We recently connected with Lisa Ray Koenig and have shared our conversation below.
Lisa Ray, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I am not sure that I have completely overcome imposter syndrome. One of the most challenging qualities to overcome as a new artist is comparing your artwork to another artist’s work. Don’t do this! You have to recognize that what you create comes from within and is you alone. Revel in your techniques as you hone them. That being said I actively look to improve my painting skills while seeking advice and guidance from seasoned artists. Being open to the learning of new techniques or the learning of how to market oneself or just taking the time to be gentle with yourself, can only improve the degree of feeling like an imposter. So when that little voice whispers “you’re not an Artist” I can simply whisper back “I am an Artist, I’m just a work in progress”
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My career path has taken many directions; from being a radio broadcaster, to being a freelance columnist. I now work for a construction company and I toss paint onto canvas. Actually, this painting thing only came about in March 2020, I call myself a Pandemic Painter. I have always had a creative fire within me but life got in the way and I never found the time to get creative until I was gifted the time thanks to the global pandemic. Looking for a distraction from the chaos at that time, I found painting was my solace. I like to refer to my paintings as creative distractions. Painting is a wonderful outlet that allows me to immerse myself into the magic of creating something.
The idea of Groovy Cats Art came about from my earlier artwork as I was painting a mid-century vibe style featuring cats. One of the things that makes my artwork a little bit different is that if you look closely, you will always find a cat (a Groovy Cat) in my paintings. I call it “Find Felix” (yes, I have a cat named Felix). Looking for Felix has become a game for those enjoying my artwork. My paintings are whimsical that tell a story of colour and texture that brings about a charm and comfort. I am always amazed when someone gravitates to one of my creations and how that my painting can resonate with that person. It is so gratifying to feel that sense of art appreciation through someone else’s eyes.
Now this is something that was never on my radar as an artist…. Recently I was approached by a local brewery Daft Brewing in Kingston, Ontario Canada about one of my paintings that they found on my Instagram feed. It was a painting I created of a wildly pink flamingo with bubbles all around it, I called the painting “Freda Flamingo.” They just loved it! So, the CEO of Daft Brewing Adam Rondeau reached out to me to chat about having this painting featured as a label on their latest Dry Hopped Pilsner. And as it happens Daft Brewing’s mascot is a flamingo. I was completely shocked and so very honoured. Of course, I say yes to this incredible opportunity. And now one of my paintings will be forever celebrated as a beer label.
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?
Looking back at the three qualities/skills that were most impactful in my journey, is one, learning to be resilient. I had applied for my artwork to hang in a local gallery, through a juried process. This was the first time that I had thought about my paintings hanging in a gallery and figured why not give it a try. My work was not chosen. However, I was grateful for the opportunity and the feedback they (the gallery jurors) gave me. This rejection spurred me to seek a local location to host my own solo exhibition which I did successfully. Never let anyone tell you that you are not good enough, keep striving to prove them wrong and you will become your own success story.
The second quality/skill I learned was during my radio broadcasting days. Having learned many skills during my time behind the mic, the one skill that stands out is how to market yourself. When you are a radio DJ, you have to move outside your comfort level to promote yourself. It’s like a popularity contest, ‘please listen to my show’ the more people listen the better the ratings. So, this idea of having to ‘market’ yourself as an artist can also be a daunting challenge. How do you move outside your comfort level? You just have to go for it and thank goodness for social media! Using the tools of social media has made it easy to get your artwork out to the masses and get recognized. I think you have to get over yourself, take it easy on yourself and go ahead be boastful, promote, promote, promote. If you don’t do it, no one else will.
The third quality/skill learned along the way is to not believe the critics or the naysayers. Here’s the thing, as a painter, I feel that I am revealing something about myself through my craft and putting it out there on display for people to either criticize or enjoy which can be either deflating or jubilant. Just because someone isn’t a fan of your style shouldn’t stop you from doing what you love. Do it for yourself, if it brings you joy, a sense of peace then have at it. A person once said to me “Don’t let anyone take your sunshine away” this statement has resonated with me for many years and still does.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Breathe…. and breathe again…. try to recognize what is making you feel overwhelmed, then do whatever makes you happy in that moment. Whenever I feel that sense of being overwhelmed, I clean. With music playing in the background, it’s a great way to get lost in the melodies and there’s something very distracting about tidying up or organizing something that I may have been putting off. If you are feeling overwhelmed or perplexed with a situation, take a step back, stop what you are doing, walk away from whatever it is, give yourself time and then get back to it with a new sense of being. Also remind yourself that it is okay to ask for help. Never be too shy to just ask someone for their advice or expertise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://groovycatsart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groovycatsart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groovycatsart11
- Twitter: @elleray
Image Credits
Lisa Ray Koenig
