WilloToons Connect: Meet Mati Rose McDonough [Full Episode] - WilloLovesYou.com

WilloToons Connect: Meet Mati Rose McDonough [Full Episode]

WilloToons Connect - Inspiring Creative Sustainability in Life & Business

This interview is from a series I produced in 2011, called WilloToons Connect.

I discovered Mati Rose’s work at a Renegade Craft Fair in 2009. Stepping up to her booth, I instantly fell in love with EVERY SINGLE THING she had and before I knew it bought over a $100 worth, while exclaiming, “Oh my god, hurry and ring me up before I buy one of everything!” Needless to say, I’m a fan.

Since then, we’ve become close friends, co-created Ladies in Design League (LIDL) meetups in SF, and I continue to be inspired watching her cultivate a full, creative life that most artists only dream of!

Her journey hasn’t always been paved with gold, yet Mati’s tenacity for following her heart has totally paid off. Her fabulous paintings are sold across the country and she has her work licensed on cards, magnets, tees, and more. She’s been featured in many books, is in the process of writing her own, and has a successful online course, called Get Your Paint On. How’s that for making it happen? Hallelujah!

In this conversation, Mati and I discuss how important it is to stay true to your work, and giving time to yourself amidst the pressure of deadlines and expectations that come with being a full-time artist. Mati is an incredible inspiration for never giving up on what you love. The fact that she has fearlessly continued to pick up the paintbrush and create no matter what, is a beacon for all of us who have that small voice within, begging us to give life to our gifts.

Visit Mati Rose Online
MatiRose.com

Does this conversation hit home for you? Are you an artist who works full-time on your business, or wishes you could? I’d love to hear your thoughts and/or questions in the comments!

UPDATE: I just posted Behind-the-Scenes photos and Mati’s answers to my Creative Questionnaire!

Click here to view all the related posts in this video series.

About the Author

Willo Sana has been empowering entrepreneurs who are standing on the precipice of their next level for over 20 years. An international keynote speaker and sought-after Transformational Business Coach, Willo's experienced and intuitive guidance has served as a catalytic force for visionary business owners around the world. Anticipation is building for Willo's upcoming book, Double Down on Your Genius: Own Your Gifts, Align Your Actions, and Flourish in Your Calling, set to release in 2023.

Leave a Reply 32 comments

leslie - July 21, 2011 Reply

beyond thrilled to see mati rose, lovely soul, sharing her journey in this interview! i am honored to be shooting her first book this summer and love that this is the forum for our first reveal 🙂 willo, your work is delightful as is your smile – i hope to meet you one day soon!!

    Willo O'Brien - July 21, 2011 Reply

    thank you, leslie! I’m honored to have you a part of this… and really appreciate your generosity, warmth & enthusiasm! looking forward to meeting you in person, too… we have lots to celebrate! 🙂

sarajo friede - July 21, 2011 Reply

eek…mati, you are so adorable!

Marianne - July 22, 2011 Reply

I love Mati and her art, and love that you two lovely women are friends.

Susannah Conway - July 22, 2011 Reply

I adore Mati and I’m looking at one of her original paintings on my wall right now 🙂 So excited to buy her book — i know she (and leslie!) are creating something magical xo

sarah ahearn bellemare - July 22, 2011 Reply

this was fantastic! yay mati! thank you for this interview, was great to hear from both of you 🙂 what a wonderful resource for inspiration & connection in real life… it makes such a difference hearing and seeing the interview in person. LOVE the sneak peek of the book cover too! hip hip hoooray! it’s so lovely!
xo *sarah ahearn bellemare

Rachel W Cole - July 24, 2011 Reply

Willo – I love this interview series and I love that you shared Mati with the rest of the world. So so good!

@thomasknoll - July 25, 2011 Reply

“this is my canvas”

i <3 that

mati rose mcdonough - July 27, 2011 Reply

thank you sweet people! i was shy + fumbly and appreciate your support!!!

Angela DiGiovanni | Living Out Loud - July 27, 2011 Reply

Thank you so much for this interview/video. I’m a newbie painter and have been getting some great feedback. It would be a total dream to create art full time for a living. So clips like this one are very inspiring. Glad to have found your site!

