We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Leistico a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I think “purpose” is a constant journey. Life has its seasons, and there’s an opportunity to focus on a purpose or something that calls to us in each iteration. What guides me in this season is the desire to share the magic of creating art outdoors and empowering folks to tap into inspiration and joy through their creativity.
During the last few years of developing Abstract Adventures and this “hike & paint” movement, I’ve witnessed my sense of purpose evolve from a fun tour business to envisioning a larger unique social impact. I recognize the therapeutic value of painting outdoors and aspire to share that with individuals who have faced challenges or rough times. It’s funny how, even if you veer off course from your original purpose, it has a way of calling you back.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I like to think of myself as an artistic entrepreneur and creative communicator. I’ve always been inspired by being in community and finding opportunities to explore outside the status quo.
My dream job as a child was to be a park ranger, and as a self-taught artist, creativity has always been a constant. I have a very distinct memory from when I was about 11, bringing my canvas and paint supplies to our front porch on a perfect midwestern summer day. I was inspired to capture a giant maple tree in the light breeze. That was the beginning of my plein air journey. I rediscovered that magic over a decade later, finding opportunities to pack paints and palette knives with me trailside and the passion was reignited, this time on a much grander scale. I not only wanted to enjoy the experience for myself, but share it with others.
This was the origin of founding Abstract Adventures — hike & paint experiences that encourage folks to reconnect with nature and discover their inner artist among Colorado’s stunning scenery. In addition to running adventures, I’m excited about continuing to partner with special guest artists and amplifying impact with community organizations, team events, and new trails and outdoor studios in Spring 2024!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My three words for this year are tenacity, grace and imagination. I’m learning how to balance tenacity with patience. When you’re in the process of chasing after your passions, trust that what’s meant to be usually takes time, sometimes more time than we envision or want. I try to practice grace with myself by zooming out every so often and reflecting on how a version of myself two years ago would celebrate the present and progress made.
Also, finding communities that you can learn from and collaborate with is priceless as an entrepreneur. Part of that includes research, investing energy into figuring out what you need to know to be successful and seeking out opportunities that align with your goals. There are a multitude of different options, I’ve been trying different networks and resource hubs to see what works best. A lot of these communities host trainings and events too, which is super helpful when navigating the complexity of paperwork, planning and strategy.
Last and most importantly, I’ve learned to stay open to the unexpected. Continue to think outside the box and allow yourself to dream bigger than what’s expected. I have a “what if it’s better than you can imagine?” post-it note next to my workspace. Don’t ever limit yourself or your ideas.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
A powerful book I read recently was “The Invitation” by Oriah. Sometimes I will open it on random days to see what parcel of wisdom may inspire me. It has helped me reflect on what is important and how to truly value and experience the mountains and valleys we experience in life. The biggest lesson I took from it is to stay hungry. Don’t lose the hunger you have for a life that taps into the core of who you are and what makes your soul sing.
Out of curiosity, I opened the book just now for a passage to share with Bold Journey readers.
Here it is.
“The willingness to live our desires takes courage. To taste our longing, to feel the ache, we risk finding out our soul’s desires. We risk falling short of those desires. We risk living our desires fully.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abstractadventuresart.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/abstract_adventures
- Twitter: facebook.com/AbstractAdventures
Image Credits
Abstract Adventures
