We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erika Lininger Derrick Clark. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erika Lininger below.
Hi Erika Lininger , 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?
Since I was young I always had the feeling I would one day start up multiple business’ for the things I’m most passionate about. My plan a few years ago was to first start up an all natural healthy dog food & treats business then followed by my art but it ended up the other way around. I was going thru a rough time in my life and was sitting in my apartment one night and looked over at a cow skull I had brought back from my great grandmas farm and decided to just free hand paint it to clear my head. I didn’t think it would take long then I would just go to bed but what happened when I started painting is the reason I strived to pursue my dreams and passions without pushing them off any longer. While painting I reminisced on happy memories of being young on my grandmas farm and also what it felt like to be a child again so worry & care free and just in a constant state of bliss. The next morning I posted a picture of the skull I had painted and was immediately blown away by the responses I got, I received countless messages from people asking me to create one for them and I knew right then I was going to start following my dreams and doing what I love and what makes me happy. Every skull order I received i loved connecting with my customers on such a personal level and getting to know their story also thru my art. I then moved to Michigan and while my boyfriend Derrick was helping me with my skull & candle business he finally started to pursue his love for woodworking and that’s how our business LostLove Art Co. was created.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
We are an art business that creates one of a kind hand painted & fireglass steer skulls, stunning wood epoxy charcuterie boards, coasters & tables and unique soy wax candles & melts. Our art is very diverse and unique since we incorporate a lot of our styles from different things and by also combining our northern/southern backgrounds. Derrick grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan which is one of the most unique places in America to hunt for rocks so his love for unique rocks & nature is incorporated in his art. I grew up in the south so my southern roots & Chickasaw decent flow together in my pieces. For many Native American tribes the cow skull holds deep spiritual meaning, and since I am of Chickasaw decent I feel the symbolism & beliefs are rooted in me and my connection with animals, art & love all come together in my work. We started our business because of our passion for creating unique hand crafted one of a kind pieces of art. We also specialize in custom orders along with a variety of other pieces and the diversity of our art is what makes our connection with our customers so special.
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?
Looking back on our journey having the ambition and drive to succeed without fear of failure was one of the most important factors. I think fear of failure is what holds most people back from pursuing their dreams and the best advice I can give someone is the same advice that was given to me which was “If you keep waiting for the “right time” to start there will never be a right time, you just have to face that fear and dive in and do it.”
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 love this question because I personally think the answer can be both! I think it’s easy to start something by going all in with your strengths since it’s what your accustomed to but while also keeping an open mind to try and improve in areas you aren’t as strong in. I think when we stay in that safe & comfortable spot of our strengths we don’t learn as much as we do as when we step outside of that comfort zone. I think always trying to better yourself and step outside of your comfort zone is the best thing you can do for growth.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/lostloveartco
- Facebook: Fb.me/lostloveartco
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