And "what is Creative Thursday?" you ask. A question I hear often. Pretty simple answer really – and one that only took me fifteen years to trust.
I am happiest when I am being creative.
While working a 9 to 5 job, as an interior designer in Boulder Colorado and still hardly getting any creative time in, I decided that at least one day a week, Thursdays, had to be set aside for Fun and Creativity! And this is how CREATIVE THURSDAY was born. Just a short time later, while chatting with a friend driving from Boulder to Denver – I announced that Creative Thursday would be the name of my business that I would have ‘some day’. I knew that I would be endlessly inspired creatively and would never want to be boxed in - and ‘Creative Thursday’ would be the perfect umbrella to house all of my artistic ambitions.
As you know, since you are reading this while visiting my web site, ‘some day’ happened, and In 2004 I started {my second} business.
Trial and error, successes and failures, moments of joy and many tears, and most importantly a dedication to keep going, a trait all of us entrepreneurs share- brought me here to create and share the art, the fabric, the book online interview series and podcast that you now know as Creative Thursday. Those characters in my paintings, the ones wearing hats and holding hands, first made their appearance when I needed them most, their soft expressions reminding me it would all be okay. Today they are still here to cheer us on, providing a calm reassurance and a gentle reminder to live joyfully and contentedly - to a live a life we love.
Marisa Anne Cummings lives and works full time as an artist in Los Angeles California with Sean, Pepita, Mae Mae and Anderson Cooper {the cat ;)}. Marisa's work can be seen online here at her website. She tweets, instagrams, facebooks and live videos on both Facebook and Instagram. Her work is licensed through Oopsy Daisy, Papyrus, and sells in select boutiques and stores throughout the country from Urban Outfitters and Land of Nod to Target to Pottery Barn Kids. In 2011 her first fabric line launched through Andover Fabrics with her last collection printed in Japan through Kokka Fabrics.
In November 2012 Marisa’s first book ‘Creative Thursday – Every Day Inspiration to Grow Your Creative Practice’ was published. Her coloring book was released in December 2014.
Marisa's work has been seen on the Today Show and has been featured in Martha Stewart Living, Pregnancy and Newborn, Better Homes and Gardens, Where Women Create, Artful Blogging, Country Living, Home Decor Buyer, Southern Living Magazine, Interview Magazine, Mollie Makes and on blogs including, Apartment Therapy, Decor8, Poppytalk, Bloesem, Design Sponge, A Cup of JO, SFGirlbybay and Soule Mama. Her art has also been featured in television and film, in shows like Santa Clarita Diet, Up All Night, Criminal Minds, Army Wives Ethos, Paranormal Activity 5 and most recently in the movie Avengers Endgame (Marisa is excited that Iron Man is a collector!).
Founder and Mentor to the Expansive Artists Community and Virtual Art Event and Online Pop-up Gallery, Small Studio Sunday, Marisa also speaks, consults and teaches in person and online.
Marisa’s bit of advice {if you're asking}: you know that little voice of inspiration, the one that gets excited when you decide to go a certain direction…follow it.
{photo by Bonnie Tsang}