Meet Clarissa Butler of CB Creative Agency in Newport Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clarissa Butler.

As a kid, I was always aesthetically driven. I would beg my parents to buy me items if they had cool packaging. I guess I was aware of branding before I even knew it existed. I always loved museums and was lucky enough to live near D.C. where there are so many incredible ones. I have this distinct memory of my dad taking me to The Herschorn Museum of Art and seeing this sculpture that stopped me dead in my tracks, that moment was a turning point for me and started to drive my artistic curiosity.

My parents are both rocket scientists for NASA, so I’ve been lucky enough to be raised in an environment where anything was possible. In high school, I took art classes, and one of my teachers mentored me and encouraged me to pursue art as my college major. I studied Art and Communications and then headed straight to L.A. to start the rest of my life!

I worked in film, for a music magazine and a lifestyle sneaker company and learned as much as I could about creative commerce. Living in a town with so many creatives, I was always working on my side hustle styling a photoshoot or curating art for a boutique. The funny thing is that I started out building websites by default because the guy I was going to hire was taking so long. I just thought “how hard could it be?” and I figured it out by trial and error.

My skills have now expanded to full-service art consulting and interiors, branding, film production, office, and home remodels, and I have an amazing team of creators I run with, that make my visions come to life. I also teach art and try and funnel awareness to non-profits as much as possible. It’s that connection with humanity and community that really resonates with people.

As the Founder + Creative Director of CB Creative Agency, I have the opportunity to use both my business acumen and my creativity in tandem. I love what I do because I wake up and I never know what to expect. I could be at a vintage shop one-day sourcing mid-century furniture, on the set of an art documentary, or on a job site choosing paint colors for a corporate office.

I get to express myself in so many different ways, and it is very gratifying when my clients come back to me and tell me the positive response they’re getting from our creations. I get to utilize my left brain logic and right brain creativity, every single day which excites me. I love to create beauty in the world whether its a photograph, a website, or a mural, everyday I get to make the world a little bit more beautiful and for me, that’s the ultimate reward.

Clarissa Butler is the Founder + Creative Director of CB Creative Agency. She works with a number of artists, photographers, and designers, to curate art, interior design, and brands across all platforms. Raised on the East Coast, Clarissa found her creative beach-loving heart in Southern California. She enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, gaining perspective at galleries and museums, and expanding her wellness and yoga practice.

As the daughter of two NASA rocket scientists, Clarissa Butler grew up believing in boundless possibility. Butler’s full-service agency provides a 360-degree lifestyle experience for her clients. She has spent 13 years in the creative business space, and her diverse development strategies reflect her background.

Her talent for connecting people has led to many brand collaborations within her client portfolio. Utilizing her left brain logic and right brain creativity she is adept in both the strategic and creative processes necessary to run a design house. Butler loves all executions of art and design and teaches printmaking and plein-air drawing + painting.

Printmaking and color theory are her primary focus, and she loves the multiple ways to explore and execute drawings and color relationships through the ancient medium. The tedious nature and surprise of the craft allows for endless discovery, and she loves the never-ending possibilities it allows and sharing that passion for discovery with her students.

As an active community member, Butler supports several charities and produces awareness that benefit their efforts. She teaches art with Creative Creatures Collective and raises funds for Art 4 Healing and the Father Bill Moore Foundation.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not- but my mentors always say that failure is the best teacher and I insist on learning the hard way! For example, I’ve had a lot of bosses tell me I’m not good at sales, but I’ve found on my own that authenticity and good quality work sells itself. And there has to be an organic connection with my clients because you spend a lot of time with people you create with.

There’s a level of trust there as well. With that being said, there is a lot of synchronicity and magic that happens on the daily, and that’s what always keeps me going. I love empowering others and seeing a creation come to life. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about paint colors and other details about my projects. I think every business owner faces challenges.

For me, it was a hard decision to go out on my own after so many years of working for other people. Deciding that you are going to completely support yourself with your own business, is a big step and it’s not for the faint of heart. I’m so happy I took that leap and believed in myself enough to stick it out, even during the times when I wasn’t getting a lot of work.

Success kind of builds upon itself and the more you work, the more work you get. If you are producing quality work, then word gets out, and you’ll get more and more opportunities to create on larger scales.

Please tell us about CB Creative Agency.
All in all, we create the visuals behind brands.

I work with artists, filmmakers, real estate developers, and private clients to curate visual assets. CB Creative is a full-service creative agency, and I mean full service. I handle all facets of design for my clients. I produce films, conceptualize photoshoots, design logos, build websites, curate art, plan events, design interiors, and anything else that a brand may need to visually manifest their message. I pride myself on helping brands tell their story in a creative and concise way, across all platforms.

My goal is to create something authentic to the client’s vision. I am an artist as well, so it allows me to have a dialogue and insight when working with my creators. People love working with our team because we all love what we do, and I believe that genuine passion and skill shows with our work. I’m so proud of who’ve I been lucky enough to work with, they truly fuel my ideas and understand my obsessive nature of how I want something to look. I am most proud of our continued growth and watching our visions come to life with each new project.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was eight or nine, I have this distinct memory of my dad taking me to The Herschorn Museum of Art and seeing this sculpture that stopped me dead in my tracks, that moment was a turning point for me and started to drive my artistic curiosity.

Contact Info:

• Address: 124 Tustin Ave. Suite 108 Newport Beach, CA 92663
• Website: www.cbcreative.agency
• Phone: (949) 734-0382
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @cbcreative.agency
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbcreative.agency/

Image Credit:
Chad Crawford

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