Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ariel Young. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ariel, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
You know, sometimes it can be difficult to stay inspired when you’re trying to juggle all that life throws at you. How I try to keep my creativity alive is simply creating a safe space within my home since I work on my art there. Secondly, I allow myself to rest and take a step back when I need to. I can’t produce art or run my business if I’m not taking care of myself. I surround myself with like minded artists and creatives. I blessed to have friends that are writers, photographers, actors, visionaries, film industry workers, etc. We communicate daily/weekly, sharing our accomplishments and our downfall, collaborating with each other or just giving support when needed. And lastly, i try to be mindful of the things I’m consuming on social media, going to art galleries, plays, creative events, participating in creative/art workshops, etc. All of these things keep my creativity flowing.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an Atlanta native and graduate from Georgia State University, bachelor in Theatre Performance, minor in African American Studies. I am an artist (mixed media/abstract art/writer/sewing/content creator) and I work in the wardrobe department in the film industry. My current focus is to continue developing my craft and finding my voice. I also have an art community that I’m currently growing, Da Art Community. This community is so important to me. Da Art Community is a membership for all artist and creatives. The website has an online gallery, creative feature highlights, article and interviews that we post via YouTube. I am so excited for what’s to come in all the things I’m doing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe the three most impactful things that in shaped both my personal and creative journey are my faith, prioritizing my mental health and my inner circle of friends, family and colleagues. I’ve come this far by faith. That may sound like a cliché but it’s the truth. Life has thrown me a few curve balls and at times I didn’t know how I was going getting through it. And I didn’t always trust in my creative abilities. So leaning into my faith, into God definitely helped me.
Secondly, prioritizing my mental health. Therapy, real self care routines, meditation/prayer and how I chose to feed my mind, soul, spirit and body. These practices took time to develop, and I’m still learning and developing constantly. When my mental health is off balance, it blocks my creative rhythm. I have to use my “tools” that I’ve learned in therapy and on my own. Some of those tools are, coloring, going hiking, going to a wellness spa, blowing bubbles (helping with breathing during anxious moments), journaling, cooking, etc. The list goes on but these tools help me recenter myself so that I can do the best that I can in all that i do. As artists, we can be more sensitive to things and we feel/see the world differently than everyone else. We have to make sure we take care of ourselves first.
Lastly, My network/kinship/friendships. As the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child”, well i believe as adults, we still need a village on our daily journey for every area in our lives. For instants, when I first started developing Da Art Community, it was heavy (whew, ha ha). Trying to figure everything out on my own. Wondering how i was going to be able to execute my vision. I literally said, “God, I can’t do this on my own.” I had to put my pride aside and ASK FOR HELP! (LOL). I realized, if I want to build an art “community”, I have to first build a team, a community from within. When i did so, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Shoutout to Chris Rice, for all the time and work he’s put into Da Art Community. And all the creatives and artists that have submitted their work to be featured on the website, those that have participated in our interviews that are live on YouTube, and those that have joined Da Art Community team.
So, these three keys i definitely recommend to anyone no matter where they are on their journey, Lean into your faith, prioritize your wellbeing and build a village of people you trust and that trust you.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Two books come to mind, “The Selected Poems of Nikki Giovanni” by Nikki Giovanni and “I, Too Sing America: The Story of Langston Hughes” by Martha E. Rhynes. I came across Nikki Giovanni’s book of poems, on my grandparent’s bookshelf when i was in 9th grade. I was studying poetry in literature class and Nikki Giovanni’s words inspired my passion for story telling. Her words are power and Giovanni’s poetry has helped me through some pretty dark times, especially during high school and college. I believe i also acquired “I, Too Sing America…”, from my grandmother. We all know that Langston Hughes is one of the greatest poet/writer of all time, but what truly inspired me was reading about his life’s journey. His up bringing, the era that he lived through, the many struggles he faced and all the things that birth his writings. Learning about his journey as a writer allowed me to give myself grace about my artistic journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: daartcommunity.com
- Instagram: @daartcommunity & @ariel.najee
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DaArtCommunity/about
Image Credits
Ariel Young & Da Art Community
