— When I discovered the work of artist Anna Aspnes I knew I had discovered a designer I HAD to work with, no matter what. Her content is absolutely exquisite, and it’s truly wonderful having it included in my advanced AWAKE and KAIZEN courses. Enjoy my interview with Anna as we join her a mile high in her studio in the mountains of Colorado …
What excites you the most about creating artistic content for other artists to use in their work?
What excites me is imagining all the different ways my digital art may be perceived, interpreted, and then used by other artists to create new compositions … It blows my mind to think about how many pieces of work might have originated from just one “ArtPlay Palette” in my collection. I mean … there are 35,000 pieces in the Anna Aspnes Design Gallery alone (which seems crazy when you think about it), but there are probably many more printed in photo books, hanging on walls, or floating around the various corners of the internet.
That’s amazing to think. But it’s not just about the numbers. It’s all about the impact, the influence, and the joy it brings to others.
I take photos very seriously and see them as a way to capture and memorialize a single moment in time. They are a way to celebrate the experiences we have as human beings, and what better way to do that than through the confluence of life, art, and creativity. The ability to share what I enjoy doing so much with so many — it’s not only humbling, it’s also a gift that keeps on giving. Through my own joy, I give the joy to others, and they in turn pass that joy on to others through their own creative work. When you have something good, the hope is to be able to share it.
But to your original question, I suppose we all want to make our mark in this world, and this is it for me.
Have you been artistic your whole life?
You’ll laugh, but yeah … Before I could even walk, I spent endless hours propped up against the coffee table intent on creating magic with a crayon in hand.
My early work happened on the back of old maps brought home by my Dad, who was a navigator in the Royal Air Force. I could never have too many art supplies and so my parents recycled to keep up with my creativity. From the get-go I was interested in combining different mediums and loved the collage style of creating art.
Invention (the pursuit of a unique approach) has always been my modus operandi. From fashion to cooking to living life, I’ve eschewed the norm in favor of my own original approach. My Mum used to cringe at my clothing choices but couldn’t but admire how I managed to make outfits work. In the kitchen I don’t think I’ve ever followed a recipe verbatim. Then there’s the tale of me going door to door selling perfume made from the flowers in our garden.
Many would label me as quirky … which I’ll gracefully accept. But aren’t we all?
I don’t think I’d have it any other way.
What sorts of things most inspire you as an artist?
Inspiration is everywhere. You just have to be open to it. It’s like a bright light or energy force around us available for the taking. I can be inspired by something I see in passing, a conversation with someone I know well, or an encounter with a complete stranger, a simple color combination, even a call to adventure in the great outdoors. Many of my best ideas come to me when I am walking my dogs, riding my bike, or running the trails in Colorado.
I never go looking for inspiration. It’s always fruitless when I try for it. Inspiration and creativity evade me when it’s my main focus and I am looking too hard.
Instead I suppose I am perceptive, mindful, and open to the possibility of inspiration as go about my day. But then, when I notice its presence, I try to embody as much of that energy as I can for use when I am in my studio.
Not only does this approach keep me inspired, but provides me with an inner sense of awe and gratitude for the totality of this existence.
Inspiration, like creativity, ebbs and flows with us. I’ve found it often to be closely connected and mirrored by our emotions, flowing when we are relaxed and happy, but becoming scarce during times of stress. The less I look for it, and the more nonchalant I am about finding it, the more plentiful it becomes. Nurturing the surprise element of inspiration, and removing the expectation and entitlement to its presence, helps me sustain a constant flow in my artistry.
So just watch and wait … and grab it when it shows up? No other tips for getting yourself inspired “on demand” as it were?
Well … you cannot force inspiration but you can put yourself in situations where you can increase your chances of finding it.
First things first. You have to put yourself out there and do the work to make it happen. Fear, worry, negative self-talk, and even procrastination are all stressors and will therefore hinder your path to being inspired. Pay attention to these mindsets, prioritize to make a start, and aim to look at the glass half full instead of half empty. Life is always better when you wear a positive attitude.
Boredom is a show-stopper for artists, and when the process becomes stale, we stop doing what we’re passionate about. So make time for play every day. Through play we learn, grow, and evolve as both humans and artists. Somewhere along our journey between childhood and growing up we lose this skill. You’ve got to find it again.
And focus on the process instead of the end result. This might mean inserting yourself in a new environment, trying a new technique and seeing what you can do with it, learning something altogether different, or even just making a simple change to your routine. My Grandma used to say that a change is as good as a rest and I can’t argue with that.
Just go slow. One step at a time. Dip your toe in the water to test the temperature or jump in the deep end if you’re so inclined. There is no right or wrong to embracing your creative process. Find what works for you, then repeat, adding in different nuances along the way. I personally prefer the ‘slow and steady wins the race’ approach, but it pays on the inspiration front to switch it up once in a while.
Don’t overthink it or try too hard. I will often listen to a podcast or have the TV on in the background so that I’m not completely focused on my creating. I have found this the best way to find that sweet spot in my process in which the magic happens.
You’ve established yourself as a “pro artist” at the top of your game. But now that you’ve arrived, what’s your biggest challenge today?
Technology. Most people do not believe this to be true but I’m hopeless when it comes to the nuts and bolts behind the digital art. I have the software down but the hardware is a completely different story. We all have our weaknesses and this is one that I have to work on every day, step by step. I do the work, even though I don’t always like it. I make it happen. That’s all.
What’s your big ambition (artistically) right now?
I love what I do right now. I have recently added in a LIVE teaching dynamic to art creation, which not only enables me to connect more closely with my people but gives them a behind-the-scenes, birds-eye-view insight to using my digital art when at work on their own compositions. One seems to be made for the other. Creating art and then teaching students how to use it goes hand in hand for me.
Up next? I’m mindful of what I can give this world at any given time but I am always open to the possibilities. It’s the same process as being open to inspiration. I would love to see more of my work on canvas, in a gallery or perhaps somewhere else … Something I haven’t even pondered yet. I’ll leave the universe to decide. In the meantime, I’ll keep channeling the creativity and inspiring others. I can’t really ask for more. Anything else would be icing on the cake.