We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ylenia Mino. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ylenia below.

Ylenia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

My experience as an immigrant has taught me the importance of taking risks. When I moved to the U.S. from a small town in Northern Italy eleven years ago, I knew that I would have to bend, readjust, and fight for every opportunity. And while it wasn’t always easy, I learned that taking risks was crucial to my success. Through the gift of art, I hope to make a difference in the community and inspire others to take risks and pursue their passions. Art has been my constant companion, helping me navigate the challenges of life as an immigrant and providing me with a sense of purpose and belonging. I have seen firsthand how taking risks and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone can lead to incredible growth and transformation. So I encourage everyone to embrace the unknown, take risks, and discover the many opportunities that lie ahead.

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?

Ylenia Mino was born in Ivrea, a small town at the foot of the Italian Alps, where her passion for art began at a young age. Throughout her childhood, she spent every spare moment drawing and painting, attending classes with a talented Egyptian painter who specialized in oil painting. She also pursued classical studies, graduating with a diploma in classical studies and developing a deep love for dance, acting, and singing.

In 2011, Ylenia made her solo debut as an artist at the International Artexpo in New York, and since then has exhibited her works all over the world, including Austria, London, Italy, Los Angeles, Canary Islands, and more. She has collaborated with art galleries, advised for art fairs, schools, universities, and the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, and has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines.

For over 28 years, Ylenia has been painting with the intention of creating stories that evoke wonder, joy, and optimism in life. Her goal is to provide pieces of sky and nature that people can take home and continue to enjoy, emanating peace and beauty.

As an entrepreneur, Ylenia created PAINT FOR A PURPOSE in 2017 to empower individuals and business teams to unleash their inner creativity through customized and fun social events, such as corporate team building events, school events, birthdays, and more. She is also the creator of FURRY FRIEND PORTRAITS, capturing the inner essence and soul of pets. Ylenia’s realistic pet oil paintings are unique due to the intricate attention to detail and use of high-quality materials. Each painting captures the essence and personality of the pet, creating a lasting tribute to their unique spirit. The lifelike quality of her paintings creates a sense of realism that truly brings the pet to life on the canvas. A personalized, realistic pet portrait is a treasure to cherish for a lifetime and her passion and expertise make her paintings a beautiful and unique way to honor the bond between pet and owner.

Ylenia is not only an artist, but also a fashion model, actress, and passionate entrepreneur who continues to spread joy and creativity through her many ventures. You can follow her on Instagram at @furry.friend.portraits and @paint.for.a.purpose.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The idea for PAINT FOR A PURPOSE was born from her desire to inspire and empower individuals and business teams to tap into their creative potential through fun and customized social events. Her mission is to facilitate connections and help people achieve their goals by providing an engaging and enjoyable artistic experience. She is driven by the joy and fulfillment that comes from empowering people through art.

Through her business, she aims to provide students with an outlet for self-expression and a platform for personal growth. The skills they acquire through painting can translate into success in other areas of their lives, helping them to overcome obstacles and find new ways of thinking. In addition, our classes offer a respite from the stresses of everyday life, allowing individuals to recharge and tap into their creative potential.

Ultimately, painting is a form of expression that allows people to connect with their inner selves and the world around them. It is her hope that PAINT FOR A PURPOSE can be a catalyst for that connection and a source of inspiration and empowerment for all who participate.

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

As a fine artist and entrepreneur, I have likely faced numerous challenges on your journey. One story that comes to mind that illustrates my resilience as an immigrant woman entrepreneur is the time when I was just starting out and the time right after Covid-19 (which was almost like starting over again so not too long ago).

After immigrating to a new country and starting my own business as a fine artist, I faced numerous setbacks and obstacles. Despite these challenges, I persisted.

I continued to create art and market my business through social media and other channels. I worked tirelessly to build my brand and reputation (and still I am), even when it felt like no one was paying attention.

Eventually, hard work pays off. I began to gain more clients, and my reputation as a talented artist and entrepreneur grew.

Through it all, I had to show incredible resilience and determination. As an immigrant woman entrepreneur, I faced unique challenges that many others pals have not been able to overcome and they gave up. But I refused to give up on my dreams and continued to push forward, even when it felt like the odds were stacked against me.

I hope my story of resilience as both a fine artist and entrepreneur can serve as an inspiration to others who may be facing similar challenges in their own journeys. It shows that with hard work, determination, and a little bit of creativity, anything is possible, even in the face of adversity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://paintforapurpose.com/ and https://www.furryfriendportraits.com/
• Instagram: @paint.for.a.purpose and @furry.friend.portraits