Anna Mischke

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Instagram | www.annamischke.com | Dew Claw Instagram

1. Tell me a little bit about you, who is Anna outside of work?

Work and play tend to cross over quite a bit, particularly these days living abroad and freelancing! Meaning a lot of the things I get to do for work I also enjoy: drawing, tattooing, and designing. I'd like to think that for the most part, I'm the same person in any work capacity as I am outside - a bit more professional, I'm sure!

2. What do you do for work?

I freelance full-time as an illustrator and digital marketing consultant. Still, I feel like what I do is always in motion. I'm always looking for new opportunities and ways to collaborate and grow.

3. As a female creative working in a competitive industry, what are some of the biggest obstacles you have faced within your industry / the workplace?

A challenge I face is working with clients or businesses who don't communicate well. Everyone has different ways of connecting and relaying information. It makes it a lot more difficult when someone isn't aware of how their communication lack impedes the whole process. I'd also say that it can be tough not to get into a comparison game, particularly with everything being amplified on social media. It's easy to go down a rabbit-hole and look at everything other people have done and start feeling inadequate. I remind myself that THAT is not what it's about. I illustrate because it's my lifeblood, not because I want to be the best or compete with anyone.

4. How have you been staying creative/inspired during a pandemic?

Choosing to be selective of what I consume makes an enormous difference. What I'm reading, what I spend my time looking at, being intentional about my scrolling, helps keep my mind more focused on where it needs to be to create. Also, making time to do things that I know spark creativity and delight: planting and growing, spending time gathering and collecting from the beach or on walks, taking care of baby snails...

5. What women in your life inspire you and why?

My mother, Sheila, because she's never stopped exploring: herself, the world - both geographically and spiritually - and her ability to create, artistically and in life, in such a broad capacity. From sketching to cooking to building strange, whimsical things - she's impressive in so many ways. Also, my best friends Brooke Casanova and Brooke Healy (Miller): they're so unique in how they approach their crafts, and I am honored to watch them carve out their spaces in the world.

6. What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a new life direction -- whether that be moving to a new city, pursuing a new career path, starting a side hustle or choosing a new major in school?

Find your support system, and don't take it for granted. A mentor, therapist, family, friends - wherever that support system is - tap into it and try not to suppress when things get hard.

7. How do you balance a job, personal life and passions? Is there such a thing as balance?

I believe we can have balance, but that may look differently at various life stages and for each person. If my health - physically, mentally, and emotionally - is enduring, then I'd say that's the most balanced I can be. Whether that looks like balance to anyone else is a whole other thing.

8. What are some ways you implement self-care?

A lot of the ways I seek inspiration, I consider self-care. And sleep. I cannot stress the importance of sleep! And mental health care. If I don't have that in check (to some degree, at least!), then everything else really falls apart. I've learned that making mental health a priority isn't just a nice-to-have; it's my foundation.

9. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders, movers and shakers?

Ask yourself if what you're doing (or striving to do) is because it's something you feel like you should be doing or because it's truly what you feel called to do? Or at least, does it feel right? If you're doing things for someone else's approval/acceptance/judgment/pleasure/joy/completion, reconsider your next steps.

10. How can women advocate for each other?

Speak your support directly. If you like something that another woman is doing, tell her! Send her a message, give her a call, write an email, and better yet - see how you can support one another's goals. If we're all tagging one another into the spaces we want to be in, we'll all gather there a lot faster.

11. What is your power color and why?

Pink, always - and particularly right now, bright, cherry red. They're two colors that all through my life have made me happy and make me feel pretty, lush, and vibrant.

12. What is your female anthem – the song that hypes you up and makes you feel like a girl boss and that you can take on anything in the world?

Wolfmother - 'Woman'

Portrait illustrations are by Hailey Coral.

WOMEN ARE MAGIC | Anna Mischke