S1 / E2 - ARTIST PERSPECTIVE - XAVIER ALLEN

In this episode of Creative Clarity, host Jeyda Deyna interviews Xavier Allen, a sculptor and art consultant, about their creative journey and process. Xavier shares how their upbringing in a family of artists influenced their path, though they initially avoided the arts in favor of more stable careers. They discuss their passion for abstract sculpture, which they view as a meditative practice, channeling energy into physical form.

@xavierallen.studio highlights the importance of routine, persistence, and embracing imperfection in the creative process, along with the therapeutic benefits of art. The episode includes a breathwork session, illustrating how mindfulness practices can enhance creativity and help overcome creative blocks.

S1 E2 - XAVIER ALLEN - INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] Welcome to Creative Clarity. I'm your host, Jada Dana. Each conversation is designed to guide, uplift, and inspire as we explore creative flow, mindfulness, and breathwork, discovering what unfolds along the way. Today we welcome sculptor and art consultant Xavier Allen.

[00:00:24] My name is Xavier Allen. And I am a sculptor, artist, uh, creative, I guess. I mostly work in sculpture and then that kind of expands into other mediums. I really chose abstract art because it, well, I feel like it chose me. enjoy that it allows other people to come to it. Um, but normally what I'm inspired by is energy and channeling that energy down into physical form.

[00:00:57] This idea of something [00:01:00] ethereal and intangible has to slow down in order to become this physical solid piece. So, um, in a way it's almost Like a living meditation for me because, uh, that's definitely something I benefit from slowing down. If you know me at all. Yes. It's an art to slow down. Yeah.

[00:01:22] Sculpture is definitely one of the slower mediums. Um, you really have to. Obey the time limit of the material, like sometimes you can't build on layers until it's solidified and it really needs to cure in its own time. And yeah, sometimes you have to live with it for a minute before you realize it's done.

[00:01:45] Um, just everything about it is very slow and it's incredibly frustrating. But actually, while you're. Working on it. It's incredibly timeless. So I really enjoy that aspect. [00:02:00] And what was your first memorable experience with art and how did it lead you to pursue it professionally? Oh, that's a interesting question because I grew up surrounded by art my entire life.

[00:02:15] My Mother and father are both full time artists. So art was just always in our home. Um, my dad was always working. Um, he worked from home, but he also carved during the day. And then he would move to jewelry at night. And I think he would Sometimes sketch when he was watching TV. So he was constantly moving and constantly working.

[00:02:45] And my mom was always doing something kind of fixing our home or, um, translating my dad's designs into fabric and sewing and sewing those into button blankets. So [00:03:00] she, yeah, she was just always doing something. And, uh, My first exposure to it was painting, basically. Um, I would paint next to my dad, apparently, when I was like four or five.

[00:03:18] He would be carving, um, wood carving, I guess. And I would be painting on these like big newspaper prints, just like whatever paints. And, uh, yeah, right next to him while he was working. I love the sound of like wood being carved. It has this like really nice I'm not going to capture it in the way i'm describing it.

[00:03:44] But yeah, uh how that informed me coming to art It didn't because I really took the long way I tried to be anything but an artist and Somehow it found me I really [00:04:00] wanted to do something totally different. I went into pre med until I realized I hate science and uh, and then I was going to go into nursing and then I did fashion design and then I got into nursing as soon as I graduated fashion design and then I had my own line for a while.

[00:04:21] And I met these wonderful people through fashion, actually. And, uh, yeah, this person I met online was starting a fashion company. So I did some freelance pattern design. I met them and his wife was starting an art consulting firm. And I started working for her startup and I learned about the business side of art through them.

[00:04:50] I guess I kind of knew about our consultants through my dad, but I guess it never really occurred to me. That was a job because it's such a niche, [00:05:00] small part of the world, but it's. really opened my eyes into like seeing it's possible to, to be creative in the arts and, and still have that business mind, something that I didn't really think was possible for me.

[00:05:19] I really avoided the arts. I, I don't, I don't know. Um, sorry, I'm rambling. Okay. Do you know why you avoided the arts? Like, is it a clear reason? I just wanted something. More stable. I think I want it. I didn't think I didn't have enough confidence in my creative ability when people said they liked what I was doing when I was like six or seven.

[00:05:47] I thought they were crazy. Like, I was like, Oh, well, this isn't that good. Why do you think it's good? And I kind of just was just. Pretty dismissive of my own creativity for a [00:06:00] really long time, but, um, yeah, I think that's one thing that our consulting has opened me up to is like just this ability to solve problems creatively.

