Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zushka Biros. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zushka, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

I’ve honestly never been someone who sat down and wrote a formal business plan and then launched a business overnight. For me, it happened much more organically.

I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been drawn to painting, photography, design, and anything that allows me to tell a story visually. In the beginning, I wasn’t thinking about having a business at all. I was simply creating because I had to. Art was how I processed the world around me.

Over time, friends started asking if they could buy my work. Then people wanted commissioned pieces. Someone would see a piece of furniture I had painted and ask if I could transform something for them. Others would ask me to photograph an event, design a flyer, build a website, or create marketing materials. What started as a creative passion slowly turned into a steady stream of opportunities.

The real turning point came when I realized that creativity wasn’t just something I did in my spare time. It was the thread connecting everything I loved. I began taking my work more seriously, creating a portfolio, building an online presence, networking with other artists, and saying yes to opportunities that pushed me outside my comfort zone.

There wasn’t one specific day when I woke up and said, “Today I’m launching a business.” It was more like a series of small steps that built on one another. I had to learn how to price my work, market myself, talk about my art confidently, manage clients, create contracts, and balance the creative side with the business side. Like many artists, I learned a lot through trial and error.

Living in Bisbee has also been a huge part of that journey. It’s a community filled with artists, musicians, makers, and entrepreneurs who encourage one another. Being surrounded by creative people gave me the confidence to continue growing and exploring new directions.

Today my work spans painting, photography, writing, modeling, graphic design, social media, and community-based creative projects. Each area informs the others. My paintings tell stories, my photography captures them, and my writing helps give them context and meaning.

Looking back, the biggest lesson was realizing that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes you start with a single painting, a camera, an idea, or a conversation. Then you take the next step, and the next one after that. Eventually those small steps become a body of work, a reputation, a community, and, in my case, a creative business built around doing what I love every day.

Zushka, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an artist, photographer, writer, graphic designer, and creative storyteller living in the historic mining town of Bisbee, Arizona. At my core, I’m someone who sees stories everywhere. In people, old buildings, landscapes, objects, memories, and moments that others might pass by without noticing. My work, whether it’s a painting, a photograph, a piece of writing, or a design project, is my way of capturing and sharing those stories.

I’ve been creative since I was a kid. Art wasn’t something I discovered later in life. It has always been part of who I am. Over the years, that creativity expanded into many different genres. I began painting, photographing the world around me, writing articles and content, and modeling for Life Drawing, Portraits, Sculptures, and a variety of college art classes. What started as individual creative interests eventually became a multifaceted career centered around creativity and communication.

My artwork is heavily influenced by the Northeast, Frida Kahlo, architecture, nature, cultural traditions, and the rich history of the places where I live and travel. I paint everything from flowers and landscapes to houses, sacred hearts, Day of the Dead imagery, and large-scale murals. I also transform furniture into functional works of art, giving new life to pieces that might otherwise be overlooked. Every piece I create is unique and carries its own story.

Photography is another important part of my creative life. Through photography, I’m able to document people, places, events, and everyday moments that deserve to be remembered. Writing allows me to explore those stories more deeply.

One thing that sets me apart is that I don’t see creativity as existing in separate boxes. I don’t think of myself as only a painter or only a photographer. Instead, I approach every project as a storyteller. Sometimes the best way to tell a story is with paint. Sometimes it’s with a camera. Sometimes it’s through words. Sometimes it’s through design. The medium changes, but the purpose remains the same.

Another thing that is important to me is community. Throughout my life I’ve been involved with organizations focused on social justice, homelessness, harm reduction, public health, and community support. I’ve served on nonprofit boards, and volunteered my skills I believe art has the power to bring people together, create understanding, and inspire positive change.

What I’m most proud of isn’t any single painting, photograph, or exhibition. I’m proud that I’ve built a life centered around creativity and authenticity. I’ve continued to create, learn, evolve, and take creative risks even when the path wasn’t always clear. I’ve stayed true to my curiosity and my passion for storytelling.

The main thing I want people to know about me and my work is that it’s genuine. I create from the heart. Whether someone is purchasing a painting, hiring me for a creative project, reading something I’ve written, or simply following my journey, I want them to feel a real connection. I want them to see beauty, history, culture, emotion, and humanity reflected in the work.

At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to create things that make people feel something, remember something, or see the world a little differently than they did before.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to create something that connects with people on an emotional level. Art has the power to tell stories, preserve memories, spark conversations, and bring beauty into everyday life. I love taking an idea, feeling, or experience and transforming it into something visual that others can relate to in their own unique way.

I work in many different styles and mediums, from paintings and murals to furniture art and design. Each project is an opportunity to learn, experiment, and express a different part of myself. I especially enjoy creating pieces that bring joy, inspiration, or a sense of wonder to others.

Another rewarding aspect is the connection art creates within communities. Whether I am exhibiting work, collaborating with other creatives, or sharing my process, art becomes a bridge between people from different backgrounds and experiences. Knowing that something I created has touched someone, made them smile, or inspired them is what makes the creative journey so meaningful to me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I am especially inspired by themes of resilience, culture, feminism, history, and human connection. Living and creating in Bisbee, Arizona, and being near the border of Mexico, has given me a deep appreciation for the unique stories, landscapes, and people that shape a community. I strive to reflect that spirit in my work while encouraging creativity and self-expression in others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zushkabiros.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyzushka/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artbyzushka
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artbyzushka

Image Credits

Photographer, Zushka Biros