We recently connected with Adriana Oxford and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Adriana, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Most consider success related to accomplishment – whether we grew up that way or that’s somehow society’s standard. There is a default definition that is, ‘money, materialism, and achievement. ‘ So if you don’t come up with your own subversive definition, this is the default.

My definition of success begins with belief, waking up everyday and holding, not just once but many times, that your endeavor is valuable and worthy of success. Nobody is going to maintain your vision for you. You get to stay with you, and your business as an outpouring, sit with it, and hold your vision. When we all hold a picture of success for ourselves, releasing all doubt, there’s a clarity and a purification of the creative process.

Second, success is always laced with nuance, meaning, and Spirit. For me, that always means creating art and interiors with a ‘story.’. When I was in corporate America, my coworkers used to get angry with me when I would ask, “But what does all of this mean? Where is the symbolism?” basically requiring all of us to start over from the beginning. It’s definitely a laborious step in today’s ‘get it done’ attitude, AND I believe this is the key to any project being successful. When art and design MEAN something, it is not only a gift to society on a physical plane but also a gift of the Spirit.

Lastly, success means nothing without authenticity. We are empathetic creatures. Everyone deserves kindness, genuineness, compassion, and connection.

Believe in your vision. Make it unforgettable and meaningful. Be kind. That’s it.

Adriana, 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?

Adriana Oxford is a contemporary artist and designer in Houston, TX, with a strong focus on the Divine Feminine. Graphic, tender, full of color and Spirit, Adriana’s work confronts the confines of beauty, offering a fresh take on every day objects and forms. See more of her work on adrianaoxford.com or follow along on Instagram @aoxford_studio.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I worked for large and small architectural firms on and off for the last decade. When the pandemic hit, corporate America left me (HA!) like it did many, and I had some decisions to make. Re-applying for another office job definitely did not feel in alignment anymore. Like many times in the past (almost out of desperation), I turned to my first creative outlet – painting – to help me process where I wanted to be and honestly, who I wanted to be.

Months rolled on, and I could feel stress literally leaving my body. As that tension left, I painted more and more and more, starting to share what I was doing every once in a while on social media. People seemed to love my shares and started to follow along. And here we are – almost two years later, still haven’t reapplied for any corporate jobs, and my design business has grown significantly. I have always believed that the work that is meant for me is going to find me. Period. Ans in this instance, all I had to do is stay with myself and share. Share your passion and your gifts. Physically, share your work. From there, there is room for expansion.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had this belief that “Artists can’t make money.” Growing up, I was encouraged to pursue law, medicine, business, or engineering. Those were the options that were presented to me. So naturally, in my head, I assumed those were the only industries that could support me. In college, though, art was the only thing that really grabbed me. But even then, I was confronted with professors with a major lack mindset. “This is a HARD industry. If you are interested in anything else, do that. You’ll have an easier life and make more money.” Then comes the internal conflict, right? Do I do what I love? Or do I make money?

It wasn’t until I went through extensive leadership training through Big Power Yoga and Lightyear Leadership that I realized these things were not mutually exclusive. I had inherited other peoples fear and beliefs. “Artists can’t make money” was never my idea or my belief. It was somebody else’s, and they had put that on me.

Now, having been a freelance designer and artist for the last two years, I actually believe that money is coming to me in abundance. Once I removed the incorrect belief, I simply realized that money is an exchange of energy – an exchange of time and ideas, of which I have a plethora of. The more you practice creativity, the more creativity you have. From there, money just flows. When the limitation is removed, abundance is on offer.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.adrianaoxford.com
• Instagram: @aoxford_studio

Image Credits
Photography of Honeychild’s Sweet Creams: Traci Ling Photography