We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angie Nordstrum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angie below.
Hi Angie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I have been an artist and creative my entire life. I had jobs with creative industries over the years but I’ve really flourished as an artist since I launched my own business in 2016. I think it’s easy to connect with your purpose in life when you look back at what did you love to do when you were 10 years old. What lit you up when you were a kid? What did you most enjoy doing when you were 10? For me, it was creating art and making things. That hasn’t changed at all since I was 10. I’ve always been the girl who wanted to learn how colors play together, how to sew clothes, make costumes and hats, how to paint and draw.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My business is Angie Nordstrum Design. I am a multi-passionate artist with a broad, creative skill set. My primary focus is painting on canvas, murals and windows. I enjoy painting large scale public art pieces and on canvas. I have an extensive background in apparel design and I am currently working on more hand painted garments and footwear. I am also a graphic designer. I recently designed, produced and facilitated installation for decor in eight restaurants around the country.
I love being a multi-passionate artist. One creative pursuit fuels the next. I love slinging paint and exploring how colors play together and I love the precision of doing digital work. I love embellishing clothing and dressing in my art. I don’t care for the trend to “niche down.” I am an artist in every aspect of my life. My creativity in one area ignites new ideas in another medium.
I love to write. I am a Curator for The Turquoise Iris Journal where I have the opportunity to write about all things creative. This year I became a #1 International Best Selling Author with the publication of Radical Self Love: How to Ignite Your Light Through Creativity.
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?
1. What lights you up? What sets your soul on fire? That is you. That is what you should do. When I was a kid I loved to sew and make things. I went to school for Apparel Design
2. Continuously expand your skill set and try new things. I love learning new creative processes! And I know that creativity in one medium contributes to creativity in other areas. Keep learning and exploring.
3. Artists need to spend time learning about the business of art. This is not taught in art school. Artists need to know how to creative multiple revenue streams, how to bid projects and how to budget for slower times of the year.
My advice for creatives who are just starting out: Keep Going. An artist’s path is not always easy. To quote Robert Frost, we have taken the road less traveled and I believe that is where we find our magic.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
I love The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I have read and referenced this book for over 10 years. Some of her best advice is to write “morning pages.” This is stream of consciousness writing for three pages everyday as soon as you get up. You write about anything that comes to mind: creative ideas, your grocery list, your to do list or emotions that you may be working through. I love doing this. It’s like therapy on paper. Clear out the cobwebs in your mind so you can move on to your best creative work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.angienordstrum.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angienordstrumdesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angienordstrumdesign/
Image Credits
Angie Nordstrum
