We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dianne Mikeska a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dianne, 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?
With my weaving, I try to follow the sudden inspiration. My tapestries mostly lean toward a certain style, but every so often I see something and my mind starts to whirl … how would I weave that? Putting aside ego and the internal critique of “that’s not me,” I accept the call of the challenge. From a bedspread pattern at El Cosmico to a vintage cross stitch turkey purse, unexpected inspirations have pushed my creativity and craft forward.
I also believe it’s essential not to confine or limit creativity to a single, dominant form. While weaving is a significant emotional and artistic expression for me, it is too much pressure to crown it the ruling creative outlet.
My creativity is stoked through many day-to-day, playful moments. Whether it’s styling my home, changing my exercise routine, or arranging badges on my daughter’s Brownie vest, I find small sparks everywhere. Even something as simple as trying out a new Wordle starter word can shift my perspective and energize my creative thinking for the day.
Moreover, I also allow myself to indulge in activities that allow my creativity to flourish. As a Halloween enthusiast, I revel in creating costumes, seizing any opportunity to do so. I often plan months in advance, joyfully ruminating on the right effect or embellishment to bring a character to life. Freeing my mind to ponder the best foundation for a Medusa snake headdress or painting a plastic pig nose to better match my skin tone bolsters my overall creative self.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My LinkedIn profile will tell you that I am a partner at a creative advocacy firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. I’ve worked in advertising and communications my entire career. And while ad agencies are often derided as high burn-out workplaces, the dynamic pace, variety of subject matter, and ever-evolving client challenges have kept me curious and engaged for over 20 years.
It was actually during a brief period of unemployment a little over 12 years ago that I came to weaving. To fill my days and stave off a bit of depression, I signed up for various art classes at The Art League in Alexandria, Virginia. Intro to Rigid Heddle was the great reawakening of my creative self. Currently, I weave most often on portable frame looms but I am excited to take on a multi-harness loom soon. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and my goal is to continually grow my weaving practice.
Recently, I started documenting and sharing my weaving journey on Instagram at @MKSK_weaving. It is a bit silly that a professional marketer hesitated to share on social media, but I’ve come to realize that engaging with the weaving and artistic communities is a vital step in my personal and professional growth. I look forward to participating in retreats, residencies, and even exhibitions as opportunities arise.
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?
I can point to three pivotal lessons along my journey that have really opened me up.
1. Beginner’s mind.
I meditate daily with the Headspace app which often talks about applying a “beginner’s mind.” This simply means – to me at least – to be eager and open-minded and to not let past experience or preconceptions permeate your practice. Meditation has helped me across many different aspects of my journey, but the beginner’s mind concept in particular helps me stay curious and open to how things flow.
2. Centering myself.
Wondering or worrying about what others think is a fool’s errand and creatively paralyzing. I think the adage is something like “what other people think of you is none of your business.” It took a lot of life experience, but I’ve learned how freeing it is to internalize this idea. What truly matters is what I think, how I feel about what I’m making. If I like it and am happy, then that is success, full stop.
3. Just do it.
There’s the ad gal! I struggle with perfectionism, often thinking, “If it’s not going to be great, special, or the best, why even try?” However, I’ve discovered that simply showing up and weaving—even for just five minutes—can break through this block. You cannot think or scheme your way out of the block, you have to just do it. And then, there you are, doing it.
Beyond these three lessons, my best advice is to have fun. Experiment, discover your likes and dislikes, and appreciate both for their contributions. Embrace and love the process, because if you don’t, you may struggle to look at the final product with love as well.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Timelines certainly help prioritize what matters most. I would want to soak up every magical and mundane moment with my daughter. My must-dos include visiting the pyramids in Egypt, hiking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, summering on Peaks Island and reaching Everest Base Camp.
I would also attempt to weave every concept and half idea in my sketchbook, ideally from the deck of a trailer in Marfa. I would do all the yoga retreats, girls weekends and Mardis Gras I could fit in. And I would (finally) volunteer at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
I often daydream about organizing a grand reunion with all the people I have cherished throughout my life. With a defined expiration, I would absolutely endeavor to see all of those beautiful faces again. Maybe throw an epic Halloween costume party to entice their presence for one final hurrah.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @MKSK_weaving
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-riddle-mikeska/
Image Credits
Professional photos by Chris Oberholtzer. All others by Dianne Riddle Mikeska.
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