Cultivating Creativity Through Connection and Community with Marrica Evans
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The Power of Creative Community: When Connection Sparks Magic
For as long as I can remember, I've had a solid support system of people that believed in me and supported me wherever I was in my career and life journey. From mentors encouraging me to pursue my dreams, to my husband pushing me out of my comfort zone to show the world the vision God gave me (even if it was a little over the top), to my family rooting for every creative pursuit, to mentors providing direction and advice to develop my gifts, to my girls cheering me on in the group chat and showing up at every event – my journey has been shaped by an incredible community of supporters.
One thing is true: God does not play about me, especially when it comes to the people I'm surrounded by to fulfill my purpose. I could not have done any of this without my people.
The creative process is deeply personal, and yes, it can be lonely and isolating at times. But it can also be impactful when we're surrounded by the right people. In order for me to be my true creative self and for my creativity to flow, I need to make sure I'm in a space where I feel safe, free, and supported. I'm a big girl, so I'll get the job done – but when I have community, it gives me the support I need to journey through anything with ease and confidence.
A Conversation with
Marrica Evans
Meet Marrica Evans, a Dallas-Fort Worth photographer who specializes in capturing visual stories for influencers, content creators, brands, and business owners. Our story of connection began, ironically, when everything shut down.
"The pandemic shut us down and brought us together," Marrica reflects. What started with a content camp collaboration just as lockdown began evolved into a friendship that exemplifies the power of creative community. "We would talk on FaceTime all the time," she shares, highlighting how digital connection kept creativity alive even in isolation.
Our story began with a simple collaboration - I created an illustration for Marrica's content camp, a workshop she developed to help content creators enhance their brand presence. What started as a professional connection quickly evolved into something more meaningful when she came to my house to work on the project.
"While I was working on the behind the scenes of content camp, I went to her house to work on it," Marrica recalls. "And that was just like our first time really like hanging out. We would talk on FaceTime all the time, but then she was like, 'yeah, come over to my house and we could work in person.'"
Ironically, that day became pivotal for both of us. As we sat working together, news broke of the stay-at-home order. Our respective projects - her content camp scheduled for the next day and my upcoming five-city tour with Laura Mercier - were suddenly thrown into uncertainty. But what could have been just a disappointing moment became the foundation of an enduring creative partnership.
"Now we're here. 2023 and she can never get rid of me," I say as we reminisce. Our working relationship has evolved into a Monday through Friday rhythm, with constant communication and collaboration. Even when weekends pull us in different directions ("We tried it!" we both laugh), our creative connection remains strong.
Watching Marrica work has been one of the greatest privileges of our friendship. Being behind the scenes as she creates, seeing her raw images transform into final products, and witnessing her evolution as an artist, mother, and entrepreneur has been truly inspiring. "I just wanted to let you know that I've seen since 2020, how you've evolved," I shared with her. "I love how you've been taking up space as a woman, as a photographer, as a wife, as a mom. And you navigate that so well, and you know what you want, and you go after what you want."
The Evolution of an Artist
The past few years have been transformative for Marrica, both personally and professionally. "I think I'm kind of in the still in the middle of the change," she shares candidly. "When you have all those three things happen to you at once [becoming a mom, getting married, losing a parent], the last thing you're thinking about is work or the art of the work."
Yet through these life changes, her approach to photography has evolved in beautiful ways. "This year, my work, I kind of have taken on more of an editorial fun side of photography... I've opened myself up to just using other tools with my photography, and I've really enjoyed that."
Moments captured by Marrica Evans from my in-store event with philosophy
Why Community Matters
Being in constant isolation stifles our creativity. It can be detrimental to our mental health and leaves us overall uninspired. We need to be in constant connection with people who understand us, who are on similar paths, and support us at every turn. As an artist, this has been very important to me – community is everything.
The coffee shop sessions, workspace linkups, and oh my goodness, the FaceTime dates – these are the ways I stay connected. Don't get me started on FaceTime! When I first started my journey as a business owner, it became my lifeline for connecting with friends and other creators I met online. Whether they were out of state or out of the country, it became a powerful tool for building and nurturing relationships.
Your Creative Invitation
This week, I invite you to reflect on how your relationships and collaborations have helped you develop as a creative. How has being part of a community uplifted your creative spirit? Create a piece that reflects your idea of 'community.' It can be a painting, a sketch, a song, a poem, or any medium that resonates with you. The key here is to allow yourself the freedom to truly dive deep into your own experience and interpret the concept in your own unique way.
Where to Listen & Connect
To connect with Marrica and learn more about her work, visit www.marricaevans.com and follow her on Instagram @beingmarrica and @marricaevans.
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Share your creative journey using #TheRoughConcept and tag @theroughconceptpodcast. I can't wait to see what you create!