We recently connected with Delainy Faña and have shared our conversation below.

Delainy, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I’m extremely happy as an artist. I consider myself a visual artist because everything I create is pleasing to the eye. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we need that 9-5 or “regular job” to birth and support our true vision, but I crave flexibility. If I’m in a position where I feel it’s taking up too much of my time and I have no energy to create, that’s a problem. I had that thought when I recently took on a full time job for the summer time, and although it was fruitful I made it my duty to prioritize my art after getting home from work. I would be tired, drained but that was then alchemized into my paintings. Whenever I promise myself that I’m going to create, I don’t feel right not making that happen. It’s a means of survival for me at this point. This art life is really for me and I just thank god for this journey.

Delainy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a little girl I was always involved in the arts. I like to emphasize the importance of working with my hands a lot because I consider our hands our wands. In 2020, I decided to launch my business La Bruja’s Art and dive deeper into where my talents can take me. I provide services such as custom paintings, aura portraits, custom hand painted apparel, tote bags, prints, original paintings for sale, coloring books, sculptures of mini multipurpose trays, home decor, and so much more. I also host art classes and workshops for kids to adults all over New York. What sets me apart from any other artist is really my intention. We may all have similar stories but our experiences are unique in our own ways. My charismatic personality and mystical style is one of one and an enticing impression I tend to exude. I’m most proud of my consistency. My consistency is something I pray I continue to achieve and work through as I learn about myself while creating. It has taken my places where 16 year old Delainy would’ve never thought she would be in. I would want potential supporters to know that any service I provide comes straight from the heart. So if you connect with intentionality, you found the right one.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Rick Rubin The Creative Act! I listened to this book on Spotify in audiobook form and it was my first time listening to a book. Hearing Rick speak in the cadence that he did about habits and ways to improve your life as a creative has opened my mind in so many ways. I’ve always known everyone’s journey is unique to their own, but listening to key gems Rick would share reassured me about being at the right place at the right time. I’m actually going to listen to the book all over again!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Oh man. I remember getting booked to paint a design in a car shop. The owner was Dominican as well so I felt comfortable in doing business with him, it just felt natural. I remembered mentioning to him that I won’t be able to work on the design everyday since I was also working as an arts enrichment instructor. He was okay with that in the beginning which made me feel better about my progress, I don’t like rushing. I went into the shop on a Wednesday and then back on that Friday to finish last minute details, come to find out he got someone to spray paint over my designs within that one day of me not being in the shop. In the end it was all love, everyone has their own way of doing business so he probably wanted it done at a specific timeframe in which I couldn’t make that happen for him. This is business at the end of the day so of course I was a bit frustrated due to the lack of communication, but after I felt all my emotions and moved on there was nothing else I could’ve done because I knew I did exactly what I was supposed to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.labrujasart.bigcartel.com
• Instagram: @labrujasart
• Twitter: @labrujasart

Image Credits

@photosbyjlamba