We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Kellner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lisa, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I think for me, resilience comes from deep dissatisfaction and being faced with a choice. When I’ve had really low moments, I just got to a point where I said to myself you can either continue on this trajectory of thought (and action) or do something else. When I was younger, it had to get to a low point for me to realize I needed a change. Now I have an awareness that I pay attention to and try to navigate things before they hit rock bottom.
I would say I probably get my resilience from my mother. She was always a person who would not take “no” for an answer and if she was faced with something she didn’t like, she would ignore it and carry on. I would look at that and think, how can you ignore such and such? But I see now how effective a tool that can be. It also has its drawbacks however! I find a nice balance is needed.
Once you realize that you can “fix” or “change” everything you encounter and that you have to focus on what’s most important to you, you have the ability to be resilient.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a visual artist based on an island off the coast of Maine. I have been an exhibiting artist 2006. Before that I was a mural painter in New York. I make paintings and sculptural constructions that conflate place and structure with memory and perception. I draw upon the experiences of place, seeking to distill the natural world and our perception of things down to their very essence. The slight angle of a tree trunk, a series of telephone lines, a slept in bed or a particular pattern of water current become communicators of emotion, feeling and experiential place. My work is concerned with activating this space both in the painting and in the viewer.
Painting is my way of connecting with the world around me and other people. I am a visual learner and a visual communicator. I love experimenting with new materials and working with my hands. I am obsessed with oil paint and the challenges it presents. What I love about painting is that I am never quite in total control and it forces me to relinquish control (which is hard for me!). Painting is a collaborative experience between the senses, ones perceptions and the canvas in front of you. When it works and everything is jelling, it is a magical experience!
Currently I work with galleries, art consultants and online platforms to exhibit and sell my work. You can find more information about my work at www.lisakellner.com or on my Instagram @lisakellnerstudio.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The number one quality I think someone should work on is getting to know yourself and what your values are. If you aren’t clear on who you are, you can easily go down a path that really doesn’t work for you. I learned the hard way that this kind of career strategy can only take you so far and never leads to satisfaction.
The second quality that I feel is instrumental is your integrity. When you make decisions that compromise your integrity, it doesn’t benefit anyone – especially you. As an artist, I have had a few experiences where I was offered something that would compromise my integrity. I am so glad that I always said no to these. At the end of the day, money, objects, fame, success are all fleeting. Your integrity is what gives you true value.
The third quality that I feel is important is taking full ownership of your choices and actions. Blaming others or events is a waste of time and a huge distraction. Worst of all, it prevents you from being your greatest self. As an artist, it can be so easy to not go into the studio or not follow through with the administrative part of my career. Because I don’t have a boss to answer to, I can seemingly do what I want. But if I’m not showing up for my art practice, art doesn’t get made or exhibited or sold. It’s important that I understand the consequences of all my actions – for better or worse.
What I’ve learned is that anyone can learn the “steps” to becoming a successful artist or business owner. I view these three qualities as the foundation that I have built my career upon. Without them I could easily fall sway to trends, social media likes and advice that isn’t aligned to my values. This becomes a recipe for failure and quitting early. Being an artist is about playing the long game authentically.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, the first thing I do is look at the situation and how I am experiencing it. I try to take an objective approach as to why I am feeling a certain way. Instead of saying, “I am so frustrated”, etc, I will say to myself, “I am feeling frustration right now”. Once I have named the feeling I will ask myself why. What has occurred to bring on these feelings of overwhelm? I find that when you take it personally, it’s hard to get out of the loop of sadness, frustration and overwhelm.
For me, taking a long walk in nature is very helpful. I will also write in my journal. However, I don’t write to vent. Instead I will write down what I am observing in myself and then I will write down statements about things I feel good about. for instance, might start a statement by saying: “It feels good to know……”. I have found this kind of journaling to be extremely helpful. It forms a context around the situation I am experiencing while providing a more relevant focus.
I also find that having a morning routine of walking, yoga and meditation prepares me for the day and mitigates overwhelm. It also readies me mentally for the studio.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lisakellner.com
- Instagram: @lisakellnerstudio
- Youtube: @lisakellner
Image Credits
Lisa Kellner
