Day 59: Heather Dakota

November 28, 2009 at 12:01 am, Category: Inspiration

“I really don’t have a method at all to being inspired.  I think one idea just kind of feeds off of the other.  And so I think that’s how I stay inspired; it’s just one idea feeding off of the other.  And when I know that I’ve reached that point where I’ve kind of had enough, I need to step back.”

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Thumbnail illustration on home page (c) Heather Dakota

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Toni Reece: Thank you so much, Heather, for agreeing to be with us today; and before we jump into those questions, can you introduce yourself?

Heather Dakota: I am Heather Dakota.  I am a children’s book writer and an artist and glad to be here.

Toni: Thank you.  Heather, when you think about that word inspiration, particularly in the work that you do but also in your personal work, who do you think you inspire and how do you go about that?

Heather: Well, I would like to think that I inspire children to read because of the subjects that I write about.  A lot of kids are not comfortable reading fiction; they want to read the nonfiction, and that’s where I come in, because I’m a nonfiction writer.  As far as being an artist, I would to think that my art inspires everybody, but I think it just strikes a chord with whoever is viewing it.

Toni: So it’s the reader that you are hoping to inspire, which at this point is children.

Heather: Right, correct.

Toni: Now the artwork that you do, is that to accompany the books that you write or is this a separate inspirational project that you do?

Heather: Well, it’s a little bit of both.  I do illustrate some of the things that I write, and then I also have a completely separate style that is my artwork.

Toni: And where does that inspiration come from?

Heather: Oh goodness – that can come from just about anywhere, from walking down the street and seeing somebody whose face just kind of catches my eye to being out in nature and seeing an unusual animal.  It really comes from everywhere.

Toni: When you are writing your children’s books or you’re being creative in your artwork and passing that on, obviously, so that people can enjoy it, what do you think that it might do to help these people, children particularly, explore their potential?

Heather: Well, I think that they will pick up a book that interests them, first of all.  I know when I was a child, I actually hated reading, and so I think that’s how I got into what I’m doing now because I wanted to read about dinosaurs and snakes and that kind of thing, and that’s the type of thing that I write about.  And I think there are a lot of kids out there that also want to read about those types of things, and so when they get a book that is about that subject that could take them anywhere; for all I know, I could be inspiring a new paleontologist.

Toni: What type of subjects other than what you’ve already stated do you write about?

Heather: Just about anything.  It’s usually more science-based; outer space, animals.  I’m more a science writer.

Toni: And when you are doing this, do you get feedback from any of the children that have read your book that they have moved into a direction, or they’ve been inspired by your writing, or they’re like “Wow, I didn’t know that” about the book, or about that particular subject?  Does that happen for you?

Heather: That actually is the best part of writing, for me.  I have talked at several schools, and the kids give perfect feedback.  And I’ve been corrected as well, which is great.  I’m glad somebody else out there knows more than I do.  But yeah, the kids are probably the best kind of feedback.

Toni: And so who you inspire and how — and how you help explore potential in others — is all about finding those topics and those areas to write about, sharing that with children, and receiving that feedback from them, that it’s helped them to learn and to be inspired on that subject; as well as the illustration, I imagine, in your book or the artwork that you create.  That must all go together with inspiration for you and how you share that with others.

Heather: Yeah, I think life in general is an inspiration as far as I’m concerned.  You can always keep learning, and the more you learn, the more you’re inspired.  So yeah, I think all of it goes hand in hand from the writing to the illustrating to, you know, even my little people that I paint.  Everything goes together.

Toni: Well, let’s talk about you for a second.  When you think about inspiration, what do you need to be inspired or to stay inspired?  What do you reach for?

Heather: Well, you know, it’s really strange, because this is actually part of what I’ve been considering for myself lately, say within the last year.  There are things that I need.  One, I think when I’m actually writing or creating something, I need quiet.  I need to be by myself.  And yet, to be inspired, I need to be around people; so you kind of have this give-and-take kind of thing.  So yeah, to be inspired, I definitely have to be around people who will give me the inspiration, and then once I have that inspiration, I need to go to a quiet place.

Toni: How do you get inspiration from being around other people?  Can you help me with that?

