Meet Elisabeth Strunk | Artist & Upcycler

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elisabeth Strunk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elisabeth, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
While I was working on a series of pen and ink illustrations to sell in stores and at markets, I wanted to take a break to create art just for fun – just for me. I had a pair of white coveralls in my closet and decided to draw insects on them and added traditional American tattoo designs, as well. I wore them to a market I was selling at and, to my surprise, more people were asking about my coveralls with my drawings than they were asking about my prints. It was a really great feeling to know that other people were into the art I made that felt so authentic to who I am, that I decided to start my hand painted, up-cycled clothing brand.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My path has been very curvy, but looking back it all makes sense. I went to school for Visual Art Education and upon graduating, I was an art teacher for five years. I left teaching in public schools to manage education programs at the Aspen Art Museum and did that for three years. Then, after 2020 and the wild year that was for all of us, I decided to take a break from the art world to recalibrate and started working in a retail store. That was a really great time for me because I was able to reflect on what I wanted for my life and start setting goals to get there. In 2023, I decided I was ready to get back into teaching art and set out to do so independently. I was lucky enough to connect with an amazing business woman who owns Fleur Denver (a workshop space) and started teaching art workshops there in May. Once I started doing that and selling at markets, everything started to fall into place. I now also teach at The New Local in Boulder and Rocky Mountain Folk School in Grand Lake. Teaching independently has also allowed me the time and energy to be able to make my own art, which is how I was able to create my brand Flash + Rose.

I wouldn’t say my path has been easy. There were roadblocks, hurdles, lots of self-reflection, just as much fear, and a lot of gratitude for the people in my life helping me through it all. I think, though, it got a lot easier when I started listening to my intuition and only doing things and making art that feels aligned with who I am when I’m my most authentic self. That’s probably what I’m also most proud of – saying yes to the things that feel authentic and running towards them. I like to call authenticity “the flow” and I’ve found that when I stay in that space, it seems easier to find the things that are meant for me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My parents were just in town visiting and I took them on a little tour of all of my favorite spots in Denver. We went to Crema for coffee – the baristas there are wonderful humans and make a fantastic oat milk latte. I took them to some of my favorite vintage shops, most on South Broadway and to Scavenged Goods on Colfax. We had lunch at Mister Oso – I think I could eat the queso and birria tacos every day for the rest of my life. We then bopped over to Boulder, walked around Pearl Street, and had dinner at Gemini. I love good food, great coffee, and vintage clothes, so those are always my go-to’s when showing people around the Front Range.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh my… I could write an entire book to respond to this answer. I’m so, so lucky to have such a great support system and people in my corner cheering me on. My parents and family have been so encouraging of me and my artistic endeavors since I was young, so they’re all at the top of my list of supporters and I’m so lucky to have them. I’m also grateful to have had amazing professors and mentors in art school at Ball State University, a wonderful group of friends who keep me laughing and calm, and all of the people I’ve met in the Front Range art community who are so inspiring and collaborative. I also want to give a special shout out to the stores who believed in my brand before it was Flash + Rose and carry my clothing in their – Circa Vintage in Colorado Springs, Scavenged Goods in Denver, and The New Local in Boulder.

Website: www.flash-and-rose.com

Instagram: @elisabeth.r.strunk // @flash.and.rose

Other: www.elisabethstrunk.com

Image Credits
All photos by Sheryl Crawford Photography