We were lucky to catch up with Carissa Bloemeke recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Always! I consider myself lucky that my days revolve around designing and making art, which I am constantly happy about. I’m typically designing brands during the day, painting and concepting art at night. I’m grateful that I can apply my passion to the everyday.

I have considered what it would be like to be in a different field, I think most people consider “what if”. I almost pursued a different career path in college, but I’m happy I decided to pursue art. It feels like what I was born to do. It can be difficult to invent new artful concepts so often, but it is very fulfilling. It feels magical to be colorful and artsy all the time. Having a job where there isn’t as much pressure to be creative everyday wouldn’t feel as satisfying.

Carissa, 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 started working at Tavistock Development through a really awesome connection I had from a wonderful mentor at my previous job at a digital publishing agency called BlueToad.

As Senior Graphic Designer, I manage creative projects and design new brands that our company creates. I’m able to design branding such as logos, typography, collateral, advertisements. I’m also able to work on art applications for our properties such as murals, wallpaper, art packages, and signage.

The Prismatic and Brain Freeze murals I’ve designed for Lake Nona buildings are the projects that I’m most proud of. It’s pretty cool to drive down the road and see monumental, paint slathered buildings that started as a sketch in my notebook.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Happiness! Art makes both the creator and the viewer happy, so why not put it everywhere. It’s a joy to be able to create art and design that will hopefully brighten up someones day. Placemaking through art makes our experiences unique and memorable.

I recent project I worked on was painting utility boxes in Lake Nona. It was pretty daunting, as I have never painted an outdoor mural before, but I just went for it with as much energy as I could, which ended up working out. I started each day at 6am before the sunrise to take advantage of the cool morning weather. I had a general concept for what I wanted to paint, but wanted to let myself paint whatever felt right at the moment without specifically copying my sketch, which made me feel much more confident in my artistic ability. Sometimes the less you think about what you’re doing and simply go for it, the better it turns out. Moral of the story, trust in yourself!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Supporting and visiting places that value art, such as mural-filled cities, museums, and local businesses.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carissabloemeke.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carissabloemeke/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carissa-bloemeke-25419481/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6D-iicDPAWwLsmPcCLKN5Q