Do you have a story behind your company name?

After not feeling completely satisfied with my business name for a third time, I decided to take a walk to clear my head. It was a full moon that night and I jokingly said to myself, maybe I should change my name to The Moonery Collective. No, that's silly.. I looked up the definition when I got home and beside the obvious of mooning someone(!), I found that a "mooner" is a person who abstractedly wanders or gazes about. I have always been a daydreamer and get lost in thought. So the name stuck! It's a homage to all of those daydreamers out there!

Oh we love that! How did you get your start?

I have been dabbling in herbalism and creative processes for twenty years and in 2019, finally made it official. I am a professional archaeologist, and while that is a fun and fascinating career, I needed a creative outlet. My motto is "where science meets magick" slow fusion skin and ritual care, blending traditional herbal remedies I've learned over the years with fun, witchy ritual things like intention candles and bath items.

Definitely important to have balance. Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Coming up with an idea and then watching it unfold for both the successes and the ideas that didn't quite come out the way I planned. It is all part of the learning process.

Very true. Can you tell us what a typical day is like in the studio for you?

The first thing I do is sip herbal tea, take in a deep breath, and say, "You got this," then get the candle melter started. While that is heating up, I check orders and emails, as well as the low inventory list. Some days I just start creating without a routine and follow my heart. Other days I'm overwhelmed and sit on the couch ignoring it all!

What inspires you to create?

I love teaching people about my products and to encourage others to make or do what inspires them, even if it's been done a thousand times. I'm not re-inventing the wheel here. You can buy a candle or a salve from a lot of amazing people, but it's that connection and conversations that keep me going.

Love that. Do you have a favorite item you have made?

Lady From the Mountain (a line in a Stevie Nicks song, can you guess which one?) is my most popular candle. Made with my own wax blend of coconut, soy, and mango butter using only essential oils, it smells absolutely intoxicating and is so pretty to look at! The candle is adorned with botanicals and a crystal that corresponds to the candle to help set your intention. The candle is safe to use on your skin, too! But if I'm being practical and want to share my love of herbalism, then I would have to say the Colorado Crack Salve is my favorite. It's like a first aid for your skin! Great for dry, cracked hands and feet, minor cuts, bites, and even safe for healing tattoos.

What do you love most about Arvada?

I love seeing the mountains every day, it never gets old. Arvada is a cute town just down the road from Golden, where I live. Olde Town Arvada is really great - the shops, the food.. one of my favorite places to meet friends is The Bluegrass Coffee and Bourbon Lounge, there is something for everyone and the people are friendly.

We can’t wait to see you in person this August 5th & 6th for Jackalope Arvada!

Where to see more of The Moonery Collective:

Website | https://www.themoonerycollective.com/

Instagram | @the.moonery

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Our name is actually pretty simple! My husband and I have the last name Mathews, so it’s just the power of two M’s making candies!

Tell us, how did you get your start?

I originally learned the basics of chocolates in culinary school over a decade ago. Even before that, I was always making candy and chocolates as gifts for my extended family- my mom has plenty of stories about chocolate on her ceiling, cabinets and counters. There was something really alluring in the creativity of chocolate making; even though I have a restaurant chef background, I wanted to learn more. I worked in New York for a celebrated chocolatier and absorbed everything I could. I was able to do a lot of flavor creation and started to develop my creative voice. Once we moved to Denver, I was able to expand my restaurant skills, all of which help inform our direction for the business.

That is awesome! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

I love the aspect of creating! Food is so much fun to play with, and the interconnectedness of science, flavor and memory makes discovering new flavor combinations that much more enjoyable. My favorite time of the whole year is early Autumn- I start planning and testing my winter and holiday goodies, which means there are plenty of goodies to taste test!

That would be my favorite part for sure! Can you tell us what a typical day is like in the studio for you?

Typical is a bit hard to describe, as I’m sure every small business owner knows- but the day always starts with coffee! There’s a semi-official structure to the day, but by about an hour into most days, the schedule gets blown apart. In general, every day is handling custom orders, getting ready for events, holidays, emails, talking to vendors, coordinating with customers, managing finances, planning for future events and item rollouts, and then the actual production and packaging of items. All of this while checking all of our various sales platforms to make sure we’re getting products out to customers!

Sporting multiple hats! What inspires you to create?

