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

Lyssa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

How I named my business is such a simple and funny thing! Going with “Art by Lyssa Wyn” or “something creations” would have been easy, right? However, years ago now, I drew and self published two adult coloring books through Amazon. The first one was only about 20 pages and the second was 52 animals with zentangle designs within the animals. I used so much creative juice to design the books, that by the time it came to name them, I was a dry husk.

I spent a lot of time drinking Barefoot brand wine while doodling these books into existence; so “Barefoot and Doodles” was born! In 2022, I officially became an LLC, so the full company name is “Barefoot and Doodles Art, LLC.”

And, yes, I paint barefoot! Unless the site is in conditions that require me to wear shoes.

Lyssa, 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?

My name is Lyssa Wyn and I am full time muralist and fine artist, based out of Cocoa, Florida. In my 38 years of life, I have always been artistic and gravitated toward creating through all kinds of mediums. When I was a child, I made all the stuff for my barbies and would carve big caverns in the New Mexico clay to create cities for Polly Pocket. I cut up paper for snowflakes, drew on countless pieces of paper and rebelled against naptime by taking a sharpie to the walls and furniture. Funny enough, what used to get me grounded, now pays my bills! Coloring on walls with intention. Haha!!

I had my two boys in my early 20’s and rather than get a full time job that would basically only pay for childcare, I did all sorts of art projects on the side- face painting, ornaments, miniatures…you name it, I was probably doing it. And all the while, I was painting on canvas, too. Commissions of snowy cabins, purple giraffes, dinosaurs for birthday parties and my own emotional regurgitation as I navigated motherhood. Additionally, I created two adult coloring books, the old fashioned way-with ink pens and paper, and then scanned them all in individually. Digital work was not in my repertoire back then.

In 2016 I started painting a LOT of canvas, (more than I ever had) and in 2017, I got my first display at a local brewery in Gainesville, FL. So later that year, I dropped all the “side gigs” and went full time with my art. I started participating in art festivals all over northern and north central Florida, on a monthly basis and even painted a few murals in Gainesville! This continued full throttle, until January of 2019. My career came to a seemingly screeching halt at that time as I regrouped after surviving a really terrible and life altering domestic violence situation. In March of 2019, I joined the Artist Academy Advanced group run by Andrea Ehrhardt. She gave me the guidance and confidence to believe that I could not only be a full time artist, but I could do it as a single mom. I attribute a decent amount of success to her mentorship and friendship.

In March 2020, my world shifted again, along with the entire planet. All of the art festivals were cancelled for the foreseeable future, but no one seemed to care if I was painting on a wall outside. I painted my first professional mural in Palm Bay, FL in late May, 2020 and I haven’t stopped since! In just two short years, I passed a milestone I didn’t really believe was possible: over $100,000 from my artwork.

It took a lot of work, dedication, perseverance, tears, sweat and missing out on some things, like sleep, but I did it. I never feel as calm and grounded doing anything else than I do when I have a brush in my hand and paint all over.

In the almost 8 years that I’ve been a full time artist, I’ve spent that last 4 concentrating on murals and spreading my exuberance for color all over Brevard, Orange, Volusia, Osceola, Indian River, Palm Beach, Alachua and Broward counties. My paintbrush and creativity has also graced walls in Huntsville, AL; Cozumel, Dominican Republic and even a food truck in Loveland, OH. I’ve worked with private resident clients, AirBnB, interior designers, city governments, and countless businesses.

At this point, I get most of work through word of mouth and social media, with about half of my client roster being repeat clients. I attribute this to my work ethic and talent, but equally as well to myself and my personality. I make a great effort to establish a relationship, and often times friendship, with my clients. I want to form a connection with them to better understand them and make sure that I deliver the best product possible. I have found that showing them humility and remaining humble reminds them that while I am a business owner, I am just as human as they are. I remain flexible with them, without compromising my integrity or own personal boundaries.

I am most proud of the fact that so many people want to experience my particular brand of joy; my creative vision and my love for bright, bold and colorful art style. I paint a lot of ocean life and have been dubbed by colleagues as “The Sea Turtle Queen”, because they are my most requested critter and I adore them. While there are themes that I paint regularly and am known for, I don’t shy away from things that may be different or difficult. I love a good challenge as the discomfort brought from said challenge is what pushes me to grow as an artist and as a human living this Earthly experience. Bring me all your out of the box ideas!!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Consistency and a willingness to do what it takes to get it right and make sure that my clients aren’t just satisfied, but ecstatic with their purchase. Word of mouth and public opinion are so necessary as a business, no matter the type of business. Clear communication. I take the time to understand my client and their vision, which not only helps deliver them an excellent product, it also saves both myself and the client time and frustration going back and forth.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In the later months of 2019, I was really going through it as a single mom trying to make ends meet. Bills were due, life was still rolling and my responsibilities weren’t going to pause just because I was tired, so of course that was the perfect time for an appliance to shudder it’s last electric breath. And of COURSE it was my dryer.

After a brief freak out about how I wasn’t cut out for this and needed to get a “real job” and a phone conversation with Andrea, where she reassured and validated that I, in fact, COULD DO THIS, I picked myself up, gathered my paints and drove down to my little downtown area in Cocoa, known as “The Village.” There I approached business after business and offered to paint their windows for the holiday season. I did it for a very low cost and specially tailored each design to match the practice, merchandise and aesthetic of each business. After two days, I had enough to buy a brand new dryer and extra.

Believing in yourself is the foundation of resilience and the most required ability to succeed in anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.barefootanddoodles.art
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/barefootanddoodles
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/barefootanddoodlesartllc

Image Credits
Lyssa Wyn