Meet Reinilda Blair

We were lucky to catch up with Reinilda Blair recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Reinilda, 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?

A few years ago, I discovered the difference between having a passion and a purpose. A passion is something you do for yourself; it drives you every day to create and feel good internally. A purpose, on the other hand, is what you do for others. Collectively, we must have a unified purpose to elevate our consciousness and the vibration of others. Art has always been a passion of mine, but it was only when I saw someone interact with my work and experience a new emotion that inspired them, that I realized I could create a ripple of positive emotion in someone’s life. This realization led me to combine my passion with my purpose, creating art that is not only technically and visually impressive but also carries a message that advances human consciousness.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a visionary artist, primarily working in acrylics. My paintings are inspired by visions and past memories that come to me spontaneously. I started painting when I was eight years old, although I can remember drawing as a child in the Dominican Republic. I love bringing to life the images my mind’s eye sees, allowing others to experience them. I believe art should connect with the deeper side of the human spirit and that creation is the most important aspect of being human. My art serves as a bridge between what I have seen and experienced and the visions I had during a near-death experience in my twenties. I believe it can help others become more comfortable with the inevitable part of being human, which is death.

Currently, I am working on a series about my Taíno ancestry. Learning more about who they were and what their spiritual life was like has become a catalyst for me to dive even deeper into my own spiritual practice. I believe it is important to connect with the original human mentality regarding spirit, before it was corrupted by colonialism and various religions. This show will most likely take place in my hometown of Bonao, Dominican Republic.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The first essential skill is learning your tools. Understand what each brush does, how your paint interacts with different additives, how the canvas absorbs and feels, and what type of palette you use. Additionally, tools like a color wheel are extremely important; learning how colors work together is fundamental in art.

Second, it is important to find what feels good when creating. I find that painting nature mixed with portraits inspires me, and I can do it without reference. Learning to create the things you love will keep you consistent and help you develop a signature style. Don’t follow trends, as they will limit the development of your individual style. You have your own vision, and people want to see it!

The third piece of advice is not to stress when you are not creating. Artists need time to download and collect imagery and stories in order to create. These pauses in life help you produce authentic and unique pieces. Constant creation will eventually burn you out. Artists need time for self-care and mindfulness. Trying to keep up with social media’s constant demand for new art is not sustainable. Being an artist is a lifelong journey, and you will be creating long after any current social media platform has faded. So, take care of your mind!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I believe that as artists, it’s essential to completely shut down and do nothing at least once a week. Creating art requires a tremendous amount of emotional, physical, and mental energy, and we often isolate ourselves from the world while immersed in our craft. I think it’s important to have days where we can step away from our art, allowing it to marinate, and focus on being present in the moment and in our reality. Art can transport us to other dimensions and sometimes distort our perception of reality, so it’s crucial to reconnect with our bodies and take care of our mental health.

Recently, I started going to therapy, and it has helped me rationalize the thoughts that prevent me from living in a harmonious state. Having a professional guide me through my emotions has been an integral part of my artistic journey, as I’ve developed healthy coping mechanisms that lead to a positive mental state. Additionally, learning that my anxiety was linked to my ADD and taking the appropriate medication has greatly improved my mental health on a daily basis.

I feel that we must always prioritize our mental health, and in doing so, our art will flow more freely. Even in a depressive state, art can be healing, but constant creation is not the best approach for maintaining great mental health.

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