We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marie-Ange Pollonais a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Marie-Ange , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My purpose as a full time artist came very late in my career. It actually was last year that true meaning and drive was sprinkled into my overall outlook in life. Funny story: when I graduated college I was blessed with a baby girl. She was in my belly throughout the end of my degree and I only found out after being pregnant for five months. I instantly thought “okay, I just got out of school time to work on my career and life threw this surprise curveball my way.” At first I felt like this was such a setback to my art career – I was finally being invited to important art shows, I was selling art and my own merchandise, I was learning to do murals and it all came to a halt for my baby girl. I took a year off to be healthy and grow with my baby to make sure I was giving her the love and attention she deserved until it was a good moment to begin my art journey from a new angle, as a mommy. At first it was a struggle I would have to carry her around everywhere; the crying baby and the tired mommy. But I did it , realising that she was a big part and would forever be included in some way with my art or while I made art. I rebranded myself as Art by Luna Mar. Luna for my baby as that’s her middle name and mar for my nickname. Rebranding was the best way to relaunch myself. I now create art for myself but with a different drive than before. I’m not the lost little girl out of college that has to find herself. I’m an artist mom that’s going to make sure I succeed and create an amazing life for my baby girl and do that with my art.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As of January first this year, I took a leap of faith and quit my 9-5 Job to become a full time artist. I decided that art was either going to be my hobby or my career. I am an entrepreneur with my own business called Art by Luna Mar. I provide live painting options for events, personalised commissions , murals , and readymade prints and paintings for sale. I try to show my face at art shows and have a beautiful set up where I can connect with people, but that doesn’t happen very often. Being a mom I have to pick and choose which shows are worth organising my whole life around for that day. Soon I am hoping to open back my merchandise shop where I have my hoodies and prints more readily available. Pursuing a graphic design degree in school as my second degree allowed me to be able to not only create all my branding but also all my designs I put on merchandise as well.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The number one thing I will always tell blooming artists, is to never compare yourself to others, someone will always be doing better, doing more , and that’s okay. They’re living in their time, yours will come. Fall in love with the process, not just the outcome and your career will be much more meaningful and beautiful.
The second thing is don’t stop, everyday will be different but your consistency is what will keep you in the race of life and your career. Each day’s progress will look different, that doesn’t mean it takes away from your overall progression.
And the third thing I will say is to ask questions – be bold. Whether that means asking other artists for tips and advice or walking into stores and asking the owner if they want a mural or painting. You never know who might say yes 10 no’s and 1 yes is better than 0 no’s and 0 yes’s.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Having to work through being a new mom and doing it without any family here has been my toughest obstacle both mentally and physically. My entire family is in Trinidad so initially it was just me and my husband. At no fault of his, he had to be the provider for those months that I couldn’t work so I was alone for a lot of the time and not able to be as creative as I wanted. One of the biggest impacts that I had in my life was meeting Kristen Brown, the owner of TRIBE seminole heights- a non-profit community centre. She allowed me to volunteer in her centre while I was walking around with the biggest balloon of a baby in me. I taught the kids art and that gave me purpose. It allowed me to still feel as though I was using my art and also prepared me to be a mommy since I was around all these kids and parents. Kristen was awarded the mother of the year last year and I truly believed that was deserved. We became very close friends and she helped me through my entire pregnancy. One year later I am now the resident artist at TRIBE and it means the world to me being able to give back to the community and add colour to children’s lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artbylunamar.com
- Instagram: @artbylunamar
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artbbylunamar
