Creating From Wholeness with Olivia from All Things Liv
Hello! I want you to meet one of my dearest friends, past clients, former assistant, and living art piece — Olivia Brock. Olivia (Liv) is the artist behind the brand All Things Liv, which we worked on together and launched last year. She is a poet, songwriter, doodler, blogger, and inspiration to us all!
I interviewed Liv on The Wonder Creative Podcast recently. We talked about her journey through creativity, how she developed All Things Liv + her experience as a Wonder Creative client, what it means for her to create from a place of wholeness as a child of God, and so much more.
Check out the highlights from this interview below or catch the whole thing on The Wonder Creative Podcast at the link above, or watch on YouTube. Let’s dive in!
What has made you happy recently?
I recently moved into my own apartment and that has been a dream come true for me. I have loved having people over and hosting people and throwing fun, cute little parties.
Tell me about All Things Liv and why it was so important to you.
The first business I had was called Honey Doodles. It began as kind of a creative outlet for me. I created stickers and prints, very similar to what I’m doing now. Then, I felt like shifting it into more of a lifestyle type of thing. I felt like there was more to me and what I wanted to express. I didn’t feel like I could do it through the Honey Doodles platform.
One day, I randomly changed my Instagram name to @allthingslivv and it really felt 100% who I am. From there I thought, ‘what if I had a Blog and what if I changed all of my branding to something that I really feel represents who I am as a person?’
It’s interesting because a lot of the colors on my website are green. A lot of my branding colors are green and looking back on my childhood it’s literally like I was obsessed with green. Looking back it’s always been who I am. It’s just now coming back around to realizing oh this has been in me the whole time and finding permission to express that.
So, have you always been creative?
No doubt, I’ve always been creative! Growing up, I had a little nook under the staircase with all my craft supplies – kind of like Harry Potter! I had a whole section dedicated to stickers, and my mom would even keep junk like leftover cereal boxes or random things so I could craft with them.
It feels like being creative was always a part of me, and even though it kind of died down as I got older, it never really left. I wasn’t around people who encouraged that kind of creativity, and it’s almost seen as childish when I feel like it’s so authentic to who I am. But now that I’m surrounded by a lot of creatives, I glean from a lot of other voices that inspire me. There’s been so much permission to be creative, and I love it! I also used to do theater. I’ve always valued the arts and love singing. It’s just a way for me to express who I am and the life & hope bursting out of me.
What does it mean to “create from wholeness”?
For me I would ask myself the question first: what is it not? If you don’t know, I write poetry, blogs, music – things like that. In all of my work, I love looking at other artists and seeing what inspires them. A lot of them write from a place of brokenheartedness, struggle, or anxiousness. And again – those feelings are totally justified and real, and people go through stuff. But for me, the only way is to get a higher perspective on things, choosing not to create until I’m ready.
One of my favorite things that I’ve created is “You Already Are Who You Are Becoming.” It was such a simple post, but it’s so meaningful to me. Looking back on my life, I realize that I’ve always been a creative person, obsessed with the color green and all sorts of other things that might seem simple to others. But it’s those little things that make me who I am and who I am becoming, and I feel so whole because of it.
At the end of the day, I’m not creating from a broken heart – even though I’ve been through tough times, my heart is still whole. I’m learning more and more every day what that looks like and how to create from wholeness.
Do you ever feel self-conscious about sharing your creativity with the world?
Not so much anymore. I have learned to receive affirmations from the Lord. I’ve learned to be led on what to share, both on the internet and even in conversation. Sometimes, sharing something someone is not ready for, or does not want is a disservice to them. I have my own walk with the Lord and my own Mystery I’m discovering in Him and not everyone is in that place or ready for that and that’s ok.
The things I write are very precious to me so I’ve learned when to share, then walk away and not dwell on it. I won’t watch the likes and I turn off the notifications. Even now, I don’t have a massive following on social media and I won’t feel sad if at the end of my life I never do. That’s not my source. If I get to feed the people that are around me then that’s amazing.
Also, so many times people can make you feel extra, or too much, or dramatic. But what good father would say that to their son or daughter? I have watched the Lord go back, even over my childhood, and He calls those creative ventures perfect. I’m learning to see the Lord’s delight in exactly how He created me. Things that others have called flaws or “being dramatic”, He says are His delight. That is my source and when I create from that place, I don’t need any other affirmation.
What inspires you? What does it mean to be inspired, as someone who lives creatively?
Inspiration has looked a little different for me, in this season. I am working two other jobs and I haven’t had as much time as I’ve wanted to spend on the creative things I do.
I’m learning to prioritize things. It can be so easy to just push creativity to the back burner when you have other jobs that are making you money. But it’s vital to prioritize it.
Some people that inspire me– Steffany Gretzinger, Melissa Helser, people who surround me in this family, like Chloe. Even though what we do is very different, I feel like any creative can glean from another creative. People who just don’t live with a fear of man really inspire me– people who create from the place of knowing who they are, and they are not trying to figure it out through the eyes of others. When you live a life led by the Spirit, creativity just flows. You don’t have to try or strive to be a creative, it just comes from the overflow.
Have you ever gotten into a creative rut?
I think in times when I deal with big emotions, I can feel uninspired. In those times I just have to let it be what it is.
What is your most favorite thing you’ve created?
“You already are who you’re becoming.” It was just a significant thing for me.
“Wait on something green.”– I felt like I had walked through shades of blue, and this phrase was something the Lord promised me.
What was something that surprised you during the branding/web design process?
The questionnaire was surprising to me at how deep the questions are. It challenged me to be reflective as to the deeper ‘why’ behind my ‘what’. Most people see branding as colors and fonts and logos and that’s fine. But Wonder Creative got to the heart of what I do to create a brand experience.
How has All Things Liv evolved since we worked together?
When we created the branding for All Things Liv, I knew it would evolve over time, but I also felt like it was something that would last me my whole life. So, I have approached it as something long term. I will always be creative and I will always be Liv! In this growing season, I’m not full throttle, and that’s completely ok, but I know that when the full throttle time comes, I have a brand that will last me and will carry through.
What was it like working with Wonder Creative?
It was a dream! I didn’t just reach out to you because you are my friend. You are amazing at what you do and that is why I wanted to work with you. I had the privilege to work with you behind the scenes and see that there is so much integrity, heart, passion, and intentionality. For me, I knew I wanted that for my brand. It was a no-brainer.
I had the benefit of you already knowing me and understanding my heart. It was amazing working with you. I loved it.
What is next for All Things Liv?
I’ve been working on a song called The Re-Introduction. It’s been in my heart for a couple of years. I hope that eventually, it will be a whole album. My heart is that it will re-introduce people to the Lord who may have met Him in systematic, dogmatic religion. I’m excited to put it out there, but also a little nervous because people don’t necessarily like to be confronted with the way they think, and this song does that.
Where can people find you/connect with you?
Instagram- @allthingslivv
Website: allthingsliv.co
