many things I can’t possibly list them all here. The most important lessons were that we are all creative, nature is our guide, and building relationships is about listening, trusting, and empowering others. Funny thing is that we worked in the tech world of all things, but somehow she brought her passion for the outdoors and caring for nature into our office space. She also lead our team by getting to know us and helping us find our strengths and work on our weaknesses.
In building 712 Designs, I hope to help creatives learn the tools they need instead of doing it for them. I often set up help-desk hours where I am sitting with my clients working on my own thing while they take what I’ve taught them and apply their new knowledge while I am there to help troubleshoot and build confidence. I think this is more useful for them and it gives me the chance to help more people.
My friend who inspired me was one of my first clients when she left tech and went out and started her dream company called Two Owls Outdoor Adventures. Her first trip, which I photographed and participated, was a bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington DC! It was a blast and one of the biggest challenges of my life!
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You deserve the time to paint more! I would advise my younger self to dedicate more time to the practice of painting. I’ve always love it but I did not carve out time for the practice of it when I was younger. I think that structure and routine would have given me stability and balance as well as lead me down exciting roads while making me a better more expressive, creative painter.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that nature really matters to me. Not only is nature my painting muse, it is healing just to be among the plants. And even though humans are wreaking havoc on the environment, I am continually amazed at the resilience of nature.
I had a show last year entitled the “Understory” which included a series of paintings exploring the plants on the forest floor and meadow’s edge. Each painting was connected to a quote about the stories nature tells if we just look and listen. For example, “all living organisms are leaves on the same tree of life. The various functions of plants and animals and their specialized organs are manifestations of the same living matter.”– Albert Szent-Gyorgyi. For real! We are not so different from the trees themselves!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I don’t think that most people know that if you spend time in nature, walking among the grasses, hiking through the woods, sitting on a rock and listening to the birds, you will be happier, kinder, more resilient. You will then have a more positive impact on your community, and if we all spent more time doing that, our world would be a better place.
Contact Info:
- Website: kristatownsend.com , 712designsllc.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/ktownsendart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristatownsend/
Image Credits
Krista Townsend
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