We recently connected with Laura Viapiano and have shared our conversation below.
Laura, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
Wow, there are so many ways to look at a creativity block, and I think being able to do that; look at the block in various ways, has been the key to unblocking myself creatively. Self reflection and perspective are at the core of the abstract work I do, and that’s because those things are SO powerful. I’ve found such great freedom in taking the time to really go inward and get honest with myself about what is going on internally. It can be difficult to make the time to do so. It can be tough to give weight to feelings or perspectives and ways of thinking you might find within yourself. But when you take an inventory of where you’re really at, and do so with self-compassion, it becomes easier and easier to see what might be blocking you. Pro-tip: Nothing outside of yourself is the block. It is always your viewpoint and your choices around the circumstances that are or are not allowing something. When I accepted this, I was able not only to move through blocks faster, but also to see them as more than just blocks. I was able to use them as creative incubators, opportunities to piviot, and indicators that my desire to do better, deeper or different work was present.
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 am an abstract oil painter, first and foremost. Through the years, I’ve experimented with all different mediums and become enamored with different processes, but time and time again, I come back to oil painting and abstract work. In a world that is constantly trying to direct and manipulate our thoughts and emotions, I love creating pieces that allow the viewer a chance to pause and create an authentic relationship with the art that is unique to them. As humans, our amazing brains are always seeking patterns and narratives, and I love that when people gaze into a purely abstract painting, what they see is essentially their own collection of meaning reflected back at them. I hope that when people look at my paintings, a moment of self-reflection in born.
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?
My creative journey has had many phases, but the most important came about 10 years ago, when I was deciding whether or not to continue working in television. I had moved across the country to do so, and had been working for about a decade in the industry, while painting on and off on the side. The network I was at got shut down, and for a few months, I was able to live on severance pay, meaning, I didn’t really HAVE to work to survive for once. It was a huge blessing for me as a creative, and I decided to let myself use that time to lean into figuring our what becoming a full time artist could and would look like for me.
I experimented with new mediums, took on projects I was scared of and unqualified for, connected with other creatives, and tried to learn new skills like graphic design and even HTML coding and user ux. I really widened my scope and understanding of what my options could be as a visual creative and dipped my toe in to see what resonated best. I had a HUGE whiteboard in my bedroom with an elaborate schedule on it that helped me organize my days and weeks into doing all of this in a purposeful way. And I set a deadline for when I had to get a job again.
I guess if we are narrowing it down to three things, I would call this the experimenting phase, but also the clarity phase. Number one, let yourself experiment. Number two, allow that experimentation to create clarity for you. Experimenting can be overwhelming and distracting, so it’s important to be organized (highly recommend a life-sized white board, haha) and to go inward with yourself daily and do things like meditate and journal so you can check in, see where you are at, and be honest with yourself about what is working for YOU, and what isn’t.
So I guess to summarize, I would say that the three (ish) things that were most impactful on my journey were experimentation, clarity, and self-reflection. And organization! Create a structure with deadlines around those practices and you will see something start to grow out of the attention and intentions that you set. If you are just starting out, I think it’s essential to let yourself do this and create time for it. Do it for you. When I was doing this, I knew from the outside, it looked different than what my peers were doing, and I had to be internally committed and okay with judgements or misunderstandings. I was lucky enough to be met with lots of support, but I think that was because I was so aligned with my inner knowing around what I truly wanted. I was in congruence, and that’s powerful. Congruence will permeate your creative work and your life and create a gentle magnetism that no one can argue with. Strive for that.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone who knows the power of intention and attention, and who utilizes both to cultivate a beautiful internal and external life. It’s someone who has authored their life with purpose and is creating a home space that reflects that. They know the impact that the perfect painting can have on a space and are excited to invest in art that will elevate their home and reflect their energy and lifestyle in the most meaningful way. They are stirred and inspired by color, movement and design. They are self-reflective and optimistic. Perspective is their superpower.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lauraviapiano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraviapiano/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraViapianoArtist
