Healing With The Arts - Tara Rook Studios
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fine arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tara Rook, founder of Tara Rook Studios, located in Portland, ME, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Tara Rook Studios explores the arts for individual and collective healing. The studio oversees three elements: an art shop, my electronic music project called Just Milk, and my role as a meditation teacher. As an artist, I create mindful art made with love that expresses appreciation for many things, including nature, Maine, anatomy, traveling, food, and more. The online art shop sells art prints, postcards, stickers, pocket guides, and journals and soon moves into apparel. Just Milk is an electronic music project that mostly focuses on producing beats and singing but has ventured into ambient music and will be releasing an ambient album called "It's Okay Honey, I Love You" later this year, which is very exciting. The ambient album encourages healing through sound. In addition to art and music, I teach meditation and yoga (mostly meditation). My mission is to interlace all of these elements for healing through experiences. My customers vary depending on what they are looking for. I have had a wide range of interests from all genders, races, and ages. I love meeting so many different kinds of people through what I've created!
Tell us about yourself
I am a very passionate multidimensional artist that explores all of the arts and has been like that since I can remember. In high school, I took both art and music classes (I gave up a lunch period to do this), then was either at the ballet studio after school or my parent's meditation center (I grew up in Shambhala Buddhism). It is natural for me to interlace the arts and the healing arts. Pre-pandemic, I was pushing Just Milk, but once lockdown hit, I decided to focus on my artwork as a way to process what was happening; a lot of music opportunities were canceled. Within the last few years, I have really started incorporating all of my passions within the arts and the healing arts. What motivates me is helping other people on their healing journey through how I know to heal myself. The arts have healed me; I've worked with my own artwork and music to understand my anxiety, depression, and relationships. Whenever I have been faced with major life events, both good and bad, I have expressed my process through the arts and meditation.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As of right now, it's receiving a grant from the City of Portland to help cover my start-up costs in developing my vision for Tara Rook Studios. I recently moved into a studio space at the beginning of the year. This was an expansion out of my one-bedroom apartment, and it's been absolutely incredible.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Balancing everything has been challenging. It's easy for me to work 10 hours a day, which leads to anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. I have to remember to take care of myself and keep my relationships with my friends, family, and myself healthy.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Trust yourself and your intuition; this comes from meditating daily. Be disciplined in what you want to accomplish. Have courage, and don't be scared of expansion.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
My vision is to continue expanding and growing what I'm doing right now. My next step is a brick-and-mortar here in Maine that holds space for the shop, classes, workshops, a little tea cafe, and my own studio space. I envision taking my creations worldwide. I'd love an entire team to help do this. I feel very called to help as many people as possible right now; there are a lot of people in pain and struggling. I have these amazing skills and unique wisdom that I want to use for peace, spreading love, light, and goodness. I am determined every day to make the world a better place.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://www.tararook.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tararookstudios/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tararookstudios
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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