Meet Bijou Leavins | Artist | creativelybijou

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bijou Leavins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bijou, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I never intended to pursue any artistic endeavors in my life. I had always had the small voice in the back of my head that whispered silkily in my ear about the “starving artist”. I personally had no ambition to be starving myself so I believed I would steer clear of the “artist” avenue. Having said that I continued to spend much of my spare time zoning into my sketch pads, canvases and crafting projects. It was not until Covid hit that I began to really allow my mind to formulate a half formed plan of putting my work out there for others to see. Though I constantly was bombarding my boyfriend and loved ones with my artwork “show and tells” at this point I would not allow any person outside of my trusted circle a glimpse into my works. It came to a point where I finally decided to take the plunge, to allow myself to take a shot in the dark and enjoy the process of sharing my creations, to take things less seriously and have some fun with it. I could not in that moment of known just how fun it has been to create my own art business. From creating my brand name & logo to learning how to create a website and how to even figure out how to bring my pieces to life. It’s been an amazing journey! So I suppose this has been a long winded expression of a more simple answer: I pursued an artistic career for myself and the joy it brings me to share the fun little corners of my mind that flow into colorful imaginative illustrations that can bond and relate with people I do not yet know.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
By day I am a beertender at the lovely local brewery called Vail Brewing Co but I spend my spare time creating my art business called “creativelybijou”. Most of my work is centered on inspirations from my life living in Vail, Colorado. I have a series of cowgirls and mountain mamas that illustrate the connection to the wilderness as well as “jerrycentric” pieces based on the skier life. My favorite collection that I have created to date is my “Après” series. This series represents the fun and magic one experiences at an après party. It features choice classic movie posters with a skiers twist! The collection stars “The Phantom of the Après” “the Planet of the Après” “It’s a Wonderful Après” “the Après King” and “the Lord of the Après”.

One of the things I am very proud of with the brand I have created is that I take the time and effort to hand make all of my packaging from repurposed materials in an effort to be eco-friendly. Though time consuming, it makes me happy knowing that I am taking steps to reduce the waste that is put out into the environment.

I owe any of the success I have had to the amazing owners of Vail Brewing Company who gave me my starting space to showcase some of my work. Without them I would not have been able to connect with as many people as I have been able to. They are the best! I definitely would not say that this journey has been a breeze. It has taken many hours and mistakes to get to where I am today. Having said that, I have loved every minute— this has been the most exciting journey and I am excited to continue to grow and learn.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Vail I let my visitors know they need to bring some good shoes to hang out in the outdoors! Activities, activities, activities! Pretty much it depends on the season—mountain biking or hiking in the summers or skiing in the winters. I’m a big beer gal so I tend to bring friends into Vail Brewing Co to grab an awesome beer and also check out where I work. Another amazing spot that is in East Vail is Après Cafe, the perfect local spot with my favorite pizza! El Segundo is another go to spot for tacos and margs. I also love popping into the cutest boutique in town called “Pano” in search for wardrobe additions.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am so incredibly grateful towards the owners of Vail Brewing Company, they are the ones that have opened the doors of opportunity for me. Without their support and permission to display my artwork in their taproom on Sunday mornings I might still be twiddling my thumbs wondering if anyone would ever like to buy any of my artwork. They have been so kind, cool and supportive of my work and I will forever be thankful for this. I would also like to shout out the owners of Après Cafe for trusting me with me with creating the art and design of their amazing restaurant! Everyday I am boggled by how amazing the local business owners here in Vail are. Of course I have to also give a shout to my friends, family and boyfriend who get bombarded with pictures and questions of my works in progress.

Website: www.creativelybijou.com

Instagram: @creativelybijou