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

Mariah, 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?

Technically, my first dollar was paid in high school when I was paid to do a portrait for my mom’s friend. While that was an awesome feeling and I don’t want to take away from that experience, nothing compares to my excitement from the sales of the summer of 2020. Over 10 years later… almost 2 years after I began sharing my art online, one of the people that had been following my journey reached out about buying a couple of my paintings straight out of my sketchbook. She purchased two original paintings, and expressed a strong- liking for a third, and I was so excited that someone was so interested in my work that I just threw it in with the other two. Before then, I knew that people would hit the like button, and maybe genuinely liked to check out my work, but for her to reach out and want to actually pay me for watercolor paintings that I did for my own enjoyment, just blew me away.

Months after that, as the high was wearing down from what I considered my first art sale, another social media follower reached for a commissioned piece. Not only did she like my work, and want my work, but she threw out an idea and gave me the creative freedom to bring her vision to life. These two incidents, I feel, really shaped the beginning of my art career, and brought me into the mindset of creating pieces that were for more than just sketchbook fun. It introduced a shift to bring Inhale Artz where it is today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Inhale Artz is an art brand that is inspired by nature, and the living world around us. And not only do I enjoy incorporating nature into the themes of my work, but I also use natural pigments including plants, coffees, and teas to create some of my whimsical, unearthly characters. One of the main things that I feel that stands out about my brand is the feeling that my art pieces bring to the viewer. I believe there is a need for art that is unique, different, and captures emotions that we may not always be able to express. I have been told that having my paintings in some of my clients’ homes have brought them a sense of peace, calm, and has shifted the energy in their space in a positive way.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I feel like life is a series of constant pivoting and adjusting. From the time that I sold my first painting in 2020 until now, nearly 5 years later, I have had some pretty exciting progress in my career. I’ve been featured in galleries, been a part of exhibitions, and even had my work featured on billboards. But also, I have had times where I have to focus more on homelife, and my children than on my art as a business, where I may still create for my own personal needs, or for those close to me, but there’s nothing new that I feel the inspired to share the world, necessarily. I think an exciting part about life is the constant change, and being able to enjoy all aspects of your journey with all the curves that may be thrown your way.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I don’t often find myself just wanting to paint, but more so it is the need to get something out of me. I look at my paintings as taking in the world around me and transmuting it into a physical creation for myself and others to enjoy. Creating is something I will do regardless, so the fact that my work has gotten the appreciation that it has is the biggest compliment to me for sure. Realizing that my art has made a difference and is able to uplift, and be a comfort to others as well as myself, is what drives me to continue to put it out there, and continue to try to expand my audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://InhaleArtz.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Inhale.Artz
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Inhale.Artz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@InhaleArtz