We were lucky to catch up with Madison Hines recently and have shared our conversation below.
Madison , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Converting all my passions into full-time work has truly been exciting, however earning a full-time living from my creative work has not been an easy task. As an artist, there are seasons where you make a lot of money and seasons where you don’t. From this aspect, I can champion myself because I learned how to navigate under pressure and find solutions to any problem. Most importantly, I learned to embrace both sides because life is the same way. Finding balance between high moments and low moments is essential to long-term success. Being able to wake up everyday and dedicate time to projects that stimulate my mind is priceless.
Though I knew I had a gift to inspire others through my art, that confidence was not always there. Before getting to this point, I had to release the old version of myself. This involved releasing the person people wanted me to be. I was sacrificing too much of my time and energy by giving to others and not giving enough to myself. This prompted me to let go relationships, positions, and habits that did not serve my best interest. I released positions that kept me stagnant and a mindset that ultimately stunted my growth. I knew I couldn’t wait around for someone to make the decision for me, so I simply accepted my greatness for what it was and prioritized my needs above all. I started making more money, by saying no to opportunities that didn’t bring me pure joy and started saying yes to opportunities that fulfilled my deepest desires as a creative. There’s so much pressure as an artist on whether we’re doing the right thing, but there’s never a day that goes by and I regret my decisions.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started working as an artist in the summer of 2016. At the time, I was heavily inspired by: the entertainment business, fashion industry, and the creative arts. From the beginning, XWIZDUMBX ®️ was all about designing custom tees and creating abstract work. Over time, XWIZDUMBX ®️ grew from a personal endeavor to a brand that expresses the different parts of myself as an individual and artist.
XWIZDUMBX ®️ is a movement towards tapping into your highest form of self and not needing anyone to validate who you are and what you represent. The brand is a collective based on building community and projects surrounding self-awareness and the creative arts. Extensions of this mission are through my clothing brand XWIZDUMBX ®️ Apparel and my most recent project Arts + Affirmations.
XWIZDUMBX ®️ Apparel is an all-inclusive brand that highlights urban culture, streetwear, and color theory. It represents one’s freedom to express their identity while remaining unapologetically true to themselves. XWIZDUMBX ®️ Apparel offers items ranging from custom tees, printed apparel, accessories, sweatsuits, hoodies, and artwork. The brand also accepts commission-based orders from our custom apparel items and art projects.
Arts + Affirmations is a creative outlet that allows children to express their emotions through art and meditation. It is a space created to initiate self-awareness, positive self-talk, reflection upon one’s behavior, and the building of self-confidence. Our mission is to provide a safe place where children feel comfortable expressing their ideas and emotions. While also exposing them to different tools and techniques through the creative arts and meditative practices.
As a collective, we set ourselves apart by showcasing authentic representation within our communities and staying true to our mission around self-expression and awareness. I want existing and future supporters to know that XWIZDUMBX ®️ is a brand centered around cultivating new ideas and staying true to one’s purpose.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having the freedom to create whatever you want – whenever you want. Whether it’s a piece of artwork or a business idea, creating something new and receiving a positive response is rewarding. There’s no limit to my creations. My projects can stretch as far as I want or convey simple details.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was the limiting belief behind imposter syndrome. This “alluded idea” that I am not enough because of my skin color and that I have to limit myself due to systematic beliefs. Over the years, I taught myself about unconditional love and the art of loving myself no matter what material or monetary things I possess. I remind myself that I deserve to take up space and be in every room that aligns with my desires. Most importantly, I have learned imposter syndrome is just a hoax – it’s not real unless you make it real.
For the longest, I didn’t value the expertise or knowledge I had acquired independently. I questioned if I needed to prove my worth through education rather than rely on my natural skills and talents. I wondered if I were too young to have so many dreams and ideas most individuals wouldn’t strive for. There were so many misconceptions that I didn’t realize I was blocking my blessings based on a false belief system. For far too long, this way of thinking made me shelter who I was deep inside.
I’ve concluded that most people are scared to fail, but I am not like most people. At one point, I had a fear of being successful. I didn’t believe I was worthy enough. However, allowing myself to continue to blossom is a success worth striving for.
Contact Info:
- Website: shopxwizdumbx.com
- Instagram: @xwizdumbx