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

Hi Pea , thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Bend

I believe, for some of us, art is not just a construction of something beautiful, but art is a life line; an alchemization of one’s energy. There has never been a time in my life when I doubted my creative abilities, only a time when I wasn’t proud of them. Imposter syndrome is so real. Through years of practice, my understanding of what it means to be an artist has changed. In the beginning I thought it would bring me clarity, sanity and rainbow like bliss. Over time I have come to understand that being an artist is a journey so much deeper and more immersive than can ever be completely explained, only experienced.
At some point I had to surrender to it. I had to stop bouncing from place to place, mundane job to job. When you know you’re an artist, when art is how you survive, it’s truly unacceptable to your soul to be doing much anything else besides creating and loving and being loved.
At some point every career artist has a moment when they get the courage to be a career artist. My business was birthed from rock bottom, and from rock bottom so much has grown. It takes a lot of courage to be happy in the art, to trust in the art, to trust that somehow enough people will bless me by supporting my vision. People keep showing up. The jewelry keeps making people feel inspired and empowered.
I truly have the greatest job in the world. I get to be fully engulfed in all my magic and share it with the world. Insanely beautiful people wear my art. I never thought I would ever get to live in this blessing, and I’m constantly filled with gratitude towards this ever growing experience.

Pea , 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?

Everything sold at PearlHouse is made by me or in collaboration with other incredible independent artisans. We are known best for our iconic 1:1 jewelry pieces and offer an array of different vibes to cater to all mystic souls. All the art is highly influenced by nature, fantasy and the world of psychedelics. Truly just a reflection of all things I find magical, beautiful and mysterious in this realm. I spend most of my time outside in nature when I’m not creating for the people. I travel and live in my beautiful van home. Life is perfect in all her natural beauty.
I love making people feel their most authentic self. Jewelry is so powerful. There’s always something new coming out and we also make custom pieces.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In the jewelry community there is a lot of replication. Both in one’s own practice and within the social media community. It’s part of every creatives process, especially in the beginning years. Unfortunately, because there is an aspect of business, this played with my ego heavily in the first year making jewelry. My designs were replicated a lot. Sometimes I would say something and it was very obviously in the right. Sometimes I would say something and then realize I was wrong and needed to apologize. It burned bridges I wish were still intact. It played with my creative mind, making competition a priority over honest creation. As a self taught artisan, I did not learn through replication. I learned through trial and error. Many many years of trial and error. It made me upset that someone could just replicate my work, for free, right off Instagram. It left me feeling like it wasn’t worth creating if my work would just be duplicated.
Eventually, I was on a hike, and as the mountain does, it gave me a message. If I am in my most honest creation, no one can replicate my work. Once I realized that if I was just honest with myself, making whatever I wanted, no one could replicate that magic… I was free. In that freedom I learned that sharing my creative inspiration is free and I have an infinite amount to give.
When I let go of the competitive mindset, focused on collaborating with other incredible artists, and let people share in the creative process, I gained a freedom I’d never known. I want people to make their art. Every time one of us is inspired by another and makes that into something beautiful, the vibration rises.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

As a society, in our deepest darkest moments we reach for art to soothe us. In our most beautiful memories, art is almost always present in some form. In our lives we lean on art to give us hope, make us feel and give us comfort. Art is such a gift. Art is such an important part of what it means to be human. Art moves people. Appreciate artists. If you can, pay them. Buy their art and put it in your home. Tell your friends about them. Share their posts on your socials.
If someone’s art makes you feel something, isn’t that so valuable?

Contact Info:

• Website: PearlHouse1995.com
• Instagram: PearlHouse1995