The Sage Creative

At Sage Leaf Studio , we believe that it’s important to give back to the community and support organizations that are working to conserve the natural world. That’s why we donate 10% of all proceeds to non-profits that share our vision. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at three of the non-profits we support and the work they do to promote sustainability and conservation. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations. Their mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. WWF works in over 100 countries and is supported by more than 5 million members worldwide. They focus on a wide range of issues, including climate change, wildlife conservation, and sustainable agriculture. One of the ways that WWF is working to conserve nature is through their Enduring Earth partnership. This is an ambitious collaboration that works alongside nations as they accelerate and amplify conservation for a m...

The art industry can be quite wasteful. Like many other industries reliant on profit, the art industry supports consumerism. From encouraging artists and hobbyists to fill entire rooms in their homes with art supplies, to encouraging buyers to fill every inch of wall space with a new piece of art, buy, buy, BUY is the message. And, unfortunately, it is this consumerism, the wanton mining of our earth for materials and then replacing it with unusable trash, that is destroying our planet.  But art is valuable.  Art is intrinsic to the human experience.  It is woven into the fabric of our evolution and history.  And it can inspire change. At Sage Leaf Studio , we’re committed to help change the art community's narrative. Everyone loves art. There's no changing the fact that people will continue to create and consume art. I LOVE to create and consume art, but I believe we can do it more consciously, with purpose, and in ways that have less devastating impacts on the Eart...

When you buy art, do you think about where it comes from? How do you know it’s legitimate and authentic? A lot of art in the world is “fake.” What this means is when you travel to new places, a lot of the art in souvenir shops isn’t actually from there. It’s often made in China, Brazil, Taiwan, or a different place altogether and shipped to Hawaii, Mexico, or Sedona, AZ, but in the style of local art so you don’t know the difference.  My husband and I usually pick up a piece of pottery or woodworking when we travel to new places. This is the one souvenir we treat ourselves to. It supports local artists, adds worldly beauty to our home, and displays our values. We have gotten really good at making sure what we buy is authentic and not shipped in as a fake. Here's a beautiful hand-lathed wood pot that we picked up in Sedona and which inspired one of my daily paintings. Here are 4 ways to make sure your art purchase while traveling is legit: 1. Does the person who’s selling it know ex...

As an artist, scientist, fitness fanatic, and professional problem solver (aka. water manager in the western U.S.), I've come to appreciate the extraordinary impact that creativity can have on all facets of life. It's a mindset that, when embraced, can lead to innovation, problem-solving, and a more fulfilling existence. And creativity isn’t just for people who identify as artists in the visual, written, musical, or performance sense. It’s for everybody. Even if you don’t identify as an artist, dabbling in some focused creative process on a regular basis can train your brain to be more creative and bring you huge gains in other areas of your life.  Scientific studies show that people who develop creative habits are statistically stronger than their peers in seven key areas: 1.  You gain problem-solving powers. When you face challenges, being creative helps you find unique and innovative solutions. Whether at work or in your personal life, when things get tricky, creative thin...

As you look into the new year and plan your New Year's Resolutions, ask yourself what habits are helping you and which are hurting you? Exercise, sleep, food, drugs, alcohol, what about creativity? Your brain on creativity... it can be beneficial in all aspects of your life. Creativity, while often thought to describe the process of artists, is actually used in any kind of problem solving resulting in a novel and valuable solution. In fact, by using traditional forms of creativity, such as painting, writing, sculpture, performance, or any other art, you can train your brain to think more creatively in other aspects of your life. In an ever-changing and complex world, creative problem solving becomes more and more necessary. Read more about the benefits here .  When you're being creative, your brain undergoes an amazing transformation. Neurons light up in beautiful patterns, as in time with a symphony of song. Better yet, just like frequently working muscles, the more you put yo...

In early summer of this year, my life changed in three major ways : I got married. My partner and I finished phase 1 of a complete house gut and renovation ourselves. We had just enough done to move in before the wedding (i.e. a room to sleep in, a functional shower, and working laundry machines… funny how all we really need is a place to sleep and stay somewhat clean.) I realized that I had lost part of myself. I am not saying that I lost myself because of marriage and the house. I am incredibly blessed and grateful for my partner and the fortune we have. I recognize that there are a lot of people seeking their person and who wish they had the resources and skills to do what we’re doing. Many of you have shared similar desires with me. I recognize and am grateful for my fortune.  And it’s also ok that after working 120+ hour weeks for six months straight between a full-time job, house renovations, and wedding planning, I can admit to being fried. Burnt out. Exhausted. And even tho...