We recently connected with Canessa Thomas and have shared our conversation below.
Canessa, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep my creativity alive by remaining a curious student of life, love, music, art, and spirituality—exploring who I am as a spiritual being. Observing, learning, and hearing new and different things gives us something to draw upon. It feeds the imagination. I also do my best to maintain a good work/life balance so that I’m not running on empty and creatively blocked due to the need of rest. The adage that you can’t pour from an empty cup is so relevant here.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am an autodidact artist and storyteller. I specialize in digital, mixed media, and collage artwork. What sets me apart from others is that a lot of my work is abstract, but I, also, do figurative and portrait artwork. I don’t pin myself to any particular style of art, and I’m most proud of that. I’m an intuitive artist. Likewise, I create what I feel and in the way I’m inwardly guided to do so. Art is a language of its own, and I am always amazed by the connection that can be made and the stories that can be told with colors, textures, and contrast. Art is just another form of storytelling. I am a vessel.
I will be sharing a story with my art October 13 – 15 at Art on Loop – New York exhibition with the Holy Art Gallery. The exhibition will be held in Tribeca at 72 Warren St., one of the most artistic neighborhoods in Manhattan. I’m excited about the experience.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The ebb and flow of business has been one of my greatest teachers. I’ve had to learn that there will be highs and lows, and to enjoy the flow of sales when orders/commissions are coming in consistently, but be aware that there will also be ebbs. In the ebbs is where you practice dedication. It also builds resilience and determination. It helped me to think outside the box. I looked into new ways to market and create my art. The ebb is a wonderful place to assess, reassess, learn and expand, and to make opportunities and search for new ones. Ebb and flow are a part of the nature of things.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I think we should look to improve and/or strengthen the areas that we don’t feel strong in. That’s a part of expansion and growth. It opens us up to new experiences and opportunities that may not have been available to us had we not learned a new thing or strengthened an area of weakness. I was not excited about Instagram Reels, and I didn’t immediately jump on the Reel wagon. I preferred creating posts and marketing material the way I had become accustomed. But, I was missing out on the opportunity of having my art be seen by a rapidly growing sector of Instagram. My analytics were great, and I was still selling art, but here was another group that I wasn’t tapped into. I was limiting myself and my reach. I needed to adapt to expand and place my art before an even bigger audience. So, I found resources on the subject, and looked at how others were using it. I learned how to make reels and do it in a way that showcased my art as well as my creativity. And it worked for me. Numbers don’t lie.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://phloart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phlo.bella
