We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tenesha Cross. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tenesha below.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Tenesha Cross and I am the owner and artist behind “It’s Irie Creations”. As a Jamaican-American, I have always had a deep appreciation for the vibrant colors and culture of my Jamaican heritage. When the pandemic hit in 2020 and the world essentially shut down, I took the opportunity to explore some creative passions of mine during the downtime of being home all day. I began teaching myself how to draw and make jewelry through online tutorials and then progressed to learning other mediums, such as resin art and digital art.

I started “It’s Irie Creations” to share my love of Jamaican flair and bright colors through my handmade crafts. As the name suggests, everything I create is designed to put a smile on your face and make you feel “Irie” – which means happy or relaxed in Jamaican Patois. My main products include colorful earrings, resin art pieces, and digital art pieces. However, I am known to have a little bit of everything.

Whether it’s through a pair of clay earrings, a framed drawing, or a resin coaster for your coffee table, my goal is to create pieces that help to uplift the spirit. What sets my brand apart is my willingness to not only try new things, but make products that you wouldn’t easily find through someone else. I not only infuse the vibrance of Jamaican culture, but I also help you make a statement with each item made by me.

As a new small business owner launching during the pandemic, I am most proud of how far I’ve come in such a short time through dedication and hard work. While I still have a far way to go, it always gives me joy for others to notice my jewelry and be shocked to learn that I made it. I want to continue to showcase my appreciation by continuing to provide items that can give them the same joy. Most of all, I hope customers, both old and new, come to see my brand as a celebration of Jamaican culture through creative expression. My goal is for It’s Irie Creations to spread positive vibes because in my storefront, “every creation is Irie.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to put my ideas in a form that others can see and understand. Being able to provide an art piece based off of an idea that a customer has and then being able to see that customer’s reaction to the final product makes me want to continue to bring out those same kind of reactions in others.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn, and am still trying to unlearn, is the idea of comparing myself to other creatives and artists to create goals. I had to learn that making art should not feel like a competition against others. While there are many creatives and artists out there, I have to remember that we all had out own journey so it is impossible to believe that two different journeys will lead to the same outcomes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.itsiriecreations.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsiriecreations/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsiriecreations/

Image Credits
All images created by Tenesha Cross.