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

Dessie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents moved from Southern California with 6 children in tow, when I was 4 years old. My father a mechanical engineer wanted desperately to be a farmer, and raise cattle. My mother, who when I was 2 put me on her hip and enrolled in nursing school. This gave her more independence and self esteem. I grew up in Southern Indiana. My father made our 210 acre place an Audubon Nature preserve.
They both loved music however my father was a bluegrass and my mother loved Bocelli and Povarotti. Both were avid readers and books abound. my mother history books of every kind My father 72 volumes of Zane Grey. My father subscribed to National Geographic and ArizonaHighways, My mother the Atlantic, Discovery and Psychology today.
They both instilled the value of hardwork, honesty and integrity .
I was never told don’t do that you’re a girl, or in anyway discouraged from any interest that I had as a young person. With no TV to distract me, I made my own clothes, made candles ,repurposed furniture ,drew painted and rode horses spending summers in nature and a lot of time alone.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I chose to Take Commercial Art After high school . After a year Iwas hired at a display company and worked there for a year. However they went bankrupt and I was unable to find a job. In a bad relationship and desperate to make my own money I went to a seminar where they were recruiting women for Non- traditional jobs. The operating Engineers were the 1st ones taking applications. I made $2.25 as an artist and $7.63 as an apprentice operating Engineer along with health insurance and a pension. So, that took my life in a different direction. I used my creativity to shape the earth build roads and bridges. I longed to express my creativity so in the winter I took classes, kept drawing and painting doing whatever I could to keep that alive. At the age of 49 I decided to go online to the Academy of Art in San Fransisco taking Interior Design and Architecture. I took 2 classes every semester for 8 years while continuing to work full time. Again things did not go according to plan.
However finally retiring I found the Creative Visionary Project with Nickolas Wilton and my life has never been the same.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest challenge I had, was to learn how to have self esteem and a believe in myself. I really didn’t believe I could make a living as an artist when I was young.
I now have a total conviction that had I work at my art as hard as I worked in my job I would have had great successes.
At my job I was constantly told that I could not possibly do my job. The more they told me I couldn’t the more determined I became do it. However I always had an underlying feeling I was supposed to be doing something else.
After getting older and much reflection I realized that the voice in my head saying I couldn’t be an artist, was worse than the men I had worked with.
I was the only thing keeping my self from being the artist I wanted to be.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, it is in the doing of the thing. It is in the time alone, listening to my intuition. It’s the working out the emotions of the day. I love how I can put my anger or doubt out on the paper then replace the image with grace, joy, and beauty.
It’s the moment when you stand back and you realize it’s done! There it is!.
The next day you return and a new quest has appeared. It’s there is to contemplate, digest and let go.
I like to take all my fears woes, trials and tribulations, Change the perspective and make something beautiful, thoughtful and impactful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dessiespears.com
• Instagram: htpps://www.instagram.com/dessiespears
• Facebook: htpps://www.facebook.com/dessiespears

Image Credits

James Norton photographer