We recently connected with Oshri Hakak and have shared our conversation below.

Oshri, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Years ago, I made a decision to commit my focus to my creative capacities. Within a year or two, I got disillusioned with what seemed like the “art world,” after hustling a lot in the gallery space. It wasn’t my thing- not only did I not feel good at it, but I did not feel motivated to become good at navigating this space. An agent once told me that my art is, “too happy for the art world,” around this time.

But I knew I wanted to keep making art.

So over years of asking myself what I was most intrinsically motivated to do with my art, and how it could be most impactful, it started to land on children’s books. I look at educating children and supporting them in their wellness and joy as a sacred responsibility. I’ve been so grateful to be able to align the skill set with needs that I see in the world, and have such an authentic sense of mission around this work.

Oshri, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an artist, writer and musician based in Los Angeles. I make art every day and I work with a mental health advocacy organization called NAMI Westside Los Angeles, where I develop and help implement youth programming for mental health.

It has been a very winding road on the way to this. I had a food business for a few years, I worked for a window treatment shop, and have had some odd jobs over the years!

I have also received training in yoga and meditation, mediation and dialogue facilitation, and have been a children’s mindfulness educator for several years.

My dad was a literature professor for about four decades, and my mom taught 2nd grade for two and a half decades. I feel I’ve been able to work with their gifts in what I do now. My books are illustrated and appropriate for kids… they are also also appropriate for adults and serve the inner child for all ages!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

About 12 years ago, I started making a daily art and word piece that I share online. I have been through difference intense personal hardship and challenge, but I am grateful to say that I have essentially been able to keep this up for well over a decade now!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I make art to uplift. I see pain and turmoil and enacted trauma playing out in the world… I want to create resonances of healing and profound processing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.butterflyonbooks.com
• Instagram: @oshrihakak