We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tara Lynn Herbst Kopp a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tara Lynn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I did 17 months in prison. Upon release I moved back to the small town I had been living in prior to my incarceration. It’s where my husband was, it was where my children were; where my family was at. It wasn’t easy. The whispers, the pointed fingers, the gossip and the truth.

I have always been an artist of mixed media, I primarily do sketches and painting but I also do stained glass and I am classically trained in piano. My husband and I decided to add on to our home to give me a dedicated space for my art. My art became well known and I was presented with an opportunity to open a small shop in a small town, one that hadn’t been accepting of me in a very long time.

I took the risk. I made the jump. I dove right in head first with support of my family. I opened a physical shop/location where everyone and anyone was welcomed. Those people that whispered because amazing customers. Those that heard my story wanted to support a small, woman owned and someone who triumphed over the surrounded negativity.

I took the chance and the chance took me….it was a risk. Opening myself up meant sharing my story and that would have a direct impact on my kids. They stood straight up and supported my choice, my “risk” and we ran with it. My business is 5 years old and I have no intention of slowing down

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 have always sketched and painted. I have played the piano since I was three years of age. I have always been artistic but never considered myself an artist. My childhood was very tumultuous, riddled with abuse and abandonment. I didn’t think I was good enough so I didn’t share my art.

I picked up the skill of stained glass when a 78 year old man told me he wanted to teach me. I jumped at the offer. He taught me what it meant to be an artist. My extended family didn’t support my choices or my lifestyle. I am proud that I chose to overcome those familial obstacles.

In my skill I take peoples thoughts, visions, and memories and I turn them into one of a kind pieces of art that can be passed down for multiple generations. I have been blessed with the ability to restore family memories and create new ones. That is what I am most proud of; that I can create such an important thing in someones life.

I am a small one person studio. I do have help from my husband, my children and a few close friends. The memories we create together while creating memories for others are some of the best ones I will ever keep.

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

Yes! My goal is to help all artists, whether they’re five or 50 use their talents to create art. I love to help people express their thoughts through the art they create. Everyone is an artist in some form.

Sharing art styles, a multitude of media, and everything but the kitchen sink can be considered art. It is important to me that art is recognized. It is a stress relief, it can make you happy or sad. It can be your therapy and that is what my art has been to me and my family….therapy.

I often talk to a lot of the artists that I get the privilege of teaching that art is a great way to heal from trauma. It moves at your own pace, there is no right or wrong just beautiful creations that hold your secrets, thoughts and feelings. Finding an outlet to express yourself is becoming harder everyday. People judge on what they can’t see, people judge on what they can see. In the world that I have created around myself and those I teach tell them they are safe, that they are loved and that yes, they are artists.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn, tear down my walls and be vulnerable. Not everyone will like what you produce as an artist. I needed to learn that criticism, in most forms is a learning tool if used right. I fell on my face many times, many many times but I get back up. Eventually, you can have your dreams. Being resilient is key for any artist.

I had to learn that my story of being in prison is not my entire story. I have created a new story for my life and family. While there are still some that whisper, some that point, I hold my head up proudly because I own a business. I own a home. I am not supposed to be a success story and yet here I am.

Don’t give up, the story is just the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: The Rebel Glass Co
• Facebook: The Rebel Glass Company LLC
• Other: I don’t have other forms because my business is small and I couldn’t possibly keep up with my work. I love the growth and the expansion and I hope some day that I can share more with additional phenomenal people!

Image Credits
TaraHerbstKopp