We recently connected with Dena Young and have shared our conversation below.
Dena, 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 find a lot of my creativity by practicing the art of pondering. As a society we’ve lost our innate sense of wonder. Finding the answer to all our questions is as simple as picking up our phones, searching the Internet, and watching as it spits out a curated list of opinions within seconds. If you want to be a more creative person, I challenge you to sit and wonder the next time you have a question. Don’t seek out the answer that someone else has already concluded, but instead use your own wisdom and life experience to craft a discovery that is unique to you. A lot of the time you won’t come up with anything at all, and this is where the magic takes place – in the unknown. Having a spirit of curiosity can lead you to asking bold questions and before you know it you are creating new things that bring value to the world, not just more content to add to its vast catalog.
The answer to keeping your creativity alive is never in having more. On the contrary, I’ve learned that the less you have, the more creative you get to be. So don’t go out searching for your next big break that will make you an overnight success. Don’t just try and make it by until that unforeseen “someday” when you have that thing you think you need. Use what you have right in front of you and make something beautiful out of it. We all have something to give. We all have gifts from God, and I want to take mine and pour them out onto others, making the world just a little bit more like God’s intended vision.
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?
Hello, and welcome to my side of the world. If we haven’t met yet, here is a quick glimpse into my life. My name is Dena and if you ask me what I “do” I will likely tell you that I am a stay outside mama with two incredible boys. I spend most of my days stomping in mud puddles, feeding ducks, smelling the roses (literally), and exploring God’s creation. I love seeing the world through curious little eyes.
But I also have a creative side that seems to burst out of my soul no matter where I go. I want to make everything around me beautiful, and that will be my life. Whether it’s through a bright smile and friendly “hello” or painting something colorful on your walls. I have a deep passion for using a paintbrush to turn something ordinary into a unique piece of art that brings joy to your space. My goal as an artist isn’t to master any specific style or signature, but rather I love working with my clients to make their visions come to life.
I started my art business, Dena June Creations, when my oldest son was about 6 months old. Working several part time jobs while navigating being a first-time full-time mom, I thought to myself, “you know what I should do? I should start a business.” So, I made a website, got an LLC, and started telling people that I paint murals. After a few jobs it was abundantly clear that this is where I am meant to be.
When working with my clients I like to get down to the root of what they’re hoping to accomplish. What’s the goal here? Are you looking to add color or a statement piece? Do you want something playful that sparks imagination? Maybe you want to honor your history and culture. Or you could simply be looking for something lovely that brings peace and calm to your heart anytime you walk in the room. Let’s start with the end goal in mind and work our way to creating a unique design that speaks to who you are. I am currently working with a town to design a mural that will be located on a busy street. Their main goal, besides upgrading the look of this rundown building, is to slow down traffic. What a creative way to solve their speeding problem!
Spending money on artwork may seem frivolous and unnecessary to some, but I am convinced that having a custom hand-painted mural can not only attract people to your space, it also brings this inimitable style that you can’t get from commercialized wallpaper or a vinyl banner of your logo. When was the last time you saw someone taking a selfie next to a printed poster? But a colorfully painted landscape of your town’s iconic sites? Maybe a fun photo op wall where you can pose next to a giant ice cream cone. These are things that draw people in to see more.
Murals also cultivate an amazing sense of community. Public art quickly becomes widely recognizable by both those living in town and anyone passing through. A custom mural is a beautiful way to visually express your values and pay tribute to your tribe.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Number one: Learn to live in your season. I spend most of my time hanging out with little humans. If you are trying to get more clients, land a bigger sale, or increase productivity in your workday, then hanging out with small children is terrible advice. They will make it their life mission to eat up every ounce of your time. I have quite literally spent 40 minutes of my precious time lying in the dirt staring as ants line up carrying small grains of sand to form a new hill, just to watch my son wipe it clean without remorse. And I will tell you this – I have learned more about life and God’s creation in those 40 minutes of playing in the mud than I could have in 40 hours of scrolling through my phone pretending to look for inspiration. With two little boys at home that need my full attention, progress on my art business has been slooooow. But slow progress in the right direction is still progress and I am so grateful that I get to raise my boys while they watch me grow my business one brushstroke at a time. I heard a quote from Ruth Chou Simons that changed the way I view my day to day. She says, “Nothing in the mundane is wasted. Living well is the ultimate source of creating well. If this season calls you to motherhood and not much else energy-wise then serve and love well. Your energy spent on what feels unseen is not wasted. Your season to bloom will come in due season and it may look different and more wonderful than you can imagine.” I feel this to my core. I live this out daily.
Number two: Know your values and write them down. I suggest Googling a list of values and writing down anything that speaks to your heart. Then keep narrowing your list until you have 3-5 words that you identify with. Once you’ve named your core values, go through each one and define what it means in your own words. It’s important to come up with your own definition instead of borrowing someone else’s to ensure they’re true to the person you aspire to be. Congratulations! You now have a clear vision of how to find purpose in your existence. Use your values like a customized magic 8 ball. Anytime you have a decision to make, whether big or small, first consult your list of core values to make sure they align with the best version of you. Do this again and again, and you’ll start to naturally make decisions based on your own personal priorities instead of what your parents want you to do, or your friends think you should do, or what the world claims is best for your life. Trust that what you’re saying “yes” or “no” to is the right choice, even if it means your life looks a little different. Naming and knowing your values also come in handy when you lack energy, inspiration, or ambition. When you feel numb, check in with your list and see if you have been ignoring the things that matter most. If one of your core values is contribution and you’ve gotten in the habit of hoarding, sign up to volunteer the next time you see an opportunity. If you value relationships but haven’t reached out to your loved ones in a while, stop what you are doing right now and call your best friend. A long conversation about life might be just what you need to bring some clarity. Maybe you value growth, but your job is stagnant, and your days feel mundane. What would happen if you decided to check out that new dance class for adults and try something completely out of your comfort zone? Could you learn or grow from that? I will be the first to raise my hand and admit that I am far from living a perfect easy life where making all the right decisions comes effortless, but having a tangle piece of paper written in my own handwriting of what I claim to be the ultimate source of worth allows me to course correct and pursue the things I do with purpose.
Number three: Give your attention intentionally. In today’s world, it is so easy to make time the enemy. We are constantly harping on about time: we don’t have enough, it goes by too fast, time is money, time waits for no one, time is of the essence, and the list goes on. We are obsessed with managing it, tracking it, documenting it, “saving” it through automation, and trying our best to hack its inevitable tick by attempting to do more than one thing at any given moment. But really, you’re probably just doing a lot of things poorly. Here’s the truth: you don’t need more time. You just need to pay better attention to what’s going on in front of you. If you want to do something well, do less (a LOT less), and focus on the task at hand.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
There is so much to gain from living life in constant pursuit of learning and growing, whether from new experiences, broadening your understanding of the world, or connecting in fellowship with people who have different stories than yours. However, truly awe-inspiring things happen when your passions, abilities, and opportunities align with spirit-filled wisdom and discernment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.denajunecreations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denajunecreations
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthycustomdesigns
- Other: Email: denajunecreations@gmail.com
