We recently had the chance to connect with Maria Deely and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maria, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I think it’s really important to have interests outside of art. I have a lot of interests and one of those interests happens to be running. Like colored pencils, running takes a lot of time and discipline. I am currently training for my second marathon and I may only share “highlights” from that experience. It is a lot of physical work, but I would also say that it is even more mental work. There can be pain, exhaustion, “runners highs”, and honestly so many other emotions involved. The fun part for me is seeing all of the growth I have had as a runner and seeing how it translates into other passions I have, like my artwork.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Maria Deely and I am a fine art colored pencil artist who explores the techniques of realism through my works. I am a graduate of West Virginia University where I earned a full ride, graduated magna cum laude, and a BFA in fine art. All while being a full time college student I started my business, Deely Drawings LLC, at the age of 19 and have since been able to continue my passions as a full time artist. All while having a rare chronic illness, I am hardworking and dedicated to my creations to showcase that life has a purpose and beauty even through the hard times. My endeavors include traveling the world where I photograph my reference photos and recreate my travels for everyone to enjoy and experience. My artworks purpose is to create little windows of joy and peace for people to enjoy all around the world.
My work depicts windows into my experiences around the world. Intrigued by different colors and architecture that different cultures provide, I express myself by layering multiple shades of colored pencil to showcase how breathtakingly colorful our world can be, all while not using the color black. Finding that our world is vast and different; the one thing that I have found similar is that color is everywhere. It may just be expressed in a counterintuitive way. Being diagnosed with the chronic illness, cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), I pursue my goals and dreams by embracing the limitations that I have been given. From there I have created works of art depicting locations around the world to show that there can be beauty through chronic pain. Having experienced years of seclusion in hospital beds or being confined to my home, I find it important to share the beauty of the world so others may have the ability to see it. A few other interests I enjoy are reading, running, spending time with friends, family, and my boyfriend; and I am also a big Pittsburgh Steeler fan.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
When I was little I had so many countless dreams. I felt like I could conquer the world. I wanted to be an artist, I also wanted to be the first female quarterback of The Pittsburgh Steelers, which hey I am living out one of my dreams. I felt like I could do anything and I had such supportive parents that my dreams felt limitless. When I got a little older though I felt more judgment coming my way. I was made fun of for having fair skin, I was too tall for a girl, I liked sports too much for a girl, and I was too good at art. It felt like all of the things I was really good at I received so much criticism from the world. This was when I set art aside and focused on other endeavors, which really could have been my biggest mistake if it weren’t for my high school art teacher seeing my true potential, Thank you Mr. Brunett!!! With that being said, I feel like I listen more to my younger self now, than I did before. Why can’t I live out my dreams and be truly happy? Will it take a lot of work? Of course it will, but life is too short to live your life for the world and to let other people bring you down.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering and failure are all apart of growth. Whereas you don’t learn as much from success as you do with failure. Over the years I have had countless failures. I missed out on buying an art gallery, one of my drawings was stolen, I didn’t get accepted to residencies, I was turned down from awards and shows, and to tell you the truth I have lost thousands of dollars. With all of these experiences I can take what I have learned and not make the same mistakes I made prior. I also know that with my chronic illness I am a stronger and more empathetic person than I ever would have been without it. Do I struggle with my illness and rejection? Of course I do, but I know that with these experiences I am going to grow. I also live by the ideology, “The worst they can say is no”; by doing this I put myself out there for more rejection, but had I not put myself out there to begin with I would have missed out on so many opportunities. Suffering and failure are not easy, but I know that when I go through a low I am that much more closer to a win.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
One thing that I was fixated on for a long time was “planning”. I had my entire life planned out. When I wanted marriage, a family, my career milestones, etc. It was all on this fixed timeline and to tell you the truth, it did not bring me any joy. The “plan” I had mapped out for my life felt more like an obligation, a ticking time clock, and something to just check off my list. I was living for the next moment in life and not living for the present.
This all changed when all of these plans went south (Praise Jesus!!!) I was left not knowing my next move and also shaken by the fact that I could not make a plan for my life anymore. This is when I started living for Gods plan for my life, rather than my own. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and one thing I know for sure is that Gods plan is way better than anything I could have come up with. Now, I like to have goals. Goals can shift. They can change and grow as well. They also do not need to have such a fixed timeline like a plan does. An example of this was I had a work trip planned for Morocco, it ended up being too expensive for it to be feasible for me. I had to cancel that trip and then was left with an open schedule to go somewhere else. I was then invited to go to Ireland, where I ended up meeting and falling in love with my boyfriend. Had I been so fixated on “my plan” I would have missed out on all of the blessings that God had for me, something I never could have even dreamed of. I know that this ideology for me is lifelong, and it’s something that requires an immense amount of faith. All I can say is that I am ready for the journey and I can not wait to see Gods plan for my life.
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?
To tell you the truth, nothing. As someone who has a chronic illness, I feel like I have missed out on years of my life already so I try to live my life to the fullest. Things really important to me are gratitude, kindness, and time. Gratitude because if I were not thankful for all of the blessings in my life, no matter how big or small, I would be missing out on so much joy. It is all of the little successes that build you up to the big ones, so I remember to be grateful. Kindness because being positive and nice to people around you goes such a long way. If I am the one reason that someone smiled in a day, then I am doing my job right. You also never know what other people are going through, so kindness may help someone in the long run. (everyone has something they are going through). Then finally, time. Time is our most precious commodity because we never truly know how much time we have. Something can happen that can shift your life in a second, so it is best to live your life full of gratitude that you have time. Are you scared to go somewhere because of finances? Go. Money will come. Are you scared of doing something because of what other people think? Do it. Everyone has that inner voice of judgment, but one thing I have learned is comparison is the thief of joy.
I have lost years of my life being sick, scared, and listening to people who never cared about me. Now I live my life the way God wants me to. I have been to 14 countries, 27 U.S. states, I have ran a marathon and I’m training for my second, I get to draw everyday and live out my dreams as an artist, plus I have the love and support from the best friends and family a girl could ask for.
To thank a few people though: God for giving me the strength to get up everyday and live my life, my parents (Michael and Kathy Deely) for always allowing me to follow my dreams, my stellar sisters (Ruthie and Margaret), my brother in law (Michael), and for my boyfriend (William) who encourages me to follow my dreams and makes me want to be an even better person day in and day out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deelydrawings.com
- Instagram: @deelydrawings
- Facebook: @deelydrawings
- Youtube: Deely Drawings
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
