Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Meliya Loosle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Meliya, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I have been creating since as long as I can remember, as I’m sure most creatives can claim. My mom always said as long as she had a paper and a pen, I could be entertained for hours. As I grew up, I unfortunately started to listen to other adults around me say that being an artist isn’t a realistic dream or I would be poor my whole life if I pursued my art. Going into college, I studied nursing because I do have a passion for working with people and I loved the idea of a more flexible work schedule. But when Covid19 hit in 2020, and classes became all virtual I had a hard time keeping my motivation up. I realized nursing was what I chose to do because it was the more practical thing to do. But I didn’t love it.
Life started taking me a different direction, I decided to stop my college education for a while, and I moved to Charlotte NC. In the first couple years here I worked as a receptionist at a small Physical Therapy clinic that allowed me to display and sell my artwork in the waiting room. I knew I didn’t want to be a receptionist for the rest of my life. And while my artwork was selling really well already, I was still hesitant to start my own business.
Every year in Charlotte, NC there is a big art show called Art in the Park. I went one year with the intention of talking to the artists there about their journeys and businesses. Every single one of them told me without a doubt that this was what they were meant to do. That they knew providence had a hand in leading them to their art and I just knew in that moment that was what I needed to do. My life had lead me to this moment of learning and confidence. This was my life, I wasn’t going to keep clocking in and out at a job I had no passion for. I was going to create, quite literally the career and life I wanted to live no matter what the “more realistic” path was.
Meliya, 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?
I would describe myself as a big romantic, I love all things floral, pink, and Jane Austen. I love traveling and am always dreaming of traveling to lots of places I hope to one day go. My family is always my top priority. I believe that hard work can, and should go hand in hand with living the life you want. My work consists mostly of small-scale watercolor landscapes and wedding and event portraits. Deciding to go into art was pretty difficult for me, I’m not a huge risk taker so the idea of relying on myself for income was a new and scary idea. But I was given advice by someone I really look up to, she said “you can do anything in this whole world, you can take any talent and skill and turn it into something that will benefit you and your family, you just have to go after it. You just have to take a step towards it” It gave me the courage that no matter what I did, life was going to be good and it was going to work out. My motto is “the worst that can happen is they say no”. I put myself out there on social media, in art events, in the wedding industry. I think some aspects of my art has evolved as my business grows. I love creating pieces that takes my collectors to a special place or memory. My love for travel has inspired painting those places I’ve been or would one day like to go. The event portrait work was something that kind of fell into place. I painted guest portraits at the wedding of my good friend, and everyone really loved it! It’s always an absolute dream to be at a wedding, and be around so much love and happiness in one big day. I love capturing the friends and family of the couple and helping them make the day perfect. It’s hard to break into the wedding industry. Everyone in it is the best, because the couples want the best. Wedding vendors work so hard to make the day memorable. It is a huge honor when a couple hires me to be there and capture part of the day. I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I work diligently to make sure every detail absolutely perfect, and I take a lot of pride in that.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I think the biggest thing people can do is when you realized you need really anything, before you go to your local craft or home décor store, is to stop and think of who you know that could make this for you or what small business have you seen on your TikTok or instagram that you really love and buy that first! Hobby Lobby doesn’t care when you buy their framed picture of a horse or a landscape. But you can have confidence when you purchase from your local mom and pop shop or small business that it absolutely made their day.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My mission in my business is to help people capture memories and make their lives more beautiful through the art they see and buy. I want people to view my art and feel connected to that piece, whether it be through a place or a feeling or the people in the painting. I want my art to bring people together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeliyaLoosleArt
- Instagram: @meliyaloosleart
Image Credits
Hannah Lynn Photography
Abigail Thomas Photography