We recently connected with Maya Nicole and have shared our conversation below.
Maya , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep my curiosity alive by staying in tune with myself and my emotional evolution. There is a desire to understand my inner workings in sometimes extreme ways. I find the answers through my creative pursuits. Each medium brings me steps closer to clarity, even though “At times.” it’s fleeting. I once heard in a sermon that you cannot have passion with pain. In the perspective of my mind, I am constantly in pain even underneath the happiest of moments. Acknowledging that truth while I pursue peace keeps me creative.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Maya Nicole here, and I am a multi-disciplinary artist. I immerse myself in mediums of acrylic painting, film photography, wardrobe styling, writing, re-upholstering furniture, and clay sculpting. I presently am most passionate about my artistic voice as an intuitive painter. I use my inner and real-world experiences as inspiration. I was born and raised in New York, mainly in the suburbs, my world has always been small and curated. I believe this heavily affects my perspective and perception as an artist.
An exciting project I’m developing nowadays is Studio 51; my creative art studio for myself, but also for those looking to experience an intimate community. Another project is my series “Stop F*cking Your Demons” a multi-medium series where I explore the connection we hold with addiction and depression that creates cycles in our experience.
For this upcoming year, I am excited to create a space of flow without a need for external validation. I find the beginning of my journey and the present moment are so different because of that one thing; the state of mind. This year will be dedicated to moving out of the mind and grounding more into the acts – and I look forward to bringing you along for this moment.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being adaptable and curious are major parts of the creative process. As an artist, it’s important to think big and connect dots, even when they seem unrelated. I think I’ve always been able to see how my layers of interest feed into one another. Pursuing a degree in international marketing further developed my ability to view different parts of life as inspiration. When looking at everything as art, you find that every problem has a solution.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
In this season of my life, I’m very open and interested in collaborating with new people and businesses. I have always found value in connecting to learn new perspectives and approaches that ultimately strengthen my creative projects. 2024 feels like such a crucial year for me as an artist. Collaboration ensures that everyone can focus on their strengths. Eventually, you realize you need a team/network to build with.
I appreciate working with individuals who are innovative, solution-oriented, and possess abstract thinking skills because it adds to the creativity. When someone has an untameable passion for their work and is confident in their abilities, it adds more value to the partnership. As a team, even if it’s only for a single project, it’s essential to recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which can save a lot of time, our most invaluable resource. I find that I will seek out people with visions sometimes opposite of mine to bring a fuller picture to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: mayanicole.net
- Instagram: mayaaanicole__
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuCuneUKsVyzdXehUHHZloQ
Image Credits
@MUSTU.CO
