We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Latesha Houston a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Latesha, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Probably the current body of work I’m developing. I guess I think of my artistic and writing pathways like eras. As in – previously I was in a colourful, vibrant era and wanted to express this through my illustrative works, and on canvas. It was more focused on the natural world and environment around me, and because I was immersed in this practice, this is the type of work I was being sought out for.

However, in hindsight those works were more of a stepping stone to help me develop the worlds I truly wanted to create, so expanded, adding more storytelling elements to my practice, which is what I truly love to do. I also write stories for a living, so it’s been a process of melding these elements together cohesively, and I’m still going!

My current body of work is exploring the realm of surrealistic fantasy by fusing in romantic beauty, where often the subjects are placed in elegant interior spaces, even street scapes, including eras gone by, all the while, exploring themes of human consciousness through storytelling art.

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.

I would say I’m a multi-disciplined creative, because as soon as I pigeonhole myself into a category, I discover some unexplored dimension of my creativity begging to be expressed, so I’ll start there!

I’m originally from the United States, but have lived in Australia practically my whole life. And it wasn’t really until my thirties that I discovered my latent creative abilities. I kind of stumbled onto it through a DIY coffee table project that I was hell-bent on bringing to life.

At the time, I couldn’t understand why, but in hindsight, it was opening up the door to my creative pathway.

Before that, my artistic expression was being consumed in corporate work, until I found enough breathing room to express myself, and all I knew at the time was I was having a lot of fun with it.

But then, as time progressed, I found my creative groove and started a little online shop, and someone commissioned me for a portrait from it! And so at that point, I was like okay, I can do this. That’s when I started to pursue showing my artwork in group shows, and expanding my artwork out on consignment in various retail spaces, and things initially grew from there.

I incorporated teaching as I became more confident, and started asking businesses if they wanted their walls painted. This was a new challenge, and so I ended up creating murals for businesses where I believed I could contribute and elevate the space with my artistry.

I took a bold leap of faith, exhibiting overseas, and was invited to an art residency to teach in the Maldives, which was a unique, eye-opening opportunity.

During COVID things changed, and it was rough with art, as I’m sure it was for many exhibiting creatives, so I pivoted and leaned into other aspects of my creativity where I started writing books and getting into film extra work which has been cool,

I’m a self-published indie author, in the romantic suspense & mystery genre, and also ghostwrite fiction for others, and this aspect of my career took off.

Now, I don’t want to leave my art behind, so I’ve slowly been fusing it all back together, and I’m back on my art game with new discoveries – i.e. cinematic photography and film which I’m weaving into my work.

Currently, what I offer is: original & commissioned artworks, murals and limited edition prints. In terms of my writing, I’m currently scribing under the pen name – L.R. STARR, and my books are on Amazon & Smashwords.

I would say the problem I solve for others is bringing inspiration, different perspectives, hope. truths untold, and nostalgia in some cases. I just utilize the mediums of visual arts, film, content creation, photography and writing to do so.

I think what sets me apart is the way I conceptualize, and the lens in which I see the world, because to me, art is in everything. Even a small crumpled leaf on the ground, or billowing clouds in the sky. It’s all around us, and sometimes somebody – that be me – needs to show people the beauty that already exists around them.

Even in the mundane, and I string abstract elements together and create magic, so I can share these insights with the world.

I’m most proud of my ability to continue to create and expand my craft. I have a passion for it, and I would want viewers, followers, clients, and fans lives to be enriched and forever inspired by my creations.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I’ve had many of these stories to be honest, especially as the type of artwork I represent isn’t necessarily mainstream.

Many of the stories exist around being told it’s going to be hard for me to sell my artwork, but one particular story springs to mind of when I applied for a gallery show, and the space I was given was small, but it was in a prominent space – a walk way where others could see it.

There were other artists who had larger spaces than me to display, but I pre-sold work before the show even begun. I’ve also placed my work in spaces where it wasn’t expected to sell, but I sold it.

I say all this to say, stick to your guns, put your artwork out, despite naysayers, because there’s this magic thing called manifestation. It’s where you set an intention for the work you create, and the universe can orchestrate the circumstance where the right buyers for your work purchase it.

I truly believe this, there’s a special something in art that if it touches the right person ‘s heart they’ll want to buy it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

That’s creativity is necessary for life force. We are born to create on this planet. It’s what we came here to do! And non-creatives can sometimes try to dim the light of creatives, not finding value in it, but in fact, they’re drawn to it, because there’s a lack of it in their lives.

Some see it as a ‘hobby’ and that it’s not a viable career path, but it so is. There’s never been a better time for creatives to be successful, especially with the internet. You don’t need to find everyone, you just need to find the people who are right for your art!

And no, I’m not saying it’s an easy pathway, but for me, it’s nurturing for my soul, it’s natural, and fuels me, so I’m willing to see it through and create a legacy through the medium of the creative field.

So to my fellow creatives, keep putting one foot in front of the other, and water the seeds of your creativity because they’ll surely grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GoldenOracleArts
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenoraclearts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldenOracleArts/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lateshahouston/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GoldenOracleArtsLRSTARR

Image Credits
Me – Latesha Houston