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

Hi Anne, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
“Stop waiting for a sign, for the right time, for everything to align. Even when you’re learning, hurting or aching: start choosing, start chasing, start creating. All it takes is one word, one dab of paint, one mistake, one-this-might-be-awful-but-I’ll-do-it-anyway. You may stumble and fall bruise and I know you’re asking but what if I lose? And I’m here to tell you of all the losses you could feel, nothing feels like losing quite as much as standing still.” -s.r.w. poetry This about sums it up!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I began experimenting with art as soon as I could hold a crayon. Since then I’ve played with so many mediums, pencils, pens, paint, sewing, costume, headdresses, jewelry, bodyart/painting, leather crafting, etc. Lately I’ve put a spin on dreamcatchers and now I’m playing with resin and crystals to create “geode art”. My work has been selling more than ever which makes me so proud and happy. I can create more and more because there is a balance in the exchange of investing and selling. I worked very hard get to where I am today professionally. I wouldn’t say it has been easy. I was 17 and on my own, working a few jobs and trying to get through beauty school while battling so many demons. I’m not sure how I overcame these challenges. I was determined to be in a position to care for myself with ease. I wanted freedom and time to create. I always felt like I needed to catch up, like I was behind on everything. I guess that’s why I was so motivated to grow and enrich my life. Some lessons I’ve learned along the way… Humility. It’s a hard one. It’s humbling. But indeed makes you stronger, grateful, compassionate, and eventually you find your peace, your joy, your happiness.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Austin, Texas, that should be an easy one, but we all have so many different tastes! Myself personally I would want to take them hiking on the greenbelt, go eat some yummy food off Barton Springs, hit a few restaurants I love downtown like Lin, Vespaio, Wu Chow. See some live music, at a smaller venue on the East Side. Check out the Hotel Van Zandt and watch the sunset from the pool deck. I would take my friend out to Pedernales falls state park and Blue Hole in Wimberley. We would visit a few vineyards out in Hill Country. Go shop around on South Congress. Have a picnic on the capital lawn. Take the dogs to Zilker Park for disc golf. Food trailers! Bike Town Lake (aka Lady Bird Lake) then hop on the paddle boards and head up to Barton Springs. Stop over at Juiceland for a smoothie afterwards and maybe Casa Deluz for lunch.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom. She’s been sticking to my side, keeping the family glued together. She has supported my each and every creation I have made, my biggest fan. My brother, always checking on me, inquiring about my latest work. My sister, she shows off my work to anyone she know would love it! My fiancé, he has been my muse, my rock, my sun and now my co-creator. Many of the pieces I do now require quite a bit of labor and he takes care of so much!! Thank you, I love you.

Website: ChrysalisAustin.com
Instagram: @chrysalisaustin
Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/anne-shackelford-chrysalis-studio-austin#hrid:wHQ0onLK7URmdZJU7BQJJQ

Image Credits
Lisa Hause photography

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