Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Frenchaire Gardner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Frenchaire , thanks for joining us 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?
The summer of 2016 was the spark that lit my creative flame. I had just enrolled in two summer classes at Craft Alliance in St. Louis, Missouri—one in Adobe Photoshop and the other in beginner acrylic painting—thanks to a financial scholarship that felt like divine timing. At the time, I was juggling life as a landlord of a 4,000-square-foot apartment building with three tenants, and running my own independent insurance business. Life was full, but something inside me ached for an outlet—a space to play, to feel, to create.
I picked up a brush for the first time in years and painted the continent of Africa—bold, colorful, and proud, just like the spirit that was reawakening in me. I didn’t know it then, but that painting would become the first portal to a new chapter of my life.
Months later, I was invited to showcase my art at the Black Speculative Arts Movement exhibition in St. Louis. I came as both an artist and a journalist—interviewing other creatives for my podcast, A News You Can Use Podcast. The room buzzed with Black brilliance, imagination, and magic. Then came the moment: my friend Anubis walked up, admired my Africa piece, and decided to buy it.
That sale—those first few dollars—felt like more than a transaction. It was validation. Proof that my art spoke to someone’s soul. Standing there, surrounded by artists I admired, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and belonging.
That first sale wasn’t just about money—it was about transformation. It was the moment I stopped doubting whether I was an artist and started being one.
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.
I’m Frenchaire Gardner, a bisexual mama of four, a multidisciplinary artist, author, and creative visionary who’s learned to transform pain into purpose. I’m the founder of Be And Us LLC, a creative wellness brand that uses art, writing, and music as tools for healing and empowerment. My journey has been anything but easy—but it’s been beautifully transformative.
After my four children were taken by CPS and placed into foster care, I spiraled into years of grief, depression, and self-discovery. That wound—the deepest of my life—became the soil from which my artistry bloomed. I left Dallas for St. Louis, Missouri to rebuild from the ground up, becoming a homeowner, landlord, and entrepreneur. Through each reinvention, one truth remained: I wanted to build something lasting for my children—a legacy, not just a livelihood.
Art became my lifeline. From my first kindergarten ballet recital to performing across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, creativity has always pulsed through me. But in 2016, everything changed when I took my first painting class at Craft Alliance in St. Louis. I rediscovered myself through color, texture, and storytelling. My acrylic painting “First Bloom” was later featured in London’s No Name Gallery (April 2021)—a defining moment that confirmed my path as a professional artist.
When I moved back home to Dallas in 2019 to care for my mama, a vivid dream one night sparked the creation of my first book, “Mommy and Daddy Do You Still Love Me Anymore?”—a heartfelt letter of love and hope to my children. That book opened the door to a wave of creativity, and since then, I’ve written and contributed to over fifteen titles, including multiple #1 Amazon Bestsellers such as Finding Joy in the Journey Vol. 2 and Gold Nuggets for Entrepreneurs. My words tell stories of resilience, faith, and healing—the kind of stories that help people remember they’re not alone.
Today, through Be And Us LLC, I host paint parties for children and adults, creating safe, sacred spaces where art becomes therapy and expression turns into joy. I believe creativity is medicine for the soul, and I love watching people light up when they reconnect with their inner artist.
Recently, I’ve expanded my creative flow into music, co-producing a new EP titled “Eclectic and Strange” with my friend Smec B using AI tools like the Suno app. It’s a vibrant fusion of world music, R&B, and hip-hop—a celebration of experimentation and emotional honesty.
What sets me apart is my authenticity—every piece of art, book, or song I create is infused with truth and testimony. I don’t just create for aesthetics; I create for healing. My work is for anyone who’s ever had to rebuild themselves, anyone seeking light in the midst of darkness.
At my core, I’m about bringing the light through the arts—reminding the world that we can be the change we want to see, and that we all deserve spaces to simply be and express ourselves freely. That’s the spirit of Be And Us LLC—a movement of art, love, and resilience that proves creativity can transform even the deepest wounds into living, breathing works of beauty
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My mission is ever-evolving, just as life itself is. As a caregiver, I’ve learned the beauty of flexibility. I pour my energy into learning, experimenting, and expressing myself through various mediums—acrylics, mixed media, writing, design, and songwriting. Each form offers a new way to explore emotion, tell stories, and connect with others on a deeper level.
