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

Monique, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Yes, I am happy to be an artist. I love that I can create such a unique style that is my own, and share my work for all to see. By showing my vision on what I see and feel and creating my art in a way that some will love and some wonder what they are seeing, I love that I grab people attention to look at my works.

This even goes with my photo retouching talent. I did have a regular job and I would always feel a boring routine, that I am wasting my talent, and that I feel there was more I could offer to bring a better life for myself and to spend more time with my daughter and see her grow up, sharing more time to see what the world offers and to love life.

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

I am the owner of Monique Layzell Art prints and The Zebra Lady. I always had the love of Art and Fashion. My father was a Tailor, not just alterations but was creating men’s suits from start to finish and women’s fashions. Growing up, I loved how he made such works from fabrics that were on a bolt, and the steps to create amazing garments. Seeing this was art and he allowed me to play with the leftover fabric, and then I would create my unique fashions for my barbie dolls. I look back at this and I am amazed at what I was doing as a small child.

So I grew up in the fashion world and in my teens, my dad paid for me to go live in London to study Fashion Design and History. And one other item that was always by my side was a camera. I still have my first camera and a collection of others. So my business is Fashion and designing and with my photos, My art started a business of prints and doing some photo retouching.

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

How do I begin? Well, let me start by saying that I am a survivor of domestic abuse and not a victim. I did say in the beginning that I was a victim but my journey is now a survivor, as I will not allow myself to be a victim anymore. I was living in the UK at the time and my ex who is British was abusing me for many years. But when I gave birth to my little girl in the UK, I started to gain the strength to fight to leave the UK to make sure my child and I were safe. It was not easy. I fought hard in the English courts and I won.

So my baby and I got on a plane from Gatwick and back to Dallas where I was born and moved in with my Mom and Dad. So, as a single mom or mum, I needed to start all over again. It was not easy. I needed to work and care for my baby. So I took the step to work for myself so I could be close to my child and to find something that would work for me. Along with the process of adapting from trauma and financial stress, I made it my goal to keep on going and do what I can to make money, and to make a new home for my child. It is not easy and I still am working so hard to try to provide as best I can. So with all the obstacles I am still doing what I love and doing what I can day by day, no matter what gets in my way.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My biggest goal is to have a home of my own for myself and my daughter. As for the drive of my creative journey is my art with all the emotions, I feel to create my work and for helping people who need a photo retouching of their loved ones from the past to bring them back with a retouch, or to create a custom retouch that adds little art effects. Some retouches are for some customers who just want that professional shoot look that just makes them feel happy. The journey is to live life, love life, and love what you do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.moniquelayzellartprints.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquelayzellartprints/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoniqueLayzellArtPrints/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0QSAZnyQUQ
• Other: Also, visit my Fashion and Home Decor Shop https://www.thezebralady.com/