We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kat Stauffer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kat, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I blame the Aries in me.

I suppose most risks feel similar. A pull towards action without explicit confirmation there will be support. “Take a step and the ground will appear,” they say. But when steps of risk affect those around you, especially as a solo parent, there are so many more cautions that come up.

I used to think this sort of risk was one of blind trust and luck. But the more I learned, the more I realized trusting in that magnetic pull towards following your joy and the things that light you up is actually more of a mathematical equation. And math is something you can always rely on.

Most of 2022 I heard, “Something new is coming. It’s on its way. Make room for it.” I purged my house, my closets, my subscriptions, my relationships (those people I knew weren’t good for me anymore), sold what we didn’t need or what was just adding to the clutter in our lives. I dug into mindsets I had adopted that weren’t part of the person I wanted to be and worked to cut those off. And I cried. I cried a lot. Lots of letting on the inside and the outside.

I knew part of letting go would be walking away from the job I had been at for 10 years. Not yet, but I knew it was coming.

2022 was a year of purging in every way while scanning for the “something new” that might be coming my way. Finally, in early January of ’23 I started getting some hints from the Universe. Things like “The shift comes in April. April is when everything will change.” And then I received a job offer out of nowhere. “This was it!” I thought. The something new that was on its way. I had 2 weeks to consider the position. It would be a unilateral move using my past skills, just in a different industry. Slight learning curve, but I’m a quick study so I knew I’d be just fine.

Here’s where everything changed for me.

Through studying Human Design over the years, I have learned to listen to my body when making big decisions. I will have a solid “uh-huh” (yes) or a “nuh-uh” (no) when I ask myself out loud ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions when considering the most aligned direction for me to go. If I don’t have a body/guttural response when I ask myself these questions, that typically means it’s not time for a shifting decision yet because things are still aligning. THIS has been my mathematical equation that works for me, every time.

So, I sat at the edge of my couch and started asking questions. “Do I want to be working for my current employer past April of this year?” Everything in me tensed up and my face literally made an “ick face”. Whoa. OK that was clear. Next Question…”Starting in April, do I want to work to build this company who just pulled me in for an offer?” Again, my body tensed up and it was a clear no. Last question. “Do I want to deep dive into current voice over work and explore further creative work like…” and before I could even finish asking myself a full question, I lost my breath with excitement. Everything in me said yes, yes, yes, this is the direction!

January of ’23 I gave notice that I would be transitioning to leave the job I had been at for 10 years. The pull away was so strong, I couldn’t stay any longer even though I didn’t EXACTLY know where I was going. I had a direction, but no exacts.

2 weeks before my last day at the company, I unexpectedly had a kid free weekend. I knew I could already be successful at voice over work but wanted to explore what other mediums of creativity I might enjoy. I never thought of myself as an artist but wanted to try painting regardless. I had never painted before and just wanted to see if I liked it. So, like the go-big-or-go-home Aries that I am, I took an impromptu trip to Home Depot and bought a 4ft x 4ft piece of underlay wood that barely fit in my vehicle. I drove across the street to Hobby Lobby and bought some art supplies. I set up a light in my room and just started painting. Adding layers here and there, experimenting with textures and tools while seeing what else needed to be expressed in the moment. I was painting with my intuition ignited by my curiosity and joy.

I had formed a small following on Instagram on my personal page and was sharing my journey of discovering joy in my life. Somehow, my artwork connected to people. And it connected to people very quickly. I bought additional canvases and started new paintings and received in influx of interested buyers. All of a sudden, I was creating something that was providing for my family and it was all birthed out of pure JOY.

I turned 38 on April 3rd. I registered my art studio April 15th and my first few paintings sold to buyers in Europe, Canada and across the United States. On a road to simply see what brought more joy to my life, I found something that had become not only satisfying to my soul, but inspirational to my sons, and others who are wanting to live their life from a deeper place of joy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

An accidental win is still considered a win!

I NEVER considered myself an artist before this year. I couldn’t draw what was in front of me and somehow thought that fact excluded me from the title. So, when I sat down in front of my first canvas, or plywood in my case, and started to paint, I didn’t take myself seriously. I thought I was just filling a kid-free night and was exploring a new hobby. Little did I know it was just the first steppingstone to a wildly fulfilling life.

My Studio is called Kali Jane Studios. “Kali Jane” is the name I would have given my daughter if I had had one, but the Universe had other plans and sent me 3 sons instead. It’s a name full of polarity. “Kali” after the Hindu goddess who is stated to destroy evil in order to defend the innocent, and “Jane” meaning full of grace. A reflection of the dual self. The dark and light. Polarities merged together to create something new. In lieu of birthing another child with this name, I birthed a business to explore and share a creative lifestyle.

Besides painting, my interests include writing, voice over projects, learning and discussing quantum mechanics, Human Design, astrology, parenting and cultivating safe spaces for humans to connect. I’m on a team in our community where we host monthly meetings for people to practice having civil conversations surrounding potentially dividing topics. Essentially, learning how to listen, as well as communicate your point clearly. To hold space for others in considering another’s experience and perspective of an issue without engaging to simply change their perspective to yours.

On the question of “what sets me apart as an artist/service provider in the industry?” As we all know, every artist’s expression is unique just like who we inherently are as humans is. I believe the tension in THAT paradox is what sets us apart and what brings us together. The push and pull of individuals…BEING and expressing who they are…together.

When I create commission pieces, it’s important to get a clear picture of what the buyer wants to FEEL when they look at their completed piece. I request 3-5 feelings they want to experience along with their requested color palette. I lean into those feelings and paint with intuition. Commissioned pieces are a very intimate human connection and I take them seriously.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Honestly, just being authentic. I know that’s a buzz word right now, but it’s true. The more YOU, you are, the more you attract YOUR people.

I was sharing for years little snippets of my life and then all of a sudden one post regarding single parenting in a moment of panic went viral and I woke up to thousands of followers, messages and comments.

When things get overwhelming for me, I remind myself of past advice I received from a fellow artist with millions of followers: “You’re going to get overwhelmed in waves. Sometimes it will feel easy and sometimes it will feel excruciating hard. Know that those feelings come in waves and waves are predictable. They come and they go. Some smaller and some bigger. But they will always come and go.” That advice has helped me remember to take a step back when I need to and know that I can come back when I’m able.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Absolutely.

The Creative Act. A Way of Being. – Rick Rubin
Human Design – Jenna Zoe
Women Who Run With The Wolves – Clarissa Pinkola Estés
The Language of Butterflies – Wendy WIlliams

All of these books have aspects that have collectively helped me settle into who I am as a woman, as a person and through that, who I am as an artist, lover, mother, and creative business owner. They have helped me learn how to BE so I can choose to DO things that are more aligned with my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/kalijanestudios/ Studio IG
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kat.elizabeth34/ Personal IG
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katelizabeth34
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-stauffer-815bb2280/