Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Haley Guilfoile. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Haley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

Oh man, my first dollar made by selling something I created… I was actually very young, 3 or 4 years old.

My parents explained what a “yard sale” was, saying we would have one… and I was very interested in the money-making side of it since it meant I could buy more toys. They asked me which of my old toys I wanted to sell, and I was like, “What do you mean?! The whole idea is to get MORE toys, not lose some! Duh!” … to which they asked me “well then, what are you going to sell?!”

I created what I called “Orsons”, silly little creatures made of dixie cups and post-it notes. I made 10-20 of them and filled up the folding table my dad put out for me to use. For just 25 cents, customers could take home one of these toddler-made monstrosities!

To my surprise, I sold out. I raised enough money for a pack of Pokémon cards. I was elated. Of course, what I didn’t know at the time was that my dad had slipped each yard sale visitor a quarter, quietly pleading with them to purchase one of my silly little Orsons.

I have always sold my artwork, and I think a huge part of the entrepreneurialism I tie to my work is due to my father encouraging the business side of it from such a young age.

Haley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I actually avoided painting at all costs for the longest time! I didn’t want dirty nails, messy clothes.. In art school I even had my department head, Chuck Pyle, waive my painting courses in favor of Laser Engraving, Metalworking etc… but when I was asked to paint a mural for the first time, everything changed.

My first mural was for ReWaxation in San Francisco at their Divisadero location. I fell in love with seeing my work so big- I knew I needed to feel that again. I did murals for 3 years before finally accepting my fate as a painter and working with canvases.

I think my background in digital illustration and initial love for mural work drove my unique style a bit- my clean, precise lineart and bold, blocked in colors reflect my process as I typically do a digital mockup before starting on my canvas. This also makes me an ideal muralist when working with clients- I’m able to iterate on a digital design until I ultimately provide a near-identical mockup of the mural I then execute for them.

As far as what’s important to me when it comes to my brand- Authenticity is #1 for me. My art is such a deep reflection of my emotions, struggles, celebrations. To be able to express myself on such an intimate level with people all over the world is… such a huge blessing, and simultaneously such a big responsibility. I never want to add to the anxiety that comparison online causes so many folks nowadays. Especially as someone who has always felt a little “on the outs”… I never want to be someone who makes others feel like they don’t belong, or aren’t “in” on some big secret.

All I can do is be 100% myself, 100% of the time. I’m not going to be for everyone. I’ve experienced some brutal moments even just this past year in which I was confronted with just how much I am *not* for some folks. But.. there’s something incredibly healthy about that. I want my art, my brand, and myself to be in unison in the authenticity, passion, inclusivity, and joy I put forth.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I became a single mother at 23, and it was a tough start. I didn’t have savings, I didn’t have a career built up. I wanted to give my daughter everything she’d have had in a more established two-parent household. So, for the first few years of her life, my art took a major backseat as I focused on building a career in technology so I could provide for my daughter the way I wanted to.

I really didn’t pick up the pace until spring of 2023, which truly wasn’t all that long ago. To think I’ve grown from sharing a few paintings here and there very casually, to painting live on the Dallas Mavs opening night in their VIP Lounge, doing a custom bass guitar for the bassist Ian Grushka of New Found Glory, and showing my work during Art Basel in Miami… It truly showed me that it’s never too late to pursue your creative passion, even if you’re a parent.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think something that may not be relatable or easy to understand about having such a strong creative drive is the HUNGER. Sometimes the need to create is so strong, it even completely overtakes my base human needs. I’ll forget to eat, drink, use the restroom (tmi haha!)- Everything else is just an obstacle in the way of what I really need to do most- create.

It’s not even a choice. Yes, hypothetically I do have a choice, I could stop for 20 minutes and eat something so I stop shaking- but that would mean not painting for 20 minutes, which, in the moment, feels so much worse. It’s kind of insane to think about.. but it’s almost an addiction. I crave it more than I crave anything in the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lovenotestudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovenotestudios/profilecard/?igsh=MW52aDR1ams4YWJseA==

Image Credits

All of the photos included were shot by myself.