We’re looking forward to introducing you to ILIA aka Leigh-Ann Edrich. Check out our conversation below.
ILIA, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. When was the last time you felt true joy?
This morning I felt true joy because of our rabbit, Bunny Bunny who found his way to our yard. I never tire of seeing a bunny hopping at a fast rate, glad to see me!
My yard is certified as a Natural Habitat. The birds, squirrels, feral cats, possums and propagators do their jobs. Now a rabbit lives with us, bringing pure joy!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m known in the International Art World as ILIA. My specialty is creating Dreamscapes that take people to places they haven’t been before.
Although my specialty is creating Dreamscapes, I’m also a writer and Art Mentor.
I’ve written in many styles as a writer and am currently working on a series of books for creative and talented folks. The series includes The Art of Mentoring, The Elderly Artist and The Vampire, I Became a Roofer and I Did What??!!
As an Artist Mentor, I use the “Validate the Rightness” Method. The leaps and bounds that are achievable by a creative and talented individual are phenomenal.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was fifteen years old, the family got together for my cousin Donna’s birthday party. Donna turned sixteen years old. My Aunt Sue and Uncle Mike just renovated and made their house bigger. And Donna received her very own bedroom as her present!!
I went to see Donna’s new room which she happily showed off. The last item that she pointed to was a wall that she wanted everyone to leave a message on. So, while she went off to find others to tour her new room, I drew steps and for each step, I wrote a message that progressed to the top. Then I went back to the party with the tasty food and birthday cake.
As I was standing in the Dining Room, my Aunt Marie came running up to me. As an aside, my aunt was only four foot nine while I was five foot three inches – a giant!! My tiny aunt stopped in front of me and asked in a rather stern voice “do you know what you did?”
Oh! I really thought I was in a lot of trouble but couldn’t think of a thing I did wrong. So, dumbfounded, I shook my head no. She said rather excitedly “you wrote a prose!!” To which my reply was to be dumbfounded because I didn’t know the what a prose was!
Aunt Marie had to tell me what a prose was. She explained a prose as a poem that doesn’t rhyme. Because of her, I became an Artist that evening with a certain special status in my family and with my relatives. At that time my viewpoint expanded to encompass the creations that could be and so began my journey.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I did give up. Completely. Utterly. I stopped.
In life, I received invalidation’s, evaluations, things that I did wrong pointed out, told my dreams wouldn’t become a reality, that I should give up, that it was vital to have some other means of income, that I’ll never make it, on and on.
By my mid-twenties, I did give up on all forms of art. I became a roofer. I definitely had pride in my roofing. I had pride in being able to climb a ladder with a bundle of shingles on my shoulder that weighed almost as much as I did. I received no negative comments about my work.
However, artists never stop creating, even if the creation goes into a notebook and hidden in the back of a closet.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I had been a roofer for a few years when I met my best friend and mentor, Ralph E. Grimes. He had gone to Columbia University prior to the change of curriculum and had learned the “Validate the Rightness” method. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree.
As an aside, the current method for teaching artists is that only the ones that are tough can succeed therefore it’s okay to harass, tell a person every single mistake they make, crush dreams and ideas, etc. You get the picture.
As a side note and for comparison, here’s what is taught in this day and age: I found this group of writers online, joined the group and participated. One day a lady posted a poem she wrote (which was lovely). It was the first time that she ever had the courage to post to the group. She said so and also requested that the group go easy on her. Unfortunately, the group did not heed her request and she was ripped and shredded for nearly two weeks!! I finally asked one of the worst offenders why he was doing that to a brand new artist that asked for others to go easy on her. His response was that only the very tough artists are the ones that succeed, that the rest should give up and that was what he was taught in school!
Back to my story, my mentor validated the rightness and I succeeded like never before. He stuck to it and so did I. Here’s the comment he made about my art:
“It has been my privilege to have followed ILIA’s career for more than fourteen years now. I have never – in any field – seen anyone grow so fast or so much as she has done. Each painting she creates surpasses all the other ones which she has done before. I consider this phenomenal. It is not merely that her paintings have beauty and power, although they surely do. It is more that they are filled with new and valid perceptions of reality which cause the viewer to cognite. Her work is bold, imaginative, creative, powerful. These are much more than pretty pictures skillfully done. It is clear that she has something new and valuable to contribute to the world. It is an honor to have followed her career.”
R.E.G. Master of Fine Arts Columbia University
Ralphie also introduced me to the Art book written by L. Ron Hubbard. The book covers so very much! I especially enjoy the information regarding message and mood lines. I use both in all of my creations. I have continuously used the Art book for over two decades. I’m now using my third copy because I wore out the earlier ones!!
I still to this day admire Ralphie for his character. For him to persist, get me creating again and also reaching new heights in imagination was a gift.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace in the space that I created to work in. Here’s some of the actions that occur here:
Classical music or old time jazz playing in the background.
A squirrel laying on a branch of the tree outside listening to the music playing.
Flocks of different types of birds such as Blue Jays, Crows, Doves and many more that not only visit my yard but help take care of it.
Propagators!! Butterflies, bees, green bees, hornets and more busy at work.
My Bunny Bunny hopping over to greet me.
The inspiration in life, a child learning something new, gifts given, a bird singing, a blossom opening, a tree thriving and more.
Artists that I mentor winning in life!
The happiness I see, the successes for myself and the bliss of others.
All the above and more go into the dreamscapes that I make and when I’m creating my art I feel most at peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ilia.life/ and https://help-2-succeed.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createdbyilia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dreamscometrue/
- Twitter: https://x.com/aka_ilia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Created.by.ILIA
Image Credits
Created by ILIA
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
