The Art Of Being

The Art of Being in Conversation

Conversations About Creativity and Mindfulness

We are all creative beings, but how often do you tap into your creativity? Do you often feel as though you have forgotten how to be creative? What would it look like to create with intention? 

In April and May of 2020, we created a short series on IGTV called The Art of Being in Quarantine. It was an effort to bring more creativity into our lives during the onset of the pandemic, as we contemplated what it means to be a human during difficult times. We found that by intentionally making space for creativity in our weeks, we were able to show up more fully in our lives. The prompts are intended to be playful and straightforward, 10-15 minute activities, for you to engage your creative being. 

We wanted to expand this beyond ourselves, so started the monthly series, The Art of Being in Conversation. These conversations are about creating with intention. Each month we will be talking to a featured guest about what it means to them to be creative. Every conversation will dive into that person’s story and creative process and will end with a prompt or activity that you, as the listener, can experiment with to tap into your own creative being. 

If you try out any of the prompts, please tag us on Instagram @artofbeingexperience or use the hashtag #TheArtOfBeingInConversation, so that we can see your creations!

 

Alexandrea Pangburn

 
 
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In Conversation with Artist and Muralist Alexandrea Pangburn

 
 

Photo Credit: Peter Kowalchuk

 

We’re thrilled to share our first interview in this series with inspiring Alexandrea Pangburn who is a Denver, CO based artist/muralist focusing her work on the conservation and realistic representation of flora/fauna.

Growing up with a deep love and respect for animals, her work focuses on the conservation and education of birds and mammals and the connection to the location in which they are painted.

Alex loves to paint large scale in her work as well as small scale for galleries and private commissions. She is also the Founder of Babe Walls, an all women and non-binary folks art festival, as well as the Director of Curation for RiNo Art District.

 
 
“Creativity - it’s hard to put in words because I feel like it just can’t be harnessed. It’s like this wild thing and it’s individual to every single person - and every artist is different. So, I guess mine is wild! If I could use a word - my creativity is just wild. ”
— ALEXANDREA PANGBURN
 

In conversation…

  • We discuss how Alexandrea sees her creativity as something that is wild and what it feels like to harness that wild creative energy. She openly discusses her creative lulls and how she allows herself to be both in that and work through it.

  • We were struck by her thoughtfulness and how she is very intentional about both her process and her work - making sure that a foundational part of both is connected to evoking an emotion around animal conservation and education for her, the client, and ultimately the viewer.

  • Through the lens of Babe Walls, she expressed the power of collaboration in creating and what her experience working with Becca Reitz and Sandra Fettingis was like in sparking something completely unique to all three of them.

  • And, when all is said and done, what means the most to her is being someone who’s art makes a difference in the world. 

 
“How I learn as an artist is by watching other artists. What are they doing that’s worked to achieve this? How are they getting this to look like this? And either talking to them, which Instagram makes everyone so accessible nowadays that most artists are really verbal through that and you can talk to just about anybody. But, I think that there is something beautiful in collaborations that you can’t achieve at any other moment besides in that moment.”
— ALEXANDREA PANGBURN
 

WATCH THE VIDEO

music: Beach, musician: Jeff Kaale

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO

music: Beach, musician: Jeff Kaale

 
“I think that as an artist, especially an artist that does public murals and public art, that there has to be some sort of intentionality with what we’re doing because we are reaching so many eyeballs. ”
— ALEXANDREA PANGBURN
 

THE CREATIVE PROMPT FROM ALEXANDREA:

Take 5-10 minutes to journal, sketch, draw, or doodle your response to Alexandrea’s prompt! Then, what is one small step that you can take to put this into action? 

The creative process can be powerful, yet fragile. It must be fed to grow and flourish and every person has a different creative food.

My creative fuel is found in nature and when I'm in it, I soak in as much as I can; finding the little details in the prairie grasses, the bright colors of the wild flowers, the way the sun-light hits the mountains, and the animals we share this earth with.

What fuels your creativity, and what can you do to make that an intentional part of your creative practice?

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE: 

 
Angela CravenThe Art of Being in Conversation