We were lucky to catch up with Dyane Oliva recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dyane, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Growing up, I never really had much faith in myself. I was an incredibly shy kid, always terrified to speak up or expose myself to others’ opinions. Art classes were my safe space- I didn’t have to make presentations or speak in a group, the art spoke for me. And it turns out, I was pretty good at it. When people noticed my art, it wasnt as scary as when they noticed me. When I finally came to accept that I had the ability to create beautiful things, there came with the acceptance a certain level of confidence. It took me years of “I should probably put my stuff on social media” to finally take the plunge and make an Instagram. I think it came from a desire for connection. My father had just died, and I had ended a 6 year relationship, so I felt a motivation to be seen. Opening myself up to public criticism was terrifying, but I found that the comments I received were kind and positive. It made fighting the fear worth it. Eventually, Instagram wasn’t so bad, which of course meant I had to aim higher, and my first choice was a local printmaking fair, SPF Ft. Lauderdale. Being there and interacting with fellow artists, and people who enjoyed my art helped me to gain a confidence I hadn’t had before, even if it was just based on a flood of compliments boosting my ego. After that, markets became habit, and being seen was just a part of the art. Baby steps- once something nerve-wracking becomes confortable, it’s time to level up.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Since I was small, I was always outside creating- think fairy houses made of sticks and leaves, and bug cafes made of glued together flowers and stones (with tiny hand-written menus for the patrons, of course). I was fascinated by nature. Naturally, I earned my bachelor’s in environmental science, but I never lost my love for making- incorporating a handful of artsy minors into my college career. I’ve always been drawn to more hands-on mediums- I learned ceramics in high school, and linoleum block printing in college. In my works, I combine the two disciplines I was schooled in- you will find numerous scientifically accurate species illustrated in my linocuts, impressions of plants pressed into my ceramic works, and sculptures drawing inspiration from natural forms and patterns.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My background in environmental science helped me find the inspiration to create. My education had me taking multiple weekly hikes, and its hard not to find a muse in the small beauty in nature. You could frequently find me crouched down on a trail, taking pictures of a neat lichen I had found, with textures that would translate to an awesome linocut print.
My history with art classes also was important in arming me with the knowledge of the possibilities of art. If it wasn’t for my local museum offering ceramics courses- I wouldn’t have thought about attempting the classes offered by my high school. If I hadn’t tried out the Special Topics Printmaking course in college, I wouldn’t have even known linoleum printing was a thing. Now, my local museum has a spoon carving class- maybe that’s the next frontier for me!
A motivation to have your art be seen is also essential. Getting my art out there was crucial to this point of my journey, and vending at markets and posting on social media helped me to overcome some of my insecurities. Who knows, I may stop selling my art and create only for myself someday, but for now, it has been key in developing my confidence.
My advice- find a subject you love, and incorporate it into your art. Don’t overlook the small things, even what others see as mundane can be a source of inspiration. Try new mediums, take interesting workshops and classes- explore! It’s terrifying- but put yourself out there, attempt to put your work in public spaces, both online and in person, even if it is infrequent.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, which recently is often due to an influx of commissions, it helps me to make a list and schedule. Writing out the steps needed to finish a piece and scheduling in my phone calendar the dates id like to complete them by helps me to get a handle on fast approaching deadlines and too much work. I schedule my time carefully, especially since I still work as an environmental scientist, in addition to art.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @DyaneCreates
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088967561167&mibextid=2JQ9oc
Image Credits
Just me!
