We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Russell-Schlesinger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole, 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 think that imposter syndrome can infect anyone’s mind at anytime and the best remedy for this is to surround yourself with supportive people. Of course, my friends and family were my first cheerleaders. They always encouraged me to pursue my passions in a bigger way. I had been painting and creating ceramics for years with no real goal in mind. I would walk through galleries and peruse the online ones with such admiration for the artists I saw represented. I never thought that my “hobby” would ever turn into an actual business. Without the very consistent support from the people closest to me, I’m not sure if I would have ever had the courage to pursue this dream.
From there it became so much trickier. I got my LLC, I made my website, and I started selling my work. But I just found myself stuck with so many questions and no one to really turn to. Until it slowly dawned on me – I am living and working in an amazing community of artists! Charleston has this seemingly endless population of creative people. And I realized – I am one of those people! I started to reach out more and nurture relationships with other artists. And so much positivity poured out my way. I think artists crave connection with people but sometimes creating art can feel very isolating. It is so wonderful when we can come together and help each other to see that 1) we are not alone and 2) we don’t always know what we are doing – no matter how long we’ve been doing it! and 3) it’s so easy to ask for help. Rely on the people that know you the best but also find some support from the people that know what you DO best.
The most important thing to remember is: art is subjective. What I create may not resonate with everyone and that is okay. That does not diminish my abilities or somehow mean I am not worthy of creating. It is an absolute privilege to share my art. Even though it has become a business, it will always be the thing that fills my heart with joy. And for me, that joy will always be the most real measure of success.
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 am a mixed media artist living on the coast of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. I work in ceramics and acrylic and also combine the two to create three-dimensional wall pieces. I focus on florals and nature by creating flowers and what I call “garden creatures” out of porcelain. My work is always evolving and I love exploring new colors and textures.
I just launched my most recent collection, “Flower Daze”, which will be the last bit of work I produce for several months as we anxiously await the arrival of our second daughter – due any day now!
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?
As a mixed media artist who works with ceramics, I think that learning the skillset of a ceramicist is probably the most important part of my journey. I was able to learn from several master potters over the years and I take all of their knowledge to heart. Ceramics is a very tricky medium as there is so much precision and patience involved. I think my time spent learning about ceramics caused me to develop an incredible sort of patience with creating art. This definitely translates into my practice today. Though I can be a bit of a perfectionist and have this immense desire to be precise, the patience keeps everything balanced and harmonious.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I am feeling overwhelmed, I have to somehow organize. Sometimes that is by organizing my thoughts – like creating a list. Putting it all down on paper makes it feel more tangible and manageable. Sometimes that is by literally organizing my studio. If everything is a mess, then I will feel like a mess, too. Taking a step back from that overwhelming feeling and putting SOMETHING in order will make me feel much more calm and collected.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nicolersstudio.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nicole.rs.studio/
Image Credits
Carrie Elizabeth