Part of my philosophy when it comes to creation is to take flavors and desserts that inspire nostalgia and turn them into unique and approachable chocolates. Tapping into food memories is one of the things chefs strive for every day we make food. The act of making someone feel through our food is the definition of our artistic expression.

Very cool. Do you have a favorite item you have made?

That is a nearly impossible question to answer! I love so many different items for so many different reasons…I think our s’mores kits are so unique and delicious, and I feel like there are very few people who can do what we do with our kits. I’m a big snacker, so when it comes to sheer snackability, anything with our peanut butter crunch filling is so delicious and easy to munch on (I’m never too disappointed if I have a piece or two of our peanut butter whirls crack). Overall, our bon bons are the real representation of the full breadth of our creative direction, and they give us the most room to play around and enjoy unique flavor combinations.

What will you be bringing to Jackalope Arvada?

We will be bringing as much chocolate as we can hope to not melt, as well as some classic and unique candies that pack flavor punches! We have pectin jelly candies, various flavored bon bons and our s’mores kits, made with hand cast chocolate bars, fresh marshmallows and house-made graham crackers. We also hope to bring an assortment of other brand new items if we can manage it!

What do you love most about Arvada?

Arvada has been very good to us, both the city itself and the vendors and friends we’ve made in the city!  We’ve been welcomed with open arms by so many of the shops in the town, and we hope to have earned that trust and kindness.  I love that Arvada is such a welcoming community to everyone, and supports small businesses of all sizes!

What did you miss most about in person events now that events are picking back up again? 

Mostly just being able to connect with our community!  It’s very hard to communicate our intentions with our products without being able to present them ourselves, and I think that people appreciate when the maker can actually tell them why they are unique and worth buying.  I also missed getting to hang out with our vendor friend community.  It’s always nice to be surrounded by people who are going through the same trials you are, and everyone is always so supportive (especially the Jackalope community!) 

That makes us smile! Anything special you would like to add?

We’re opening our first retail and physical location in Westminster this August! We are so excited to finally move out of our commissary kitchen and into our very own space so we can continue to grow and innovate. We are hoping to expand our current truffle, candy bar and gift offerings, as well as introduce a few brand new (to us!) programs, including small batch ice cream and custom sundae kits! Keep an eye out on our social media to see what we’re up to, including when our grand opening will be!

YUM! We can’t wait to see you in person this August 5th & 6th for Jackalope Arvada!

Where to see more of M2 Confections:

Website | https://m2confections.com

Instagram | @m2_confections

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Mindful Works was chosen to reflect our meditation and yoga products. Our original name was Infinitely Simple, but participants felt that name did not accurately portray our mission and activities.

Tell us, how did you get your start?

Our Executive Director, Susan Williams, saw a need for employment to be part of the recovery process for individuals overcoming mental health challenges. Mindful Works is supervised by The Windhorse Guild and was created in 2015. We provide employment and real wages to our participants as they build skills to prepare them to enter the traditional labor market or pursue educational goals.

We love that! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

We love the collaboration that goes into making all of our goods. One person may cut the pattern, and another may sew, and then another may fill. It feels really great when it all comes together and we arrive at a finished piece. It is also wonderful to see the progress made by our participants as they improve their skills and gain confidence.

It is a true team effort. Can you tell us what a typical day is like in the studio for you?

Our day typically starts at 10am, with Program participants clocking in and getting work assignments for the day. Our Shoppe Manager keeps the work flow going as pieces are cut and serged, sewn and filled. Our baking team, The Mindful Bakers, head to the commercial kitchen and work with our Kitchen Manager to create delicious cookies and scones. The atmosphere is lively and buzzing with activity as our program participants learn work skills.

That is inspiring! Speaking of, what inspires you to create?

We are inspired to create different items according to the seasons, as well as color, texture and the beauty of the natural world.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

That’s a hard question! We have so many items that we love to make. If we had to pick a favorite it might be our Kilim Patchwork Pouf. That seems to be a customer favorite as well.

What will you be bringing to Jackalope Arvada?

We will be bringing some old favorites like our poufs and meditation cushions. We always have festival flags, jewelry pouches and napkins, which make great gifts.

Anything special you would like to add?

By buying our products you are supporting the recovery of individuals overcoming barriers to employment due to mental health challenges.

We can’t wait to see you in person this August 5th & 6th for Jackalope Arvada!

