We recently connected with Tylar Jane and have shared our conversation below.

Tylar, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2019, I got out of a very long, awful relationship and moved to Ohio. I started working as a barista again in two of my managers stores with the prospects of opening another one up and me managing it. I love working with coffee, so this was a dream for me! That was 2019. When COVID hit very soon after, I officially started selling my artwork as we had to shut down our cafes. I love working in coffee, so I was honestly devastated! Not to mention, it was featured in a blueberry field in a giant greenhouse. Totally my vibes.

When I started being serious about no longer making art for only myself and my friends, I was so nervous. My style is weird, /I’m/ weird, and everyone was always wanting portraits. After tons of portraits later, and figuring out how to price my things, I moved on to creating things /I/ want to create that others seem to enjoy too! This then also brought clientele to me that see the things I make, catching my vibe and commissioning me for something similar simply because they enjoy my weird style!

Tylar, 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?

My name is Tylar Jane! I was in my first art show in 2nd grade. I started throwing myself into art at a very young age as a distraction. I grew up with my grandma and grandpa. My grandma, lovingly referred to as Mema, was creative and inspired me. My Grandpa, papa, is a builder and would make windmills that I would paint and turn them into flowers.

Having a strong sense of artistic expression, my friends and I since middle school would take photos of each other for Myspace. This is how I started getting into photography. I started getting really into angles and editing, trying to find my favorite shots, and being proud of them in the end! I started giving out free photoshoots in my local Buy Nothing Group when I moved back to Port Huron, Michigan, and got back into the swing of photographing families, events, shows, hobbies, small businesses to promote – everything I can possibly take a photo of. I still give out free photoshoots in my newest local Buy Nothing Group to get out and experience new people, families and nature/new locations!

I never really had a dad, my mom was very in-and-out/weekends in my life, and I suffer from a lot of trauma surrounding abandonment and other personal things. I am a very strong advocate for mental health and recovery! A lot, if not all of my friends and clients, go through the same motions and find strength within each other’s creative spaces to be and express ourselves freely without feeling like we are too much. My biggest hope is that we all continue to build a safe space around recovery from trauma through art, expression, and language. I hope to keep inspiring my friends and clientele the same ways they inspire me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When it comes to art, watching what I see in my head come to life and trusting the process is so rewarding. Hearing what clients are looking for and bringing it to life while seeing the expression on their faces is also something i greatly look forward to. This also goes with photography; when I show a client a photo I’m proud of in the moment of shooting, their face is priceless and makes me feel so fulfilled. Like I am doing something right for my community. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful, handsome, and everything in between.

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

Over the course of my life, I have encountered a lot of trauma surrounding relationships and family. I have been hospitalized five times since 2012 due to my mental health. I have been diagnosed with BPD, ADHD, PTSD, depression, anxiety and unspecified bipolar. Overcoming trauma and going through therapy has been the biggest push in the right direction for my journey. I have been religiously going to therapy from 2020-present, and in my most favorite counseling facility ran by my hometown/previous address’s County, I was nominated by my therapist and won an award out of 5000+ individuals for environmental recovery, being recognized by the senate and house of representatives for this feat. It was something I didnt think anyone was paying attention to in my life; how I make my surroundings a safer space for me with every move and make it as peaceful as I can. All I can possibly do is just keep going forward. I would love to share a million traumatizing stories that have created the art I see in my mind, but truly, there is just too much. I have had partners throw away my art and burn it so I could not enjoy it anymore while I was hospitalized. I have picked myself up from the ground in so many ways possible. Art is the only thing that keeps my head forward.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/honeybee_photog
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/beekeeper.photog

Image Credits
Honeybee Photography & Art