Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Hayes.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Thank you very much for this opportunity! I have been creative my entire life; as a little girl, I was always drawing and creating things from found objects… basically mixed media before I knew what that was, lol. For many years, I taught painting classes to adults and children. I enjoy teaching and wanted my students to leave with a completed painting so it didn’t add to their “projects” pile.
One night, in 2010, I listed an original mixed media painting on Etsy; by morning, I was having major doubts that it would sell (imposter syndrome). I logged onto my computer with the intention to take down my listing, but instead, I found that it had already sold! This was very exciting, to say the least. I continue to create mixed-media original paintings and I’ve also created many custom-commissioned originals. A few years ago, I jumped into learning watercolor. I had always been intrigued by this medium because you can do it anywhere you are, from a coffee shop to a beach. It is currently my favorite medium to work with!
I am a deep believer in creativity, it has helped me through several difficult situations in life. It helps clear my mind much like meditation does. I enjoy learning new mediums and techniques and hope to always be learning and experimenting.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My artistic journey wouldn’t be described as a smooth road, but I always knew the creativity would be there for me when I needed it to be. Growing up, I heard the usual “starving artist” warnings, so in college, I earned a safe, stable accounting degree. I should have realized that this wasn’t the right path for me when I would meet new people and they were surprised to learn what my major was. After a few years of corporate mind-numbing work, I began to create and paint again.
I was fortunate to have been able to stay home to raise my girls and to keep painting when time allowed. Now, I’m focusing on painting and building up a licensing portfolio while also accepting commission work and traveling. It is currently a great balance!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a mixed media, watercolor, and digital artist. My work has been published several times in Stampington & Company magazines and I have shown my work in a couple of local art shows.
I am most proud of being an example to my family and friends that you can keep learning new things, it’s never too late to try something new. I really love hearing stories from my customers about how they connect with a piece of my art.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I would have been described as a “tomboy” type of girl. I wanted to do all of the fun things that my favorite boy cousins were doing. I wanted to go out and climb trees, play sports, and see how many different stray dogs I could get to follow me home. I was very shy and it was hard to move as often as we did while I was growing up.
In high school, I was on the tennis team, ski club, dance company, etc. but while in college I just wanted to focus on earning my degree, getting my career started, and begin “adulting.” I took one drawing class as an elective while working on my accounting degree and it was my favorite class.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aliciahayesart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciahayesart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliciaHayesArt
