Creative Thursday ... California, USA

Artist: Marisa Anne Haedike
Business: Creative Thursday
Web sites: www.creativethursday.com, creativethursday.etsy.com
Your location: Los Angeles, CA

What do you create?
I've done everything from furniture design to jewelry design. Presently my love lies in daily painting, and I've just recently started sculpting some of my painting characters out of clay. Taking my work from 2D to 3D is a whole new creative adventure.

I also write and produce a podcast that I post on my blog on Thursdays, sharing my story and others living the creative life, called Creative Thursday... of course.



Where and when do you do your creative work?
All over the house! and outside too. I'm a transient creator. I even paint sitting in my bed sometimes. I am looking forward to my dream studio soon, though!

I create at all hours of the day. I keep trying to keep a schedule or routine, but I just don't think that is my style. When the inspiration comes, I run with it.



Do you have another "day job"?
I left my last day job, which was as an interior designer about eight years ago. It has taken many attempts in the entrepreneurial world to find the work that resonates with me most. And it is all finally coming together now! I have just recently been able to support myself financially solely with my art. I am thrilled and excited every day to create work that I love so much.



Where and what did you study?
I attended the University of Florida in Gainesville and graduated with a BS in Advertising. I would have just majored in art, but didn't think I could make a living with an art degree. I did end up with an "outside concentration" (they didn't offer minors for some odd reason) in art with two years of continuing education in Interior Design after that.



What inspires you and what motivates you?
Oh, everything really. Life is inspiring in so many forms. Here are just a few of my favorites: nature, animals, housing, music, movies, cooking, the farmers market, LOVE, color, designer Tricia Guild, other artists past and present, blogs, photography, books, people's stories of how they found their way to live a life that they are happy with. I believe when you are inspired, the by-product is that you are motivated.

When did you start doing this?
As soon as I could pick up a crayon, so at two or three, but it took me years before I trusted that this is what I was supposed to be. I have been painting professionally two years now.



Do you remember getting into art as a kid?
Oh yes. In fact when I was about eight or nine I made tiny marker drawings, framed them in embroidery frames and sold them to my family.

Also when I was twelve, I had a neighbor who live across the street, named Toots. She had a ceramic kiln. She invited me over to paint ceramics almost every day. She was like a grandmother to me during this time. We then participated together in my first every craft show/fair. I sold some of the work I created making $100. I was so proud! Looking back now, I think I had an enterpreneurial spirit early on.

I grew up an only child, and we are known for having a lot of time alone to be with our imagination and create and I did. I was always supported in my creativity especially by my Oma, (German for grandmother). Every summer I would travel to Germany and for some reason I felt my most creative there. I felt like I had all the time in the world just to create. And every year, I would try some new project from making pine cone owls, to watercolors, to the marker drawings, to creating characters out of felt. For a while I had a dollhouse and would create furnishings for it and clothes for the little dollhouse family all the time. I loved it!



When and why did you decide to start your own business?
I just couldn't seem to find people to work for who would support me in where I wanted to go next. I loved the idea of having a lifestyle that felt free including the opportunity to explore creative freedom.



How did you choose the name for your business?
One of my favorite stories... When I was working for someone else, as an interior designer, I still didn't feel like I had enough creativity in my life. I had a friend who had just recently given birth to twins and she was missing her creativity too. I suggested that we pick one day a week and get together for creative projects. I loved Thursdays, for some reason that has always been my favorite day of the week. So that day it was. We usually just got together and had wine and discussed all of our creative plans, but hey that got the ball rolling!



What do you love most about creating your work?
I love how easily the ideas come to me. I love creating the little characters that have evolved and made appearances in my work just in the last eight months. I love that I love my work so much, that it feels this amazing to create every day. I love inspiring others to follow their creative dreams!

What's the most fascinating place you've been?
Hong Kong, when I was 10. That city leaves quite an impression on a young girl from the States.



A book you love:
Make Your Creative Dreams Real by Sark

What is the most interesting thing about you?
Oh, good question, and a hard one to answer about myself. I think that the most interesting thing in my life thus far is the path I've taken to follow my creative dreams, and how often I was not supported by my peers, that often my career choice didn't seem to come together – but that I still forged on to ultimately find what I am happiest doing, to trust myself more, to trust my creativity and to find support and amazing friendships in my peers now.



What achievement are you most proud of?
I'm proud that I didn't ever give up (believe me when I say I could have many times) and have consistently chosen a life filled with adventure, risk taking, authenticity, integrity and heart, a life of following one's dreams.

What advice would you give women starting their own business?
Love what you do and just start. Start somewhere. You can't get it wrong! Surround yourself with people who see your vision and hold true to your own vision, always. With that said, while keeping that vision and staying true to yourself, be open and excited about where the current takes you. There may be something waiting for you that you hadn't thought of that is even better than what you originally had in mind. Believe, believe, believe (third time's a charm) that you can do it!



What's the biggest challenge you face in your work?
Not comparing myself to others.
Not taking other's actions quite so personally.

What do you love to do in your free time?
Honestly, I love what I do so much that I'm usually painting, but I also take yoga classes weekly and will be surfing again this summer! I love traveling, visiting with friends and family, taking walks, dining at fabulously delicious restaurants. Oh, yes and I love watching movies too, especially indies! And all of these activities include one or all of my loves, Sean my boyfriend and the three pets that share our home, Lulu the Great Dane, Reilly and Garbo the kitties.



What are you working on right now?
I license my art and will be working on some new pieces to add to the collection this week. I will also be sculpting more clay characters, as I'm obsessed with those little things!!
And I hope to be adding a new podcast to my blog.


What do you hope to achieve next?
I'm wide open. I feel so happy to do what I love already that everything is icing on the cake, but I have big dreams so I'm looking forward to what is next. In the immediate future, I may be collaborating on children's book.