Episode 116 -- Maria Schweitzer -- The Dream Won't Change—the Process Might

Maria Schweitzer is a graphic artist, designer, storyteller and martial artist. She has a masters in fine art and she found herself into comics where she eventually landed in the genre of visual narratives. Today she draws comics and started a business called Rubber Bones— which is where she can display her amazing art, on rash-guards. We talk about that thrill of seeing her art on display on the mat in significant tournaments and on talented athletes. She develops stories and pulled drawing and writing together to find her career. Maria says that sometimes you don’t have to say much, you can show it. Her masters in fine art project took her down a road of a developing a character in who Maria saw herself…with two paths and learning to know how to own it. Her life was pulling together an artist and an athlete. She also explores the idea of life moving and changing. Just because you miss one opportunity, the dream itself is not gone, it may be just a different path. We explore the labels and social validation and how you can become who you are and accept that.We talk about how life cycles and how she gets into the creative zone and what projects she faces. Initially, Maria did an undergraduate degree project that focused on drawing movement and that is where she first took an interest in jujitsu. She started training the sport because in her opinion, her drawing was falling flat. As she got deeper into jujitsu she developed the idea to start a business she calls Rubber Bones that allows her to integrate her personality with loud and bright colors and fun designs on clothing used in the sport. It began by illustrating a horror comic for a friend who was putting on a tournament. With that idea, Maria saw she could create her own line and sell it. She saw she could bring other parts of herself to her world of jujitsu. It’s interesting to hear her talk about her decision process in working with her product functionally. You can trust her because she wears her product and competes in it too. You’ll hear discussion about her navigating and figuring out what can and can’t be controlled— which leads her toward trust. Giving people the information and not assuming saves time and money in her work. We talk about some mistakes and successes and lessons learned. As far as her future, she envisions what she wants and then tries to make that happen. Sports helped her learn that the outcome is determined by the work you’ve put in and she applies that principle today to put the little rungs in the ladder.We talk jujitsu and what it’s like to be female—as well as the in the art of jujitsu and the intimidation factors that one may face.This conversation is one that opens up the dreams and possibilities as one grows and follows her dreams. Tune in!STOMP is used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff