Meet Monique Laraway | Monique Laraway (she/they) | Artist + Bike Nerd

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

Hi Monique, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This has been an ongoing struggle for me. This year, I’ve been actively keeping a Cycles Journal to learn more about the shifts in my mood, energy and body throughout the lunar cycle. Learning these cycles has been teaching me what to prepare for and make room for, whether it’s rest, food, play, exercise or integrating new practices.

Finding the balance has been learning how to work with myself, my slower pace and allow myself to play in the dirt or with my paints. I have more creative drive when I don’t force it, when I give myself space to unwind between tasks, and try new things. Rest is necessary, a form of radical self care and creative fuel.

I’ve always kept myself busy with productivity to feel useful or worthy. Sometimes busy work was just filling the void of being at peace with myself or being outraged about the injustices of the world.

Movement is essential for keeping me on track and building my capacity, whether it’s walking my dog around the block, planting in the garden or going on a mountain bike ride. Even a short bike ride through the neighborhood can totally reframe my mind.

A couple tools that have been gamechangers for my business and life: Google Calendar for scheduling my life and Notion for have been helping me with project organization.

What I’m realizing is life is gonna throw all the curve balls forever so I have to continue unlearning my toxic patterns and practice using the tools I have (breathwork, sleep, food, boundaries, exercise).

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Much of my original art incorporates painting or drawing on salvaged materials such as wood and cardboard. Often I will create pieces that highlight the world around me: the Sonoran Desert, cactus, critters, bicycles. As an eco-conscious artist, sourcing found materials has been an important practice in minimizing my consumption of materials and accepting imperfections. Something I’ve been exploring more is digital art.

Right now, I’m excited about a series of native and nonnative invasive plant illustrations that I’m working on. There’s a wealth of knowledge, scientific data and efforts for conservation, but a lack of simplified info to intrigue curiosity, education and action from the general public. I’m trying to make my infographics
cute and accessible with that goal in mind. It’s something I care a lot about and am having fun doing it.

This is currently an unpaid passion project but I hope to partner with organizations that focus on conservation efforts and grants to help spread the word further. Download those infographics freely from my website here: https://www.revoltaart.com/portfolio/infographics.

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.
I love riding the mountain bike trails around town and Redington Pass for gravel. Patagonia has so much great gravel riding and makes a fun out of town trip. Tucson has great Mexican food trucks with the best tacos or Sonoran hot dogs and who doesn’t love an Arizona sunset. Mural bike ride around town. Desert Museum for cute desert critters. There’s plenty to see in the old dirty T.

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?
My friends and the community that has supported me every step of the way, namely my partner, Colin Holmes (@rustypedal), for believing in me (also hiring me haha) and helping me through the thick of it. There’s such a supportive community of and for artists in Tucson and those connections have been an incredible resource to tap into and share with.

In regards to local Community Building, I am so inspired by David Garcia with Barrio Restoration, the whole FUGA crew and the Splinter Collective.

Also lots of podcasts and amazing music to keep me company along the way!

Website: revoltaart.com

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

Other: https://patreon.com/revolta?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link