We were lucky to catch up with Cassie Berube recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cassie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Earning a full time living from my creative practice was a journey and started with me valuing myself and my work . I see so many newcomers scared to charge what they’re worth in fear that people won’t buy it or they’re somehow not good enough . It’s an easy struggle to understand as art and being a creative in general is such a personal process .

Once you have the confidence and believe in yourself the possibilities are endless . I started small, selling my handmade wares at local artisan and craft markets then worked my way up to juried and higher end shows .

After doing the show circuit for awhile I realized I loved connecting with others in person and started teaching workshops and offering creative retreats .

The two things that have been the biggest game changers in my creative biz are teaching and getting a newsletter going so I can connect and nurture my following on a regular basis .

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

A big part of my inspiration comes from being raised on a Native American reservation in the mountains of Montana . Growing up surrounded by nature gifted me a great appreciation of the outdoors and I’ve always been drawn to nature arts . My second love is travel, you know how it is when you’re from a small town, all you want is to get out and explore!

Before I went back to art and teaching workshops I was in the travel industry and it had always been a dream to merge the two and offer unforgettable journeys that both nurture your creative side and immerse you in local culture. So in 2019 I stared laying the groundwork for my travel company Wandering Women Retreats.

When I set out to create Wandering Women Retreats I really wanted to take the opportunity to feature my fellow women creatives. As women, we have so much to offer and to me, there’s nothing more inspiring than going into someone’s studio for a glimpse at their creative process!

What I feel sets us apart is while many art retreats tend to focus on one instructor we wanted to switch things up and put the focus on local artisans. Maybe we’re learning weaving from an artist in Guatemala or porcelain painting from an artist in Poland, all while getting a behind-the-scenes view of their studio and the inspiration behind their work, not to mention getting inspired in return!

I wanted to focus on small and intimate groups so we can get a feel for what local life is like, no tour buses, no bucket list requirements. The same goes for our accommodations, no big chains but supporting local small family-owned businesses when we can.

A place where women can come together and connect, create and encourage each other. My goal is more than just retreats but to create a community.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal has always been to offer a space for women to connect and explore their creativity, In this tech heavy day and age so many feel isolated and alone and it can be really hard to form new friendships. I also feel travel changes you and is such a transformational experience in itself. My mission is to help women not only rediscover their inner artist but make new long lasting relationships.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Personally the most rewarding aspect of being a creative has been seeing people light up when they create something they love. So many times people will come to class doubting their creative ability only to make beautiful things once they let go. Its very rewarding to be making a positive change especially in a world where there’s so much stress and negativity floating around. We all need a break from the chaos and it’s music to my ears when someone leaves a workshop or retreat and says ” thank you, this is just what I needed .”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cassieberubeart.com/ https://wanderingwomenretreats.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassieberubeart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cassieberubeart/