We were lucky to catch up with Oréan Collier recently and have shared our conversation below.

Oréan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

It would be the project I’m currently working on. My “Beauty for Lashes” collection of art, which speaks and references a Trauma based past. The faces of art feature women’s faces with exaggerated eyes lashes on one eye.

The trauma that was experienced does not have to define who you are, you can break free from the chains of trauma.
It’s meaningful to me because I ultimately lost my only child at the age of 24 to an overdose., Traumas in her young life happened. Her name is London and she was a real beauty, inside and out.

My world was shaken to it’s core and having to navigate the loss of my child was something I never thought I would have to go through. So, I hope to help others to see themselves how God sees them and not believe the lies the enemy tells them.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Oréan Collier and as a highly creative individual whose journey in art began while living in Hawaii my first medium was oil painting which I learned by watching Bob Ross on TV overtime I transition to acrylic and began painting landscapes before ultimately finding my niche and Afrocentric and abstract paintings aside from painting I also learn how to sew for my mother and started making my own clothes this eventually led me to making my own fabric handbags as I worked in a fabric store. I began posting my work online which caught the attention of the manufacturer in Italy who offered to produce my line of bags.

One day A friend gave me an article that she found in “Marie Claire”magazine and told me I should enter the contest. It was called “Be Discovered” Design a Handbag… I stepped out in faith and entered. I began sketching out my design , once I knew it was the one I submitted it.

I got notified I was a semi-finalist. After several rounds, I was contacted as a finalist and had to make my design, which was voted on and out of 300 entries across the country my handbag was chosen as the winner,. I named the winning handbag design after my grandmother “Lillian”. I was extremely excited and knew this was my big break. Having this national title and being featured in their magazine.
It was supposed to be in stores the following season.

Despite setbacks I continue to pursue my creative passions after coming back from New York, I wanted to open my own handbag boutique and I did just that. But unfortunately the recession caused it to close, however, I still enjoyed painting and eventually had my first art show to share my work with others never wanting to quit or give up.

One of my greatest accomplishments is having my children’s book titled:
“Lasko the Artist” published, which I wrote for my grandchildren and my daughter to encourage her
to follow her dreams. However, she never got to see it come to fruition but I know she is proud of me for continuing on in the midst of it all.

In addition to painting and writing I also design fabric and make tufted rugs, punch needle pieces featuring my art, which can be seen on my website oreancollier.com

OCbyOréanCollier is my brand and I continue because it is a true passion, I love creating

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I think this goes back to what I was mentioning in the last section of this interview. Yes I have had a lot and I do mean a lot of setbacks but there is a passion and a drive that’s within me that keeps me trying to move forward.

The thing with my handbags that was supposed to be in stores the following season after the contest for whatever reason they did not honor that and it was very devastating, to the loss of my boutique then after that the loss of my daughter, then just all these things happening it but I keep trying, and keep trying, and keep trying.

Having my dream of owning my own handbag boutique only to have to close it because of the recession around that time. It was a beautiful space that I created , from the decor to having designed all my handbags that were manufactured.

I’m doing it not only for myself but for my family for my daughter because I know she’s happy and I’m proud of her mom to be able to keep moving forward as I know she would want me to. I remember her saying once to me on a Facebook post , she said, “ Mom, get back up, don’t you quit, your things are too good. Never stop. “ And I responding I never will and I told her I loved her.

I’m trying to pick up where she left off for her daughters and to be able to leave a legacy for them. I believe in my work and again as mentioned it is a true passion.

I now am a published children’s book author and I’m very proud of that fact, it had been a long journey and struggle in the midst of losing my only child. I can remember thinking I can’t do this , how do I even begin. But is was just in my spirit to do and I came to fruition, this children’s book has a great story, it’s witty and funny. There is a lesson behind the story for the kiddos and it has awesome illustrations and what sets it apart is that it although there are illustrations it also sets the young reader up for chapter books as well, using their minds eye too! It allows the parent to really be expressive with reading to them.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I really want to get into NFT’s I actually have a line of art I think would be perfect for this lane.

I think it is a great way for artist to monetize digital creations, and also giving the artist direct access to buyers.

I look forward to entering into this field with my first NFT’s especially because each NFT is unique and stored on the blockchain that provides a way to verify the ownership and authenticity of digital art..

That’s something I have been wanting to do. That just may be my next project.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oreancollier.com
• Instagram: @itsoreancollier_artist
• Facebook: facebook.com/ocbyoreancollier
• Linkedin: linkedIn.com/in/oréan-collier-ocoreancollier-0b043612
• Twitter: @oreanbyorean
• Youtube: youtube.com/@ocbyoreancollier
• Other: @itslaskotheartist_book