Heather: Well, I think it is just … somebody will say something, somebody will have a look on their face.  I think it’s just conversation and being around people who are very positive.  Those are kind of the best inspirations.

Toni: Are there tools that you might reach out for, Heather, that will help you to stay inspired?  When you think to yourself, “You know what, I really … I gotta take a break, I need a quiet moment, and I need to be inspired myself”, is there a method that you find yourself going towards or books or resources that are out there that you go, “Yeah, you know what, this helps me to stay inspired?”

Heather: I think the research as far as for writing, research online is probably my biggest tool.  Other than that, I really don’t have a method at all to being inspired.  I think one idea just kind of feeds off of the other.  And so I think that’s how I stay inspired; it’s just one idea feeding off of the other.  And when I know that I’ve reached that point where I’ve kind of had enough, I need to step back.  Then I do that, and I figure that it’s okay because what happens by stepping back is that I come back into being inspired kind of full force.

Toni: So you give yourself permission to take that break.

Heather: Absolutely.

Toni: Right.  Now, when you allow yourself to take that break and you come back into it, what does it do for your artwork?

Heather: I usually end up going in a completely different direction.  I still have a particular style that I’m painting in, but I may not be painting what I was painting, say, six months ago.

Toni: So it kind of breathes life into it.

Heather: Yeah, it really does.

Toni: Oh, that’s awesome!  When you are working and maybe you take that break or you’re around people that inspire you — having those conversations or doing your research — how do you think that this all affects your need to continuously explore your own potential?  How do you go about that, to stay fresh?  How do you explore your own potential?

Heather: I think that’s probably the hardest thing for me because, to me, potential is completely unlimited so something that … you just have to keep going.  It’s an ongoing process.  Something that I would create today is not something that I would create five years from now, so I think it’s just a “keep going” attitude for that.

Toni: Where would your learning and development come from, with the work that you do, in order to satisfy a child’s curiosity with the writing that you do and peak their interest to the illustration or artwork?  How do you learn different ways of showcasing that or using your talent and your gifts to bring that to life more and more through your writing and your art?  How do you do that?  How do you go deep into your own potential to keep that alive?

Heather: I don’t know that it’s really a thought process for me.  I don’t sit there and think “Okay, what’s my potential going to be today?”  I think it’s just a fluid thing, and my friends and family are extremely instrumental in helping me explore my potential.  They are challenging me to go further.  For instance, if I have a painting, and I finished it, and I show them and they say, “Well, that’s nice, but you know, if you went to do this, it would take it that much further.”  And I really take that to heart and try that next time.

Toni: So your personal inspiration and exploration really is just something that is not thought that hard about.  You just give yourself permission to take a break and then go in the direction where it comes to you … that’s what it sounds like.

Heather: Yeah, that’s really how it works for me.

Toni: Yeah, there’s no seeking process, you just are open to whatever is in front of you at that moment.

Heather: Yeah, and there may be something … Like I want to simplify my art.  Well, okay, that’s just a general thing, and then I will continue exploring that, but it’s not something that I consciously think about.

Toni: How do you think that approach then relates to the execution — as far as writing the books and doing the artwork — to being open to what comes and then putting that in place?  How do think that impacts that?  Is it easier for you because there’s not a lot, you don’t have a lot of, I don’t know, a lot of boundaries around it, it sounds like?

Heather: Yeah, and that actually can be a detriment because I’m a huge procrastinator; I tend to wait until the last minute, and yet waiting until the last minute for me kind of puts that pressure on and what comes out is much better than if I had done it six weeks earlier, you know?

Toni: There are many people who handle it that same way!  I think what you’ve done in this interview is to say, “You know what, there isn’t a process that I go through personally for inspiration”, that you think deeply about or exploration; you just do it.  You allow yourself permission to take that break so that you can come back at it fresh and then just do what you do best.  And boy, I’ll tell you, the children are benefiting from that as well as others who see your artwork.

Heather: Well, thank you.

Toni: For putting that the way that you did is a different perspective, and that’s what the Get Inspired! Project is about.

Heather: Great!

Toni: I really appreciate your time today, Heather; thank you so very much.

Heather: Toni, thank you very much.

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For more information about Heather Dakota:  www.heatherdakota.com

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