Balancing Two Worlds

Throughout my life, I’ve always navigated two seemingly distinct paths: science and art. By day, I’m a geologist, analyzing the physical structures of our earth. But art has been my lifelong companion—from childhood sketches to painting my way through college and beyond. For years, I’ve balanced these two parts of myself, moonlighting as an artist while building my career in geology.

The Turning Point

The foundation for New Galicia Designs was laid last fall when I launched the brand with a focus on my artistic creations. Through dedication and passion, I gradually built interest and a social media following around my work. But the decisive hard fork moment came more recently—in early 2025, when new tariffs were enacted that significantly impacted the market.

As these tariffs shifted the economic landscape, I watched how they affected luxury goods markets, including the high-end art pieces I had been creating. The writing was on the wall—I needed to adapt to these new realities.

This was my hard fork moment. I could continue focusing solely on luxury art pieces with increasingly uncertain returns, or I could diversify my creative offerings to build something more resilient while leveraging the audience and interest I’d already cultivated.

From Concept to Evolution

The decision to pivot and expand New Galicia Designs in 2025 wasn’t made lightly. It meant channeling my creative energy into developing products at various price points—items that could “keep the lights on” while still maintaining artistic integrity. I began exploring how my artistic vision could translate into more accessible formats without compromising quality or creative expression.

My background in geology unexpectedly proved valuable in this transition. The scientific mindset of analyzing patterns, understanding material properties, and solving complex problems translated well to business development and product design. The same attention to detail that serves me in field research now helps me craft both my artwork and my business strategy.

Expanding into Digital Spaces

Developing the New Galicia Designs website has been a natural extension of my technical background. The analytical mindset that serves me in geology translates seamlessly to software development, allowing me to create exactly the digital experience I envisioned for showcasing my work.

This digital expansion represents more than just an online store—it’s the foundation for my emerging software development venture. Building this platform has allowed me to leverage my technical expertise in a new context, creating a space where art and technology converge in sophisticated ways. The process has reinforced my belief that the boundaries between scientific thinking, artistic creation, and technical implementation are more permeable than most people realize.

Where Science Meets Art

What makes New Galicia Designs unique is precisely this intersection of disciplines. My geological background influences my artistic perspective, from color palettes inspired by mineral formations to textures that echo earth’s natural patterns. This scientific lens offers a distinctive approach to art and design that informs everything from my creative process to my business decisions.

The diversity in my product line isn’t just a business strategy—it’s a reflection of the varied landscapes I study professionally. Just as nature creates both grand canyons and delicate crystals, my creative work spans both statement pieces and everyday items that bring artistry into daily life.

The Path Forward

Though New Galicia Designs is still in its early stages, having launched just last fall, I’m excited about its evolution. Building this business alongside my geological work creates a fulfilling synergy that allows me to express different aspects of my creative and analytical self.

This website represents not just a business platform but a creative laboratory where I can continue to explore the intersection of science, art, and entrepreneurship. It’s a space where I can share both finished pieces and the processes behind them, connecting directly with people who appreciate this unique combination of influences.

Embracing the Dual Path

My journey to founding New Galicia Designs reminds me that sometimes the most interesting work happens at the boundaries between different fields. Rather than choosing between being a scientist or an artist, I’ve found strength in embracing both identities and seeing how they can inform and enhance each other.

This hard fork wasn’t about abandoning one path for another—it was about creating a new path that draws from multiple sources of inspiration. It’s about building something sustainable that allows for both creative expression and practical resilience in changing economic landscapes.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Welcome to New Galicia Designs.

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Do you also balance multiple professional identities or creative pursuits? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

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  Navigating the Hard Fork: From Geologist to New Galicia Designs Posted on May 4, 2025