Where to see more of Mindful Works:

Website | www.mindful-works.org

Instagram | @mindfulworksboulder

Dana and Gary

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Our company name actually came from my mother in law who has been a huge supporter of the syrup and our business from the beginning; we are always running ideas by her even to this day! She thought since it started for our kids, made by "daddy," why not Daddy's Homemade?

Cute! How did you get your start?

Dannie is a stay-at-home dad who started taking a closer look at all the high fructose corn syrup and other artificial ingredients in the pancake syrup our kids were eating so much of. Between our family and some health issues that developed, it was important to have a healthier alternative, so he started experimenting with his own syrups – mixing, matching, and calculating all-natural ingredients and flavors. He created our syrup with no artificial ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup and no preservatives. Our daughter is the pickiest eater, so when she approved the taste, we knew we were onto something. With the encouragement of Dannie’s mom, we started giving it to friends and family to sample. They loved it, he loved making it, and from creating the labels to taste testing, the kids loved being a part of the process. Each member of our family, even our littlest at 3 years old likes to have his special jobs!

From our ingredients to the hand-tying of the twine on our jars, we utilize a multi-step process of creating then packaging our products meticulously by hand to ensure every batch is of the highest quality. Dannie has found a passion for trying new flavors, and I love experimenting with what we can use them for. Having three young kids who never agree on anything makes meals difficult most days, so he has created over 60 flavors, so there is always something for everyone. All our kids love helping us experiment with new recipes too! Even after customers have tried all of the flavors, there is always another flavor available or will be available soon. It’s exciting to see our return customers at events when they find a new flavor they want to try.

Often we are asked why many of our flavors are clear. There are no artificial ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup and no preservatives. We started using it on our breakfast foods, but because of the unique flavors, it is easy to enjoy on just about anything! In addition to our breakfast foods, we now put it in our coffee and beverages; meats and vegetables, popcorn and salty snacks; desserts and baked goods and so much more! 

That is so fun! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Dannie makes all our syrup and I love the way the scent of the syrup fills our kitchen and house when he is making it! Getting to taste test new flavors is always fun too!

I bet! Can you tell us what a typical day is like in the studio for you?

There is no typical day! I have a full time job while running our small business and juggling 3 young kids! We find time when we can in order to try to get everything done, but when Dannie is making syrup, our oldest has a special job to help get him started and then we are all kicked out of the kitchen while he works his magic! Once he gets started, he gets into his groove and if he needs anything we help get it, otherwise he is not to be disturbed! We like to ensure the highest quality product comes out of each batch every time!

Love that. What inspires you to create?

I am surprised to have found a creative side to my husband giving us a flavor explosion! He has always been the science and math brain! When I am creating for our social media or for recipe ideas, oftentimes my kids give me ideas and we just start creating! I also get inspired from hearing what other people use our syrup for.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

I love our variety packs. They are great for gifts and for someone who wants to try different flavors (they come with 4 flavors in different sizes and are customizable); plus it includes a single batch of pancake mix and a reusable tote. I love when customers use the tote to bring back their empty jars for discounts on their new jars at events.

That is a great idea, and a great gifting idea. What will you be bringing to Jackalope Arvada?

We will be bringing lots of new flavors of our all natural homemade syrup we have been experimenting with as well as some of the classic flavors and our newest; most popular flavor - Lavender! We will also have our variety packs, pancake mix and samples to taste a few of the flavors!

Anything special you would like to add?

Our daughter helped create the labels and was hand drawing each one when we first started selling so we are bringing out some of her artwork to the event as well that you will be able to purchase and take home! We are so proud of her art and how much she has been helping us with our family owned business!

Other ideas for our syrup? We also have a restaurant/bar using our syrup in cocktails, mocktails, coffee drinks and lemonades. There is a bakery using our syrup for baked goods and a doughnut shop that will be using it for glaze for their doughnuts!

We can’t wait to see you in person this August 5th & 6th for Jackalope Arvada!

