Meet Domonique Allen

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Domonique Allen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Domonique, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience was born out of a life full of adversities. At a young age I lost my father and it really reshaped my world. I had to learn what it meant to carry on even if you didn’t feel like it. Watching my mother, I learned that even in the face of tribulation, life goes on. She taught me that giving up is never an option and that no matter how hard it seems, there is always a way. She has been my cheerleader from day one and she has stuck by my side through the deepest lows, and the highest highs. She is the definition of you just keep going.

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?

Bear Cave Pyroglyphics Was born out of a need for an outlet. After having my son, I really felt like I had lost my identity and pouring myself into art helped me rediscover my voice. My husband heavily encouraged and championed turning my hobby into a legitimate business. While putting himself through school to become a DPT, he found the time to do all the paperwork and file all the taxes for this business to take off. I owe the courage to take the first step completely to him. I hope that my art brings other people the joy that it brings me. Creating art has completely transformed my mental health and given me the space to express myself in ways that words simply can’t.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think the best piece of advice that I was given in the early days was make art for you and don’t focus on whether or not it sells. I think having that mentality about your artwork is imperative because trying to fit the mold that you think society wants you to fit is not only oppressive, it’s also inauthentic. I think the second piece of advice that I would give to people just starting out or thinking about starting out is to take all of the opportunities given to you. Don’t be afraid to do work for free. Don’t be afraid to volunteer your gifts and abilities. I feel like when we let money be the sole focus, then the art is hindered. Every opportunity is an opportunity for growth in both your niche and yourself.

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 think one of the largest obstacles I’m facing today as an artist is social media. I feel like a lot of artists can relate to that. The mighty algorithm has a choke hold on all of us. I think the most freeing thing I did this last year vs the first year that I started this business was to not focus so much on setting a schedule and to not worry about checking all of the boxes. I made posts when the muse was with me and I didn’t try to follow trends. Doing this really helped me focus on what I wanted to accomplish this year as an artist and I feel like it really gave me the freedom to dive in deeper. I did one of my most ambitious pieces this year, and I really feel like it’s just the beginning. Had I not taken the time to really do what I wanted to do artistically this year, I never would have accomplished that and I never would have seen the benefits to come. The best is yet to come and this is just the first step.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bear-cave-pyroglyphics.square.site/
• Instagram:@Bear.Cave.Pyroglyphics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bear.Cave.Pyroglyphics?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits

Myself