Meet Olivia Ezinga

We recently connected with Olivia Ezinga and have shared our conversation below.

Olivia , 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.

Creativity is second nature to me. I’d also say it is intertwined with my gratefulness for simply being alive and happy. There’s context to that which stems from being a depressed teen experiencing suicidal ideation, when all I wanted in life was to thrive and not just survive. I walked through hell and came out the other side not only with a diagnosis for bi polar disorder but also gratitude, inspiration, and the will to live.
Studies show that people with bi polar disorder are often very creative and that’s true for me. Artist’s block has never been an issue and I credit that to living with mental illness because it does influence some of my work. Heck, I could create work all day long that reflects that journey. But going back to my gratefulness for being alive – nowadays I can’t help but be enthusiastic about the little things because they didn’t used to matter. And finding joy in one little thing leads to a random thought that leads to another and suddenly sparks an idea, a narrative, a line of a poem…suddenly I’m making artwork that I didn’t know was going to exist the day before.

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 Olivia Ezinga, and I’m a professional artist and educator in Detroit, Michigan.

I graduated with a BFA in photography from College for Creative Studies in 2017 where I am currently the Assistant Director of Admissions. I also teach professional development workshops for art teachers and summer classes for high school students at CCS. Education is incredibly important to me and the opportunity to attend a highly regarded art and design college was a dream I didn’t expect to come true. I’m passionate about making education accessible as well as mentoring aspiring artists.

I am active in my practice as a mixed media collage artist and photographer, focusing on fine art self portraiture. I’d describe my style as soft, quiet, and feminine. Self portraits have always been my main interest but I don’t make them for the sake of feeling pretty or so viewers can feel something. I create for myself and it’s merely a bonus if people connect with what I show the world.

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?

I love that question! There’s a lot I could speak to on this topic but these are my top three –
1. Create for yourself, first and foremost. Create work that excites and motivates you to do more. Making art that we THINK people want to see adds unnecessary pressure and sets us up for disappointment. I speak from experience. Start photographing, painting, designing, sculpting, or whatever else for YOU. Things tend to fall into place after that and you’ll attract an audience that is excited about what you’re doing.

2. Empathy. My favorite quote is from Maya Angelou and she sums this up well –
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I believe that a successful artist is empathetic and has a heart for other people. If your goal is to tell someone’s story through visuals or words, be the person who puts your subject at ease when you sit down with them.

3. Never underestimate the value of a hand written note. Perhaps that’s a follow up sent after an interview or maybe it’s expressing your thanks to a client for purchasing your latest painting. It could be a quick intro along with your business card sent to someone you want to collaborate with. It’s a small gesture but believe me, it matters.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents fought for my opportunity to live fully alive.
Going back to my struggles as a depressed and suicidal teen, my parents saw that I was in crisis and took it seriously. No “oh it’s just a phase” or anything. They got me booked with an amazing therapist and also a psychiatrist. It wasn’t an easy path getting to where I am today – years of therapy, medication adjustments, needing switch psychiatrists several times, and constant unpredictable moods. For all the years I took out my anger and negativity on my parents as I worked toward mental stability, they stuck it out with love and grace. I don’t know how they had it in them to put up with me in all instability but I am so glad they did. Mom and Dad, I am forever grateful you did so I could live a life so good that I never thought could be mine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oliviaezinga.com
• Instagram: oliviaezinga