Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Orozco.
Hi Autumn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started small in 2012 out of my second garage that I converted into a home studio. In the summer of 2019 I started the process of looking for a commercial building in my area. Although it was terrifying stepping out of the comfort of being small and safe, situations had reached a point that I had to say goodbye to Little Leaf, or take the risk to of growing and expanding. We purchased our building in November of 2019 and slowly stated renovation as cash allowed us. It was an emotional roller coaster. The Covid hit, and the world stopped. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to open and hold classes. I felt like I put my family in a place in financial stress and became a burden in pursuit of my dream. I continued to renovate the building with the help of my father, brothers, husband and friends. Restrictions began to lift and I was able to open for summer camp in June of 2020. The first 2 years were still very difficult and felt overwhelming. With social distancing and masks, it was a lot harder to connect with the kids. As the world went back to normal and I began to heal from my fear of failure, my passion for my dream came back. I am constantly add more to the studio, like Birthday Parties, Pottery, cat adoptions with the local humane society, and even teaching adults! I have poured my heart into Little Leaf Art Studio and it has become a safe place for others to open their heart up as well. The studio went from an empty garage, to an empty metal building in a small downtown, to a colorful creative safe space for anyone to come and create something from nothing!
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 biggest struggle has been myself. The fight of fear of failure and doing what I love. The fight of being the art studio that people expect and being the art studio that I envisioned. The struggle with perfection and just get started. The fear of the unknown.
I am very grateful that I won those battles and know that “failure” is just a learning experience, and education is priceless. If some people don’t love what I offer, then we are not the space for them, and that is ok. If I am constantly trying to morph into someone else to make them happy, no one will be happy. I am not an academic based studio, I am a fun, creative based studio. I want to create a space to be fearless, life long artists and creators. If I constantly tried to be the art teacher that some parents want, I lose myself in the process. I love myself too much to be willing to disappear to make others happy.
I have adopted the mantra of finished, not perfect to over come that need of perfection. I often sing, “Good enough” to myself while trying to complete a task that I am struggling to perfect. I have learned to accept and embrace my imperfections instead of hide them. I have a lot of them, but I am so much happier when I stop hiding them in shame. I now view my brain as amazing, but to make space for creativity, it pushed out my ability to do math without writing it down. It also removes any information it deems unnecessary, so any responsibility that is not right in front of me, written down, or making noise, is gone forever. I do my best to compensate for the way my brain sabotages me, but instead of being ashamed of the way it works, I accept her for who she is, “good enough”.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I feel seems to set me apart from other artist that I know is my versatility. I do not focus on one craft or medium. I love to learn new things. I am not an expert in any of them, but I know enough to be dangerous. I do everything from textiles to ceramics. I can paint with watercolors, oils, acrylics, inks, you name it, I have it, and can teach it to a beginner.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Right now I feel like safety matters most. I feel like when you feel safe, it is easier to be creative. Creating something can be very scary for people. We live in a world that values people on what they produce. If you fear being devalued because you produce something that is subpar, it stops the ability to create. Then it takes the joy of learned away because you are afraid of being judged. Having a safe space to just enjoy the process and know you are not going to be judged by the outcome of your project is my goal. There is enough pressure in life outside the door of my studio, at least I can do my best to give everyone who steps in the option to put the standards down, and be free to be the artist deep down.
Creativity is needed in all aspects of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.littleleafartstudio.com
- Instagram: @littleleaf_artstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DF9L7wQSi/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@littleleafartstudio?_r=1&_t=ZP-941ZcIZTC3i
