We recently connected with Ariel Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ariel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk that I have taken as a creative is showing up authentically. As a creative, you want your work to be perceived well. Instead of focusing on what I believe my audience would like to see, I started focusing on ideas that brought me joy. I have been creating content for years, but during this last year I have grown tremendously. I believe that I’ve made so much growth, because I have committed more to my craft. I decided to post more on my YouTube channel. Also, I have invested in buying higher quality products. When it comes to creating, I have started to tap into what the younger version of me loved in middle school and high school. For me, those were the years when I was showing up as I wanted to as much as I could. Taking risks by being authentic has allowed me to not only reach more people, but show others that it’s okay to be yourself.

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?

My name is Ariel Smith, AKA ArtistryxAriel. I am a multi-disciplinary creative from the Memphis and MidSouth area. I love to write, draw, dance, and more! Within this last year, I have focused on creating paintings inspired by my childhood, culture, and ancestry. My content primarily focuses on my creative makeup looks. However, I create vlogs, cooking videos, art process videos, styling videos, and more for my YouTube channel, ArtistryxAriel. As a freelance creative, I offer a multitude of services like makeup, social media marketing, graphic design, illustration, etc. I have had the pleasure of vending at local events, such as the Memphis Public Libraries Comic Con. If I had to describe myself as a creative, I would say dramatic. I love pushing the boundaries on what is “acceptable”. I am the proudest of my makeup journey. I started face painting when I was in middle school. During high school, I started practicing more with traditional makeup. Within the last year, I have dived into the SFX makeup world. Growing up, I loved shows like Face Off, and I originally wanted to attend a SFX school for higher education. However, I knew it wouldn’t truly be accepted by my close family, so I went to MTSU for Animation. I ended up graduating early with Honors in December of 2020, with a degree in Interdisciplinary Media/Media and Entertainment with a concentration in Animation. After moving back to the Memphis area, I began working as an art teacher. I am grateful for my school community, but I would love to shift careers and start working in the entertainment industry again. As far as future projects, I am currently working on a young adult book, my SFX makeup skills, creative directing for photoshoots, film, live performances, etc., and a film based on the forgotten culture of the MidSouth, primarily Memphis and Mississippi.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

As a society, I think we have to show up more for the creatives in our city and across the world. With the push of wiping away history and ignoring the current horrors occurring everywhere, creatives are a part of our lifeline. Artists have been story tellers since the beginning of time. Yes, the art world looks different now, but it is no less important. When we ignore artists and their work, we push away the reality we must face. So, I think it’s important to support artists in whatever way you can. Show up to their events. Listen to their projects and opinions. Share their work and mission. Simply interact with them. Remember, they are human, and creating is a form of their self expression and at times a part of their healing. We thrive when the creatives thrive.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is making someone else feel seen. Growing up, there were so many moments where I felt alone or misunderstood. During high school, I started suffering from depression and anxiety. After dealing with certain situations, I knew I wanted to be an open space for others, so they didn’t feel invisible or unworthy like I once did. Creating was a way for me to release some of the energy I was feeling and face the reality I wanted to run away from. For so long, I felt like I couldn’t take up too much space. My art, in whatever form, is my way of taking up space. So when someone says my work makes them feel seen, I feel like I finally did my job.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artistryxariel.com
• Instagram: artistryxariel
• Youtube: ArtistryxAriel
• Other: TikTok- artistryxariel

Image Credits

Image Credits: Ariel Smith AKA ArtistryxAriel