We were lucky to catch up with Janai Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Janai, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

If I could back in time, I’d keep everything just as it is. The beginning of my creative journey started while I was in the deepest depression of my life. Therapy was helping, yet, I still felt I needed another “outlet”. I first discovered “acrylic pouring” back in 2017 or so. For those not familiar, its were you take paint, layer it in a cup, turn said cup over and create organic, free flowing shapes and patterns. I realized just how “free” I was feeling as I was creating a beautiful mess on the canvas. As time went on, and my depression becoming more manageable, I realized I wanted more control of my art. Insert me drawing one continuous line that never touches or crosses itself. My ‘One Liners” have been with me since high school. I just started doing them on the back of my notebooks and its been with me ever since. I didnt know it then, but it was a form of therapy for me. Just taking one line, and letting it flow. When I wanted to make the transition from acrylic pouring to one liners, I was extremely apprehensive. I didnt know if people would “get it” but I knew deep down, THAT is what I wanted to do, what I wanted to be known for. I remeber a fellow artist messaging me one day, telling me that “this is it!’…he was referring to my “one liners”. It was then up to me to gain more confidence and put myself out there (again). Here we are in 2023, I am so thankful I listened to my gut, my heart and my fellow artists who were always there to hype me up when I needed it most and reminding me that I had something special!

So, I can’t say what starting sooner would have looked like, but I can say, I started right where I was I was ready to.

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

Hi folks! First off, thanks so much for taking a moment with me! My name is Janai Rodriguez, I am self taught abstract artist. I draw one continous line that never touches or crosses itself. It was something I did on the back of notebooks in high school and has been with me ever since..I didn’t realize it then but eventually it would become meditative for me. “One Liners” as I like to call them, is where I draw one continuous line, usually using acrylic paint and/or paint markers, that never touches or crosses itself. A truly organic style that one can quickly get lost in. Drawing my “One Liners” puts me at ease, allows me to slow down, be present and focused. My goal is for it to do the same for my collectors. My “One Liners” are never sketched out. I keep the entire process as organic and free flowing as I can and process the inspiration as it comes.

I think what sets me apart from others is the complete uniquness of my work. No two works will ever be alike. And being able to share my he(ART) is priceless. I am most proud of being able to put something that started on the back of my notebooks into homes and lives! Its something I never even dreamed of happening but it is and i’m glad you’re here for it!

I look forward to creating some dopeness for your naked walls and eyeballs!

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist, is literally that. I get to communicate without speaking a word. The paint, the colors, do it all for me. The second most rewarding aspect (that you didnt ask for lol) is when people first come in contact with my work and they dont believe its one continuous line. Watching someone try and follow it and slowly realize it IS one line will always get me!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I can’t say I have a valid view on NFT’s because I dont understand a darn thing about NFT’s. Shoutout to those that do get it and are doing there thing! But I dont think its for me. I’m more of a hands on kind of gal.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pouringemotions.com
• Instagram: @pouring.emotions

Image Credits
Jerel Rodriguez