We had the good fortune of connecting with Marisa S White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marisa S, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
I have a quote attached to my computer that reads – “Fear killed more dreams than failure ever did.”

It’s placement allows me to see it every day, reminding me that failure is a necessary part of the journey on the road to success. And, to never let fear stand in the way of my dreams.

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?
I take multiple photographs and seamlessly stitch them together creating surreal and magical scenes. Inspired by a wide range of experiences, my work reflects ideas and concepts that evoke emotion and contemplation.

My art career has been an exciting journey with many ups and downs.

I’ve been blessed with success fairly early on in my career winning best in show within the first few months of exhibiting. Solo exhibitions, gallery representation, magazine features, and podcasts have followed over the last 10 years. My proudest accomplishment to date is a recent museum acquisition of my work here in Colorado Springs. That was definitely on my dream goal list!

The downs are many. No need to dwell on those, as they are merely speed bumps on the path. But, they range from rejections to calls, less than stellar portfolio reviews, ghosting from galleries and lots of closed doors.

I was at an art festival this past summer and asked how the overall weekend went for a neighboring artist. He said he had experienced better and would rank the festival a 5 on a scale from 1 to 10, stating that he viewed these as opportunities to remain humble.

So yes, the downs are an opportunity to remain humble. They also help us build our rejection muscles, allowing those moments to roll off our back easily.

This career is not for the faint of heart. It takes work and dedication and the funds flow in waves. But the gift of being the master of one’s own schedule and leading the creative life is worth it…in my humble opinion!

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?
Favorite highlights in Colorado Springs includes:

Outdoor activities:
– Garden of the Gods, close to sunset. If we’re lucky, the rams are foraging in the open spaces
– The incline in Manitou
– The drive up to Pikes Peak. I have a few favorite spots on the way up to stop, photograph and gaze at all the beauty!

Dining, for the diet restricted:
– Dos Santos, Downtown
– Adam’s Mountain Cafe, Manitou Springs
– Sherpa’s Garden, Old Colorado City

Art Galleries:
– True North Art Gallery, Downtown on Bijou
– Kreuser and G44 Gallery, Downtown on Boulder
– Surface Gallery, Old Colorado City on Colorado Ave

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, who I call Dr. Awesome, deserves major props for my success. He saw what I was creating, as a hobby back in the day, and asked me why I wasn’t pursuing it full time. His encouragement and support ultimately gave me the courage to leave the 9 to 5 and focus 100% on my art.

Website: https://www.marisaswhite.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marisa_whitesparks/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.