Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lynne Hardy.
Lynne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My art journey started as a little girl. I loved drawing and creating. It gave me the room to express myself. I went to college to pursue a Fine Arts Degree in illustration but did not like it. Illustration required a lot of technique, but I wanted creative freedom. I transferred schools, changed my degree, and started slowly making the art I wanted.
I found out that I love my culture and storytelling. Art was my vehicle to do both; it gave me a sense of purpose. After working at a food joint for a year and not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, my family encouraged me to start Ajoobaasani. The small business would sell paper goods and apparel based on my Diné culture. I created all the designs and illustrations.
From there, my career as an artist started to blossom. Native Non-profits and Companies began to reach out for work so consistently that I quit my 9-5. I feel incredibly blessed to have reached this point in my life to do what I love. I have always been an artist, but I did find myself when I accepted who I was and where I came from.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. There were periods when I didn’t create any art because I felt that my art didn’t impress anyone.
I created art for people’s approval, which left me insecure when they didn’t like it. Other factors, such as my low income, made it difficult to buy art supplies. These factors made me think I wasn’t worthy to create anything, much less share it with others.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
“Ajoo’baa” is the Dine (Navajo) name for the “benevolent mountain,” as it provided everything for my ancestors. “Sani” means women, so “Ajoobaasani” is “the women from the benevolent mountain.” My family liked the name “Ajoobaasani” because we wanted people to know who we are and where we come from. The art I create contains cultural stories from myself and my family.
That’s the beauty of art; you can capture so much emotion, depth, and teachings. That’s what I do; I’m a storyteller. I use bright colors, picturesque scenes, and detailed portrayals of Dine (Navajo) features in my art to showcase my love for my culture. I believe I was meant to help preserve Native culture, and I feel blessed that I can do it my way.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My ancestors, my family, and my friends deserve the credit. Dine (Navajo) culture is big on sharing because that’s how we preserve our culture. All my life, my mother and father would tell stories of the triumphs and trials of our family.
Those stories were my fuel to create, my muse. It’s because of them I am still here. I feel honored to inherit their resilience, benevolence, and empathy. Thinking about the stories makes me tear up with gratitude and admiration. My family and friends were also a big contributor to my success as a creative.
They built my confidence and always encouraged me to follow my dreams. I didn’t want to start Ajoobaasani in the first place, but my sisters encouraged me to. My parents proudly showcased my art on the fridge as a little girl. They scraped money together to buy me art supplies. My friends reassured me that they wanted to hear my stories.
In my darkest times, they saw my potential and never let me lose sight of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ajoobaasani.com
- Instagram: @ajoobaasani
