Bijou Leavins shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Bijou, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Luckily, both laughter and pride were woven into one cozy cocktail for me. I recently finished my very first large-scale mural! It was painted inside my awesome friends’ plane hangar. The concept of the mural itself came to light a few years previous, after I showed them a funny little sketch of their dog, Betsy, flying their Cessna plane. To my delight, they loved the idea. After a few years of talking about making this sketch into a mural, we finally sprang into action to make this idea a reality. The hangar wall spans 52′ by 26′, a tasty morsel for my first big wall mural. Luckily for us, we had a community that was willing to lend a hand, whether it was my fellow artist friend lending me his projector for the initial sketch, or a neighboring hangar allowing us to commandeer their scissor lift for the length of the job, I feel so thankful for the helping touches. I could not have had a better time zoning into the thousands of brushstrokes that landed their way onto the wall. Hanging out with my friends while painting, listening to music and enjoying the occasional brew was as ideal as one could imagine a project to be. Watching the metamorphosis of the white on the wall slowly fill into an array of colors was so satisfying. As overwhelming as the scale of the project felt in the beginning, I was shocked (and pleased) with how smoothly it went. This is the proudest I have felt of completing a project, perhaps in my life. It was almost hard to believe that I could be done with the project once I pulled my brush back from the final details. I felt giddy and slightly amazed that, not only had I completed this mural we had talked about for so long, but that my friends would so full-heartedly trust their hangar wall with me and my abilities. They gave me complete and total creative control and were so incredibly supportive throughout the entirety of the mural. I am so thankful for the trust and support of my friends, but mostly, I am so incredibly grateful to them for the opportunity they gave me to step into the shoes of a large wall muralist. This opportunity not only allowed me to see that I do have the ability to do these large projects but also allowed me to know that I love the process of doing these projects in the first place and hope to do many more in this lifetime. If not, I know this will remain an absolute highlight in my artistic life.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Bijou and I am the artist behind “CreativelyBijou”. I am a local artist in the Vail Valley that loves to create offbeat art and design that is centered around the adventures and humour of living in a Colorado ski-town. Though I do not limit myself to one theme I would say that my artwork is heavily influenced by the idiosyncrasies that find themself nestled firmly into ski culture. Whether it be the way one carries their skis to the gondola, the celebration of an “Apres-ski”, or the mysterious illness that emerge once the powder is pumping on the mountain, I like to create illustrations that make you laugh and perhaps say “I’ve done that”. Regardless of the subject matter, one thing my artwork will always be is colorful. I love to create bright, joyful pieces that brighten a mood as well as a room. For me, the most important thing about creating my art is that I allow myself to have fun and play, a philosophy that shines through the finished pieces to give them their playful nature.
I love the process of creating. Whether it be a pet portrait of a furry friend skiing (or whatever is your favorite hobby), immortalizing the spirit of the après or creating a project that is special to you, I love taking on special projects that bring a smile to your face. I do everything myself, from creation to making the packaging by hand using repurposed materials, keeping every aspect of my artwork offbeat and personal.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds between people are fragile, a lack of attention and time is what I believe breaks bonds most easily. Not giving time or undivided attention to the bonds you cherish allows them to fester and fade. It is important to create new memories. Putting your phone away and spending time doing something together, whether it be something you have never done, or a ritual that you love to do together, it is important to give that effort to replenish your bonds, to keep them strong or restore them. Time is such an important currency of our lives. I have found that the more time I dedicate to those who matter in my real life the more fulfillment I have gleaned. Craft nights, movie nights, camping or other outdoor activities have been the best way for me to maintain my friendships and relationships.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one thing to my younger self it would be
“Let ‘er buck”
Essentially, take the time to decide what it is that you want, set a goal, tell the world and give it everything you’ve got. It is better to form your fate than float about aimlessly, a jellyfish enslaved to the currents of the ocean. It’s okay to want something feisty. Believe in yourself because you are the only person that can change your life and create the life you want to create. Let yourself get bruised, it allows you to reevaluate your strategy and discover what works and what doesn’t. Don’t hold yourself back because of fear of failure, that’s half the adventure.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
In my opinion, the biggest lie about the art industry is that there is bad art, or bad artists. I believe that everyone has the ability to be an artist. Each and every person has their own unique style, relationship with colors as well as form of expression. Now, not all art is for every person– people themselves have their own specific tastes, but there is safety in numbers. With 8 billion people on the planet, you can bet that at least one of them will think something you have made is cool or interesting. Artwork is a visual that we put through our own eyes, process through our unique brainwaves and assign our own meaning to. If you don’t like a piece that doesn’t mean that another won’t. Art and artists are always evolving as well. You are in a constant state of improvement, though you often don’t realize it. The beginning stages of your interest in art things might not look as refined as you would like but as you continue to practice and exercise your creativity you will see an insane growth in your own pieces and abilities. Like anything else you have to be willing to be a beginner in order to evolve to a master. A transition that can be a bit harsh on the ego at times but that is what it takes to learn and develop.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
My cackling laughter, creativity and love of friends and family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creativelybijou.com
- Instagram: @creativelybijou
