We recently connected with Sherstin Schwartz and have shared our conversation below.
Sherstin, 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?
For a long time when I was younger, it was hard for me to accept that I was creative. Which sounds very strange given that I’m a full time artist now, but I never thought that I could be creative. It’s almost as if I had to give myself permission to do so. Now I try to honor my inner child but being creative every day. I look at everyday objects, nature, books and movies which a sense of wonder, which then fuels my curious mind. When my mind is curious it is usually bursting with ideas, so I write down as many of them as fast as I can. Because there are some days when I have absolutely no idea what to create, but when I look at my ideas notebook the creative vibes flows again. I keep my creativity alive by being open to whatever ideas the universe throws my way.
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?
I am a polymer clay artist who specializes in creating colorful, alien gardens. I primarily sculpt flowers and plants, but occasionally make pieces that I call ‘Portals’ which are a little more abstract. I was a floral designer for many years and after being in the corporate world for a while after that, I needed something creative in my life again. So I picked up some polymer clay and the rest is history. I started Life of a Paintbrush in 2018 and my business really took off in 2019 when I joined TikTok. A few of my videos when viral and that gave me more traffic to my online shop. In 2020 I was able to quit my job and become a full time artist.
I use my experience with flowers from my florist days in my sculpting work today. Even if the flowers I create now are neon pink and holographic… not exactly realistic. I’ve always found great peace in nature and sculpting has also helped me a lot with my mental health while struggling with anxiety. I hope that with my artwork people can be transported to a magical relaxing realm just for a little while.
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?
Discipline, perseverance and social media knowledge are what have helped me most on my journey.
The last one sounds silly compared to the others, but it really is what helped launch my business and keeps me connected to my customers today. Now a days people love connecting to a person’s story and see how something is made. I love showing the creative process with videos online and the thought process behind it. Even if somedays my creations aren’t the best, I think it’s also important to show your failures. That’s how you grow as an artist.
Discipline and perseverance helped me early in my journey. I knew I wanted to be a full time artist, but of course there are always doubts that creep in. I had to keep my mind on what I wanted and persevere through all of that noise. I also had to stay disciplined in improving my craft by making something every day. While that might not be realistic for some people (and that’s okay!), that was the goal I set for myself. I started 3 year long art challenges in which I posted a new piece to social media every day. Through those challenges I really started developing my style and honing my craft.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I’m overwhelmed I take a step back from what I’m working on with my art. I know if I’m overwhelmed or overly stressed, I’m not going to produce work that I’m proud of. Typically I either take a nap, read a book, play some video games or go on a long walk (when it’s not -10F outside). Doing something that isn’t art for awhile is also as important as practicing your craft. Even if you have to step away from your studio for an entire day or two, it’s worth it in the long run so you don’t burn yourself out. Also get off your phone! When I’m overly stressed, social media seems to make it so much worse. Doom scrolling won’t make you feel better!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lifeofapaintbrush.com
- Instagram: @lifeofapaintbrush
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifeofapaintbrush
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lifeofapaintbrush
- Other: TikTok @Lifeofapaintbrush
Image Credits
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