Meet Christina

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christina a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christina, 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.

For a while, I went through several rounds of burnout. I would come up with ideas and start projects but never follow through with them. Most of my energy went into my full-time job, and eventually, my mental health began to decline. I felt like I was constantly creating and working for others rather than for myself.

To pull myself out of that, I started taking on small creative projects to rebuild my motivation and hold myself accountable. I began live streaming on TikTok, reviving an old project I had set aside. It was a simple start, but it gave me a sense of purpose. Soon after, I challenged myself to work on art during hour-long livestreams, and that’s when things began to shift. I became more productive, and over time, a small community formed around those sessions. My fans and friends who encouraged me and shared ideas during them.

Little by little, things started to feel whole again. I realized my creative spirit hadn’t disappeared; it had just been resting. The moment I started creating purely for fun, I felt inspired again. I’ve learned that when I attach obligation or financial pressure to my art, it starts to feel like a chore. When I let go of that mentality, creativity flows naturally.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I recently rebranded my personal TikTok page, Tales of Tis. I chose the name because I’ve always seen myself as a storyteller, and “Tis” serves as my creative pseudonym. It’s a small but heartfelt channel where I can be my authentic self, bringing my art ideas to life while sharing my creative process with others.

This past summer, I started a fun “mermaid” series, where viewers joined my livestreams to help pick names for each piece. It became such an interactive and joyful experience, and it reminded me why I love creating in the first place.

My goal with Tales of Tis is to offer a bit of lightness in a world that often feels heavy, to create a small space where people can relax, smile, and enjoy quirky art timelapses and playful cosplay moments. At first, I thought about splitting my content into two separate channels; one for art and one for cosplay, but I realized both belong in the same creative universe. They’re both expressions of the same storytelling spirit.

Right now, I’m working on several new projects for the upcoming holiday season, including fresh art pieces and some long-awaited cosplay concepts. If you’d like to follow along, come visit my channel! Everyone is welcome to join the fun and share in the 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?

The first quality that really impacted my journey was learning to accept that things aren’t always perfect the first time around. It took me a long time to let go of the idea that art had to be flawless. I’ve learned to be patient and trust the process, even when things don’t look right at first. Sometimes a piece might start one way, and then you realize it needs to go in a completely different direction! And that’s okay!

The second thing I’ve learned is to give yourself permission to experiment. Nothing in art is truly permanent. I love working with different materials and techniques, and I make mistakes all the time. But that’s where growth happens. Many of my timelapses even show those “mistakes” and how I adjusted them to bring a piece to life. Playing, adjusting, and exploring new ideas are what keep creativity fresh.

Finally, one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is to trust the skills you’ve built over time. Every artist develops their own style and methods, and it’s important to recognize your own unique approach. I like to think of it like cooking—you can share recipes, but everyone adds their own twist to make it special.

For anyone just starting their creative journey, my advice is simple: keep going, keep experimenting, and keep making things that make you proud. Progress takes time, but every piece you create brings you one step closer to discovering your voice.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My biggest obstacle has always been finding balance; juggling work, social life, and my creative passions at the same time. Even though I try to set specific days for creative work, life doesn’t always follow that schedule. There are times when things just don’t go as planned, and that can be frustrating.

What’s helped me is learning to recognize creativity in smaller, everyday moments. For example, at my seasonal job I recently organized our Halloween costumes by color and category, making everything both functional and visually appealing. It wasn’t a painting or a livestream project, but it was still a creative process! I’ve learned that creativity can show up in all kinds of forms. Sometimes simply arranging or styling something can be just as fulfilling as making art. Even playing with my eye makeup has been a small creative outlet for me!

I’ve also realized how much rest and support matter. Good sleep makes a huge difference in staying inspired and having friends and family who show excitement for what I do keeps me motivated. I may not always have perfect balance, but I’ve learned to appreciate the small wins and creative moments wherever they happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@tales_of_tis?_r=1&_t=ZP-9139V8005uw
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tales_of_tis?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==