We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Allison Odren. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Allison below.
Allison, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat and looked at a blank page thinking, “I’ve got nothing! I’m not creative enough.” The overwhelm of “being creative” can really stop you in your tracks and keep you from making anything at all. This past year has been a significant learning experience as I’ve battled these feelings, and it all started when I read the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. In the book she describes creativity as its own being. And there are things you can do with your daily life choices to attract or repel creativity.
I loved this way of thinking! It makes creating less of a reflection of how great of an artist you are, and more about being consistent with your art practice.
This led me to start a daily sketchbook practice. Even if I don’t feel like it, I make myself at least make some marks or shapes on a page for a few minutes. Sometimes that’s all it is and that’s ok, but most of the time it leads into one idea flowing after another and before I know it, I have pages of motifs and ideas! I love to keep these sketchbooks as a reference to look back on when I need some direction moving forward with a project.
Another thing that’s helped me keep creativity alive is to always be looking for inspiration in the every day. I love how a tile pattern on the floor, a leaf in the yard, or the flowers growing outside of a restaurant can spark my next idea for an illustration or a pattern. I take inspiration photos all the time!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a mother of 2, I work at a daycare part-time, and I work for myself as an Illustrator. I started selling watercolor portraits a few years ago to friends and family and have now branched out into selling paper products such as greeting cards, notepads, and art prints as well.
My artwork is very much inspired by family, encouragement, the beauty found in simple moments, and nature.
One of the most special things is to collaborate with a client as we work together to bring an idea to life. Usually, these custom paintings are gifts for someone, and it’s so rewarding to have been a part of the process for a timeless and heartwarming gift. I have some of the most thoughtful clients ever!
While I continue to sell custom watercolor artworks, my future plan for my business is to transition into surface pattern design. I am currently designing collections of patterns to ready my portfolio for licensing opportunities. This has been so much fun! It’s another thing that keeps my creativity alive…learning new things. I’m so excited to see where these designs take me on this creative journey and am so grateful for anyone following along.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) Be nice to yourself! Making art is a learned skill. Do whatever you can to find peace with where you are at in your creative journey and have faith that opportunities will come your way at the exact right time. Until then, rewrite that narrative from your inner critic and practice words of encouragement instead.
2) Consistency. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at your craft. And I like to think of it that way, an “art practice”. Not every piece of art you make will be an amazing best seller, and that’s ok. What’s important is to keep going. You’ll learn something from each piece of work that you can take with you to your next one.
3) Never stop learning! Looking back, I wish I would have started out willing to let myself just be a student for a while. The fast-paced culture we live in makes it feel like you can skip ahead and be a master overnight. My artistic skills, self-development, and professional skills have grown so much faster after I took a step back to take some classes and really develop my skill set.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I would absolutely love to collaborate with anyone who wants to bring some beauty and eye-catching designs to their products. I love to work as a team to create something extraordinary! There’s something really special about bringing two perspectives into an idea, the end result is unique and the process getting there is so much fun.
Also, if any other artists want to reach out and discuss ways to keep a consistent art practice or need encouragement, I’d love to have that conversation as well.
You can contact me through my email allisonodrenart@gmail.com or find me on social media @allisonodrenart
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/allisonodrenart
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonodrenart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonodrenart
Image Credits
Nikki Curry – photographer
