Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Haley Ellis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Haley, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from many important people in my life. My mom and dad did just about everything they could when I was younger to try and give us a better life than they had. My dad in particular taught me about how hard life can be, and to try to make the best out of every situation. He taught me that there’s always something to be grateful for, even when it feels like absolutely nothing is going right. A memory and lesson from my father that has always stuck with me was a time we had a flat tire. My dad had walked all the way from work back to the house – his job was 20 minutes away down I-70 and we lived out in a very rural area. I watched him strap a spare tire to his back and leave to walk back and change the tire. That day taught me that sometimes you’re not going to have an easy choice or solution. Sometimes you’ve just got to get things done yourself, even if it’s really hard. That’s one of many things I’ve learned from him.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a self-taught artist and an avid thrifter. I have been interested in all things art and dreamt of becoming an artist for as long as I can remember. My mom was very talented, still is, and I would draw, paint, and sculpt things with her. My mom’s dream was to go to art school but she didn’t have the money and then I had come along. She never pursued it but continued to make art at home here and there. She taught me to be patient with my art and that the more I practiced – the better I would get. I’ve never stopped trying to learn because of her. She always inspired me and was always so proud. I don’t dream of becoming successful in art for myself, but for my mom, dad, and brother, in hopes to be able to give them what they tried to give me.
At this time, I am back into painting. I have started a collection of paintings and characters I call “Gloomers”. To my surprise, people are loving them more than I thought they would. I finally found my art style in them and I am so excited to build my collection and begin to sell my paintings here in the near future. I am planning on getting my website back up and running soon as well! The paintings I am working on feature abstract faces done in acrylic paint. Some using an array of colors and some being monochrome. The painting can be flipped in just about any way and you get different perspectives of the painting due to turning the painting as I go and layering the faces.
This article is giving me another great opportunity to get my name out there and share my art, and I am so grateful. And just at the right time. Finally finding my style has been so rewarding for my own growth. It’s made me feel free, in a way. There’s no sketching, no reference, just me, a well loved collection of paint brushes passed down from my mom to me, and some paint. My mindset suddenly changed from, “I hope someone likes this” to, “someone WILL like this” – I’m beyond excited for what the future may hold.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
To me, art is whatever you want it to be. It can mean anything or nothing all at once. Realizing it doesn’t have to be perfect changed a lot for me. I’ve always been a perfectionist and worried what people may think of my art. When you put your heart and soul into something, of course you want people to love it too. I accepted the fact that people aren’t always going to love what I make, but as long as I do, that’s all that matters. If you’re an artist yourself reading this, remember that last part.
Determination and the willingness to learn rather than get frustrated when something didn’t work out also play a big part for me. Trial and error. Practicing and never giving up. Always trying to improve in areas or learn new ways to do something, and just having fun.
I think it’s best to experiment with what materials you like and are comfortable working with. Not everything you pick up will be something you’ll like to use. If I use certain materials and don’t like the outcome, I simply try again.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking to collaborate or find a good printing company. I want to find a good quality, small business to make prints of my art to sell. I like the idea of being able to support, recommend, and lift each other up in our business rather than going for a bigger printing company. People supporting people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ellisartistic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellisartistic?igsh=MTJ0MmtraHphdWhmOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
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