Ep. 108: Artist Lisa Congdon
Artist, illustrator & author Lisa Congdon grew up being praised for hard work but not for creativity. She studied history in college, spent years as a classroom teacher, and didn’t even start dabbling in art until her early 30’s. At that time of internet nascency, Lisa was an early adopter sharing her work and getting positive feedback. It’s all blossomed into a thriving career, social media stardom, and solid relationships. Her recipe for success includes grit, hard work and NOT being a perfectionist.
Thanks to Design Museum Magazine for sponsoring this episode - Design Museum Magazine is a quarterly print and digital publication about design impact with stories from creative thought leaders on how they’re using design to change the world. Visit designmuseummagazine.org to subscribe today.
Photo by Christopher Dibble
What is your earliest memory?
As far as I can tell I think my first significant memory is when my sister was about one year old. I am two and a half years older than she is, which would have made me about three or so. I remember sharing a room with her and my father coming into our room to help her fall asleep when she was fussy.
Lisa playing dress up in the basement with her brother.
How do you feel about democratic design?
I feel very positively about it! I run my own business with many democratic design principles around access and affordability.
What’s the best advice that you’ve ever gotten?
Focus on your own path.
How do you record your ideas?
I am a voracious note taker. I have both a notebook that I carry most places, and I also use the notes section of my phone and computer, which are synced. Most of my ideas/notes are actually super scattered and disorganized. And then I get a little frazzled when I am trying to find specific things. Every now and again I take the time to compile them in a notebook. This year, I have an entire list going about what I want to explore during my sabbatical in 2020.
What’s your current favorite tool or material to work with?
Clay. I bought a kiln this year and am just starting to explore the medium. I am messing around with different clay bodies and figuring out how to make my very own mark through clay. It’s been a really awesome diversion from the sort of flat, one dimensional mediums of paper, paint and digital drawing.
What book is on your nightstand?
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.
Photo by by Christopher Dibble
Why is authenticity in design important?
I can only relate this question to why it’s important for me. Authenticity in my own art/illustration/design work is important for a couple of reasons. First, making work that comes from and is always connected to who I am as a human -- and to my own story, my life experience and my values -- is what keeps me motivated to continue making work in the first place. I think it’s important to always ask: how is my work an expression of who I am? That’s what keeps our work fresh and different, because no one is exactly the same as the next person. Making work about the stuff that interests you and keeps you up at night keeps you engaged in the creative process. Second, making work that is meaningful to me and exposes my story, experience and values has helped me to build and connect with an audience of folks out there in the world who also connect to the ideas in my work, and therefore consume my work or hire me for projects or otherwise support me financially to continue making more work. Authenticity is the key to staying in the game, both personally and professionally.
Favorite restaurant in your city?
My all time favorite restaurant in Portland is Ava Gene’s
What might we find on your desk right now?
A mess of paper that I need to file.
Who do you look up to and why?
My friend designer Debbie Millman is my role model for engagement in the world, creativity, kindness, boundaries, leadership and boundless energy and enthusiasm for our community and profession. She is really a stellar human being, and I feel lucky to call her friend.
What’s your favorite project that you’ve done and why?
I just recently finished illustrating a children’s book for an imprint of Simon & Schuster called Beach Lane Books. It’s a book called ROUND and it’s by Jennifer Ward. I did all the illustrations. It really was a joyful project from start to finish. They really wanted to use my love for color and shapes (and circles figure prominently, if you hadn’t guessed), and so I really got to infuse a lot of my own creative spirit into the book. The cover was really the most fun part of the whole project. It’s really detailed, and it took me forever, but when it was finished, it was one of the most satisfying things I’d ever worked on! It will be released in August of 2020.
What are the last five songs you listened to?
It’s Christmastime as I write this, so five movements from Handel’s Messiah, which I had in my headphones today. I am obsessed with Baroque music.
Clever is produced by 2VDE Media. Thanks to Rich Stroffolino for editing this episode.
Music in this episode courtesy of El Ten Eleven—hear more on Bandcamp.
Shoutout to Jenny Rask for designing the Clever logo.
Keep Listening
