^{ARTIST SPOTLIGHT}

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR CONNECTION TO OPTIMISM.

I’m a poet who loves sailing, motorbiking, old things, old people, traveling and making wine.  All of the best things in my life, all my greatest accomplishments, friends and experiences can be attributed in one way or another to being open and optimistic. It’s a good life’s greatest hack. 

HOW IS THIS REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN YOU CREATED FOR US?

I wanted to create something light, fun, and positive. I pulled the quote from a longer poem that includes the line “you are enough, a thousand times enough”. I think we all need to be reminded of this sometimes. Most of us are doing great just by living!

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START CREATING ART? WHAT WAS THE CATALYST?

I started writing after a trip to France. I met an actor there who told me how poetry had saved his life. A week later on my first trip walking the streets of Paris I saw something I thought was beautiful and I decided to write about it. That was the beginning of Atticus.

DO YOU USE ART TO WORK THROUGH CHALLENGES AND/OR SETBACKS? HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

Yeah, poetry can be a powerful tool in processing feelings and emotions. I think more people should use it.

HOW DID YOU DEVELOP YOUR UNIQUE PERSONAL STYLE?

I’ve always liked writing short quotes, poems and aphorisms. When I was younger, I used to enter caption competitions for newspapers and magazines. I’d often win. I really enjoyed it.

WHAT FEELING DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE WHEN THEY EXPERIENCE YOUR ART?

I feel connected when I write, and I hope people feel connected when they read. The nicest compliment I hear is when someone says “you said exactly what I felt but couldn’t say”. 

DO YOU EVER GET “ARTIST’S BLOCK”? HOW DO YOU REDISCOVER YOUR CREATIVITY WHEN YOU’RE FEELING STUCK?

I think writer’s block is part of being a writer. The more you write, the more you learn that it’s natural, and you won’t get as frustrated. You also learn ways to deal with it. When I get stuck, I always think of Bukowski’s advice “don’t try”. Don’t try to write, just write for fun and the words will come.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR WORK, OR THE WORLD AROUND YOU IN 2020?  

Life is in the living. I sometimes find myself spending too much time in front of the computer or inside, and I need to remind myself that that’s not what life is about. Real life is about being with friends, watching sunsets, eating good food, laughing, drinking wine, exploring and growing.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE LOOKING TO START THEIR OWN CAREER AS AN ARTIST?

The most important thing is just to start. Just begin. The journey will twist and turn, but the most important part is that you begin—try not to worry too much or overthink it. The other suggestion would be to not give up, and to keep being persistent.

TELL US ABOUT SOMETHING THAT’S INSPIRING YOU RIGHT NOW.

I just went to Kenya for the first time. Meeting the people there, seeing the animals and being in the land where life came from, I felt a powerful connection. It’s been really inspiring for my writing.

FINALLY, FILL IN THE BLANK: Life is Good because... 

it’s much better than the alternative, and it’s ours to live.

SEE MORE OF ATTICUS POETRY'S WORK BY FOLLOWING HIM ON INSTAGRAM AT @atticusxo OR VISITING HER WEBSITE: WWW.ATTICUSPOETRY.COM