Where to see more of Daddy’s Homemade Syrup:

Website | https://www.daddyshomemadesyrup.com/

Instagram | @daddyshomemadesyrups

Dana and Gary

How did you get your start?
It all started during the pandemic when I took some homemade samples that our parents made for the house to a notary signing appointment for a client whom I was visiting for the second time. I decided to put them in a little ziploc baggy and asked if she wanted some. Originally, she rejected my offer as she's older in her 80s and thought it would be hard for her teeth. When I then offered it to her son who was also present, she decided to try it and loved the honey glazed walnuts and asked how she could buy some for friends and family for the holidays. I told her they weren't for sale and I would have to go home to ask my mother in law if she would make them to sell to people. I went home and told her an older lady wants to buy her nutz. Since a complete stranger enjoyed the product, we decided to continue testing the product (honey glazed walnuts) with friends and family where we got positive feedback so that's when we knew there was something there for a business idea.

Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Our favorite part of the process is getting to quality control taste the nutz to make sure they are of great quality for our customers.

YUM! Can you tell us what a typical day is like in the studio for you?

Our days can be long as Dem' Nutz takes a detailed process to make. They include us sourcing the best walnuts or pecans first, then we boil our nutz to clean them, then they roast on slow heat for several hours, then they get glazed over the stovetop, then immediately pulled apart so they are in individual pieces, and lastly they get bagged. The entire process is hand made by us.

Love that. What inspires you to create?

Our parents because this is their own recipe for the honey glazed walnuts that we're now sharing with the world. Once we began, we knew we needed other flavors and nutz so we added the honey glazed pecans and spicy honey walnuts. The response we get from the customers when they taste our samples for the first time motivates us to continue making Dem' Nutz as there's nothing out there with the addictively delicious flavor like our nutz.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

Besides our delicious nutz, we have some merchandise and our favorite item we came up with is the Customized Nut Sac to hold the nutz as a gift set.

Too funny! What will you be bringing to the festival?

We have honey glazed walnuts, honey glazed pecans, spicy honey walnuts, Dem' Nutz t-shirts, Stress Nutz and Customized Nut Sack.

Anything special you would like to add?

Come by our booth for a nut shot and have a great laugh!

We can’t wait to see you in person this May 14th & 15th for the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival!

Where to see more of Dem’Nutz

Website | www.Dem-Nutz.com

Instagram | @omgdemnutz

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Our founders names are Ailing and Marissa, so AM is the combination of the first letter of our names. What’s the most important, we love sunrise, so am always means hopeful, active and optimistic to us, JUST like what we want to bring to our customers with our jewelries.

Love that double meaning. How did you get your start?
After graduating from Academy of Art University’s School of Jewelry & Metal Arts; we worked in different jewelry companies for years, which gave us more valuable experience of jewelry business. We launched our brand in 2018 with wearability at the forefront of our design approach. Using traditional goldsmith techniques, we craft trendy jewelry at an accessible price point.

Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Of course the creation part! Illustrating our ideas effectively is essential to keeping our design pipeline moving and in keeping the store stocked with new designs :)

I bet it is very satisfying to see it all come to life! What is a typical day like in the studio for you?

The first thing we do is A CUP OF COFFEE lol. Then we starting fulfilling our orders, because we’re very thankful to our customers who support us. Never want them to wait too long for their orders. No matter how busy we are, we always use one hour to work on new designs.

Love that. What inspires you to create?

Anything can inspire us! Movies, books, flowers, animals, the artworks from the artists we like, and even small things that happen during the day can give us inspiration. A notebook is very helpful, so we can write down and illustrate our ideas.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

This is my favorite item during our latest product. I think the idea of this necklace is so cute. In the front of the necklace, a large freshwater gives one of a kind shine with cute arms hugging it. In the back, there’s a print of the arms. It makes me smile whenever I see it. Gives the wearer a very warm and helpful feeling. I think this is a necklace we need during a pandemic.

What will you be bringing to the festival?

We’ll bring our newest designs to Burbank. Some of them are not even updated on our website! Included is our newest pearl collection, hand printed enamel collection and a lot of cool designs!

We can’t wait to see you in person this May 14th & 15th for the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival!

Where to see more of A.M Jewelry Studio

Website | AMJEWELRYSTUDIO.COM

Instagram | @a.m.jewelrystudio

Do you have a story behind your company name?

Yes! My dog Elvis was the stinkiest little guy, and so I used to call him stinky paws.

How cute! How did you get your start?
I learned to crochet when I was a kid and picked it up again when my dad passed in 2012. I learned that it was very therapeutic and then only crocheted occasionally.

Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Watching it all come together and becoming something that I created.

