We were lucky to catch up with Ariana Faison recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ariana, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My mother has been a huge driving force in my life. She came from a poor family but has overcome so many struggles, downfalls, and health issues. Yet she continues to surprise me every day with her resilience and positivity.
After retiring from a career in teaching she continued to be an active member in my hometown community. Involved in various projects and politics, she was elected as a State Representative; a seat she’s held for the past 13 years.
Beyond her personal accomplishments my mother worked hard to help put me through college, supported me through all of life’s changes, and taught me how to stay positive and optimistic.
Seeing the work she does for her community as a Representative is truly an inspiration. She has shown me that no matter your age, you can make an impact while pursuing your dreams; pushing through the hard times and achieving success.
Whenever I have felt like giving up, not good enough, or felt like I somehow don’t belong; I just remember what my mother has overcome herself. It keeps me going.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been drawing and painting since I could pick up a pencil. Be it on paper, or to the dismay of my parents, the dining room walls.
I feel like I ‘ve aways had something in my hand to draw or paint with, but artistic endeavors took a backset for a while. It wasn’t until one of the hardest times in my life that I rediscovered my passion for painting. While using my art as a means of self-care and to channel emotional release, I began to refine my skills and wanted to share my enthusiasm as a small business.
Today I work mainly with acrylic paints and Plaster of Paris, creating custom paintings and textured pieces for various clients. Some of my more notable clients include MLB pitcher Danny Duffy, ESPN NFL host Laura Rutledge, and Britni Thornton of MTV’s The Challenge.
While my painting is a side business, my fulltime job is in TV production, I’m motivated by my client’s reactions when I deliver a finished work. Their astonishment and raw happiness is more motivating and inspiring to me than anything in this world. Many clients have direct connections to the subject matter of the artwork so to be able to recreate or capture a moment, to evoke a memory and incite an emotion is incredibly fulfilling.
I continue to look for new opportunities, clients, and challenges to help me grow as an artist and entrepreneur.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I actually have four, I call them the “Four P’s to Prevailing.”
• Positive Attitude
• Positive Thinking
• Perseverance
• Patience
A positive attitude is essential because not every situation, person, or experience will be a pleasant one. But what we project externally, our body language and our general aura, can directly impact those around you. Whether it be an obvious choice or buried somewhere in the subconscious, positivity is a trait is absorbed by those around you. Maintaining a positive attitude through hard times will always help a bad situation be more bearable.
Positive thinking is something you always have control over. This is your internal monologue. Even if things around you are failing you can maintain a positive way of thinking. No one can control your mind but you. Focus, let go, and manifest the positive outcome you want.
Perseverance is pushing through the setbacks and coming out on top.
Patience is knowing that we may not get the things we want when we want them, but that we will get them when the time is right, if we are willing to wait.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
I went to school for Broadcast Production, and for the last 13 years I have been fortunate to have full-time employment with one of the biggest names in television. I have met and worked with numerous celebrities and professional athletes, and have been blessed with awesome opportunities professionally. However, my passion is painting.
Unfortunately, the reality is that while my full-time job pays the bills, I don’t always have the time I’d like to dedicate to my art. Learning to delegate my time, particularly by not taking on too much at once, has helped me manage my personal and professional commitments. While it has been one of the most challenging aspects of my business, it’s allowed me to continue to progress while staying motivated and avoiding burn-out.
I continue to follow my “Four P’s to Prevailing” and remember that my hard work results in special and unforgettable artwork for my clients to treasure for years to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allthelittledetailsart.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: night_owl_art_ct
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allthelittledetails164/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/espnam/
Image Credits
Ariana Faison Brad Faison
