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

Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

I come from a medical family, most of whom would freely admit they haven’t a creative bone in their body. I did well academically at school, so when it came to deciding between medicine and art for university, there wasn’t a whole lot of encouragement to take the art route. This was the early 2000s – we didn’t have instagram, Pinterest or even Tumblr to see what the outside world was doing and to have any idea of how to make a living in creative fields. It seemed impossible. So, I studied medicine for 3 years, fascinated by anatomy and producing beautiful notes, but everyone I met outside of that scene was a creative. My boyfriends were artists..musicians..design students. During a summer abroad in San Francisco, the architecture student I was dating asked ‘but why..? Why can’t you leave and do art?’ ..and my answers no longer seemed relevant. I took a year out of med school, telling myself I would either get it out of my system or lay foundation for a new career path. Foundation it was. Sometimes I wish I had started just DOING things sooner. I had a real need to prove myself, to be as accomplished and successful (both socially and financially i suppose) as I would have been as a doctor. I did 4 years in undergrad and a year-long Masters programme, and I was already older than most in my class. Maybe all the schooling was just stalling, maybe it helped clinch jobs more than I think it did. Either way, I feel really lucky to have really lived my twenties, learning and experiencing instead of working the career ladder that whole decade. No knowledge is wasted knowledge, and my anatomical understanding comes in really handy!

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

I studied mixed media and fibre art for my undergrad, and fell in love with colour and texture. After graduating, I took a course in bodypainting and special effects, worked in film for a bit, made shoes in Transylvania and basically tried to figure out how to make a living doing what I loved. After a year away in Canada, I decided to do a master’s degree in textiles. I was hesitant about going into the fashion industry because I knew how horribly unsustainable it is, but eventually realized that I could try and make some small change from the inside. I interned and assisted (underpaid or not paid at all) for years, which was brutal, and got my breakthrough position at Free People as an Embroidery designer. Later, in Canada my senior design position was dissolved just as I was returning from maternity leave, but luckily I had already started freelancing. I’ve now had my work seen on Victoria’s Secret, Chufy and Target among others.

As an extension of my fashion work, I launched a home brand, perhaps as a reaction to us all nesting during the last few years! I currently have luxury throw blankets that are custom woven to order from mostly recycled cotton at an artisan mill in the USA. I am launching wallpaper and art prints this spring. I also run a sustainable kids’ brand called Rocks in our Pockets, featuring my illustrations on organic cotton. Locally printed wallpaper and decals for kids are launching this spring too!

Through my ready-made and bespoke artworks, my professional clients get to see their own ideas translated into from something nebulous into elevated, commercially viable designs. SO many people are afraid of print and colour, so with my home brand, they can easily dip into that aesthetic with little commitment.

In the current sea of beige, my colourful designs are a playful foray into maximalism, and a little touch of colour-rich, sustainable luxury for my customers. I’m really proud that I’ve managed to go from ‘Mum..I think I’m dropping out of med-school’ to ‘Mum, check out my work in Vogue!’

Gorgeous, maximalist design comes with experience, and doesn’t have to be at the expense of the earth.

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

One of my favourite artist resources is “Art for Money – up your freelance game and get paid what you’re worth”by Michael Ardelean.

I think most if not all creatives struggle with valuing what they do and putting a monetary figure on it. We’ve been doing it since we were children, when everyone draws and paints – we’re just the ones who never stopped.

‘Art for money’ has really nice, clear and concise chapters such as ‘release your guilt’ and ‘writing a good proposal’. Highly recommended.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I remember telling one of my oldest, dearest friends that I was leaving med school to study art. He was so worried for me, and like an older brother, tried to persuade me that i should stick with the well-worn, predictable path I was on.

But you know what? Regardless of the financials, I wake up brimming with ideas for pattern and colour and can’t wait til I can slog through the admin stuff and get to drawing and painting. That…LIFE, that drive for my whole being is all-consuming. Like thug-life, I didn’t choose creativity, it chose me. It’s not what I do, it’s who I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lisamhawthorne.com / www.rocksinourpockets.com
• Instagram: @by_lisamhawthorne
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisahawthorne/

Image Credits
Chair image – mockup by Creatsy