Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Xyleina Mae. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Xyleina , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path since I was a child. I used to write fantasy stories with illustrations included. Stories that I creatively conceptualized. Removing oneself from reality and into a storybook adventure all at the youthful age of 9 years old.

It wasn’t until about 2020, during the pandemic when I aspired to take my art further. It was a devastating time for all and I wanted to veer off the distress by escaping into a creative path. I went to a store, purchased some colored pencils and paper and reignited my path to the arts. After a couple of hours, tapping back into my imaginative mind, I concluded my first piece. I introduced two main characters. A voodoo doll named Stitches and his feline pal with an eye-patch named Mr. Purrrs. The drawing takes place on top of a hill, overlooking their quirky little town that sits next to the sea with the caption, “And there they stood…”. I was quite proud of it actually. So proud in fact that I shared it to my social media in hopes that it would bring a smile to someone’s day. It wasn’t until someone inquired purchasing it from me. I was flabbergasted! That was the day I first sold one of drawings and that was the life-changing moment for me to pursue my artistic path professionally.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m a big daydreamer and self-taught, dark and quirky visual mixed-media artist.

Music has always been a great influence to me growing up. It motivates me and heightens my senses, so every single time I create art, I play my eclectic playlist of music and let my mind freely take me to the deep realms of imagination. Once I start, I step into a therapeutic zone and once I wake up from that trance, I’m finished with a new piece.

Aside from music being an influence to me, was my mom. She was the true inspiration that introduced me into the art world. She was crafty and artistic. She would draw and paint and I’d sit next to her, mimicking her even though I had no idea what I was doing but it didn’t matter, because I enjoyed every moment of it.

As far as any art education, the only proper training I had was one semester of art production in my Junior year of high school and that’s it. I’ve never had formal training or any degrees in art. I learn from making mistakes, experimenting and figuring it all out while putting in my time and pouring my heart out unto a piece.

My clients will tell you that I’m recognized for my pop culture and animal portraits as well as color choices and splash and drip techniques. However I also don’t follow rules when it comes to my paintings, anything goes, no matter what medium I use or colors that shouldn’t work together, I make them coexist in one painting. I mainly work with acrylic paint, watercolor, ink, oil pastels, gel pens and graphite. Usually I mix these mediums together when creating a piece to achieve mine or my client’s vision.

What I’m most proud of is my ability to grow. I paint every week to enhance my ability and skills. I like to challenge myself and be able to execute what I process in my mind unto canvas.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is what it brings to people. I’m able to express my creativity with the world. The art doesn’t have to be perfect and it doesn’t have to be necessary good. The importance of it is how others interpret it and to make them feel or resonate with it. Once I’ve made that impact, then I know that I’ve achieved my purpose.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A real lesson I had to unlearn was to stop criticizing my own work. My lack of confidence and being intimidated from skilled artists was the reason I went on a 20 year hiatus of creating anything. I had to rewire my way of thinking because I believed that art had to be perfect and free from any kinds of imperfections. This is not true. There will never be perfect art and there will never be a perfect artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: Linktr.ee/xyleina
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/Xyleina
• Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/xyleina1
• Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/xyleinaa