We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Finn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie below.
Katie, 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.
With being gifted in music and art, there are many ways creativity finds expression in and through me. Thankfully I’ve been able to pursue education in both of those fields, both formally and informally, which as an adult has allowed me to enjoy pursuits both personally and professionally… live music solo and group performance, writing, studio work, teaching, painting (fine art, reproductions, and murals) interior design, project management, event design, floral design, seasonal design and installation, etc. As overly simple as it sounds, I basically allow creativity to be what it is, ride each wave of it as it comes, and relax when there isn’t inspiration or demand. As important as the output is (or the highs) the rest (or lows) between between the highs are equally important, as they fuel the output and give life balance, avoiding burnout. Ultimately, I am joined with the Creator, and am a part of his manifestation on the earth.
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?
What I do? It depends on the day and time… First and foremost, I am a mother (presently single), so my life is built around supporting life with and for my daughter. There are a few values that help me make decisions: 1. am I being true to myself 2. practical application in life (financial responsibilities) 3. schedule fluidity and flexibility according to life’s demand in the moment or season. On a given week, if I am firing on most of the professional cylinders, I can be found managing a design project, painting (a piece or a mural), working on my album, and gigging – all while coordinating a coparenting schedule and getting my kiddo to school or ballet. The next ‘big thing’ in my small world is completing my album; I’ve been writing since I was small, and this project has been underway since 2019. Anybody in the music world understands that there is little to no money in original music, and with values #1. and #2. above, I like paying my mortgage over booking sessions in the studio. It’s getting closer to completion, and I am really proud of how it’s sounding.
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?
1. Figure out who you are. Life is lived as a human being, not a human doing. If all you are is what you do, you will miss out on the point of being alive, and will live chasing after the wind. 2. Be a life-long learner. I don’t know how much it matters to be formally educated these days, unless you want to be a doctor or lawyer or something like that. Seeking out people who know more than you and can teach you everything they know about a given subject is amazing…finding people who will let their ceiling be your floor is a treasure worth seeking.
3. Failure is freedom. If you get used to failing, you will find that you’re free to be yourself and worry less about the outcomes of endeavors… this is far easier said than done. Especially us artists; we tend to take ourselves and our work quite seriously – as though our very lives are on display in some way. If we can learn to love ourselves, be true to the expression of ourself in the moment that it comes out of us, rejoice in everything that it is (and everything that it is not) regardless of the opinions of those who encounter said expression, then we can create without fear. If there is no fear, we create in freedom. And freedom is a powerful force that blazes a trail for more of itself – for ourselves and others.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
God.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @katie.finn.music // @summit.interiors
Image Credits
Headshots by Cassondra Ruprecht
