We were lucky to catch up with Destiny Surreal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Destiny, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Ya know, I don’t think there’s ever been a moment in my life where I didn’t have an idea that I felt needed to be nurtured artistically. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a creatively open, eccentric household with so many talents. There’s a special openness in that, that gave me room to explore what I loved about the arts. Whether that was painting, writing, photography, or music. I soaked it all like a sponge.
Painting specifically is what I would call my soul’s purpose.
I learned to paint by watching others techniques. The repetition of sketching everyday, even on post it notes, helped build my personal confidence in moving forward with painting.

I believe it’s important to be free of any self judgement, because it feels counterproductive to the creative process. But also being able to take criticism from peers in the field is just as important to build a portfolio and your craft in general. I had to open my ears, heart, and mind to that.

I wish I would’ve went after more opportunities in high school to express myself openly.
Because, I really regret allowing my anxiety to take control of that awesome creative energy and make me feel like I wasn’t good enough at that time to present it. It was a crazy learning curve that I had to get through. As an artist, I know there are so many others out there that most likely feel the same.
It can really hinder your spiritual growth within your work. My personal thoughts are that whatever we paint comes from the depths of who we are and what we embody and what we feel! So the confidence in my own energy is super important to me when picking up that paint brush EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Destiny, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m deeply invested in my own energetic healing, and the healing of others through art! This is where I find real peace and joy. Creating original, mystical, spiritual, and witchy stylized paintings from the soul. I meditate with my work first so all of my energy can focus on what’s truly important. The incense is always burning the studio! (Maybe a few color healing candles too!)

While I offer commission work that’s an essential element to keep my business running, you can usually catch me at a booth selling and promoting my art at conventions and weekend art shows.

I paint on wood, watercolor paper, and canvas and can do anything custom in many styles to suit my clients needs. I’ve learned to never question what I can do.
I’ve been known to sell hand painted earrings out on a day of errands just because someone likes what I’m wearing with a business card!

I dream of one day expanding and creating a safe space for others to heal and paint. To support others artistic expressions and their healing along with my own, and finally get my hands on a large wall mural to work on a grander scale.
It’s a goal.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When you can hand someone a work of art and see the emotions that rise within them from something visual and tangible. It’s like you’ve connected to a part of them that needed to be seen and heard and felt right then. Art is a precious gift. A gift made, and given..
It’s something real and sacred and needs to be shared. It’s such a fulfilling reward for your efforts after hours and hours with a brush in your hands and the mental behind those efforts in what needs to be spoken without words but still has a voice.
That make sense?

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How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

As much as I am building a business for sales on handmade items and visual art it is eminently beneficial to a creative that society share an artist’s work on other platforms to support and contribute to that. I was also raised in a lower income area. It would be wonderfully constructive to have a place where kids could go to create something instead of be on the streets or for the households that just can’t afford it. The arts desperately need the back up and funding.
It would be amazing to see this come to life in more areas, there’s just not enough.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://destinysurreal.com/
• Instagram: @desisurreal
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DestinySurrealArt/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/FiendishFreaks