We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kayla Romero-Mireles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kayla below.

Kayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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 am so happy to be fully invested in my artistry. I love it because I get to express myself while also being able to take care of my daughter at home. I struggle with regular jobs because I have so many medical conditions. I was born with Chiari Malformation, autism and fibromyalgia to name a few. These different struggles come through with widespread body pain, numbness in my hands and feet and have a hard time understanding things intellectually. These challenges are hard for other people to grasp and understand. It is also more than a mouthful to explain these to people. By being a full time artist, I get to put myself and my family first.

Kayla, 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?

Who am I? I am a dual art degree, entrepreneur and all-around badass female! I love to express and represent myself in many mediums of art. I also battle daily with a chronic illness known as Fibromyalgia and recently found out I was born with a condition called Chiari Malformation. These various illnesses cause me to have severe muscle pain and tenderness throughout my entire body. The intense flare ups I get can often result in the inability to even stay awake (extreme fatigue). Some days I can work hard with no worries – you may not even tell that I am struggling at all! Most other days, I am battling with my body to try to alleviate any pain that I can. Some of the best expressions of my pain are sharp shooting pains as well as all over radiating pain. Sometimes it feels like my body is in a really bad all-over flu or like my bones ache terribly. It’s always an up and down.

I am an artist in so many mediums including, drawing, painting, sewing, tattooing, baking, and so much more! I have always been an artist from the very start, I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I love painting, it’s very therapeutic for me so long as my hands don’t start to lose feeling or pain.

My husband, Hector, and I met in a small Texas town, Hutto, during our high school years. We relocated to Northwest San Antonio in 2016. Along with our daughter, Marzia, my family has been vegan for over four amazing years.

I am inspired to help both the environment and keep the arts alive by hosting an online art supply resale shop and more! On my site I sell recycled art materials and other art and craft supplies at affordable prices! I also wanted a space to share my artwork in all its mediums.

I am currently working out of a small space in my one-bedroom apartment with my husband and little one. Sometimes space can be very tight as you can imagine. I am online and typically vend at local pop ups here and there but hope to have a brick and mortar of my own in the very near future!

I have big ideas that are ready to be put into big actions! 💕

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Vegan Place is a platform for all forms of my art as well as an online art and crafts consignment store. I take in all donated, old, forgotten, and extra art and craft supplies and offer them to you at low cost and sometimes even free prices! I take donations from others, locally and online, as well as purchase the supplies for the shop on my own out of my own expenses. All supplies are accepted and then are sorted through by me. I sort out any worn or damaged items before they ever go to the shop. Extra pipe cleaners, beads, and yarn-I will take it! Extra paints of all types, yes of course! You can donate any items to me that you please.
Any items that are considered a “low quantity” like paint and glue, are carefully repackaged in better containers before being offered to you.
I aim to be affordable, helpful, and strive in giving unused items a new home. Let us together not only help other artists but work to reduce and recycle so we can create a better mother earth.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I am a bisexual, autistic/disability and woman owned business that prioritizes being a safe space for anyone and everyone.

“Here at Vegan Place, I am all about inclusion and affordability. Above all, I aim to be a help to the art community, as well as educate others about the vegan lifestyle and how anyone can be more plant based and earth friendly! I want to be supportive of other artists by creating a platform of discounted art supplies available to the community. Everyone deserves to have access to art. I believe it is soul therapy.” -KR

Contact Info:

• Website: www.veganplacetx.com
• Instagram: @vegan_place_tx & @veganplacetx
• Facebook: @Vegan Place TX & @Vegan Place Texas
• Other: Tiktok: @veganplacetx

Image Credits
Myself-Kayla Romero