Meet Mia Bosna

We were lucky to catch up with Mia Bosna recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mia, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

Several factors contribute to my optimism. It begins with honoring my ancestors. As teenagers, they crossed an ocean to start a new life in a foreign country, with their sample book of crotcheted lace, the promise of fine Italian tailoring, and a basic understanding of the English vocabulary. These seeds of hope and resilience grew into an amazing family tree, from which I now enjoy the fruits of their labor and share their optimism for exploration as an artist. Epigenetics suggests a predisposition for resilience and a positive outlook can be passed down through generations, and I feel fortunate to have received some of their optimistic spirit.

Another source of my optimism is the belief that I can contribute positively to the world—through my art, actions, thoughts, and words. This belief inspires me to create from a place of abundance rather than scarcity. For instance, my Shamanic Portraits reflect “The Healing Story” for each client, empowering them to embrace their gifts and cultivate an optimistic view of their evolution. If our thoughts shape our reality, then optimism is an essential ingredient. For my Journey to Rewilding Oracle Cards, optimism takes on a larger role. On behalf of threatened habitats and wildlife, I feel it’s essential to hold the highest level of hope. Optimism isn’t just forward-looking—it’s a positive collective energy. Harnessing this shared energy can create the momentum needed to address the urgent environmental crises we face.

Optimism is also crucial for anyone making art for a living. As artists, we often face hurdles and challenges, but we possess the unique ability to raise the energy in any space by bringing beauty, laughter, joy, or heightened consciousness with our art. This requires a deep well of optimism, especially when the goal is to effect positive change.

Last but not least, I’ve learned that optimism is an “inside job” that can be ignited simply through being curious and following its leads.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My career has always been split between two worlds: commercial art and metaphysical art. For years, I thought I should focus on one path, but I’ve come to realize I thrive when pursuing both.
On the commercial side, I’ve worked as an art director, graphic designer, and illustrator for advertising and publishing. This has allowed me to collaborate with businesses, design studios, and publishers. On the personal side, my work is deeply rooted in shamanism and spirituality. These two paths, though different, often intersect in surprising and rewarding ways.
For both types of work, I use the same skills: exploring, analyzing, and distilling concepts into powerful images. The process for creating shamanic portraits, for example, involves illustrating a client’s healing story, while book illustrations require conveying themes for a broad audience. I truly love the challenge of both.
I started my career as a paste-up artist—a common entry-level role for artists at the time. Though it wasn’t glamorous, it provided valuable experience with printing techniques, which eventually led to freelance opportunities. There wasn’t much I could do about the blatant chauvinism that I experienced in these male-dominated businesses, but over time, I built a client list of companies and art directors who respected my work and values.
Shamanic Portraits
My shamanic portraits, in particular, allow me to combine my artistic skills with my shamanic practice. Shamanic Portraits are driven by clients’ intentions and reflect the healing stories revealed during shamanic journeys. Translating these dreamlike, multidimensional experiences into two-dimensional art is one of the most rewarding kinds of work.

Journey to Rewilding Oracle Cards
My Journey to Rewilding Oracle Cards represents a merging of my commercial and spiritual work. This project combines my passion for environmental conservation with the insights gained from shamanic journeys.

I’ve researched and painted 54 species for this deck of cards, along with a companion book. The cards blend scientific information about threatened species with spiritual messages derived from my shamanic work. By doing this, I hope to raise awareness about biodiversity loss and inspire action on a small scale that starts in our own backyards. Currently, I’m in the prototype phase and have submitted the project and waiting to hear from the publisher. In the meantime, I have limited edition boxed sets that are for sale in downtown Lancaster and on my Etsy shop: etsy.com/shop/Bosnart.

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 Following the places that awaken curiosity, noticing what brings joy and creating clear boundaries for both are key. When a project feels burdensome, it may not be in alignment with your gifts and talents. Following your curiosity is often a sign your true self is present. Diving deeper into the things that you are curious about through research, classes, or experimentation, but allow time to absorb and integrate what you’ve learned. Leave breathing room to integrate this into a meaningful action.

Schedule Time for Experimentation
Making space for experimentation is essential, especially if creating art for a commercial application, where there can be less room for creative exploration. Stepping outside your comfort zone allows you to connect with the inner changes and growth that naturally occur over time. It’s in this space of experimentation that new visual ideas and dreams (conscious or unconscious) can surface and take form.

Diversification
My artwork reaches audiences through multiple channels: publishing, gallery exhibitions, social media, private commissions, and Etsy. Diversifying my market has provided visibility and kept my work accessible to a broad audience.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My biggest challenge is promoting my work on social media. Creating videos, posting updates, and marketing for workshops take time away from the creative process. My artwork used to be the only visual needed so learning to be comfortable with personal messages on video will take some practice. To address this, I’ve started the year with a structured calendar, dedicating specific times for social media posts and promotional tasks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MiaBosna.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journey2rewilding/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miabosna/
• Other: BlueSky: miabosna.bsky.social