Creative Pep Talk Presents: Adobe Express’ “In The Making” – Making Magic Happen with Vanessa Rivera

Release Date: September 20, 2024

In this engaging episode of Creative Pep Talk, host Theresa Au sits down with renowned digital artist Vanessa Rivera, also known as Life of Avax, to explore the intricate balance between nurturing a large family and maintaining a thriving creative practice. Vanessa’s unique blend of digital painting and photography, driven by her children’s whimsical imagination, offers listeners a deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of a creator navigating both personal and professional landscapes.

1. Vanessa’s Creative Journey

Vanessa Rivera shares her inspiring story of how she embarked on her artistic journey. Initially motivated by a desire to capture her children’s moments, Vanessa quickly fell in love with Photoshop, thanks to her husband’s introduction. Over the years, she developed a distinct style that amalgamates photography, digital art, and craftmaking, all heavily influenced by her children’s playful antics and imagination.

Vanessa Rivera [01:50]: “I fell in love immediately and dove in, and over the next couple of years developed this style. Very heavily inspired by my children and just the idea of children's imagination.”

2. Taking Creative Risks and Leaps of Faith

Theresa delves into Vanessa’s bold decisions that propelled her career forward, including selling her home and relocating her family to Europe to pursue content creation full-time. Vanessa discusses the mindset required to take such leaps, emphasizing the absence of a "perfect time" and the importance of embracing risks.

Vanessa Rivera [03:33]: “I don't think there's ever going to be a time when you say this is the perfect time. I think it's just more about just taking a risk and kind of just rolling with the challenges that are going to come out.”

When asked about overcoming fear, Vanessa reveals her strategy of tuning out negative voices, often represented by her husband, to seize fleeting opportunities.

Vanessa Rivera [04:49]: “For me, my husband is that little voice, and he's the one that is like, okay, let's really think about this... I'm always going to be afraid and just know that whenever there's like a little window of opportunity, just take it.”

3. Navigating Burnout and the Importance of Resetting

Balancing a bustling household with creative pursuits can lead to burnout, a challenge Vanessa openly acknowledges. She emphasizes the necessity of disconnecting and engaging in activities outside of art to rejuvenate her creativity.

Vanessa Rivera [05:42]: “Hitting the reset button means disconnecting... it's okay and it's healthy to have other things that you enjoy that help re-energize you and pull you away from just focusing on creating.”

Theresa highlights the significance of self-care in sustaining creativity, to which Vanessa concurs, noting that neglecting personal well-being diminishes the quality and joy of her artwork.

Vanessa Rivera [06:52]: “If I don't feel taken care of, I don't really put the effort and the love that I want to into my artwork... your creativity can really take a plummet and burnout happens.”

4. Combating Isolation Through Community

Working from home, especially while managing young children, can be isolating. Vanessa addresses this by actively engaging with creative communities both online and through events like Adobe Max, which offer her much-needed social interaction and inspiration.

Vanessa Rivera [07:48]: “What has saved me personally is really just hanging onto the community of the creatives that are here. I look forward to things like Adobe Max... it's a game changer even now.”

5. Strategies for Work-Life Balance

Vanessa shares her pragmatic approach to balancing work and family life, utilizing moments when her children are occupied to focus on her creative tasks. She admits that maintaining a strict schedule is less effective than adapting to the available moments.

Vanessa Rivera [09:54]: “I focus on the moments that I am given... I take advantage of the moments where my kids are at school, my daughter's napping... hyper-focus on creating or just answering emails.”

Despite working late into the night, Vanessa maintains productivity by breaking down her projects into manageable daily segments, allowing her to juggle multiple responsibilities without becoming overwhelmed.

Vanessa Rivera [11:32]: “I do work late, definitely a night owl... I break it up into days. And I think that's why I'm not able to create at such a fast pace as other creators, because I'm only able to work a couple of hours every day.”

6. The Role of AI in Enhancing Creativity

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on Vanessa’s workflow. Tools like Adobe Firefly’s generative fill have streamlined her process by automating tedious tasks, enabling her to focus more on the creative aspects of her work.

Vanessa Rivera [18:08]: “AI has been a huge game changer for me doing things like firefly generative fill. Those have been tools that completely have changed my workflow and have taken away all those tedious things that save me hours of time.”

This integration of AI not only accelerates her production but also enhances the quality of her artwork, allowing for more intricate and refined creations.

7. Future Aspirations and Evolving Content

Vanessa reveals her ambition to transition into children’s book writing, having already illustrated her first book. She anticipates the natural evolution of her content as her children grow older and expresses a willingness to adapt her artistic focus to accommodate these changes.

Vanessa Rivera [15:26]: “I'm hoping to become a children's book writer and I'm hoping that that kind of takes priority over the years.”

8. Personal Growth and Manifesting Positivity

Addressing personal development, Vanessa discusses her commitment to fostering a positive mindset despite her natural inclination towards pessimism. She aims to manifest positive outcomes and embrace optimism to enhance both her personal life and creative endeavors.

Vanessa Rivera [20:07]: “For me, it would be manifesting positivity. I am a pessimist by nature, and this year I decided I don't want to be that anymore.”

9. Key Takeaways from the Conversation

Theresa concludes the episode by highlighting the essential lessons from her conversation with Vanessa:

1. Incremental Progression: Achieving big dreams often requires a series of smaller, strategic steps rather than one monumental leap.
2. Community Connection: Engaging with creative communities online can effectively mitigate the isolation that comes with solitary work environments.
3. Balanced Living: Establishing boundaries for work and dedicating time to self-care fosters better creativity and personal well-being.
4. Embracing Technology: Leveraging AI tools can significantly enhance efficiency, freeing up time for more creative and fulfilling tasks.

Theresa Au [21:14]: “It's amazing to hear that you are often a pessimist, but you are not afraid to take big risks. Even if you're nervous about the outcome or think it might not work out, you still take that leap. So that's incredible to me.”

Conclusion

Vanessa Rivera’s journey as Life of Avax underscores the delicate balance between nurturing creativity and managing a lively household. Her insights into taking risks, combating burnout, leveraging AI, and maintaining a positive outlook provide invaluable lessons for creatives striving to build a sustainable and fulfilling practice. As she continues to evolve her art and pursue her dreams, Vanessa remains a beacon of inspiration for aspiring artists and entrepreneurs alike.

Connect with Vanessa Rivera:

• YouTube & Instagram: Life of Avax
• Adobe Express Podcast – In the Making: Find more episodes and show notes here.

Thank you for tuning into this detailed summary of Creative Pep Talk’s episode featuring Vanessa Rivera. For more inspiring conversations and actionable strategies, subscribe to Creative Pep Talk and join the community of thriving creatives.