Meet Isabella Clark | Watercolor artist & Bodypainter

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

Hi Isabella, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The main thought that stuck with me was that I didn’t want to spend most of my life doing something that I didn’t enjoy. So then I started looking for things that I not only had some expertise in, but were A, purposeful, B, that I enjoyed doing, and C, that I could do from anywhere in the world. I wanted to have complete freedom in how I chose to use my time and didn’t want to have to answer to anybody. I knew that running my own business would give me the potential to make much more money than the average stable job and I understood that the amount of money I could make was based on my own willpower and ingenuity rather than a company budget. This meant I wouldn’t be dependent on any bigger entity for job security, and I could adapt to the changing times as needed. This also meant I would have room for expansion which was important to me as someone who is highly curious and needs to change things up a lot. My overall goals were: freedom, flexibility, empowerment, enjoyment of everyday life, and room for expansion. Maybe with a little sense of revolutionism; wanting to prove to the world that it could be done differently.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I recently completed a children’s book, the first of a series, that is currently undergoing the publishing process. It is the largest, cohesive body of work I have created thus far, consisting of thirty-two illustrations. I am extremely proud of this body of work, not only because of the volume, but because it is incredibly purposeful. It is a collaborative piece of work, written by author Lisa Watson, that deals with teaching children mindfulness techniques and providing them with the tools to feel empowered in their emotions. Leading up to this, I found I had to fully believe in myself and be determined to succeed as a full-time artist. I truly desired to be free and autonomous in my work.

I attended college courses for a single semester before deciding to part ways with organized education. I found I already possessed the artistic skill and merit to pursue my passion and career without going into debt. I began to network myself and align with multiple mentors to observe, learn, and grow with. Their wisdom and instruction allowed me to create my own artistic path forward. This decision has never been easy, and I’ve found that the mental discipline to stay focused, make time, and create a work environment has been the biggest challenge in my career. I must actively participate every day in remembering what brings me to the worktable: my freedom and my passion. I have also found that I’ve needed to train my brain to let go of my self-doubt and practice celebrating and being grateful for any successes I have, even if it is in small quantities. I ensure to surround myself with encouraging friends and mentors who provide positive reinforcement and remind me I am good enough whenever imposter syndrome sets in. I am constantly working on and training myself, and always will, because every breakthrough is worth it.

One of the biggest lessons that has been reiterated throughout my career is that your network is truly your net worth. Abundance flows in many ways other than monetarily when you have a large network, and personal recommendation will always be the best marketing. Being open to any new connections, surrounding oneself with positive people and strong mentors will place your work in front of the right people, and the people who need it most. And you must believe in yourself, because even if others believe in you, your own self-value is the thing that dictates whether you will achieve your dreams or not. If you love the work and you pour yourself into it, others will notice and buy what you are selling because it will remind them of their own joy. Imbue your art, your passion, with your authentic self, and let the uniqueness of you be seen!

The main objective I would love for anyone viewing my art to take away is I strive to be the artist that uplifts and encourages others to feel. I want the patrons of my work to be in touch with their emotions, whether that manifests through body painting, a portrait of a lost loved one, or even a piece that evokes strong emotion. I want people to feel the joy, the sorrow, the excitement, the fear, the love, that comes with being human, because these are what makes life rich. I strive to create an invitation to a place of safety in emotion through my work where people can just, feel.

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?
I am mainly a food person. I LOVE trying new restaurants. My favorite ones in denver that I just can’t get enough of are “Hapa sushi” and “quiero arepas.” One of which is in Avanti, a very cool collection of restaurant that overlooks Denver from a hillside Neighborhood at the edge of downtown. Not only that, but little man ice cream, a denver staple, is a nearby and has the best salted Oreo ice cream I’ve ever had! Definitely would recommend for anyone coming from out of town. As far as fun things not involving food go, I would recommend checking out the Meow wolf museum, which is probably the coolest instillation of interactive art I’ve seen this far in my life! But make sure you plan an entire day to go, there is a LOT to take in and do. If you are here in the summer, the Colorado Renaissance festival is legendary and is great if you have kiddos too. I would also recommend the Denver Gem and mineral show (also in summertime) which is a mind-blowingly expansive collection of precious rock vendors and artists all coming to sell their wares in a big warehouse downtown. You can see and buy some really cool stuff there that you wouldn’t be able to find in most places. In regards to Nature and outdoor activities, I would recommend having a picnic in wash park, hiking up red-rocks, or checking out some local disc golf courses if you play! If you are a climber like me, definitely check out one of the movement Gyms, as they are some of the biggest in the US.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mythica Blessyng. She is Not only my bodypainting mentor, and dear friend, but is a talented artist of many mediums. Currently she bodypaints, makes organite jewelry, and is a mindset coach. She has helped me understand my potential and helped me overcome many blocks to believing in myself. I am eternally grateful for her invaluable wisdom, support, and belief in me. She is an inspiration and roll model for me daily.

Instagram: @izzyssketchbook

Facebook: Isabella Clark

Other: Gallery/art co-op instillation in Aspen Grove called “you deserve art” fb and insta: @youdeserveart Children’s book series is called “the mindfulness within books” coming soon!