State & Occupation

I’m Dakota Barber, founder and author of State & Occupation. The name comes from my own name- Dakota(the State) & Barber(the Occupation). I am a 22 year old Canadian freelance writer that loves love, donuts, cats, dreaming and belly laughing.

Recent Blog Posts

I Have Questions
Posted
I recently learned about the Buddhist teaching “See the Glass as Already Broken”. This concept is about recognizing that everything has a beginning and an end, and  remembering this can help you appreciate what you have in the moment (whether … Continue reading →
Published at State & Occupation
Natural Blonde.
Posted
Natural Blonde. Collaged over 3 cups of coffee and season 4 of Sex & the City. Advertisements
Published at State & Occupation
With the Grain
Posted
I read a quote recently that said something along the lines of, “If you’re questioning whether or not you’re an artist, you probably are.” I hope you wonder today, too.
Published at State & Occupation
Sunset Circus
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Sunset Circus
Finished my second mixed media piece today! This little leaping lady wore a few different outfits (an American dollar bill, a circuit board, and a decorated Christmas tree) before I decided the painted look works best for her. It’s interesting … Continue reading →
Published at State & Occupation
A Bigger Plan.
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A Bigger Plan.
I sat on the floor with a stack of magazines, newspapers, scissors and Scream Queens on in the background. I didn’t know what I set out to make, but I knew the minute it was finished. After admiring other artists’ mixed … Continue reading →
Published at State & Occupation
Designing in Denim
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When I was 11 I decided I was going to start designing and sewing my own clothes. With limited sewing skills and no patience to follow a pattern, I got busy cutting and glueing pieces together until I had made … Continue reading →
Published at State & Occupation
Head, Hands, Heart
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Head, Hands, Heart
I always feel the summer-is-over-get-me-a-scarf vibes as soon as September hits, despite the first official day of fall not being for another couple of weeks. Today I’m sharing some photos from the adventures my head, hands and heart have seen … Continue reading →
Published at State & Occupation
Bloom However You Need
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Bloom However You Need
There are few things that catch my attention as aggressively as flowers do (sunsets being one of them). Since moving to Vancouver in the spring my obsession has only gotten stronger, so today’s post is an ode to all things … Continue reading →
Published at State & Occupation
Little Untold Stories
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Little Untold Stories
State & Occupation has been on my mind lately, and in my quest for a little inspo to get back at it I went browing through my drafts and found a small collection of unfinished, unpolished and unposted bits of writing from … Continue reading →
Published at State & Occupation
The Morning
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The Morning
A few months ago I started setting my alarm for 5am every morning. I’d get up, read a little, drink a coffee, and then take our sweet dog Em for a walk to watch the sunrise- all before starting work … Continue reading →
Published at State & Occupation