Here is my latest piece: https://www.flickr.com/photos/digang/5953603012/in/photostream

kolleen - July 27, 2011 Reply

CREATE!
CREATE!
CREATE!

i love that …. Mati you are such an inspiration and i love how you have stretched out your arms in so many areas and shaken it up!!!

thank you for such a wonderfully cool interview!!

peaceandlove
k

Deane - July 29, 2011 Reply

Nice videos… Good clean look to it… May video production align with your workflow so we can all watch many more episodes! Be well, Deane

    Willo O'Brien - July 29, 2011 Reply

    Thank you, Deane! I love your mission statement. Thanks for taking the time to say hello!

Jackie - August 2, 2011 Reply

Loved the interview!

Katy - August 2, 2011 Reply

It’s inspiring to see that she works in so many different styles. I always worry about the consistency in my own work & its nice to see she is doing well with so many different styles. I love her work!

Willo O'Brien - August 5, 2011 Reply

Thanks for all of your awesome comments, everybody! Wanted to let you know, I just posted Behind-the-Scenes photos and Mati’s answers to my Creative Questionnaire! Check em out:
https://willotoons.com/2011/08/behind-the-scenes-with-mati-rose/

Sherry Richert Belul - August 8, 2011 Reply

I love watching you two gorgeous, colorful, creative women! Fabulous interview! 🙂

    qnbidgf - January 16, 2012 Reply

    tCaMAE alrpvzqvpsmh

Jennifer - August 31, 2011 Reply

So inspiring, you two, thanks! And Mati’s folk art book is one of the few I chose from my grandmother’s art book collection–it’s a good one!

ludid - October 28, 2011 Reply

i think i have watched this interview more than 5 times. currently taking Mati and Lisa’s painting e-course and i love their perspetive. so fresh. teaching style is different than other e-courses i have taken and
it is refreshing. thank you for these interviews.

    Willo O'Brien - November 1, 2011 Reply

    Awesome, Ludid! Thank you for watching, and for taking the time to leave a comment. It’s so great to hear that it’s hitting home for other creatives out there. So proud and excited for you that you’ve been diving into your painting so much! Take care & keep it up. xo

Hello, October: A review of 2011 thus far | WilloToons - December 8, 2011 Reply

[…] launched two more episodes, one with artist/illustrator, Mati Rose, and the third with yogi/human-rights lawyer, Marianne Elliott. If you haven’t watched an […]

Angela Meijer - January 23, 2012 Reply

what a great interview. soooo inspiring. thank you.

    Willo O'Brien - January 23, 2012 Reply

    Thank you, Angela! Mati is sitting across from me right this second and we both smiled and said “that’s soo sweet!”

    We really appreciate your taking the time to say so. Have a wonderful week!

willo + me – mati rose - February 27, 2012 Reply

[…] bare with me, i’m a little shy on camera… but i love my friend willo and we always have the best conversations while hiking, biking and at LIDL our design league, that […]

willo + me – mati rose - February 27, 2012 Reply

[…] bare with me, i’m a little shy on camera… but i love my friend willo and we always have the best conversations while hiking, biking and at LIDL our design league, that […]

willo + me – mati rose - February 27, 2012 Reply

[…] bare with me, i’m a little shy on camera… but i love my friend willo and we always have the best conversations while hiking, biking and at LIDL our design league, that […]

willo + me – mati rose - February 27, 2012 Reply

[…] bare with me, i’m a little shy on camera… but i love my friend willo and we always have the best conversations while hiking, biking and at LIDL our design league, that […]

moyra - April 10, 2012 Reply

Willo you were right, I am connecting with this. Inspiring. I really enjoyed this interview. I love Mati’s style. great dress!! I also love that she is eclectic. you hear so much about focus. and I like to explore! She reminds me of a Brighton painter, Sophie Abbot

    Willo O'Brien - April 10, 2012 Reply

    Awesome, Moyra! I saw that you’re a yogi and knew you’d love the Marianne Elliott episode: https://willotoons.com/video/marianne-elliott/

    I love how bright Sophie Abbott’s work is. Thanks for sharing that… and for saying hello!

Reconnection + Rebirth – mati rose - August 20, 2012 Reply

[…] Additionally Willo and I regularly took hikes together up Bernal Hill, where we’d sweat and talk about how to balance it all… our creativity, our businesses and our relationship with our bodies. We became fast friends […]

Finding your way back home | RE:CONNECT - Get Unstuck & Find Your Magic - September 15, 2012 Reply

[…] This is the trailer… click here to watch the full episode! […]

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