An Inspired Chat with LaShawnda Mansfield

We recently had the chance to connect with LaShawnda Mansfield and have shared our conversation below.

LaShawnda , 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. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that is bringing me joy is reading. A good book to get lost in is bringing a lot of joy in my life right now. But it has to be a fictional book. That’s important to me because when I read I can imagine what’s going on in my head while reading.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is LaShawnda but I go by LaLa. My brand is Created by LaLa. I would like to call myself a visual artist as well as a jack of all trades. I like to try different mediums and styles so I don’t place myself in a box when it comes to creating. This is what is unique about my brand because I can do pretty much everything. If you want a portrait painted I can do it. If you want me to sew you an outfit. I can create jewelry and sculptures. Paint shoes and knit. I can create pretty much anything. What I am working on now is some wearable art pieces for an upcoming show with Earby Studios.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that really shaped how I see the world is my very first art show and selling a painting of an elephant on a piece of plywood from an old dresser. At that moment in that excitement of handing over that painting because they loved it. I knew then I can do whatever I set my mind to. I can create my reality, create my dream life and career doing art if I want to.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self I would say to be true to yourself, that you are enough just as you are, and to embrace the journey with less worry and more active participation.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say creating everyday and reading is what really matters to me. They will say it is my personal self care or therapy especially when I’m having a hard day.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left I would stop worrying or stressing about things like lack of money and other issues that may seem significant as an adult but are really trivial.

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