Must be very satisfying. What serves as inspiration for you?

My boy Elvis and my parents; I miss them all so much.

What is a typical day like in the studio for you?

Chaotic. I work two part time jobs and trying to turn my passion into something I want to do full time is insane but totally possible.

Do you have a favorite item you have made?

I think my favorite piece is the cat house I made. I used a lamp frame and made a cat like sleeve over it; creating a cat house.

What will you be bringing to the festival?

Crocheted items for fur babies, their pawrents and many other items!

We can’t wait to see you in person this May 14th & 15th for the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival!

Where to see more of Crochet for Stinky Paws:

Instagram | @Crochet_for_stinky_paws

How did you come up with your company name?

The name D’s Cookiesss was simple, when you’re having a party and not sure what to bring, you bring “D’s Cookiesss” but also its my initials :)

How did you get your start?

My baking adventure began during the pandemic. I was unable to work at my job due to school closures so I kept myself busy by baking. Chocolate chip cookies are my all time favorite so I got to work and perfected the BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie; that was just the start. My kids encouraged me to put myself out there and share my cookies with everyone! So here we are today with D's Cookiesss, I hope you enjoy my baking journey with me!

I bet your kids enjoyed being taste testers! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

My favorite part of this baking journey has been creating in the kitchen. There so many variations of cookies and endless mix ins that you can create almost anything from a simple cookie

What / who is your biggest influence?

My biggest baking influencer is my mom. She has been baking her whole life and always had a special traditional Italian dessert to make for every holiday and season.

Very sweet! What does success mean to you?

I define success as a baker when someone is tasting my cookie for the first time and it leave them speechless!

Always a good sign! Does baking help you in other aspects of life?

Baking definitely helps with my stress levels. Gives me a way to forget what’s going on and focus on creating my next cookie..

Can you give us an idea of what you will be bringing to Jackalope?

I will be bringing all of my favorite cookies with me. Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Brownie, Peanut Butter, Rainbow, D’s with Nuts, Oatmeal Raisin, and I always have a cookie of the month that will be a surprise.

YUM! Anything special you would like to add?

My Cookiesss are not your typical cookie, these will definitely satisfy your cookie craving

We can’t wait to see you in person this November 19th & 20th, 2022 in Old Pasadena!

Where to see more of D’s Cookiesss:

Website | https://dscookiesss.com

Instagram | @dscookiesss

How did you get started making honey?

My grandmother was a beekeeper and never did I imagine to continue her legacy. We had the opportunity to invest in beekeeping and I fell in love with the bees and the whole process of saving them. It became more about the bees then the outcome of the investment. Then as the years past by, we got more serious with the business and we wanted to keep it all natural so we came up with the bee natural honey name. Keeping the essence of the bees and nature and still provide the best honey.

Love the name connection! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

My favorite part of the business is to contribute to the world by saving the bees because now I know how important they are to keep us alive. Also, the interaction with the community and knowing that we are doing something good for their health by providing the best local raw honey and hand crafted beeswax products.

I love purchasing local honey, it helps with my allergies. What are you looking forward to in returning to Pasadena?

I love the Pasadena community simply because the good vibes and incredible support to small businesses, I’m so happy now that we are back after the pandemic. I love to see people smile when they try our honey and products.

Are you bringing anything special to Jackalope this time around?!

We will be back with our most popular honey, the orange blossom honey, that’s Pasadena's favorite honey.

YUM! Anything special you would like to add?

I like to share that when we have struggles in our business we just go to visit the bees and they gives us energy to keep going. It’s amazing how hard they work and how passionate they look when taking care of the queen bee and that’s what keeps us going. We love saving the bees!

We can’t wait to see you in person this April 23rd & 24th in Old Pasadena!

Where to see more of Bee Natural Honey:

Website | https://beenaturalhoney.com/

Instagram | @bee_natural _honey

Can you tell us how you got your start?

Stress and despair! :) No, really! My wife and I were going through a particularly difficult time acclimating to parenting my 8 year old nephew a bit into the transition of him coming to live with us. We were relatively new in our relationship and this was a huge undertaking that required many therapists, specialists, and lots of change. I was working a full-time, middle-management job at the time and was under an exorbitant amount of stress there and at home. Have you ever had one of those end-of-your-rope, you’ve tried all the talking and prayers and breathing and coping things, and there are simply NO MORE TRICKS up your sleeve moments of despair? This all seems like such a simplification of what was really going on, but it was that kind of debilitating chaos. 

One night back in 2014, I lost it. I was alone in my room after a particularly difficult evening. It was dark and I was just sobbing everything out in a mess of hyperventilation and tears - the really ugly kind of crying. I was at a complete loss and out of nowhere, this wild energy came up and it was like my body was moving without me. I found myself grabbing for random things - a tv tray, a stack of scrapbook paper, paints, scrapers, and brushes. The next moments are all a blur as I literally pushed all the energy into painting these feelings.

Everything came out. It was fast, deeply emotional, and wildly expressive. Truly, it was maniacal and not far off from what you’d watch in a dark film as someone legit goes crazy. Haha I painted square after square - the papers were 12x12” and each became a scraping and smudging of the stress and feelings I carried around every day.

This experience was not only incredibly cathartic, but really surprising because I had never painted before, aside from some furniture in my teens (peace signs and cow print - hello 90’s) and some school projects for compositional study when I attended FIDM in my 20’s for Visual Communications. 

I ended up with 45 paintings. I only just released them on my website shortly before the pandemic hit. I love that there are pieces living on in my collector’s homes and life stories, some all the way in Copenhagen! I’ll have the collection at the show along with newer bodies of work.

That is incredible, so glad you found a way to release those feelings. So what inspires you to create now?
Freedom. Letting go. The state of being. Whatever you are right now, fully accepting that in its most peaceful, purest state. Feeling. Being boundless. Photos of people doing yoga on a cliff. Dancers floating and moving their bodies like water figures so open and uninhibited. Space. Not literal stars, but space to be - that kind of expansion where there are no limits and anything is possible. Musicians lost in melody. Lyrics to a favorite song. People in their elements of passion - enthralled with the process of becoming and stepping outside of themselves. Seeing others tap into that energy. Being totally untethered. That’s the juice. 

Love that. Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?

Having no plan when I sit down to create. It’s so pure and freeing. I struggle with anxiety and perfectionism; always looking for the “right” and “should” answers out of fear of being wrong. A lot of self-doubt comes with that.  A lot of second-guessing. That internal spinning is chaotic and can be pretty paralyzing. 

 Abstract painting is a space where I’m free from all that. I meet it with no plans or expectations. It’s an honest place, totally surrendered and open. It just asks me to show up and decide; to be present and willing. To listen. It’s an invitation to be seen and be known as I am, without expectation or judgment in any state of feeling I may be in. It accepts all of me. And in those moments, it teaches me to accept all of me. 

I don’t start from an idea or sketch. There is no end in mind. Just a blank canvas or paper on the table next to my trolly of tools and paints. I sit, decide to be open, and start grabbing, letting my intuition and deep love for composition lead and express. It’s a thrill to not know where I’m going. It’s like hopping in the car and driving to anywhere with nowhere to be. Wild and free. I love that.

Very therapeutic. What is a typical day like in the studio for you?

I get to paint for hours on end, uninterrupted, in total flow - LIES. :) It’s so boring. haha An artist’s life is as dull as any on the daily. There’s coffee, hot or iced - a very big decision. Then, planning. Lots of research. I have a couple of clients I work with on design, social media, and non-art-related projects that need tending to. There are task-avoidance Pinterest sessions, of course. Emails, calendar sorting, and the like. It’s “office-y” with music playing. 

When I do get to actually create, it’s very focused. Often very quiet. I paint quickly and I paint a lot in one sitting. I guess I’m more of a “session” creator. I’m also pretty neat for an abstract painter. I see artist’s on Instagram who paint so slowly and meticulously or who are the opposite and throw paint at the wall. I wouldn’t dare! I’d be so upset the room got messed up. I am a quiet little mouse when I paint, laser focused and clean; just one mark at a time and building as I go, working on the cheese. It’s a lot of brayer-rolling, smudging, rubbing, ripping, scratching, layering, and uncovering. It’s actually pretty aggressive. It probably looks like I’m just destroying something or making nothing. Like a kid. I have stacks and stacks of work. I’m kind of embarrassed by that for some reason. I feel like a hoarder. :)

Do you have a favorite piece you have created?

Ok, this is hard for an indecisive. I’m going to go with a painting that I did - it’s not quite a self-portrait, but I feel myself in it and it’s definitely a depiction of how I felt in a moment. It’s called “Franken Feelings” - a black and white abstract of a most-honest face and probably my most common feeling as a sarcastic introvert who is becoming more hermit-like and socially awkward with each passing day; so annoyed with humanity and everything always. Hahahaha it is silly, honest, and it makes me laugh so hard. It’s basically me. <Ok, it’s me.>

I’m also going to plug my tiny art collection because I love it so much!! When the pandemic kicked off, I decided to paint 100 tiny abstracts (or TABstracts as I like to call them). They are 2”x3” and 3”x3” - so small! I became obsessed with the challenge of creating smart compositions in such a tiny space. They are so cute. I love this project because I got to collaborate with my wife, Gina, for the first time in art. She custom-built all of the tiny frames out of our garage. She’s an actual rockstar and I loved getting to see her create alongside me. These will be at the show in April too, and are on my website now. These tiny pieces are pandemic-born and are such a great little punch of inspiration for tiny places, like a bookshelf, desk, nook - I meant for them to bring creativity to folks who are working from home so much more now. We need that. I saved a few for myself and we have them sprinkled all over the house. I really love them!

So cute! Do you have anything special that you will be bringing to Jackalope?

Original art, prints, stationery, and gifts. I have pieces in all sizes, from 3x3” to 18x24”. There are framed and unframed options, too. I’ll also have geometric prints available in mini 5x7” up to 16x20” - these designs are digitally created and have a mid-century modern vibe to them. Colorful and playful compositions - some of my favorites! For stationery and gifts, I’ll have hand-painted bookmarks, ornaments, cards, magnets, and other fun work to make a home artful, gritty, and cool. I’m so excited to share them all. Self-expression in a home is so important. 

Definitely, handmade brings a heart beat into a space. What did you miss most about in person events now that events are picking back up again? 

Fresh air! And creative buzzing. There is something special about the “shop local” movement these last several years. People are wildly inventive and so brave, right? There are so many amazing artisans and creators. These events are super important to keep that energy alive and thriving. Shoppers are more supportive and encouraging than ever. And they want to connect with makers directly. I love (and have missed) their excitement and cheerleading. Selling online is handy, but it’s just not the same.

Agreed! Well we can’t wait to have in Pasadena. Is there something you love most about the city?

It’s calm and small, but big enough to feel “city”. We love to shop and walk. I’m from Boston originally, so any chance we get to walk the shops with coffee and goodies while cars scurry by is a hit for me, especially when it’s old mixed with new. And Pasadena has great shops, eateries, tree-lined streets. It’s a bit story-book and artisan. It’s cool.

Any final words you would like to include?

Yes! I think it’s important to note that I am a self-taught artist. I have always been a creative, but not a painter. I did go to a form of “art school,” but it was not for fine art and I did not graduate. This is an important message because I think we need to be reminded that living a passionate life isn’t just for other people or for “the schooled.” It’s for us. It’s for you. We are all created differently with varied skills, abilities, desires, and circumstances. This world needs all of it. There is plenty of space from the streets to the classrooms. And life is incredibly short. Too short for our fears and excuses, no matter how present everyday they may be. 

Part two of my “why” story is that 2 years after I discovered painting (and was not consistently committed to it as a daily practice), I learned that I had cancer forming in my uterus. I had a total hysterectomy and needed additional surgery after that for complications. When healed up enough, I returned back to my corporate job for 6 months. Nothing was more clear to me than not wanting to spend the rest of my days puttering around doing something I hated. It wasn’t worth it. I, thankfully, had the support of my family and means to quit. And I did. 

It was and still is terrifying to be on my own, braving days as a full-time artist. But, living for something means too much to me to grind my teeth for nothing. I hope that inspires someone to be brave. To give it a try even when their knees are knocking. It’s hard. But it’s good. And supportive communities like Jackalope bring people together to inspire and be inspired. Want to make butter? Go make your life’s best butter. :) We’re totally here for it.

Also, that nephew I mentioned? He’s now 18 and we officially adopted him, finalized in 2021. This life is one wild ride. 

That makes us smile :) See you in person this April 23rd & 24th in Old Pasadena!

Where to see more of Tobi Beck:

Website | www.tobibeck.com

Instagram | @tobiannbeck