We were lucky to catch up with Karla Deal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Karla, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

In my previous work experience, my bosses always conducted my work experience with negative/critical reinforcement. I didn’t realize how ineffective that method actually was until I had a boss that educated me to the idea of positive reinforcement. It was a game changer to have someone actually appreciate me and not shame me when I made a mistake.

I remember one day I made a rather massive mistake ( altho now I can’t even remember what it was), but he came to me and we sat down and worked together on how we could fix the problem, for us as well as the client, Once it was rectified, all he said was, “mistakes will happen Karla and you can be sure this is one mistake you won’t ever make again”. Mistakes happen. It’s one of the ways in which we learn how to do our job better. I really can’t imagine that there is a mistake that any of us can make on the job that can’t be corrected. Mistakes earn’t the end of the world and no one deserves to feel shame for a mistake. It was the most valuable tool I have learned in working for someone else. Treating people with compassion.

I was fortunate to have someone open that path for me and it allowed me to be more curious and tolerant of mistakes that I continue making, being a full-time, self employed Creative. And truly, some of my most beautiful work has come from what I thought was a mistake. I was going for one look/feel and didn’t even come close. lol But what did emerge was even more stunning than I could have imagined. Grateful for the mistakes that put me on the right path

I truly believe, there are no real mistakes. Every action is just a part of the process as a whole.

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 background and context?

I didn’t get into creating copper until much later in life. Photography had always been my passion but my earning income came from owing my own business for 23 years as a Printing Consultant. It was definitely a creative industry to be in, as it’s essentially marketing and I was involved in a lot of the creative steps all the way to the final product. I loved it!

Copper became interesting and curious to me about 8 years ago while I was touring craft distillery’s. I kept seeing copper stills and apparently that manifested somewhere in my subconscious. About a month later, I found myself looking at small sheets of copper and wondering how I could create a patina on it. I looked for mentors/teachers to take classes from but none were offered. So I began experimenting with different chemicals to see what reactions I could get. I was totally hooked at that point and have never looked back. I couldn’t believe the colors I could create from copper. I am still in awe every time I am aging the copper. It’s absolutely exhilarating to me when I unroll a piece of copper that I have been aging and see what has emerged. Copper is such a beautiful and organic element to create with. The colors and patterns are endless. So many different “feels”.

It is very important to me to listen and “hear” what my client is wanting and to work very closely with them to create a copper piece that feels like what they have in mind. I love all of the experimenting I do with copper and I especially love working with clients to bring their ideas to life. They help me to think outside of my box. Sometimes I think I can’t possibly bring their idea to fruition. But then I process it, meditate and allow my creative space to widen and in the end, it all comes to life. Without my clients, I would not have created many of the pieces I have. I am very grateful for their ideas and trusting me to bring them to life.

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

YES! How to price my art. I researched and found some info on how to price but that didn’t address my fear regarding how I shouldn’t be charging “that much” for my art. The experience that I have to offer is to talk to other creatives that have been in business for a long time and find out how they are pricing. Creatives that are in business and are earning a living from that business.

I thought no one could actually help me because they weren’t pricing copper pieces. Now I know, that while they may not be in the copper business, they are in a creative industry earning an income and started out the same place as I did. Their help has been invaluable. They gave me the tools I needed in order to know how to price my art. That led to the self confidence I needed to price it based on the actual value. I actually let 2 different people price my art for me and that was the beginning of setting a new standard for my pricing. For some reason, after they priced it for me, I had the confidence to continue with that same value.

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

I think the aspect that is driving me the most, is to experience and uncover all of the paths that this creative journey has to offer. All of the amazing and talented people that I am meeting and clients coming to me to create a piece for them. This journey is allowing me to widen my beliefs about myself in so many new ways and helping me to overcome so many fears and so many limiting beliefs about myself. I am learning so much about myself, my talents and other people. I have also found that collaborations with other creative people are invaluable! They allow me the opportunity to see my art in a completely new light and I always learn so much from them. As well as clients that want a piece and allow me the opportunity to think outside of my box as well.

Don’t assume that a mentor/teacher can only be someone that creates art with the materials that you do. Other creative people have so much to offer. regardless of their medium. And maybe more! I can’t tell you how much I have learned about my copper through an Interior Designer and an Event Florist Designer. Creative people have so many interesting ideas!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.copperismycanvas.com
• Instagram: Copper is My Canvas
• Facebook: Copper is my canvas