We were lucky to catch up with Erin Scaia recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Erin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My mission is to show people how they can use art-making as a way to improve their relationship with their emotions. I used to suppress negative feelings and ignore them. Eventually this led to debilitating anxiety and panic attacks. It got so bad that I was losing my will to live. I realized in order to be healthy physically, spiritually and mentally, I had to make a commitment to check in with my emotions instead of ignoring them. I sought professional help and learned different tools to help me safely process and regulate my emotions. Mindful art was one of these tools. Mindful art has given me a safe and gentle way to process my feelings. By learning to be present with my emotions in a nonjudgmental way, I have improved my overall health and sense of well-being.
Now I am dedicated to sharing mindful art with others in the hopes it will help people maintain their health and well-being.
Erin, 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 have been making art since I was 2 1/2 years old. I got a degree in graphic design and did that for 16 years before switching to fine art. I wanted to combine my passion for mindfulness meditation with art, which lead to the creation of Living by the Brush.
Living by the Brush facilitates mindful art-making experiences where the focus is on the process, not the outcome. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space for adults to explore and express themselves through creativity.
I guide people through simple and fun creative processes, such as collage, doodling, and intuitive painting. My workshops and classes are an opportunity to give yourself permission to explore, express and play through creativity.
What I most want people to know about mindful art is that you don’t have to be “good” at art to do it. The mindful art practices I offer are simple and accessible to everyone. One need not be an “artist” to participate in these practices. It’s not about what you see in front of you at the end. It’s about what you discover about yourself during the process.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I worked as a graphic designer for 16 years before switching gears and going into mindful art. I knew after one year of working as a designer that I didn’t want to do it for the rest of my life. At the same time, I didn’t know what else to do for a career. In 2017 I began having severe anxiety and panic attacks. That was a dark time for me, and when I came out on the other side I really started to take stock of my life. I knew I couldn’t stay in a career that left me unfulfilled, restless and bored, even if it was “safe.” I quit my job and started seeking out fine art positions. That led me to a job as a teacher at an art studio. Six months after I started working there, the owner told me she was going to sell it. I said I was interested, and the rest is history. Taking a chance by pursuing my passion lead me to owning my own business and doing work that is not only fun but also fulfilling.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele was first determining what kinds of people would be interested in my offerings, where those people are (which social media platforms are they most likely to use), and marketing to them. Seriously, know your audience, and know where to find them! Otherwise you could be wasting advertising dollars on the wrong platforms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://livingbythebrush.com/
- Instagram: @livingbythebrush
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingbythebrush