Check Out Linnea Gish’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Linnea Gish.

Hi Linnea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Art has been part of my life since I was old enough to finger-paint on a plastic easel in my parents’ kitchen. I was raised in the rolling hills and winding forests of rural Michigan, where I spent most of my time outside – stargazing, climbing trees, exploring woods and meadows, observing wildlife, and plein-air painting and drawing. I was inspired by the intricacies of Nature and learned so much about light and color through rendering what I saw and felt outside – Nature is first and foremost my greatest teacher.

My creativity was encouraged by amazing art mentors in elementary school and high school – I am blessed for the feedback and support of Julie Fernandez, Jeff Bolzman, Nancy Barry, and Amy Linton – their belief in my ability and potential stoked the flames of my courage to pursue art as my career.

I studied fine art at two colleges in Michigan, and exited university in a state of paradox – I was simultaneously disillusioned from the pedestal I previously held traditional learning institutions in (which turned out to be a mindset shift I now cherish – it has opened many doors of possibility for me) and grateful for the personal growth and development of my craft I experienced in those containers.

I spent the next few years working odd jobs while I poured all of my free time into honing my practice, defining my style, and finding my voice (the voice of my creativity and Soul – who I am, what my purpose is, what do I want to create, what do I wish to say, and why). Claiming my voice has been the quest of my life, and is a road that is still unfolding. My relationship with my art and creativity is intertwined with the development of my spiritual path – my Hero’s Journey (to reference Joseph Cambell’s monomyth).

This journey has been full of trauma and challenge from the beginning and has required immense bravery and fortitude as I have faced the deepest parts of my self and past to alchemize the gifts hidden in the shadow, available only through the fire of transmutation (to quote Campbell: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek”). This process of self-discovery (and self-reclamation) has been the most rewarding gift of my life – it has reminded me of my purpose, power, and courage, and prepared me to share my art with the world for the first time.

I now have my own website and art business in which I sell my art in the form of fine art paintings, archival art prints, stationery products, and home decor items (such as pillows, blankets, and tapestries). I also work with clients on commission paintings: I love learning about my client’s life journeys and mindsets and creating a perfect piece for their home that resonates with their stories and reflects their personal identity. I’ve just begun showing my offerings at local markets and am excited to continue building my inventory and personal body of work. I also teach 1:1 Visionary Art classes through Zoom!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Sharing my art and self publicly was a threshold I was terrified to cross. Due to my childhood, adolescent, and young adult wounding, I shrunk at the thought of being seen authentically and preferred the company of my cat, brushes, paints, and podcasts to boldly striking out on the path of self-marketing and entrepreneurship, which is what the modern role of Artist requires.

My Soul would not let me sit in my studio, however, and drew me to resources that coaxed me out of my cocoon. Years of therapy, workshops, personal development books, coaching, retreats, and plant medicine experiences took me through initiations, mindset upgrades, and rebirths until I finally lit up, let the past go, locked into gear, and claimed full responsibility for every facet of my life.

I embodied the Victim archetype for most of my life. Stories such as “This isn’t possible for me”, “I don’t have the power to change this” and “Success is years down the road for me” ran on autopilot in my mind before I gained awareness of them, and began installing empowering beliefs in their place. Through every thought, word, belief, and action we choose to express, we create our reality, including all of its limitations, possibilities, and opportunities.

Consciously choosing beliefs in alignment with the archetype of Creator (“through openness and consistent action all things are possible for me”, “I have the power to create the life of my dreams through my thoughts, words, beliefs, and actions”, and “I accomplish anything I focus on”) has been a key component in my personal and art journey.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a nature artist living in Michigan. I paint with bright colors and incorporate plant and animal symbolism throughout my work. The inspiration for my art comes from visions I receive, most often from meditation, contemplation time in Nature, and my yoga practice. I create artworks composed of magical imagery and archetypal themes that celebrate the Hero’s Journey of the Soul and Nature’s beautiful flora and fauna.

My deepest intention is for my art to stir something within its viewer’s Psyche… a curiosity, a remembrance, a Knowing of the magic and infinite potential of Nature, the Self, and Reality. I pray that the offering of my art will support the healing and awakening of our planet’s Collective Consciousness during this unprecedented time in history.

My mission is to build an art business that celebrates the limitless creative power and magic of the individual, honors the interconnectedness and oneness of planet Earth and all beings in all dimensions, and points to the vision and manifestation of the more beautiful world we know in our hearts is possible. I aim to inspire others through my art and online content to follow their dreams and live life in full color!

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Discipline is a foundational component in the success I have cultivated and experienced in my life. My dance with discipline began through my yoga and weightlifting journey in my early 20s. Exercise has been a lifeline for me in regard to my mental health and personal empowerment. Fitness is a tool that teaches so much about pushing past the “limits” we set for ourselves, the rewards and results that come from showing up consistently to practice, and the self-love and self-honoring that come from caring for our physical vessels in a nurturing way.

These lessons learned through sweat and challenge influence how we carry ourselves in the world and translate to every area of life (especially a creative practice). Consistently showing up to the yoga mat and heavy weights helps me show up to my easel with dedication and devotion. Showing up to my fitness practice helps me sit at my easel for an extra 30 minutes when I’m itching to put the lid back on my palette box.

Remembering how good I feel after an amazing workout helps me push for the rewarding feeling of completing a productive painting session. I would not be who I am today (creating the art I am making) without the lessons learned from my fitness and discipline journey. I believe “discipline equals freedom” (to quote Jocko Willink), that with persistence all things are possible, and that perseverance leads to inevitable come-ups. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linneagish.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linneagish/?hl=en