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

Alright, Alicia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investment I have ever, or will ever make, is investing my time in myself and the things that bring me peace and joy.

Your time and energy are your flame- the thing you use to guide yourself along your path in life. Being an artist is who I am fundamentally as a human. It is not the residue left over from multitude of experience, but rather a language thru which experience speaks- in “real time” and present moments. Thus to be a better person, a better artist, it was never effective to seek answers outside of myself. It has always been best to simplify my life, grow my mind, heal, rest, be kind, and invest in what fulfills me. It takes a lot of practice and I’ve made a lot of choices that were out of self-betrayal. A deterred path, but never a lost trail. You can always find your way back to you. It is always worth investing the time and energy into circling back, dismissing the notions of lost time and regret, and forging ahead in authenticity.

Alicia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Art has always been a main way of communicating and connecting to other people for me, and so I like to help clients find the perfect way to deliver their vision to their target audience. Whether that means helping to merchandise a salesfloor, decorate a store front window for a small business, help decide on a website layout, or design flyers for events, it brings me great pleasure when a client feels seen and feels confident in their ability to move forward confidently with their projects and plans.

It’s also important for me to remain accessible to people. I have a wide variety of price points and options for barter or trade when it comes to the services I provide as an artist. I love to network, and love to encourage community members to share their vision in a public realm where they can be best uplifted. I like to tell people “if I can’t help you, I bet I know someone who can,” and then I connect those people to each other!

Encouraging and collaborating with others has been one of the best things I’ve done for myself as a person and as an artist. No matter how much I tend to seek solitude, I’m always game for a connection with fellow creatives. Just a quick exchange of info can grow your support system in ways you can’t imagine! The people who have shown love and support from afar without ever having met me are a treasure in my life, and I want for others to know how it feels to be supported to that extent.

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

Knowledge of self and authenticity.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I would have taken myself and every day moments and interactions more seriously as legitimate sources of signs, knowledge, and inspiration. Waiting for outside approval and validation for how, what, and when to learn usually led to second guessing what I knew to be true for me-which at times led to self betrayal. The more I keep an open, gentle mind with myself and those around me, the more I am able to benefit from the human experience from my place in the universe.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @redloh_9

Image Credits
All photos, digital collage, and artwork are by me, Alicia Holder