We recently connected with Talia (Ali) Gamble and have shared our conversation below.

Are you happy as an artist or creative. Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a regular job.

I have always been a bouncing ball of nervous ADHD creative energy. However, when I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional dancer and an obstetrician. Dance was my first love. I was in pageants. (I know. The goth girl used to do beauty pageants.) and that was always my answer when I was asked “What are your plans in the future?” I couldn’t imagine anything more rewarding than caring for women carrying the next generation into the world, helping them safely bring those generations earthside, and spending my free time telling stories with my body through dance.

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc, what type of products/services/creative works you provide, what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others. What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc. Please provide as much detail as you feel relevant as this is one of the core questions where the reader will get to know about you and your brand/organization/etc

Creativity is life’s blood for me. I’ve written stories since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I’ve danced since I was a toddler. I’ve told fortunes my whole life, and have made art since I knew what art was. Zisi’s Esoterica, which I started with my husband became the amalgamation of all of that. The dance gigs came first, then the personalized writing pieces, then the mixed media art that I just felt compelled to create. I work out my emotions through art. My husband makes norse garden stones and other pagan art. He’s a tech director for a local city’s government with a high stress job, so this is one of the ways he decompresses. The most rewarding for me lately has been doing totem/oracle readings. I love to help people work out the things going on in their lives through the cards. It’s incredible when you’re able to give them a sense of direction to get through whatever life is currently throwing at them. I want to be that light for people who may be walking in the dark at that moment.

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

People get so focused on making a living that they fail to realize how dull, joyless, and lifeless, this world would be without artists. Think about this: What’s the number one outlet most people use when they’re stressed, or hurting, or even deliciously happy? Music. What is music? Freakin art, dude!  I feel like the arts get taken for granted in a world where everything is so easily obtainable through Amazon. We can help artists continue to thrive by being our artist friend’s loudest advertisers. Share art. Everywhere. Tell people where you got that bespoke piece. Share your musicians friend’s music page/Spotify to all your socials, buy your soap/beauty product making friend’s wares, and then recommend/gift them to everyone. Buy your friend’s art pieces and keep one on your work desk/front and center at your house. Word of mouth used to be the only way artist’s made a living. Be LOUD for your artist friends and pass on any opportunities you may hear about for them to promote themselves. Trust me. We will love you eternally! 

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

You are never “too old” to start again. I’ll be forty-one this week. I was paralyzed for a very long time thinking the time for doing anything with the arts was over. I was convinced I’d missed my boat and that I needed to content myself with the mundane. Good gods, was I wrong. There were a couple of deeply personal catalysts that happened about five years ago that shook me awake, and now, I find myself pursuing nearly everything I’d already given up on. It’s never too late, not even at ninetey, ans never let anyone tell you it is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/zisis_esoterica
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ali_porcelain
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-montesi-a05aa1249?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@conceptsbybutterfly7493
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ali_porcelain?_t=ZT-8w6iFseT8xe&_r=1http//www.keen.com/aliporcelain

Image Credits

The Funk Ship Photography and Zisi’s Esoterica Studios.