Meet Gina Dematteis

 

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

Gina, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.

Burnout is a tough topic for an artist! I think all of us experience exhaustion and the stress of staying in the creative zone. I look towards Julia Cameron for motivational boosts. Her books have been a great source for me when I’m feeling drained.
“”SOMETHING” IS TELLING US TO MAKE ART.
WE MUST TRUST THAT SOMETHING.”
The Artist’s Way is an amazing resource when you’re looking for a little push.
Making sure there is movement in my routine is also important to me. Exercise has always been my go-to— there’s nothing like clearing your mind on a long run. Tiring out my body revitalizes my mind!
And, I can’t leave out family and friends who constantly remind me that I have a gift that should be shared.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I finally took a step back and went where my heart took me, which has always been art and nature. Working full-time as a Creative Director over the last 12 years had shelved my artistic side. Reaching for it again had a major benefit on me mentally. Regrounding myself birthed the idea to start creating wildflower artwork and thus, A Whisp of Time. I have always loved the outdoors, being around and caring for plants, growing flowers…it just felt like the perfect time to jump feet-first into my own company.
My flower hammering garnered quite a bit of attention in Charleston, it is an ancient art that has been around for centuries, it captures beauty and balance. The beauty is in what you create, the balance is the mental and energetic release from being surrounded by flowers and hammering! It’s all about taking a break from the circus in your head, and what better way to do it than by creating art you can wear or a design you can frame!
I am offering private Flower Hammering events, Whisp will travel and bring everything you need. I also sell DIY kits with instructions, some t-shirts I have created, and my wildflower art, dried, mono-printed, hammered and vintage framed. I repurpose vintage trays for your vanity with glass tops and can personalize these with a handwritten initial if you like (these were a hit last Christmas, I couldn’t make them fast enough!). I also work with brides to transform their wedding day bouquet into a keepsake. Each piece of art is one of a kind: a Whisp!
I am reachable via my website. Instagram and Facebook DM. Ask me about custom art!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I was fortunate to have mentors who were extremely talented in graphic design and photography. My advice for someone beginning their journey would be to find someone you can learn from, someone whose work you admire. Be a sponge!!! Photography and styling allowed me to see art from a different perspective, and creating vignettes is still one of my favorite things to do. I learned graphics backwards, having worked for a print company in college learning to understand how the finished product is realized. My creative processes are streamlined and my final products are always within budget.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Getting my art recognized is my biggest challenge. Where do I fit in? Shops, online, galleries, emporiums, pop-ups? I have done all of these! I would like to have a consistent calendar of Flower Hammering classes or at least 4 events a month. How do I get customers to commit? There is always interest and the booking is the inconsistent challenge. I am working on an online presence to hopefully create a further reach. I think having events at boutique hotels would be amazing- plus having a piece of my art in every room! That’s a dream and a challenge!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

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