Canvas Rebel Interview
Ivy, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I have known for many years that I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally. I was always doing something creative as a child, whether it was a craft with sparkly puffy paint or drawing a very detailed tree.
Ivy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
After college, I had taken a break from traditional art while I worked in web design and started a family. Soon after my son was a toddler, I got the creative itch again so I started painting again, mostly for my own enjoyment. In 2019 shortly before the pandemic, I saw the chance to take a class in mosaics. I really enjoyed the class, and people saw the sunflower mosaic I made in that class and started requesting that I make them a mosaic too. So I kept making mosaics and my technique evolved to include beads, metal leaf, mica, and anything else that will add extra sparkle to my pieces. I am most proud of building a small artistic business, even as I face unique challenges that others might not face. I have ADHD as well as a rare chronic liver disease. In 2021, my young son was diagnosed with leukemia, so some of my time spent on my business had to be diverted to extra care for him. However, because of my challenges, I have found a unique strength and perseverance.
While I was home with my son during his intense rounds of chemo treatments, I started thinking about other ways to make a living while making art and that’s when I discovered pattern design, including repeating patterns. I recently developed a surface design portfolio so that I can start pitching to clothing, fabric, stationary companies and more.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding aspect is seeing the look on a collector’s face when they see my work in person for the first time. This is especially satisfying when it’s a custom piece, created just for this collector. They’ve given me this assignment of what they want and then when they actually see it come to life, it’s like a magical moment.How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society can help by changing the mindset that art is not just a luxury or an afterthought. Art is essential because it can help personalize a space, and can have a calming effect for the viewer, therefore elevating one’s mood.