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

Qietta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The story behind Q’s Art began in summer of 2018. I’ve worked for various companies throughout all of my 20s and have been a mother since I was 18. In 2018 I discovered this talent of mine that I didn’t realize at the time could make me money and help my family in ways that I never thought were possible. The beginning of it was a way to release emotions/express myself. But one day with the power of social media my inner thoughts on the canvas spoke to someone else as well and they offered to purchase it. I guess that’s when you can say I had my little lightbulb moment and seen that paintings I see in my mind and create can take me somewhere in life. Once I realize I have the power to inspire people and bring them comfort with something that I have a passion for I took that and ran with it.

Qietta, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Qietta, all of my friends call me Q. Which is where Q’s Art comes from. I was born in Fort Polk, Louisiana on an army base, but was raised in Phoenix Arizona. I haven’t always lived in Arizona either I’ve lived in almost every region of the country so I could always relate to people, and that helped me a lot when it came to talking to people about my art. The thing that I’m most proud of is the speed of my progression im such little tome and the technique I was able to build being a self-taught artist. One day I wasn’t even able to draw faces onto canvases and it’s like the next I was doing full out portraits. Another thing that makes me happy inside/proud more than ever is how much I inspire my children to be creative in whatever way they feel comfortable. I know that a lot of people I don’t know can relate to my art as well but the fact that my kids resonate and also want to mimic the example I set it lets me know that I’m on the right path. Plus it feels good knowing they have a “cool artist mom” to brag about. Sometimes with all that I want to do it feels like I need a huge team or that there’s not enough people that have my back to reach my goals. Then realize that I have literally three number one fans rooting for me every step of the way and that keeps me going. Money was never the goal. When it came to creating and getting myself out there, I just wanted to express myself. I’m extremely blessed to finally be at a level where art money can pay some of the bills. I hope one day to have my own studio and be able to create every day. Even though I’m a few years in, I still feel very much at the beginning of my journey. So to go into detail about business plans or revenue goals isn’t realistic for me just yet, but I know it’s coming. I can tell when I do showcases at local markets or art events for local creatives how interactive people are with me and how my art captures peoples eyes the minute they walk into wherever I’m showing my pieces that I’m going to go far no matter what. I’m just happy to be here, to get my voice out through my paintings, and to consistently be working towards the goal of financial and creative freedom.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I’ve learned that being transparent and treating clientele/collectors like your friends and family will always get you far. In my line of “work” people are buying a Piece of Me at the end of the day. Each painting that I create, I sit with for hours. Throughout all those hours there’s so many thoughts going through my head or simply stress that I’m just relieving through each brushstroke. So it’s not just a picture that they wanted or some cool colors on a canvas, it’s a little piece of my heart every time. when I talk with my collectors I have no problem answering in detail or even answering the weird questions that other creatives might think are annoying. I consider myself a very powerful person energetically and I believe being a collector of my art is transferring energy, I just happen to be fortunate enough to get paid too. This is one thing that I hope I’m able to do as my work starts to grow and I’m more well-known is still be able to be transparent and talk to the people that love what I create.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m pretty sure any creative can relate to having artist block. But mine was more of a physical block. At the beginning of 2021 before my 29th birthday I was in a very bad car accident and fractured my spine. Being bedridden for a few months and learning how to move again was one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever had to face in my life mentally physically, everything that you could think of. The main thing that I used to sit there in bed crying about was, how am I going to create again?. It’s already a lot of stress on the body sitting for hours with a un-injured back. How was I going too with the bottom of mine being held together? For a few weeks I laid there, cried and I let it take over me. I guess because I’m not a person who gives up easily i was able to shake it off one day and get my faith back. Determined to prove modern medicine/the doctors wrong that Iwouldn’t have to be in bed for a year I got up and painted. I sat there for almost a whole day against doctors orders in creative bliss. Most importantly it was a picture for my sister who isn’t with me anymore. So it was like she was giving me strength as well. I almost gave up when I got hurt. Not just on art but everything. In hindsight a huge part of me knows that art and the love from my babies is the only thing that got me through.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Thatsyourr.Q

Image Credits
@Jesiah_photography @Kdub_Media @Colorstarprints