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

Lisa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today 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?

I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do what I love for a living. I have learned so much over the years and that learning just continues. It is such a rewarding way to live. I feel very connected to other creative individuals through art and teaching, and I am excited to continue to develop my personal artwork over my lifetime. There have been times where I’ve enjoyed the consistency of a “regular job”, but I don’t regret choosing a career that doesn’t let me clock out. My personal art and teaching ideas are constantly swirling in my head, and I love that. From a practical standpoint, my husband and I plan for a fluctuating income due to the nature of our jobs. We live comfortably but put extra money into savings to ride out leaner times. The flexibility that we have with our schedules has worked great for our family.

Lisa, 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 am a working artist and art instructor living in Tucson, AZ. I paint a contemporary combination of portraits and figures that are integrated into abstracted environments. I also create portrait paintings and drawings on commission. In addition, I have the opportunity to compliment my studio work by providing art instruction for artists of many levels from beginners through advanced. Teaching art has made me a better artist and, as my understanding and techniques evolve, I also become a better teacher.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute, I returned to Tucson and needed to work. I had completed some portrait commissions and had gotten paintings into shows, but I needed a consistent income. My parents suggested that I look into teaching children with special needs because there was a shortage of teachers and I could get emergency certified to teach while taking certification classes. I had no intention of becoming a teacher, but it felt like a good option to pursue. I ended up earning my Master of Education and taught as a Resource teacher half-time for 10 years. Teaching part-time allowed me to balance teaching and my studio art practice. I was able to get gallery representation and develop my art with less financial stress. I also taught Art for Personal Development classes at Pima Community College and discovered that I really loved teaching art. When I became part-time faculty at the Southwest University of Visual Arts, I was able to dedicate my time solely to creating and teaching art. I never intended to pursue a career as a teacher, but now my ideal future includes me always teaching art in some capacity.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

It is no surprise to say that getting through the pandemic required resilience. Like everyone else on the planet, I had to adapt to drastic changes immediately. The art school that I had been teaching for closed its doors in 2020 and I needed to choose a new path forward. I knew that teaching and creating art was an ideal combination for me. The question was whether to apply to other art institutions or to set up my own structure and use what I had learned about teaching art online. I decided to go for it and began teaching online classes, private art lessons and critiques. When people began returning to in-person classes, I started teaching with the Art Verve Academy here in Tucson. Through the Art Verve I am able to teach the classes that I love, while continuing to have art lessons online. I would never have thought I would enjoy the online experience, but I learned a lot from others to create a quality interactive experience. I have been able to teach art to students all over the country (and outside of it). I am also now able to continue teaching online during the summer from my family’s cabin. That is all pretty amazing to me!

Contact Info:

• Website: larrabeeART.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/lisalarrabeeart
• Facebook: facebook.com/LarrabeeArt

Image Credits
Lisa Larrabee