[00:06:12] You're always trying to solve for very specific brief basically for like timeline and vision and, uh, Yeah, it's just kind of opened my, well, the limitations of that helped me realize that I'd like to do things on my own accord and just have the total freedom to create what I want to create and not worry about the brief, not worry about what the client wants.

[00:06:39] And, and, uh, yeah, it was, it's interesting because each sculpture builds on the last sculpture. Like I, I'll have a question in my mind about. Something I can improve for next time and yeah, that's what keeps me going to the next one, I think. [00:07:00] Would you like to speak about your family's art and how yours is similar or different or?

[00:07:08] Yeah, so it, the art is a, almost a reaction to the, my family's art. It's, my family does Northwest coast indigenous art and Haida to be specific. Okay. They all do that, even my brother. So I'm the odd one out. But yeah, my art is completely abstract in nature, whereas Haida art is abstract, but it does have some very strict geometry that it should follow.

[00:07:41] There are a lot of patterns in the designs that denote different animals, and there is like a flow, and it's extremely geometric and very precise in its own way, and I just didn't want to fall into that. I didn't want to not fall [00:08:00] into it, but it does feel like a bit like a family business. I just didn't fit in that.

[00:08:06] I didn't like all the rules. I wanted something that flowed even more and just didn't need approval from other people. So I forged my own way. Yeah, that's cool. So reflecting on your childhood, what were pivotal moments that ignited your passion for art? Let me think. I don't know if there is any specific moments.

[00:08:38] I really enjoyed talking to my dad about the business. He was, he is very philosophical about the creative practice and just basically where ideas come from. And while he would work, I would listen and just hear about These [00:09:00] amazing collectors that he meets and sometimes we get to meet them actually, we'd stay at their houses and it was so interesting to, to be at these houses that were built just to facilitate the art that they were buying.

[00:09:14] Sometimes they would buy new houses so that and build them around the art. So just like seeing this world of like people who really valued what my dad did and it was just really cool to hear about these people that. want to feel something. I feel like what he describes is this moment while you create.

[00:09:38] You feel connected to the work, and I think that's what other people respond to when they see your work is that kind of gets locked into what you did, if that makes sense. How would you describe a typical day for you? What does it look like? How does it begin? Do you have [00:10:00] any rituals or routines that you like to focus on before you start creating?

[00:10:05] Um, I like to start my creative process by going to work for eight hours and then I finish work and go to the studio. I feel like that's when my second day, my second job begins. Um, from six to nine is when my studio is open. So I, I usually go in with an intention or something I'm excited about to work on.

[00:10:30] I try and have a couple things on the go and really there's not a ton of time for let's fight sage or really clear the air or do some breath work. It's more like I have three hours, we're going to make this work. It's like the act of doing it is the meditation. That's the moment I feel calm. That's the moment I feel it's like when I'm not sculpting is when it's a problem.

[00:10:57] So if I could just be sculpting all the [00:11:00] time, it would be great. I'd be so Zen. Um, but it does feel like a bit of an Energy palate cleanser from the day, basically, when you step in there, have a lot of friends there and it feels like a community and everyone's just happy to be there. It's interesting to be in a space where people are just, this is the place they want to be and you can feel that and it informs your work a bit and your mood while you work.

[00:11:29] So that's always a good thing. Mmm, I like what you said. It is the meditation. I like that. And it's true. And it sounds like your life revolves very much around art. So if I asked you whether you had other hobbies or passions you like doing, what would your answer be? That's really funny. I was thinking about that [00:12:00] and then wondering if I'm a person still because no people have more interest.

[00:12:07] Yeah, work is art related. I do art in my spare time when I get home. Sometimes I even do even more art. Yeah, I like to work out. I do a lot of movement. I try and do new activities a lot. Novelty is super important to me. So, yeah. Taking a new class. I did ecstatic dance a couple months ago, which I thought was really fun.

[00:12:34] I've never done it. Um, I'm going to do some tai chi soon, which is cool. I've never done that either. It's like novelty of movement. Is what keeps me going. I like seeing friends and going to art shows. I think you know that. But I also like dancing. Music and dancing is really great. Yeah, what else is there?

[00:12:58] You're tapped [00:13:00] in with a diverse range of activities. Given how much art is in your life already, and that makes sense, keeping it novel since you already have something that you're very much focused on and committed to, it's a good balance. Yeah. I think it's more like this last couple years has been streamlining a little bit, um, because I had been a little bit scattered before, but I do enjoy the breath work as well.

