We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ethan Lipsitz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ethan, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Over time I’ve realized that my life is better when there’s something to hope for, something to hold my intentions. Optimism has become an internal operating system for me to express myself. Without it I’m not sure I’d be able to conjure much purpose. When I was young that purpose and intention was about becoming a rock star and finding love. As I got older it was about building big projects and having a successful business. And more recently my purpose has been focused on art, human connection, being a great husband and striving to be a good dad for my son.
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?
In 2017 I suffered a seizure in the middle of the night and the next day discovered I had brain cancer. Since then I’ve been making art as a practice of healing and embodiment.
Part of the embodiment is about going as huge as I can. I like working on walls; covering rooms and making murals. I also paint cars and large canvases. For me, this work is all about expressing joy, healing and love through color, pattern and movement.
I maintain a studio practice in Highland Park Los Angeles and often sell my work right from the studio, sharing the stories behind each piece with my patrons. Let’s set up a time for you to drop by!
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?
In my experience EQ trumps IQ. Relationships have gotten me further than knowledge. When I’ve been open about my dreams, the people I’ve met over the years have shown up to support them.
I learned to create meaningful and lasting relationships by listening to others with curiosity and compassion. I believe every single human is a destination we can travel to when get curious and allow them to open up. But it’s never a one way street, often I must open up before someone else is willing to meet me there.
I’ve also learned how to recognize and celebrate wins – sometimes I have the wherewithal to notice I’m in a place I was intending to get to years earlier. Most often these celebrations come with upgraded problems so I’m also always working on allowing the celebration part to last and not being too hard on myself or getting down about the problems that arise along the path.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovich changed my life. It opened me up to “improvisation as a way of life” and once I grasped that concept I never looked back. In any art I’m making I always seek to lose myself to the moment. When I look back at what I made, more often than not, it works for me. That book really taught me how to make my body an instrument.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ethanlipsitz.com
- Instagram: @ethanlipsitz
Image Credits
Daniel Johnson
George Evan
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
