We recently connected with Talia Rochon and have shared our conversation below.

Talia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I am mostly a hands on learner , I don’t do well with instruction booklet styles of learning, and while find video instructions easier to learn with mostly how I learn is by simply tinkering with something.

When I start anything new , what I do is look at examples, instructional videos and sometimes booklet style , I gather the materials and than I figure it out from there by trial and error with my hands. I find my style of learning is better when I have the ability to physically touch and do something and figure out what works and what doesn’t for me.

I likely do many things in an unconventional way in my craft, I’m positive I break a lot of the foundational “rules” to art, or how to do something but it turns out better for me this way.

I find its harder to learn when you’re a hands on learner, unless you’re going to a studio or taking a class it can be more difficult to do it yourself as a hands on learner, I tend to waste a lot of materials this way, and it takes a lot more time along with patience to do it this way. It is just how my brain functions better, as time goes on in my years of experience the learning process becomes quicker when you do something new because you have foundations of previous attempts.

Depending on where you live finding a class or studio that’s budget friendly can be difficult it can really curb the learning process. I’m not always able to do classes or studio based learning , so to get around this I will speak with friends and others who possibly do something similar and ask a few questions get their insight and work their knowledge into what I am doing. I find a lot of what I do has similarities to other crafts or even jobs.

Talia, 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?

Im Talia, I immigrated to the USA from Canada as I met my partner who is in the United States Coast Guard. After the birth of my son on a tiny island in Alaska called Kodiak, I found myself struggling with becoming a new mother, but also being alone without family and isolated.

I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, I found myself with some post partum depression and anxiety. I felt pretty displaced, although joyful at the same time, it was a lot of emotions becoming a new mom.

Being at stay at home mom during that time, I wanted something I could do solely for me. I picked up jewelry making at my kitchen table during nap times, and even at night. I started to feel a little more like myself, I had this thing I could do just for me that brought a lot of peace into my life.

From there, it picked up into selling, and from there it went full blown into a small batch artist shop. I just picked up and ran with it, it was like I finally found my calling in life. I loved being my own boss, learning how to do everything business to artistry.

I was in a really dark place before this, I never found “my calling” in life so to speak, I never was really good at anything. I never knew what I could become, and to think I blossomed into this person who is a mom and a small shop owner just from an quick idea at a kitchen table is really mind-blowing to me.

I try to keep my brand about me and my art, Its art. I’m human, I make mistakes, I have problems in life. I try to make my brand real, I try to build genuine connections with people who follow me. I also share other artists, I want it as much as a community space as possible. I want a place where people can come to feel at home, safe and welcomed. I want my brand to be more based in personal connections and love of art, rather than this perfectly aesthetic business page.

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

There are few great ways to support artists. While buying our products, art etc is extremely helpful of course if you cannot purchase it doesn’t mean you cannot help.

In term of social media, we are drowned out a bit algorithms really can mess with us. So the best way I’ve seen to get help is to comment , like/heart , and share.
When you comment, you like it, and share it you’re making the system on social media realize this is important, we should show it to more people. The power of people not scrolling by and commenting, sharing etc is really impactful.

Come to markets, show up and say hi, there are so many great local markets and farmers markets. They’re typically free, its great to get out and talk with artists, meet new people, its a great way to boost us and connect. Its supportive showing up and having a good time for yourself as well.

Sharing word of mouth is another great way to support artists, if your friend is looking at a piece of art recommending an artist is a great way to help exposure and support us. Recommendations go a lot further than one would think, the impact you have on your friends is a lot, they likely trust your recommendations.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When someone shares or shows a piece of work they bought from me in their home, or they’re wearing my jewelry. I think its absolutely amazing, they chose a piece of my art and all the love and passion that went into it and they chose to put that in their home, or wear it. Its a feeling like no other.

When you feel or see the happiness they have because of it, it feels really good that you could provide that to someone in some way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopmaymoonco.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/maymoonco

Image Credits
Talia Rochon