We had the good fortune of connecting with Lizzie DiSilvestro Hensley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lizzie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I started selling my work we opted to forgo a dining table so that I could have somewhere to paint in our apartment. I would paint whenever I had a spare minute, especially since it was always right there. Now I have a whole studio in our house, but I also have a 5 month old daughter, so life has definitely been taking over work for a while now. It’s definitely something I’ve struggled with, feeling like I’m losing ground in my business, but I know that I will never look back and regret prioritizing what’s best for our family. It does mean that I have to be more intentional about the time I get to spend in the studio and definitely stay more organized with my materials!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Right now I’m most excited about seeing how these new changes in my life continue to play into my style and painting practice. So far it has meant more small pieces and works on paper. I’m also excited to start showing my work in person again, since I took a break from that for a while. I’m hoping for an opportunity in the Dallas area coming up soon, in fact. I also completed a large fiber commission for the 1 Hotel in San Francisco. It was a really fun challenge and a big opportunity for me.

As far as lessons I’ve learned along the way, I have a clear favorite. “Be a good egg” is a simple principle taught during the Artist Inc fellowship, and I keep it in the back of my mind as the framework for my business interactions. It’s a boiled down way to remember that people will remember you for being easy to work with and having your act together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ahhh this question is hard for me because I live in Tulsa and am usually only in Dallas for meetings or art shows. I would love if someone answered this question for me for next time I’m in town though!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband is a quiet man when you first meet him, but he has supported me in all the ways since I decided to start pursuing my art more seriously, long before we were married. There have been times I mentioned wanting to take a risk, financial or otherwise, and he’s always encouraged me to take the leap, but he’s also great about helping me think through the potential downsides. I think it’s really easy to be a cheerleader for someone following a dream, but it takes trust and respect to have tough conversations like that. He has this great, even-keel demeanor that is so grounding for someone with such strong emotions like me.

Website: www.ldisilvestroart.com

Instagram: @ldisilvestroart

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ldisilvestroart

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.