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

Mackenzie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I put together all my creative passions (art, photography, writing, design, to name a few) by self-publishing an all ages, art education, coloring book product line. Yet years ago, it all started with a gift to a friend. I’d made her a few hand-drawn illustrations for her to color, as a way to help reduce anxiety.

When my friend shared that coloring my artwork helped her relax and feel more inner peace, a spark of motivation was lit inside me. I created more illustrations for her, and started sharing them informally with other friends too.

As I continued to gift coloring to family and friends, I discovered a passion for creating this type of art that invites another to enjoy the creative process too, tapping into all the many ways that coloring is good for you.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a multimedia artist, author, and founder of ZieBee Media, an independent art business and publishing company. Through my ZieBee Media, I have created a coloring book product line called Journey of Colors, which is designed to help people of all ages and skill levels relax, get creative, and have fun making art.

With the growing popularity of homeschooling and the increasing demand for innovative educational approaches, I am blending my firsthand experience as a homeschool graduate with my professional art skills to publish coloring books that can be used for quality art education.

Beyond the coloring book product line that I create, I also make custom artwork for clients, help authors self-publish, and work with entrepreneurs to build their brands. And, to keep me creatively inspired, I’m often going out with dog to explore nature and new places, baking new recipes, or playing in the garden.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Yes, I really wish I’d known about the benefits of coloring.

Like many of us, I was a big fan of coloring books when I was young. Yet it wasn’t until I re-visited coloring as an adult that I learned how good it is for my creativity, and mental well-being.

Coloring helps complete the stress cycle, fosters relaxation, and stimulates our imagination. Plus, it can be used by people of all ages and all skill levels to help promote mental clarity, focus, and feelings of calm.

Today, I use coloring as a ‘warm-up’ and ‘cool-down’ practice before and after my focused creative work sessions. I have found this helps me drop into my creative flow and makes it easier to transition out of a creative mindset when necessary for the next phase of my day.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Inspiring other people’s creativity. When I’m immersed in my creative flow, it tends to light a spark in others too. And the ultimate reward is seeing more people experience the delight of making their own art. This is what motivates me to carve out time and invest energy in my own creative process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://journeyofcolors.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziebeemedia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZieBeeMedia/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ziebeemedia
• Other: Company website: https://www.ziebee.com/

Image Credits
Lindsay Baca from Sit Stay Pet Photography (feature image photo with dog)