Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ilana T.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Ilana, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I often describe what I do as “painting my way through trauma recovery.” As a survivor of child abuse and a near-fatal eating disorder, I’ve participated in many different forms of therapy throughout my healing journey. However, I spent years in a constant state of fear and would often “shut down” during traditional talk therapy. What helped me overcome this therapeutic stagnation was art therapy, and with the help of dedicated art therapists, I was finally able to create images that depicted the pain I was experiencing and ultimately find the words to express it.
Since then, I’ve created my personal version of art therapy to do when I’m alone. This is what led me to discover the greater meaning behind every piece of art. Processing traumatic memories in therapy leaves me physically and emotionally drained. During these times, I spend hours pouring my heart and soul into paintings. Each one is filled with emotion.
I do the same thing during times of joy and gratitude. I am abundantly blessed, and daily gratitude has allowed me to recognize and appreciate those blessings. The pieces of art that I sell are the ones that have brought joy, peace, gratitude, love, wholeness, or meaning into my life. My hope is that once another person has one of my creations in their hands, they can find their own heart and soul in the piece.
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?
My passion lies in art and the creative process. The styles of work I do are constantly evolving and broadening. Right now, my favorite pieces to work on are resin geodes (image 1). I also do a lot of other work with resin and crystals (jewelry, ashtrays, paperweights, clocks, photo preservation, and abstract art). Other mediums I enjoy working with are gold leaf, texture pastes, crushed glass, dried pressed flowers, and so much more.
I also love doing custom/commission work. One of my favorite items to make are pieces where I write something that the customer requests on the canvas (or whichever surface they choose) and turn it into a piece of art (image 2). These include birthday wishes, New Year’s resolutions, dreams, aspirations, goals, etc. I include inspirational quotes, bible verses, and excerpts from my favorite poems in some of my other paintings too (image 3).
The event I am most proud to be a part of is the annual Love Your Body event by Karen Michelle and Artists for Trauma (images 4 and 5). The LYB events are all about inclusivity and empowering women and girls of all colors, sizes, backgrounds, and abilities. I feel so honored to be able to sell my art there and participate in such an incredible event.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most important qualities/skills that I believe have brought me to where I am today are determination, trusting the process, and seeking and accepting feedback from others.
It’s no secret that starting your own business is a challenge. As an artist, I am dedicated to creating memorable and meaningful pieces of art. Turning my passion into a business meant learning how to create a website, market, and create content for social media – all of which I had no previous experience with. That was a big learning curve for me, and what helped me overcome it was the determination I had to sell my art. The perspective I adopted was: dealing with the “business side” of things will enable me to spread my art to others.
I’ve had to remind myself to trust the process when navigating unfamiliar territory. For example, as an introvert, going to art shows sounded like a dream come true and a nightmare at the same time. I wanted to show my work, but I also get anxious in big crowds, and I’d much rather be alone in my art studio. Luckily, the first show I went to was a huge success and I enjoyed every moment of it. Now, selling my art in public places is one of my favorite things to do. To me, trusting the process means taking the steps necessary to accomplish something, without being too emotionally attached to the outcome. If I succeed at something I was unsure about, then I know it was well worth it. And if I fail, then I’ve learned a lesson and can choose to try again, armed with the knowledge I’ve gained in the process.
Lastly, I believe that seeking, accepting, and applying feedback from others is crucial to the learning process. However, it is even more important to carefully evaluate whom you are taking feedback from. In her 2019 Netflix special “The Call to Courage,” Brene Brown says, “If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion because you were being brave, I am not interested or open to your feedback about my work.” I value and anticipate feedback from people who understand the meaning behind art and the depth behind each piece.
To those who are beginning their small business endeavor, the best advice I can share with you is to have patience, believe in yourself, and enjoy the journey!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Absolutely! Working together with others is something I find very valuable, and I am eager to do more of it. If you have a home or office space that can use some enhancement, I would love to work together with you and create a piece of art that will add beauty to your space. I can also make custom gifts for your loved ones, friends, employees, or coworkers for holidays, birthdays, or any other occasion. I would love to take part in more art-related events, pop-up shops, and galleries and would also be honored to connect with people or organizations who are interested in learning about trauma and healing, as it is an integral part of my work. If you’d like to connect or know of someone who would, you can send me an email at [email protected] or fill out the contact form on my website (www.livingartbyilana.com). You can also send me a message or check out some of my work on Instagram (@living.art.by.ilana).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.livingartbyilana.com
- Instagram: living.art.by.ilana
- Other: TikTok: livingartbyilana ; GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/644e5057
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
For images 1,2,3, and 5: @stsb_product_photography
