Meet Courtney White | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, how do you think about risk?
For the past decade, I have balanced my creative endeavors with full time work in technology. While this was able to sustain me and provide me with a sense of security, over time I also found that this safety net prevented me from taking risks with my work. Even with this discovery, the thought of not having built in protection from failure was terrifying. So I stayed. I repeated the routine until it was broken for me in the form of a global pandemic. Like most of the world during that time, my world was shaken in more ways than I could even count. I only had myself to reflect on and it was clear – I didn’t like who the corporate world was making me.

With that, I focused on curating a world that I could sustain with the work that I wanted to make. I downsized, I invested in the necessities to scale my business and finally – I quit my corporate job. While this transition is still fresh, this risk has been life changing. My work has flourished and the support and feedback has grown in parallel. All that to say – take the risk.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For me, making has always innate to me. However, the evolution of my end product has definitely taken some turns along the way. For a while, I focused on polishing my ‘end product’ – thinking that polish is what sells. Instead, I’ve found that was resonates with both myself and the audience is the unfiltered. Our world is saturated with polish and has become even more sanitized post pandemic. Being able to see the handmade and understand the human involvement is not only important, but valued.

With that, I like to best describe my work as a ‘refined mess.’ It contains layers of visual information and the viewer can choose where their focus lies, much like their interaction with the world around them daily.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m notoriously anti established agenda because it often puts up blinders to anything outside of that plan. Ultimately, put me under the sun with some good company and I am content.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The risks and steps I have taken to get there would absolutely not be possible without the endless support of the folks who engage with my content daily across social media (thank you!). Equally as important, a big shout out to my partner who has endlessly supported me and my work and continues to be my biggest cheerleader.

Website: www.CourtneyMakesStuff.com

Instagram: instagram.com/courtneywhite

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/courtneymakesstuff