Artist Collaboration: Cabin7 Originals

Flavor of the Day: Juicy Joints' Seattle Berry pre-roll

BDL NOTE- From the very first time I've seen a Cabin7 Original picture, I fell in love. I've been following all of the social media, FB, IG, Twitter (I swear I'm not a stalker, just a fan) & I feel like Bridget and I could be smoking buddies because she seems to "get" me, at least through her artwork. I instantly wanted to interview her with an artist collaboration for the blog & had to grow the balls to ask her, which she graciously agreed to, much to my excitement. No joke, I anxiously await the artist's answers like a little kid at Christmas, just knowing that there's going to be something amazing in that colorfully wrapped box (the artist's brain.) I was not disappointed, which is no surprise to me. Please sit back and enjoy today's Artist Collaboration article and know that I appreciate you for reading and supporting.

How did you come up with the name Cabin7 Originals? The name is from a story I wrote in middle school. Most people know me as an artist, but I’m a writer and storyteller first. That’s my greatest passion, and where most of my art ideas come from. My first cohesive story was about a haunted summer camp cabin and it was called The Curse of Cabin 7. All the art I made at that time was about that story and those characters. My mom saw how obsessed I was with my story and suggested I call myself Cabin 7 Originals as an artist name. She even bought my website domain (www.cabin7originals.com) all the way back then and paid for it until I actually started using it as my shop a decade later.

I feel like most of your art resonates with me. It puts me at peace & I just want to turn into Mary Poppins & jump in the artwork. Do you have a favorite piece that you've done? I love to hear this from people, because that’s also my experience with my art. If I could live in it, I would. I have a lot of favorite pieces! If I had to choose one, I couldn’t, but I have a category of favorites: any of the ones featuring my characters Calia and Everest. They’re developed from my original characters from The Curse of Cabin 7, Macy and Knight. They’re in the novel I’m currently writing, which will be the first one I ever actually publish. My pieces of them include “Submerged”, “Calev”, “Luminescence”, and “Doing Laundry”.

I love your merch and it was hard for me to put a limit on myself when perusing your website. Do you have favorite merch item? Like choosing a favorite piece, picking a favorite Cabin 7 merch item is an impossible task. I have a favorite every time I drop a collection. My most recent favorite is the yellow tie dye “Ride The High” tee that was part of my Summer Colors drop!

Sativa or Indica? Why? Indica, because I’m a very anxious person who needs to be sedated. Sitting for hours on end to draw or write requires relaxation and patience.

What got you into art? I was born like this. I don’t remember one moment of being alive in which I didn’t want to draw. I’m a very imaginative person and my mind doesn’t have enough room for all my ideas. Rendering them into reality is the best therapy out there.

Apart from your appreciation for weed, what else inspires you? My stories and my characters. In my life, they’re as real as you and me. Maybe even more real. The worlds I create are a vivid escape from this world, and as a professional escapist, I stay in them a lot. Weed is the vehicle that has allowed me to have the patience and focus to sit and make them happen on paper or screen. The two together are the holy grail of Cabin 7 inspiration.

"Luminescence"

What's the best life advice you've ever been given? “Never take advice from someone you wouldn’t trade places with.”

What's your best go to for when you're feeling uninspired? Pinterest. It’s a magical site full of endless visual aesthetics and drawing references and I’ve spent a ton of my life scrolling through it. In college, of my design professors made us make a Pinterest account as a grade and that assignment has had the biggest payoff out of any. Also, music. I love music as much as I love writing and drawing. Even though I can’t create it myself, my passion for it is out of this world.

As someone who can't draw, I love finding out how artists became who they are. What's your story & what made you decide to be an artist for a living? To make a long story short, I grew up in a loud, messy, chaotic environment. My brain naturally prefers order, peace and quiet, and being alone, and I couldn’t have it. I needed something - somewhere - I could have total dominion over. Somewhere I could create what I wasn’t getting. I’d always had a natural knack for drawing, but the true inspiration was when I started writing. Then, with descriptions and visuals, I could create an entire universe where I was the most powerful player in the game. You live in that universe long enough, eventually it becomes powerful enough to stand on its own. There was no way I was ever going to leave it, and I still won’t. So, by any means necessary, I made it into my day job. I spent all my time drawing, writing, perfecting and honing my craft. I had no social life in high school. No cell phone. No computer. No friends outside of class. No drivers license. No job. No parties. No school events. All I knew was my art. I got straight As so I could get a scholarship to the university of my choice. In the middle of college, I had to work three jobs, switch schools, and move across the country, but I finally got a dual degree in art and business and was able to start this business the right way. I’d been running my Instagram for a couple years while in college, doing custom works to pay the bills, but the merch came after. All along, people didn’t take me seriously, told me it wasn’t realistic, told me I needed to “consider other options”. I realized pretty quick that when people say “you can’t do that” what they really mean is “I can’t do that”. So I never listened to them. Turns out, rebelling against reality itself makes you one hard mountain to move. If you’ve created a place where you’ve gotten a taste of true euphoria, why would you ever leave? I’m an addict. My brain will do anything to stay on the high of creating things.

What is one thing about you that not many people know? I’m not a fan of cartoons. I know, I’m a (sort of) cartoonist. But I actually don’t like watching them. When I watch them, all I do is think about how I wouldn’t have drawn this that way, or I would have used this color instead. My brain critiques it like it’s my own work. It’s not that I’m a hater. There are so many phenomenal artists out there who have there own styles and they deserve credit and appreciation! I just get so distracted thinking about how the stuff was created, I don’t care about the storyline. And as a workaholic storyteller, collecting writing inspo is the only reason I can justify spending time watching TV.

How do you keep your creative flow going when you feel stuck? Music. Draw. Write. Pinterest. Rinse & repeat. Sometimes in that order, sometimes not. But always those four. If none of that works, I go to the gym and see what comes up. Something always does.

What are your favorite stoner munchies? I love fruit, particularly berries. Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries. Can never go wrong. Also, Toll House chocolate chip cookies are the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted, sober or high. I always have them in the house. Dip them in some oat milk and you’ve got a delicacy.

What's your preferred way to smoke? Bowls for everyday use, joints for the weekends or on the go, blunts for special occasions.

I was so excited to see your artwork on Northwest Leaf magazine that I actually sent you a message. I appreciate how responsive you are on social media btw. What are you most proud to see your artwork on? I’m most proud to see my work on my own apparel & merch, because it makes me take the most difficult path to see an end result. It’s not just someone else giving me their ideas and paying me to render them. That has its own challenges, but when it’s just me versus me, from idea conception to multiple drafts to product design to final piece? That’s a lengthy process that requires patience and decisiveness that don’t come in easy to me. When I get through it and come out the other side with a cool item that I love and other people enjoy, too, it’s so rewarding.

What made you agree to collaborate with me & Beautiful Disaster Lit Blog? I may be an introvert, but I like sharing pieces of myself when I know it will be appreciated. I’m happy to give a glimpse into my life and my art processes, especially to people who support my business.

Where can people view or purchase your work?                                        

Shop: www.cabin7originals.com

IG, Twitter, Tiktok: @cabin7originals

Facebook: Cabin 7 Originals, but I'm most active on Instagram!

BDL Note- (This interview was conducted via messenger. I would love to interview someone in person (locally) or via Zoom, please let me know if you have anybody in mind, including yourself.)

I always have so much fun getting to know artists & I hope you enjoyed reading about Bridget & Cabin7 Originals. Please go show her some love!! Buy some merch, check out her social media, & share!

🖤💋💨