We were lucky to catch up with Mal Hall recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mal thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I believe I was in 10th grade when I started to seriously consider working as a full time artist one day. I had never felt super certain about a career path, but I started looking at Graphic Design courses and picked a college close enough to home when I graduated high school. Once I got to the University of Montevallo, I quickly decided that I wanted more creative freedom in my work, and I changed majors from Graphic Design to New Media, which helped me master digital processes for creating art. My college experience played a huge role in giving me the confidence to pursue a career in art.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve been obsessed with collage making since I was just a kid! When I finally decided to pursue art professionally, I chose a great school that surrounded me with other creatives and pushed me to hone my craft. I started making digital collage pieces more frequently, which lead to custom work for clients. I’ve even done album artwork for several friends in the music industry! I chose the name “Ladypieces” since nearly all of my work at the time included feminine imagery. With the exception of a handful of projects, almost every custom collage I make is for someone I know in real life, which makes the creation process very personal. My clients often trust my creative choices enough that I almost always have the freedom to do whatever I want – and I don’t take that for granted. Nothing feels quite as good as building a collage for someone and getting amazing feedback on the finished piece. I’ve recently been creating more analog work, and I hope to keep improving my skills so I can have a larger inventory to show at upcoming art festivals.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think being an artist is extremely rewarding in that it allows you to constantly access your creative outlet and process emotions in a healthy and cathartic way. I feel a natural sense of pride when I make a really good piece that was inspired by my current emotional state and I can bask in that feeling for days in a way that is beneficial to both me and my art making process.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think sharing work, especially since we live in such a social media driven world, is incredibly helpful to artists and small business owners. Online algorithms are not always keeping you front and center, so it helps when your local community spreads your artistic content around for a fresh set of eyes to see. When you have great connections with clients and other artists, you’re hopefully getting some free advertising when they choose to share your work through online platforms. I’m grateful for a large local artist community where we all have each others’ backs.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ladypieces_art