Life & Work with Lisa Kindle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Kindle.

Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I knew from a very young age I wanted to be an artist. As a child, I would sit on the floor of my grandparent’s front porch cutting up Montgomery Wards catalogs making my own magazine spreads. Later, I began to learn photography from my dad along the shores of Lake Superior in Minnesota, while my mom was quick to point out all the specific types of plants and trees along the trail. These experiences influenced my life-long love of nature and attention to the world around me. I have brought that with me on my journey as an artist over the years.

Professionally, I worked for twenty years through the ranks of corporate design as a graphic designer to art director, then business owner, designing everything from logos, advertisements, billboards, to food packaging and trade show displays. I ran my own studio doing graphic design for businesses of every size. Over the past few years, I have transitioned to working as a full-time artist. I became certified in 2020 as a therapeutic art life coach and recently completed a basic user training in Neurographica.

I have been developing my own signature style and approach to coaching that incorporates my years in business as a graphic designer and small business owner. I have been coaching others with techniques to find confidence and create a life map to move them into new seasons in their lives. I bring a fresh approach to times of change. I will be releasing my signature course, “Empower Yourself with Color” and an inspirational 72-card deck, “I Am Colorfully Made” that fuses my love of colors and positive thinking in 2022. I believe we all have the power within us to create the life we want, regardless of background, current situation, or circumstance. The only limitation we have is ourselves and our imagination. Through my coaching and art, I hope that people find peace and inspiration.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My path has definitely not been a smooth one. I have survived bankruptcy, trips to the food shelf, job loss, a narcissistic partner, divorce, health struggles, moving, name changes, legal issues, family conflict, dating in my forties, and everything that goes along with all those things. I have learned that while every transition in life brings change, through the many ups and downs, I have always persevered and become a stronger version of myself.
My priority in life has always been family first, business second. Although I went through 2 divorces, providing a life for my daughter has always been my primary focus. I ran my own graphic design business from 2006-2018 along with doing occasional freelance work, photography gigs – and that one time I was a chef at a hotel! I often worked many long hours late at night so that I could be there for my daughter when she needed me. With the divorces, we had to find new places to go, but through it all, we had each other. We were together all the way up until she graduated from high school. After she graduated, I got remarried and it was the first time she and I lived apart.

In 2018, we went through a very personal crisis that took my full attention. The situation which shook my world turned out to be the beginning of my transition away from graphic design business. I began a new business more focused on creative living and supporting others. Since that time, I have been on a journey to refine the artist within myself. I have spent this time of discovery creating classes and serving others as I found my own path forward.

I lived many years in survival mode, giving to others first, hustling to pay the bills, focusing on deadlines in business and at home. Now, with the most wonderful life partner I could ever imagine, I have the amazing gift of being able to freely create the life I (we) want.

I am excited to say that although the road has not been easy in the least, the risks and challenges I have been through have made me the strong and vibrant person I am today. Because I have endured much pain, I have much love and compassion to share with others.

In the year ahead, I will continue to support others in my work, but for the first time I can remember (while not in crisis mode), I will begin to step back and take time for myself to create the programs, products and artwork that I am compelled to make and share with the world.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I worked in the graphic design, print and advertising industry since my college graduation in 1991. Over the years, I have received many awards and successes along the way. Some of the highlights of my career and artist’s life started even before then, having a piece of artwork accepted into the United Nations collection. I then went to college with a yearly art and music scholarship. I began to create posters for the college music department, gave recitals and had my own art show.

Once out of college, I began working for a small newspaper, then a printing company, graduating to a position as an art director where I began to spread my wings and work on “big name accounts.” I flourished from there, landing a corporate job in the health care creative industry, where I was a part of their rebrand and leveling up the creative department. I designed for national magazines, bus panels, billboards and managed entire ad campaigns for regional hospitals and clinics in the Twin Cities Metro Area. From there, I launched my own private design studio, where I proudly won an ADDY award early on for my work. I was creative director for two major installations of an art show to aid Hurricane Katrina victims, raising money for artists affected by the storm. I later donated a large piece of artwork from this show to an organization in Biloxi, Mississippi.

More recently, I won design awards from MMPA; and in 2018 I was given the Helmsman Award by the Minneapolis Aquatennial Association. In 2019, I sold my first large painting “Black and White Mandala” at the Maple Grove Center for the Arts, making it the highest priced art piece sold to date from their gallery.

Other works I am proud of are the collaborations I have had working with authors to design their book covers. In all of the work I do, whether it is design, art, photography or coaching, my aim is to deliver a result that is beyond ordinary. Even when working within rigid brand guidelines of a corporate or franchise environment, executives repeatedly sought out my assistance because they knew I would push the envelope within guidelines to give them something that really stood out among all the rest. One brochure in particular I remember asking one of my colleagues to create a watercolor for the cancer center and it was one of the most beautiful pieces we turned out that year. Another project I enjoyed creating was a set of medals for a school district I worked for. The medals were minted by a company that makes medals for the Olympics, who later asked to purchase one of my designs.

Through all this, I have always remained an active member of the community, volunteering to speak to youth in the schools and as an ambassador in the Chamber of Commerce as well as a member of BNI. I have been running my own business since 2006 and while I am no longer actively pursuing graphic design work, I am using the skills learned as an employee in the corporate world and the grit learned from hustling in small business to begin the life of a full-time artist. I love being able to bring all of my skills together to live my best life.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
COMING SOON! The deck, “I am Colorfully Made,” a 72-card affirmation deck with art and affirmations by Lisa Kindle will be available for purchase early in 2022. I will also be offering Life Path Color Sessions privately and launching my signature workshop, “Empower Yourself with Color” in 2022. There will be both DIY and live sessions. Watch my website and social media channels for details.

Inquire with me directly for pricing on artwork. Some originals are not available, but there are prints available for most.

“IKIGAI: My True Purpose” Black, white and red abstract ($2500) in black floating wood frame (37.5″ x 37.5″)This painting shows the fire that is inside me as an artist. It is my passion to create. I am fueled by the urge to make something new; to tell a new story. I love to interact with the medium and allow the creation to reveal itself. Each stroke was mindfully and intuitively put on the canvas. I literally felt as if I was breathing into the canvas – and in return, “Ikigai” came to life.

Black & White Mandala (SOLD) Prints available.

Oceanscape, (Acrylic) 36″ x 36″ ($3,000)

I Am Colorfully Made, 31″ x 31″ (Acrylic, mixed media) NFS.

Panoramic Eagle Lake, (Photography) Prints available.

Contemplative Walk in Woods, (Photography) Prints available.

Leaves of Grass, (Pen and Ink) Prints available.

A Call to Rise, (Pen and Ink with Watercolor) Original and prints available – Inquire for pricing.

Pricing:

• IKAGAI – $2500.00
• Oceanscape – $3,00o

Contact Info:

• Email: Hello@lisakindle.com
• Website: www.lisakindle.com
• Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/lisakindleart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisakindleart/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCFhcTyYN9RZV5yq8y2Zpotg

Image Credits
Lisa M. Kindle