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

Hi Aiden, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I actually chose this question being a person that works as an artist and maintains a regular job at the same time. I’ve worked as a full-time artist, previously, and it truly was one of the best times of my life. I enjoyed getting to work on my own schedule and being able to attend different shows an events whenever I wanted. Now (and for the last couple of years), I’ve been maintaining both working as an artist and working a “normal” job. There are a lot of things I’m actually unable to do with this sort of balance. I’ve had to request time off at work to be able to perform at specific shows along with requesting a very unique schedule. I’ve had to learn and juggle time management skills heavily to complete art orders. Overall the mix of being an artist with a full-time job isn’t super ideal!
Truly, if I could go back to living as a full-time artist, I would take it in a heartbeat. For my own sanity and happiness, and to be able to get just a little more sleep again.

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

Originally in my first piece with Voyage Houston, I was just doing traditional art at the time. I spoke briefly about how I had dabbled in drag before, but now I do both traditional art and I’ve picked up drag again!

Art wise- I consider myself a “jack of all trades”.
I went to a few different art classes when I was younger and the standard art class that most kids take in school for the credits. But outside of that, I learned a lot from watching my mom (who’s a sketch artist) or just from teaching myself.
As an artist now, I try to create pieces that I see myself in. My work is often related mental health as well as being a queer trans person.

Drag wise- I got into the art form when I attended cosmetology school at Paul Mitchell The School. I have a really great friend that I met while I was attending, who was actually a drag king in the Houston community. They brought me out to a show once and instantly I was addicted.
My love for makeup and hair pretty much took full-effect and is what helped amplify my love for drag.
In the Houston drag scene/community, I’m known as “Damien”, or by my silly tag line, “The Lizard King of Houston” (coming from my intense love for lizards).
I’m widely known for my squiggly-drawn on mustache, green hair and my outfits.
As one of the many drag kings in the city, I am one of the couple that strives to continuously push the boundaries of gender norms.

Anyone that has gotten to see or will see any form of my art will always be seeing a direct extension of me. I poor a lot of my heart into my works and I try to make sure that anyone seeing will understand that. I’ve had people approach me after numbers I’ve performed or art I’ve posted and we’ve shared stories of our perspectives in relation to the piece, and had amazing discussions from that. That’s the kind of thing I love being able to do as an artist.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Show up and show out for your local artists. Support artists directly when they’ve got openings or shows.
Buy your art from the source and instead of websites that constantly rip off and steal.

As artists, we all know and understand that living in the age of technology, its hard to combat the capitalistic society that we live in.
But at the same time, we get to see so much fantastic art whenever we want. We have social media that acts as portfolios, such as instagram, and we’re able to share, send, like, and comment on pieces that immediately resonate with us.
Even just that little bit of engagement could really help an artist out!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Honestly, that asking other people for their opinions and help truly is a necessity!

I have another friend thats an artist and any time either of us are working on a piece, we started sending each other our rough drafts to get a “fresh set of eyes” on it.

Getting constructive criticism and little pointers from other creatives has been so helpful for me, I wish I’d done it much sooner!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/moisttlizard
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/moisttlizard
• Other: https://moisttlizard.threadless.com/

Image Credits
Fourth photo (bat wing glasses and red trench) taken by Raul Noyola