[00:13:31] It's something that I find. A little daunting. I don't know if you feel that way. It's almost like how when you're not used to it, you don't feel like exercising. Um, breathwork is kind of like, Oh, I'll do it later. You know, maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes. It's, it's such a mental hurdle to get over because it's not entirely physical, is it?

[00:13:56] It's, it's so, it's an interesting [00:14:00] mental block towards doing it because I know it really helps. But yeah, sometimes it's the last thing I want to do. Same. Even though I coach it so often and I practice it just as often, if not more. And there are some more mornings or some mornings where even the thought of doing a 10 minute breath work, I'm like, am I going to be able to fit this in today?

[00:14:26] Feels like the day's already busy. And it's just 10 minutes, but I think also a little bit more like it does ask something of you physically to be able to give those deep, deep breaths, you know, that you're not really doing throughout the day on a regular day and you're engaging in them in a different way during the breath work and in a lot more intentional way.

[00:14:51] And then also to really get there, get to that other state that you might want. Sometimes takes longer [00:15:00] than 10 minutes, so it is a bit of a commitment. How would you describe being in the zone or being in a flow state? So I would describe it as quiet. For me, it sounds like there is music overlapping all the time.

[00:15:21] Static like five different thoughts. It's completely arguing almost in my head at all times. And the flow state is quiet. It is clear. It has this non urgency. I have this like urgency all the time, but this is the flow state is clear. You are exactly where you need to be at the moment that you are, and it's kind of a neat break from FOMO, or what's that, productivity wheel, basically.

[00:15:57] It feels like what [00:16:00] you're doing and where you're doing it right at that moment is enough. And you're not really thinking about the future, I suppose. You're just kind of responding to the moment. It doesn't have words, I feel like. The words almost, I mean there can be chatter, but it's, that would almost interfere with the state a bit.

[00:16:22] So it's better not to speak too much. Does it feel good? Oh yeah. Do you find you enter into a flow state easily? Can you stay in that state for a while? And can you maintain it, even if a distraction happens? I think I can get into it a bit easier lately. I, if I'm doing something I really, like a, if I'm doing like raw creating, like sculpting [00:17:00] creating.

[00:17:01] Um, it's harder to distract me from if I'm doing something that's obviously got some steps to it that I dread. That's pretty easy to distract me from like casting lately. It's like, uh, whatever. It's not great. It's so much uncertainty anyway. That's really easy to distract me from. Yeah. It depends on the activity.

[00:17:24] There's certain activities that are just like. Unstoppable. I do notice actually I tend to start an activity with a little hand on my chest and a hand on my stomach just to like feel the sensation of the heat of your hands to feel the weight and then breathe for a second and then just kind of like, but that's something about sculpture that's different than painting.

[00:17:51] Is that it's much more physical. You have the tactile sensation of what you're doing. Whereas I think with painting, you're, you're holding a [00:18:00] brush. It's like a very feels like every other brush, but with sculpture, you get your hands really dirty. You feel the temperature of the plaster. You feel the grossness of it.

[00:18:10] So it's a very. grounding in that way. So during intense creative sessions, do you become consciously aware of your breathing? And if yes, how does it affect your, or how does this awareness affect your creativity? Honestly, I am aware of my breathing for the first bit and then I can check in. I don't, I don't know how often you're supposed to be aware of your breathing.

[00:18:40] I think you start to panic if you think about it too much. Like even now, I'm like, should I take a breath? Yes. Thinking about it too much. But yeah, I think honestly it's just at the beginning and then I, I'm hoping it's like a set at it and forget it and then just check in once in a while because it's just, [00:19:00] it's a lot.

[00:19:02] But it does help regulate for sure. It's like a shortcut to feeling calm. Like it's a total bypass of like your mind basically. I think I heard that from you. Your body looks or your mind looks to your body to see how to react. Thank you.

[00:19:27] Now we move into our guided breathwork followed by a recap of the experience. So how do you feel now right after the breathwork and what were those thoughts or visions and feelings like that might have emerged? I feel rejuvenated. I probably should have started with this. I came in pretty hot from work.

[00:19:47] My mind is a little quieter. I feel calm. During the breathwork, it was incredibly sensory this time, less visual, although I did have the sensation of your voice [00:20:00] like cradling me in like this giant leaf or something. I knew I'd be safe in your hands, even though I would be holding my breath for way longer than you said.

[00:20:12] So, yeah, the sensory was very strong this time. It was, almost like vibratory in my chest a lot. And then when you had me rub my hands together, it like echoed vibration. I was like, Whoa, I don't remember my hands doing that normally. So it just reverberated. It was a really intense body experience. Not as much emotion.

