We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Josie Reid. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Josie below.

Josie, 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?

I was aware back in second grade that I could do art work because classmates wanted me to help them. I went through school being praised for my work and being told that I could make a living with my art.
When I went to college and had to declare a major, I followed the praise, and selected Art Education. Upon graduation in 1970, I had already secured my first teaching job. I have continued with a few interruptions for the births of my 3 beautiful daughters to teach my students how to “see” and embrace their creative imaginations. When my girls were in High School, they didn’t have a chance to misbehave with their Dad as an industrial arts teacher right across the hall from the art room.

By teaching in the public school, I contributed to my retirement from my first paycheck on and when I did retire in 2002, I was free to pursue my talents with watercolor painting, basketry, tie dye, ceramics, serigraphy etc. without worrying about a paycheck.

During my tenure at the High School, our girls PE teacher asked me to make a Papier Mache’ rock at our local community theatre which got me in the door. I noticed they needed some help with the backdrop so I volunteered. Then the director found out I could sing so she put me in the production as a member of the chorus. I never left. I have taken my family with me in my love for theatre through acting, set construction and painting, costuming, and directing.

With the security of not having to work for a living, I have learned the importance of volunteering and donating, and these traits have also been passed on to my daughters.

Yes, it did take time to achieve “success” but the important thing to reflect on is not wasting a moment of it.

Josie, 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?

As the youngest of 3 girls, Caitie had to keep up with her older sisters. When we moved to the “farm” Caitie was in the 5th grade. Her oldest sister had graduated from High School and her closest sister was a junior. Our new neighbor, who owned the stable up the road, noticed the growing pasture and asked if he could put a horse, who respected electric fencing, on it to help us out.

This is where the tie dye comes in to the story. Caitie fell in love with the horse. Jet was an old, black quarter horse and Jet loved Caitie as much as Caitie loved Jet. The neighbor recognized the love affair and gifted the old horse to Caitie. Great, a free horse!

Of course that meant permanent fences and a barn…and of course 4H so she could learn to ride properly and care for a horse. All these things happened over the course of time, as did the parade of horses. Jet was a lot older than 24 so Jet was put out to pasture, and Candy replaced Jet. By this time, Caitie was 6′ tall and Candy was a small horse. So Chessie came into the picture. By the time she was in high school, she was a very good rider.

Ok, I’m getting to the tie dye. There was this statewide organization called High School Equestrian club, and Caitie and some of her 4H buddies wanted to start a team. They needed a High School teacher to be the coach so they could be affiliated. I think you see where this is going. I knew nothing about actually riding horses, but having taken Caitie to her lessons, and and camping with her at the fairgrounds, I knew enough. I became the coach. I happened to be teaching crafts in that part of my curriculum and the team decided to make tie dye shirts as their official uniform. That introduction to tie dye got imbedded into her brain.

Caitie took the fundamentals and enlarged on them making the most exciting designs I have ever seen. I am very proud of her!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

As Caitie’s mom and teacher, it’s watching the “A Ha” moment in your child’s or a student’s face.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I do believe these are questions for Caitie, but I would imagine being the wife of a Marine, it has been difficult to put down very deep roots. The family has been stationed to different States and different Countries and she is longing to plant deeper roots.