Meet Lisa Kindle | Artist and Creative Visionary

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

Hi Lisa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my business was a direct result of being a highly creative person trying to fit into an environment that did not fully align with my values, beliefs or goals for my life. While I worked in several corporate creative departments, I was able to lead others, forge new pathways for my team and the corporation at large, it did not “fill my cup.” I did not want to stay in the normal, culturally accepted “9 to 5” just because it was easy to earn a regular paycheck. I wanted the freedom to work on my own timeline while finding a healthy work-life balance as a new mom at the time. My grit has served me very well over the years. I am much happier when I am working to improve the lives of others through my art and creativity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Where do I begin? What are the lessons I have learned along the way? I often joke when something challenging happens (again) haven’t I had enough hardships? Haven’t I grown enough, developed my character enough? The older I get, the more I learn how true the saying is about “every failure is really an opportunity to learn.” Not only does the lesson hit me in the face, this set-back, whatever it is, is actually a blessing because it has now created something even more wonderful than I had planned for. Has my journey been easy? That’s a HARD NO! One of the main reasons I left corporate life was how I was treated following the birth of my daughter. I had post-partum depression for a year before I was diagnosed, which was difficult all the way around. From the time I started my own graphic design business in 2006 until now, there have been periods of ease, but also seasons of severe hardship. The best image I could give you for my adult life would be of a rollercoaster. Without risk, there is no gain or reward. One of my proudest achievements is raising a healthy, responsible, and beautiful daughter inside and out despite all of things we went through as I raised her as a single parent running my own business. Unfortunately, these things included: divorce twice, bankruptcy, using a food shelf; and many financial struggles during her formative years. My heart for women only deepened during my challenges. My greatest desire is to support those who struggle with mental health issues. Often alone, I thought about how could I change these dynamics for women in work and life arenas. Fast forward to 2019, when I married my current husband. I am now able to freely explore ways to serve others through my art and creativity. I have been able to create an art community, encouraging others to use art for wellness, had a podcast sharing and promoting other women in the arts (and a couple men, too), to ultimately creating my signature work, the Color Affirmation Method, a deck and soon to be released Workbook and Journal. I have decks being used across the globe as far as Singapore, Australia, UK, Canada and all over the United States. I have also recently been able to deliver decks to be used in a wellness program in New York public schools. I have psychologists and counselors using them in their practices across the United States and I am gearing up to launch more training opportunities and offerings to provide teachers, counselors, administrators continuing education certification in my method. What is great about this tool, is that it is something completely different than almost any other program they can get for CEU’s. In the classroom, it offers a tactile tool that integrates SEL (Social Emotional Learning) through the repetition of positive messaging. It supports becoming emotionally aware, integrating goal setting, communicating with peers in a healthy way, practicing good self-talk, and encourages REAL connection with themselves and others. Most importantly, it takes them away from screens! What is it I want most want the world to know about my brand and story? I want people to remember that I lead authentically from my heart. I want to inspire others to persevere through whatever life throws at them, fighting for what they know in their heart that is right for them. By believing in yourself, your dreams, your talents, you can overcome, manifest and achieve anything you set your mind to!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a new resident in my city, I am learning about all the great sites to visit. I am currently living in Mesa, Arizona with a view of the magnificent Superstition Mountains. Top on the list so far for this area for us are the lakes within about a half-an-hour drive from Mesa. Both Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake offer some of the most scenic drives and outdoor activities around. I love spending time hiking. A couple hikes I recommend are: Butcher Jones Trail at Saguaro Lake or challenge yourself with a level 4 hike, Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail at the Lost Dutchman State Park. There are camping cabins and RV spots right at the base of the Superstition Mountains. Nearby, there are the Superstition Mountain – Lost Dutchman Museum, where they talk about mining and have a labyrinth. There are trails around the property, with lots of opportunities to learn about the west. I like to go there to practice my labyrinth meditation. We have taken the boat cruise on Saguaro Lake and it was a great way to spend the afternoon! I would like to get out on the lakes kayaking. I also want to spend a day at the Salt River watching the wild horses. The Salt River wild horses and mustangs are a stunning sight to behold, and there are several great locations in Arizona where visitors can see them in their natural habitat. The wild horses in Arizona are believed to be descendants of Spanish horses brought to North America by early explorers in the 16th century. Over the centuries, these horses have adapted to the arid Arizona landscape. Now to city options: downtown Phoenix offers lots of entertainment and great places to eat. We spent a night out on the town recently, enjoying live jazz, art museum, and to to-die-for homemade Italian pizza. A happy accident that happened was discovering the Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix! I bought the most amazing loaf of homemade sourdough bread and we sat under the trees and had a farm to table breakfast, followed by a stroll through the garden and flowing trees. One of the places I’d like to visit soon is the The Lavender Farm at Chateau de Vie and spend a day at the Phoenix Art Museum.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The biggest influencers on my path are my mother and my husband. I couldn’t ask for bigger cheerleaders. These two have been the unshakeable rocks that I can stand on when I feel uncertain or need a word of encouragement. Having been an entrepreneur since 2006, there have been many life and work pivots along the way. Without this support system, I’m not sure I would be where I am today! My mom is the source of all that I have become as a woman in this world, challenging me to be the best person I can be. She taught me what it means to serve others from the heart – from delivering meals on wheels to singing at nursing homes as a child, to always being part of my latest business undertaking, even being a guest on my podcast to share her wisdom! My husband is the one who I manifested from years of accepting less in my life to now having a true partner who believes more in me than I do in myself most days (if I’m being honest). This kind of support is what catapults my success and nurtures my creative soul. I am forever grateful and thankful for their unwavering love and support.

Website: www.solquestretreat.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakindle/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solquestretreat/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTuJQFdRrsDBO7Pkq068DcA

Other: GLOBAL ART CAFE – MY ART COMMUNITY & PODCAST
https://www.facebook.com/groups/globalartcafe
https://open.spotify.com/show/0bZs40kwnBvBQ7JMzs2ttI?si=8923dbaaddc744ad

Image Credits
All the images or mine.