Meet Becca Leisen | Illustrator

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

Hi Becca, what’s your definition for success?
I love how success is so individual to each person and one of the most amazing things about life is that we each get to set our own goal posts for it. I define success as happiness but more importantly satisfaction. For me that looks like spending my days doing what I enjoy and also staying present to really soak in the everyday, peaceful moments of life.

As I’ve entered my 30s I’ve been more aware that I will not be alive forever. I think a lot about how I will feel when I’m (hopefully) very old and looking back on my life and I feel strongly that as long as I’ve lived in alignment with my values, I’ll consider myself successful (and very lucky!). What is most important to me and what I value most is time with family and loved ones, and pursuit of my own interests, outside of any paid work. It is important to me that success is not tied to any external goal, but that it come from within myself and how I feel about the life I’ve built.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I decided to learn to draw because I wanted to draw my own tattoo. But as I started down that path, I learned about illustration (and book illustration specifically), and something just clicked for me. All of the sudden I was able to integrate all of my interests and hobbies from over the years- the natural world, photography, and above all a relentless love of learning. It was something that was so motivating to me- I wake up in the morning so excited to draw and create.

I’m still quite a new artist- I’ve only been creating work for about 6 months or so- and I hope to show others that it is not too late to start something new. I think as we age we tend to see more closed doors than open but there’s no one holding those doors closed but ourselves- and I hope people see my work and are inspired to pursue what interests them.

I work a full time job so this is a side gig for me but I hope someday it will be my full-time job! I draw as much as I can in the evenings after work and on the weekends- it’s exhausting sometimes but pursuing this path has really energized and fueled me in so many ways as well.

I love to look at the world through the lens of a story and that’s why I hope to show with my art and illustration work. What I love about illustration and art in general is how much feeling it evokes- I think this connects us all to one another and is a medium that crosses time and distance.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love living in Colorado. My ideal day is an early morning hike at NCAR and breakfast burritos at Locos Hermanos with my boyfriend. After that it’s probably a nap on the couch with my cats, then art for the rest of the day!

I work in Boulder as the events manager at Food Lab, where we host cooking classes, and I think what we do there is very cool so I’d always recommend that. In Boulder I’d also recommend Suti & Co for coffee and treats, Avanti for drinks and an amazing view, or Dish Gourmet, Zoe Ma Ma, or Arabesque for great food. I’m not a big drinker but the view at Acreage here in Lafayette is stunning. My favorite shopping lately has been art supplies and for that I’d recommend Guirys, Two Hands Paperie, or Art Parts (which is a cool used art supply store). I have quite a sweet tooth and Lucky’s Bakehouse is a must-visit- I dream about their cupcakes at night.

In Denver, I love going to Denver Zoo as well as the Science and Nature Museum (my boyfriend and I go on dates to these at least once a year). There’s so much in the city to explore- it is so fun to just drive around and see what you can find!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My boyfriend Matt encourages me everyday, not just in art but also in life. He is a calm and loving presence in my life. I tend to skew a bit anxious and he is always there to spin me back in the right direction. He is truly my partner in every definition of the word and I am so grateful for him.

Instagram: @beccaleisenillustration