Currently, my focus is on cultivating “an intimate, members-only vibe where art and creativity thrive. No stress. No pressure. Just relax and paint—you might be surprised by what you discover.” Painting has become a form of meditation for me, a therapeutic practice that quiets my mind and frees my imagination. When I paint, I enter a sacred space of calm and play, where emotion becomes color and intuition leads the way.
What moves me most is when someone connects with my art—when a piece resonates with them beyond the surface. It reminds me that my creative expression has purpose and impact. Because, as we know, life can be unpredictable, but I choose to meet it with gratitude, resilience, and joy. My ultimate mission is to spread that joy through art and creativity—to make beautiful memories, inspire others to create, and fill the world with a little more color before my time here is done.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas—a proud native who dreamed of spreading her wings far beyond home. I went to Southern Methodist University, just twenty minutes away, the same campus where I had thrived in the Upward Bound program. I longed to go to school out of state—New York, Indiana, anywhere but Texas—but my mama, in her infinite wisdom, convinced me to stay close so she could help when I needed her. I didn’t know then how right she’d be, or how many times life would require me to begin again.
Years later, my world turned upside down. When CPS took my four children, and the weight of a crumbling marriage pressed down on me, I found myself standing at a crossroads between despair and survival. The pain was unbearable. Dallas—the only home I’d ever known—suddenly felt like a cage. I needed to breathe, to save my sanity, to find peace.
On Memorial Day 2011, I packed my courage, my children’s and my own Social Security cards, a single paycheck of one thousand dollars, and boarded a Greyhound bus bound for St. Louis, Missouri. My hair was unkempt, my clothes unchanged, my faith my only compass. I didn’t research the city. I didn’t know what awaited me. I only knew that I had to go—that God would make a way where none seemed to exist.
I left my Dallas apartment in the night after another argument with my husband. We argued about him flirting with women while I worked. Running as fast as my legs could carry me; the city bus arrived there as if on divine schedule to take me downtown. The next day, I returned my work tools: the 6-foot table, tablecloth, brochures and signed & unsigned applications to start their electricity. Then I boarded the Greyhound bus to St. Louis with a layover in Oklahoma. By the time I arrived in St. Louis more than twenty-four hours later, my phone had been cut off by my husband. Tornadoes had ripped through the Midwest, leaving destruction in their wake. And still—I was alive. I was free.
The only person I knew there was a friend who had promised to help me start over. He kept his word, offering shelter in exchange for caregiving for his children. It wasn’t easy—tending to children who weren’t my own while grieving for the ones I had left behind —but it gave me a reason to rise each day. Slowly, I began to rebuild.
In those early months, I journaled constantly—writing my prayers, goals, and emotions. I kept my circle small, choosing solitude over social life. I had been an extrovert once, but this season called for silence, introspection, and healing. I found work as a personal care attendant, unsure of what direction my life was taking but determined to move forward.
And from there, I transformed. I used every tool I could find—vision boards, therapy, yoga, dance, acting, meditation, writing—to piece myself back together. Over nearly a decade, I evolved from a woman running for her life to a woman building one. I became an entrepreneur, an artist, a landlord, a homeowner—a miracle considering there were times I was homeless, even with my children.
That season in St. Louis taught me what true resilience looks like. I came to the city with almost nothing and left with a bounty—of knowledge, faith, and creative power. My pivot wasn’t just about changing locations; it was about reclaiming my voice, my joy, and my divine purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.even.biz/r/eclectic-and-strange
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintingwithfrenchaire
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrenchaireGardner
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frenchaire-gardner
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsFrenchy06
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@anewsyoucanusepodcast
- Other: https://authorfrenchaire.mystrikingly.com/ Frenchaire Gardner would love your feedback. Post a review to our profile. https://g.page/r/CeP4-rl3P6KWEBI/review
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