Liz Chappie-Zoller’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Liz Chappie-Zoller and have shared our conversation below.

Liz, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
I rarely (if ever?) act fast! I’m much more of an observer, always from outside the sparring ring. It’s served me well, and I don’t see any upside to changing my approach in this lifetime.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a mixed media painter, best known for my New Western art that incorporates graffiti and traditional symbolism into the artworks of my Montana landscape.

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 were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I’ve always been an artist, but definitely got sidetracked and detoured by family and societal expectations that looked like having kids, working the corporate life, and juggling way too many responsibilities that had nothing to do with art. Sometimes it felt like a woman thing – being a people pleaser and not making waves, keeping everyone else happy at one’s own expense.
But you live and learn.
Often, until you get the life experience, you don’t know what you don’t know.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
This is a painful one, because I know she did it from her own family’s experience when she was growing up in a small OH farming town, but my Mom always said, “What will people think?”. Most of my life has been framed by that question first, instead of what I think and / or want.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Stefani Gray Hicswa is the Chancellor at Montana State University-Billings and someone I had the great pleasure to work under many years ago. Her super power, besides being brilliant, is her ability to encourage everyone she meets to step up to their higher self. She’s wise beyond her years, doing exactly what she has always wanted to do – she says it all comes naturally to her and feels right – yet remains grounded and welcoming and thoughtful and positive. I admire the way she leads with her heart and lives her life with joy and integrity. She is one of the most instantly likeable people I’ve ever known.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
I might regret not traveling more, and I do regret not being in a position to pursue my art more fully a good twenty years ago.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lizchappiezoller.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/lizchappiezoller.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizChappieZoller.Art