2021, The Start Of Something New With Artist, Elissa Barber
To close our ‘2021, The Start of Something New’ Series, it seemed fitting to have none other than Visual Artist, Elissa Barber. The talented woman we were lucky enough to create our Limited Edition artist range with.
We spoke to Elissa about the learnings she is taking away from 2020, what she loves the most about her new 2021 diary, & her top tips for staying organised.
Name:
Elissa Barber
Occupation:
Visual Artist
2021, it’s the start of something new! What are you most looking forward to about the new year?
I’m looking forward to resetting – both personally and professionally. I have taken up winter hiking and trail running to get out into nature more and I know it will give me some much needed clarity during the long, cold Canadian winter ahead.
What learnings will you be taking away from (the crazy year that was) 2020 & into 2021?
That balance is critical in all areas of life.
Have your experiences in 2020 changed your mindset & priorities in any way?
Yes very much so. I have always been someone who looks ahead, doesn’t slow down enough to enjoy the little things. I have become aware of how important this is to maintain perspective; a need to slow down.
What is one personal, professional or financial goal you will be tracking in your 2021 diary?
I want to use my daily planner as a journal / diary. It is something I wish I had done sooner! A little space for some daily self-reflection. It will force me to be concise and boil things down to what I really want to record and will hopefully help with my goal of becoming more present.
How many years have you been using an An Organised Life Diary?
This will be my first and I’m very much looking forward to it.
What 2021 diary did you pick & why did you choose that style?
I chose the AOL x Elissa Barber Limited Edition Daily Diary for the above reason but also because it can act as a tool for many areas of my life that could use a bit more organising in the year ahead. It breaks your life down into personal and professional categories and acts as a one stop shop for staying on task, setting goals and keeping on top of all the things!
Talk us through that feeling when you first unboxed your new AOL x Elissa Barber 2021 Diary? What did you notice?
An Organised Life is all about the details. I’m obsessed with paper but am a bit of a snob when it comes to quality and I must say that I was blown away by the design of the diary and its packaging. Function was not lost to form and the diary covers all the bases for what tools I require to stay organised – from spaces to reflect on 2020, set goals and make budgets with enough space to make notes each day.
What is your favourite feature in your 2021 diary & how will it help you stay organised?
I mentioned wanting to reset and a big part of this will involve re-evaluating my short and long term goals. The diary has spaces that guide you through this process and force some introspection. Writing these things down somehow makes them real and helps me create efficiency around my priorities and let the rest of the noise filter out.
What's one personal or professional project you have been working on or have upcoming that requires you to be organised?
I work best when I create a work flow for myself and have several launches already scheduled for 2021. A ton of work does into creating and releasing artwork and all of the steps in between so it’s so important that things run smooth and stress free.
What are the top ways you organise your life?
Write things down, break things into small manageable tasks, create zones for things to occupy space. When you’re an artist who works from a home studio space, flat drawers and labels are your friends.
What are your current desk essentials?
I make my own ceramics so pieces serve as catchalls for my art supplies and writing tools. I have a lot to keep track of so notebooks are critical and my AOL vegan leather blank notebooks in particular are super useful as they can double as sketchbooks when compositions or ideas come to mind.
Top organisation hack?
I’m not as organised as I’d like to be naturally. There are a lot of moving parts and I have learned not to take on more than I can handle. You have to be honest with yourself about what that looks like. Keeping a clear mind free of clutter helps streamline your life.
We can't wait to see what 2021 holds for you, any hints you can share with us?
Professionally I want to bring more of my connection to nature into my work. A more expansive, organic quality. Look out for larger scale pieces and more textural elements.