[00:20:37] I don't usually, I was going to say, I don't usually get those, but no, I don't usually get an emotional release from breathwork sessions. But It did feel pretty safe to have like a, uh, sensory feeling, I guess, more than usual. You said, so more sensory experience came through during the breathwork. [00:21:00] What about thoughts or visions?

[00:21:03] Visions. This time wasn't as visual. Usually I have, well, I mentioned the, the leaf thing. I usually have very strong colors, but this time it was more like movement. Swirling energy, basically almost an acceleration of vibration of my whole body. Any sense of that flow state as you described it or timelessness, effortlessness?

[00:21:29] Oh, certainly. Oh, I was thinking of, this is odd, I was thinking of Navy SEALs actually. There was a time when I was reading a lot of Navy SEAL books. I happen to read like four of them in a row. I guess it was to do with mental toughness, and I guess it was just reminding me the challenge of like holding your breath and doing the breath work and like feeling these like sensations and like it's almost like powering through.

[00:21:55] So I was like drawing upon the strength of like the Navy Seals. [00:22:00] I guess it always. That always comes to mind whenever I, I say something mentally challenging. Mind over matter. But yeah, my mind wanders a lot. So the fact that there was only one thought. It was kind of nice, nice break. How would it compare to the feeling that you get while you're creating, you know, that flow state?

[00:22:23] Are they the same as in breathwork or? Yeah, there's a moment in breathwork for sure that feels very similar. It's that contentment, I suppose, that you're happy doing what you're doing. I felt very grateful to be getting a one on one breathwork coaching from you, actually. It's such a luxury, I think. Thank you.

[00:22:48] So I, I guess there was like a noticing of like different sensations, but more just feeling present, which is definitely something that I [00:23:00] find challenging. usually, but not while I'm creating and not, um, during some intense moments of breathwork. Yeah. What about creative blocks? You know, most artists experience them.

[00:23:19] I'm assuming you have, what can you share about overcoming creative blocks? And do you feel that breathwork would be a great tool in overcoming them potentially? Here's the thing. I like doing so many different things that I, if I get a block in one area, I just do a different activity. That's almost like the activity telling me you need to do something else.

[00:23:47] Basically rerouting. It's like pushing against. It's not going to work. But I did for a while to alternate nostril breathing. Because I did have a Kundalini breathwork coach [00:24:00] over the pandemic and that was like super helpful. So she gave me some, some tips on, I think there was a alternate nostril breathing.

[00:24:08] What was it? I'm right and left dyslexic. Let me see if I can remember the right side of the brain is connected to the left nostril. So she had me breathing in through my left and out through my right. Okay. I think, and that was supposed to activate, uh, right brain, but also the left brain to create and to do, to put things into action.

[00:24:35] So I was doing that for a while, whenever I remembered, and I found that super helpful. That was like a fun, easy tip. Did it make you feel more creative? Yeah, it just changes your state enough to like, be okay with maybe sucking a bit. Doing something badly is also a way to overcome the block for [00:25:00] me. just like permission to make something terrible and not judge it.

[00:25:06] I think half of the block is you in your head wondering what other people are going to think of it before it's even done. So you kind of have to just like say, okay, you can sit aside for a minute while I do this and you can come back later before I show someone, but just chill. Um, so the breathwork definitely does that, helps you tap into more of yourself.

[00:25:32] that isn't judging yourself all the time. Does that make sense? It definitely does. In what ways has creating art served as a therapeutic or transformative practice for you? Um, creating art has kind of set me free in a way. I feel like I have this whole other world, like this mistress that I can visit afterward.

[00:25:59] I feel like that [00:26:00] gives you something that's yours only that no one else can touch. And yeah, people can touch it. Obviously it's whatever happens when it's out of your hands, but like for that moment, it's just you and the art. And I think more, I think everyone needs something that's just theirs, like only for them, just to make sure they don't go insane from all of the demands put on them throughout the day.

[00:26:26] Like they, you need something that's yours. To show that you are creative in your soul basically and just it needs a way out Somewhere some other people do it in a lot of different mediums But there I think it's been helpful to have just something for me basically so true Totally agree with that What advice would you give to aspiring artists about cultivating a mindful and creative [00:27:00] flow state for themselves or advice in general for aspiring artists who are looking to advance in their own creativity?

[00:27:12] I feel like the hardest part is even just getting to the studio for a lot of people. So building a routine that is Unstoppable, like you, it's almost like connected to something else like you, I don't know, just getting in the habit of going like go every day, go every day and do something bad. And even if you don't feel like it, just go every day until you You feel like going every day or until it becomes part of who you are.

