Have you been feeling burned out with your work or even just the daily stressors in your life today? One great way to combat our anxieties and relieve stress is by creating art. I sat down with an artist to learn about how she took the leap of faith leaving her company job in the pursuit of greater freedom and happiness. Now that Laura has stepped more fully into her power, she is helping people to express themselves. Laura has created and wants to share a great outlet for us to express our own inner artist and return to the calm that we felt as children when we colored pictures.
Hi, Laura. Could you tell a little about your experience with illustration and how you got into that field?
As a kid, I spent countless hours sitting in front of the living room coffee table doodling away on my drawing pad while my abuela watched Univision. “Ay, que linda!” she would say.
I grew up, got a BFA degree with a Graphic Design concentration, and did the 9-5 office job thing as a graphic designer for several years before taking a leap and branching out on my own.
My favorite freelance design projects were always the ones that involved illustration – go figure!
After I had my first child, I decided to zero in on illustration work.
These days, I create hand-illustrated paper goods and gifts that capture life’s joyful moments and milestones.
What led you to branch out and create your own business?
I started out with a 9-5 office job at a company that had strict brand guidelines.
I was pretty limited in terms of creativity and after a few years, I wanted to stretch myself beyond that. So after much deliberation, I left that job and started my own business.
I knew I’d always regret it if I didn’t take that chance to see what I was capable of creating on my own.
Can you tell us a little about what makes it unique?
I see art as a form of self-love and self-care.
Art has the power to take your mood from ho-hum to happy instantaneously and I believe that you deserve to be absolutely DELIGHTED as much as possible. You only get one life to live – it shouldn’t be fully consumed by laundry, emails, and reheating your lukewarm coffee.
Making art part of your life in some way, shape, or form will give you a reason to smile daily. Bob Ross was onto something 😉
You are offering a digital coloring book kit for mothers. What inspired you to create this and where can mothers purchase it?
2020 has been hard, heavy, and emotionally draining. Parenting under normal circumstances can be tiring. Parenting under 2020 circumstances? That’s a whole other level!
I knew I had to figure out how to manage my stress by doing something *other* than frantically baking a bajillion loaves of banana bread (I only have so much space in my freezer, after all).⠀
I also knew that many other mothers were feeling equally overwhelmed. ⠀
So, I sat down and brainstormed how to combine my artistic skills and a need for easy self-care and COLOR O’CLOCK was born!⠀
A digital coloring book kit and a creative stress-buster to help moms clear their heads, so they can be refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on the world (or at least the pile of clothes sitting in their washing machine).⠀
It can be purchased here: COLOR O’CLOCK
Who is this product for?
COLOR O’CLOCK is perfect for mothers, but it’s also great for nurses, teachers, and caretakers – any woman who spends a majority of their time taking care of others and needs an enjoyable way to unwind in her personal time.
Your courage and hard work are an inspiration to others. What advice would you give others who want to take a leap and start their own business?
Nothing will test you like running your own business. It is the height of personal development because your business can’t grow past your own self-imposed limitations.
It’s important to be willing to evolve and grow by reading books, taking classes, and/or working with a business mentor so that you can grow beyond your comfort level and your business can evolve.
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