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

Hi Alycia, how do you think about risk?
I think that taking risks in life are a good thing! Only when you step outside of your comfort zone is when you can truly achieve your dreams. Now I do think it’s important to have a plan before taking a risk and making sure you are looking at all the angles as much as you can. But in that uncomfortable butterflies in your stomach feeling is where you also feel immense excitement and joy. It’s where you feel ALIVE! If I hadn’t taken a risk, if my family hadn’t taken a risk, I wouldn’t be where I am today with my studio.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My background is not only in art but in education. I was a teacher (both in the classroom and art room) for 14 years before opening studio. Because of this, I like to say that we are a “teaching studio”. Meaning, you are going to learn something after spending time with us! During our classes, we teach students how to correctly use their art supplies and tools as well as color theory and foundations of art. Students my learn about different styles of art, artists, and more during one of our classes. We are also a process based art studio, which means that we focus on enjoying and learning through the process of creating vs. focusing on the end product. We are all about our students finding “Creative Joy” while at the studio.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
North Texas has lots of new and up coming cities and Prosper is one of them. We use to be a little farm town but have grown exponentially in the past couple of years. If a friend was coming in town, we’d have to head to the Dallas Museum of Art of course but then we’d head back north. We’d go shopping in Plano, just off the Tollway and Legacy, in the Shops of Legacy. We would have lunch at one of my favorite Mexican food restaurants, Mesero. Shops of Legacy also has a great night life full of live music and watering holes. We’d also spend a day in McKinney, where I grew up, walking around the downtown square. There are great antique malls, clothing boutiques, and yummy places to eat and sit on the patio drinking a sweet tea. We’d head to Celina for dinner and eat at my favorite BBQ place, Tender. After dinner we’d head to The Gin in downtown Prosper, and walking distance from the studio, for a drink and live music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to dedicate my shoutout to my husband, Travis. I am definitely the risk taker in the family and I enjoy doing new things and change. He is the Ying to my Yang! He keeps me balanced and level headed. He helps me create plans for my crazy ideas, looks at all the angles, and then tells me to go for it. He my biggest supporter and I couldn’t do all of this (the studio, parent, life) without him. It’s important to have people in your life that encourage your dreams, are there for the down and dirty times and there to celebrate with you in all the joyful moments. Travis is my person and I’m forever grateful for him!

Website: www.AJoyfulMessArtStudio.com

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Youtube: A Joyful Mess

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