[00:27:41] And then when it is you, it's easy to go every day because it's your identity. You do things that align with you. You're not forcing it. But just at the beginning, if you're having trouble getting there, just go every single day or do something every single day. It's almost like [00:28:00] creating that sustainable practice.

[00:28:03] And the sustainability comes from you. doing it every day, holding yourself accountable to showing up for however much time you can dedicate in that day and just building that habit up and also celebrating the bad art, quote unquote. It's all good. It's all, it's, it's not even neither good or bad. Just don't stop.

[00:28:30] If you've hit a block, power through all that stuff. Yeah. Well, maybe I was being a little too harsh there. Going every day, you don't have to go for very long. Just go every day until it becomes who you are. And then you can kind of, it'll just flow naturally, I feel like. Yeah. Permission to do bad art is, is the key.

[00:28:57] You're gonna do a ton of bad [00:29:00] art. It helps to even look at a lot of art, I think, to find out what art you like. I feel like that's been super helpful with my job. Like, I looked at a lot of art, and I figured out what I liked. And at the beginning, I did like different art. I did like art that maybe I, if I'd seen more art, then I wouldn't know.

[00:29:24] What else is out there? It's so important to just, it's like expanding your palate. Basically. It was like food. I think so occurred where you don't know what you don't know until you see what's out there basically. So look at a lot of art, do a lot of art. Just it's really a I've heard this thing that really I keep in my mind.

[00:29:50] They did that study where a class was given an assignment. Half of the class took one photo. And that was their grade for [00:30:00] the whole year. And the other class had to take 100 photos, like as many photos as possible. And unanimously, the half of the class that took so many photos just had better photos. So you're spending all this time getting one thing perfect isn't the way to do it.

[00:30:20] You just got to keep doing as many things as possible because it's an eventuality that you'll get what you want, basically. Wow, that makes so much sense. Yeah, I love that stuff. Are there any artists or creators who have significantly influenced your perspective on art? Um, I guess the obvious one, the one I'm obsessed with is Henry Moore and Constantine Brancuzzi.

[00:30:49] All the good ones are dead. Henry Moore, because he has these, this like distinctive style. It's very rough, [00:31:00] actually, when you look at a lot of them. He has the tools, he gets it, but from a distance, I guess his work is made to be observed from a distance, because he has such monumental works. That's very inspiring to me, to have these like larger pieces that really affect the space they're in, that people want to come closer to, that, that just feel out of this world.

[00:31:26] And on the other end of that, Brancusi uses super polished, amazing finishes that just glisten from the distance, beam of perfect machined gold on these like amazing Textural pedestals that just like contrast so well and and the fact that he took his own photos and he has these lavish weird parties and he was eccentric is everything.

[00:31:58] I think he was a real joker. [00:32:00] So I really like these kinds of people. Uh, as for living artists, though, there's so many, I'm really inspired by people who do different art forms than me. I love finding an artist that have a style that I don't like. If I wrote down what styles I like on paper, this artist would never come up.

[00:32:22] But for whatever reason, their art, it changes my style, what I like. Their art is so good that it it's in its own category. I'm like, I will make an exception now because this artist is like, I don't even know. Okay. So one that comes to mind is Tomo Campbell. It's like this really, uh, lavish parties that are so abstract and large and like, he's like, colors and soft.

[00:32:50] It's just such a scene. And I could never tell you that would be my style. I could never say like, I love that. But seeing his [00:33:00] work, it's just like, crazy to, to see in person. And I love artists that just keep surprising me. Like, um, I don't know. There's just something to them. I'm sure there's so many more.

[00:33:14] I look at art for a living. So I, I see a lot that I fall in love with every day, but yes, it's always inspiring. I don't know sometimes as much about their practice. Sometimes it's better not to know, but I think It's great when an artist can push you outside of your comfort zone and what you think you like.

[00:33:34] And I think that's what artists are supposed to do, right? And yes, the mystery is quite nice when it comes to art and the pieces you like that belong to a certain artist. Well, thank you so much. Jada. Your answers were crystal clear and very, very from the heart. And [00:34:00] it's always refreshing to hear. When an artist speaks about their journey from such a personal place and almost reveals their own truths and embarks especially on this journey of discovery by partaking in a breathwork session that they might not have been privy to before and is definitely new territory for them.

[00:34:24] So thank you again for being open to that and letting me guide you through that and then continuing to share all those captivating insights thereafter. So, always a pleasure Xavier. A pleasure is mine. Thank you for tuning in to Creative Clarity. Until next time, stay inspired, stay mindful, and keep creating.