Meet Erica Bisenius | Digital Artist and Workplace Wellness Professional

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

Hi Erica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My passion for creative arts started at a very young age. As a child, when I wasn’t playing sports, I was drawing, writing, crafting, performing – no wacky project was off limits! My drive to create is a part of who I am, and with a child’s imagination, the possibilities were endless.

Fast forward to my young adult years and I found my creativity slowly dissipate amid more important ‘adult responsibilities’ and other career choices. Starting a business was not something that I intended to do at this point in my career. I currently work full-time and love my job as a Wellness Coordinator for the Town of Gilbert. My work is fulfilling in many ways and I still get to flex my creative muscles to some degree through the design of educational and promotional materials. That being said, I still had this nagging feeling that my creative side was in need of more nourishment. This craving was for a more innate version of creativity – one reminiscent of my youth.

In April of this past year, my husband and I got married. It was a beautiful wedding and no small detail was left undone. In an effort to save a few bucks, I designed many of my own wedding items, including save-the-dates, invitations, seating charts, drink menus, and guestbook. It took up a lot of time, but I truly enjoyed the design process. Once the wedding was over and I had some personal time back, I branched out to other creative projects including the design of art prints inspired by my nature photographs. When I started receiving positive feedback about my designs, something clicked.

Once the idea of starting a business was planted, I became enthralled in the creative process, spending many late nights working on new designs and researching business strategies. A true night owl at heart, I pushed the limits of sleep for months on end as I worked to get my new venture off the ground. My first art piece was called ‘The Spotted Succulent’ – a colorful paint-splattered succulent design that became my personal favorite. It was this design, in combination with my late-night routine, that inspired my business name, Spot and Moon Studio.

One might think that a full-time career would make it impossible to run a small business, but my experience has been quite the opposite. With a full-time job it alleviates some of the pressure to turn a profit on my business (though every little bit helps) and thus, I get to create with more freedom and enjoyment. Over time, my business has expanded from art prints to other custom items including mugs, tumblers, t-shirts, journals, clocks and more! I love creating things that bring joy to people’s homes and day-to-day routines. In return, Spot and Moon Studio has brought so much joy back to my life and reignited my passion for creativity and design.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For many years, my art was put on the back burner as I explored my other passion – health and wellness. After earning my undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Exercise Science from Virginia Tech, I was determined to become a sports nutritionist. I spent years working with athletes among prestigious athletic programs, including Arizona State University, Virginia Tech, the University of Florida and EXOS.

Despite years of hard work and countless hours of experience, I kept hitting roadblocks along my journey. At the age of 25, I was frustrated with a job that was not working out the way I had planned. That year I was also faced with the unexpected loss of two young people who I was very close with. This shook me to my core and made me see the world through a different lens. I decided to go back to school to earn my Masters degree – not ready to give up on my dream career. During this time, I was holding 4 jobs to make ends meet while also a full-time student. My various occupations included teaching nutrition as an adjunct professor, personal training, nutrition coaching, and waiting tables on nights and weekends. Looking back, it is a wonder how I held it all together.

Finally, after graduating with a Master’s degree, I landed a full-time role in Workplace Wellness. This opened up a whole new career path for me and gave me the opportunity to utilize both my health and creative backgrounds. A large part of managing workplace wellness programs is the creation of educational and promotional materials. I was able to slowly rediscover my love for design and found myself drawn to the artistic side of my work.

Aside from building my career, I was also focused on finding my way out to Arizona where my family had moved while I was in school. I had always loved the dry heat and sunshine, especially after growing up in New Jersey where I experienced long, cold winters and humid summers. In 2018 the right opportunity finally came along that would be my one-way ticket to the Grand Canyon State and a life closer to my family.

That brings me to to present day life. I am incredibly grateful for my job as the Wellness Coordinator for the Town of Gilbert. I absolutely love what I do and find fulfillment in helping others to improve their health and well-being. In an effort to focus more on my own well-being, I started to dedicate more time to art and creativity. Thus, Spot and Moon Studio was born!

Much of my artwork is inspired by nature. There is so much detail to be seen in a single leaf, or flower petal, or the bark of a tree. Natural beauty is all around us and art helps me to slow down and give it the attention it deserves. This is what I hope my art can do for those who purchase it.

As of right now, I still consider myself a novice in the art world. My style varies from bright and textured colors to minimalist neutrals with clean lines; though, I am actively exploring and experimenting with new techniques. What I do know for sure, is that I want to create things that make people feel happy and inspired. Something as simple as a beautiful coffee cup has the power to boost someone’s mood as they start their day. I want my art to facilitate joy, even if in seemingly small ways. Our homes and our “stuff” carry an energy and a feeling with them that are the constructs of our realities. I believe that we can create the life we want by surrounding ourselves with things, people, music, etc, that make us feel good. Can an inspirational coffee mug save the world? Probably not – but it’s a start!

I am thankful to have, not one, but TWO jobs that I truly love. Owning a business has been a fun, albeit demanding, occasionally infuriating, but mostly fulfilling endeavor – and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

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?
I love when friends come and visit me here is Arizona because there is always so much to do!

For starters, we would definitely get outdoors for a hike. Hiking is a great way to experience the true beauty of Arizona and see it from up high. My favorite trails are Telegraph Pass at South Mountain or Camelback (when I am feeling up for the extra challenge).

Depending on the time of year, we would likely spend some time at the pool with a cold beverage in hand.

For some adventure, we would head to the Salt River or Canyon lake for a day of kayaking or paddle boarding.

To beat the heat, I would plan a weekend trip up to Sedona to check out the beautiful red rocks and do some shopping and sight-seeing.

For a night out, we would head to downtown Gilbert for boards and bottles at Postinos followed by dancing at Whiskey Row. I also couldn’t turn down a night in downtown Chandler. My favorite spots with great music are Bourbon Jacks, Murphy’s Law and the Stillery.

Arizona has so much to offer from beautiful scenery and sunsets, to watersports, food, music, sports and adventure. I absolutely love living here and still have many places that I would like to explore!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are two people whom I would like to dedicate this shoutout to – My mom, Debbie, and my husband, Ty.

Growing up, my mom always told me that I could do anything I wanted in life – and despite some doubts, I believed her! Even in failure, my mom taught me to stay positive and to always keep moving forward. She instilled in me a mindset that made the concept of failure nearly nonexistent. Instead, failure became a welcomed lesson, pushing me to either work harder or change course – either way for the better.

Together we have navigated all of life’s heartaches, failures, successes, and celebrations. No matter what, my mom has been by my side, cheering me on through it all. I am eternally grateful for all the love and strength that my mom has given me.

Another lesson that my mom instilled in me was to choose my life partner carefully. In my husband I have found a man that allows me to me fully and completely myself. He makes me feel loved and admired while also challenging me to grow. Ty is a patient man who understands my quirks and supports my, sometimes grandiose, ideas. When I told him I wanted to make a business out of my art he was super supportive, though cautious, as that is his nature. While I tend to want to dive in feet first he has a way of pressing pause and evaluating all sides. With his support and patience during a time that required much of my energy and attention, I was able to get the business off the ground. I am so thankful to Ty for supporting my dreams while keeping me balanced and grounded. I could not be successfully juggling a business and full-time job without his support!

Website: Etsy.com/shop/SpotandMoonStudio

Instagram: @SpotandMoonStudio

Facebook: facebook.com/spotandmoonstudio

Other: SpotandMoonStudio@gmail.com