Meet Cana Brumfield

 

We recently connected with Cana Brumfield and have shared our conversation below.

Cana, 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?

I keep my creativity alive by drawing inspiration from nature-whether it be in my own backyard or on my various travels. The natural world sparks my interests, curiosity, and creativity. Through the patterns on insect wings, discovering new plant and animal species on my travels, and admiring the tiny details within the world we live in, I am constantly finding new sources of creativity. I keep a journal where I collect various bits and pieces of nature, as well as sketch things that inspire me. I reference this journal in my home studio and use it to ignite my creativity.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a self employed artist that lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Ever since I was a child, I have been extremely passionate about animals, the environment, and art.
I founded Luna Leaf Studio in January of 2024 with passions for connecting with my community, helping the environment, and sharing my love for art by turning neglected clothing, jewelry, and wood into pieces that reflect my passions.
What makes Luna Leaf Studio unique is that I use upcycled or reclaimed materials to create my work. I bleach paint various designs, including realistic moths, butterflies, beetles, and plants, onto secondhand clothing. I break down vintage or outdated jewelry and create unique pieces that can be loved again. I also grew up in a traditional painter role, and still reclaim these roots by painting hyperrealistic animals, insects, and flora onto scrap wood.
Sustainability plays a huge role in the foundation of Luna Leaf Studio. From my products, to market displays, packaging, and tags, every element of Luna Leaf has been thoughtfully sourced from thrifted, handmade, or recycled/upcycled materials. It is my hope to inspire sustainability in fashion and in art!
I frequent local artist markets throughout Louisiana, as well as sell my art online through my Instagram and website. I also have a few pieces available at local stores, Rouge House and Baton Rouge Succulent. I love connecting with my community and bringing together fellow nature lovers and creatives with my art!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities that I feel were the most impactful in my journey are my resilience, adaptability, and my love for continuous growth, collaboration, and learning.
With any business, setbacks and challenges are inevitable. My resilience has allowed me to bounce back from any mishaps and has encouraged me to perservere and grow, even through hard times. My advice for those starting out is to cultivate resilience by reframing setbacks as opportunites for growth. Building a support network of mentors and peers to provide encouragement has also been invaluable in my resilience and ability to keep going during challenges.
Adaptability to changing circumstances, trends, and artistic styles has been key to starting and growing my own business. My open mindedness to new ideas and challenges outside of my comfort zone has helped my journey as a businesswoman and creative in general. I believe that it is important for anyone to embrace change, growth, and the ability to thrive in uncertainty in order to foster an environment of growth, no matter what you pursue in life.
In my life, my love for knowledge and growth have remained constant. I believe that my search for continuous knowledge and collaboration has been pertinent to the succuess of my business. Throughout my journey, I have prioritized continous learning by seeking out new information, staying updated on industry trends, and honing my skills through courses, networking, and making connections with peers and mentors that inspire and help me grow. My advice is to adapt a growth mindset, and know that you can never stop learning. Stay curious, determined, and foster a passion for knowledge and individual growth.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

As someone who has never owned a business before, and who ran my business through college and now after my recent college graduation, I oftentimes feel overwhelmed. I find that the most helpful thing I’ve done to help work through feelings of anxiety or being overwhelmed are to make a list and prioritize certain tasks over others. When I feel overwhelmed, I write a bubble chart of everything that is on my mind-it can be the most pressing matters or very minor things. Getting it all written down is the first step to clearing your mind and allowing yourself to think through problems. I’ll then go through these blurbs and number them from most to least important, then use this list to help me work through all of the things I need to do. This strategy with extremely helpful when I was a full time college student running Luna Leaf Studio, but I still utilize it weekly in my current routine!

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