We were lucky to catch up with Mariah Greenhoff recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mariah, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I’m always making art! I try to get my hands into clay regularly and there’s usually a drawing in progress on my iPad. I just try to keep going, even if I have no idea when I’ll be able to finish the project. Sometimes I have really large gaps of time between when I start and return to a project. I work alone and don’t have many deadlines, so I can finish projects on my own time. I don’t like rushing the process and I usually don’t work on a project if I’m not in the right headspace.
I also keep my creativity alive by looking at other people’s art! Living in Minneapolis provides a lot of opportunities to see art from all different makers. There are so many places to go and see what other people are making. I usually end up getting inspiration from other artists and jotting down new ideas.
Another way I keep my creativity alive is by getting outside into nature. Going for a 20 minute walk can be just as beneficial (if not more so) than spending a few hours at the MIA! I love observing the texture of tree bark, leaves, rocks, and moss just to name a few. If I find something really exciting I’ll snap a quick picture and form a sculpture design from that image. Nature always inspires me and never ceases to amaze me.
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?
I’m an artist living and working in the Minneapolis area. I primarily make sculptures and prints, but I also love oil painting and mixed media projects. I recently moved into my own home studio which has given me the ability to fire my work in house! This is very exciting and expands on what I can do and how quickly I can do it. I’m working hard to develop mugs, cups, wall sculptures, and earrings!
I’m hoping to build my brand slowly and steadily over the next couple of years and develop a stronger online presence. I would love to be able to make enough income from selling art to afford a bigger kiln and start participating in more local art festivals. I’d also love to pursue more grant and residency opportunities in the Twin Cities area. I finally feel like I’m getting my footing in the arts community here and I can’t wait to keep growing as an individual while participating in more local, community art events.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Visualization 2. Resilience
3. Perseverance
Visualization. Visualize the future you see for yourself! What does it look like? What are your priorities? Are you working toward your goals? What pace makes you comfortable?
After I graduated with my Bachelors in Fine Art I assumed there would be ample opportunities for me to work in the arts and continue making sculptures. I visualized a future that was supportive and fruitful because that’s what my college told me I would receive as a reward for receiving my degree…but I quickly learned that opportunities were limited, underpaid, and underappreciated. Making art was next to impossible to make while working full time. I had no energy and no access to clay. The only way to get access to making and firing was to pay a studio membership fee, which is very expensive! I couldn’t afford to be a part of the community when I first started. I had to start slowly purchasing my own materials and making art in my apartment, but I was determined not to give up!
Resilience. I had a lot of failures when I first started on my own. I originally moved to Minneapolis to be a part of the Northern Clay Center’s New Institute for Ceramic Education (N.I.C.E.). I thought this would be a way to get myself back into making again, but it turned out to be so much more expensive than I originally thought it would be. Materials and studio fees were not included in the price of the program. I dropped out of the program halfway through. I initially felt like a failure, but after some time passed I became glad that I left the program. Making art doesn’t have to be expensive and I learned that I shouldn’t get myself into a situation where the cost of the program is so stressful it impacts the art making process.
Perseverance. This experience stifled my creativity for quite a while and I struggled with depression from not being able to make art. Making art feeds my soul…and I was severely malnourished. I had always visualized a future where I was an artist, but life kept making it harder and harder. I didn’t let this defeat me though! I quit the soul-sucking retail management job I was working and got a job working at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. It paid less than what I was making, but it provided me with access to the art facilities! This was a huge win. They had a kiln that I could use for free, a spray booth where I glazed my work, and a photo studio where I photographed my new work. This got me back on my feet creatively and it’s kept me going strong for the last few years.
My advice would be to not give up on yourself. Stay resilient and don’t stop working until you’re on the track that you visualized! Nothing should stop you from making art for too long. Find yourself opportunities that help you reach your goals. It’s worth the hard work to do what you love. I’m doing what I love and learning new things everyday.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
My biggest challenge at the moment is learning how to 3D model. It’s so much more difficult to learn than I thought it would be! I find it challenging to learn how to use the new software on my own and I can never find the right tutorial video for what I need. It’s taking me a really long time to learn, but I know it will be worth it! When I get really frustrated I simply walk away for the day and come back to it later. I’m constantly reminding myself that I have plenty of time to learn this new skill and there’s no rush to master it quickly. Once I learn this skill I can start fabricating cups, mugs, and so much more! It will be worth the hard work, but it’s definitely testing my patience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mariahgreenhoff.com
- Instagram: @mariah_greenhoff
- Youtube: @mariahgreenhoff
Image Credits
All images were taken by myself, Mariah Greenhoff.
