Meet Ariana Mcweeney | Mural painter & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariana Mcweeney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariana, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
I think the beauty of building a creative business is that I have no idea where I’ll be by the end of my career! Right now I mainly paint murals and create illustrations, but who knows, someone might offer me a job painting grand pianos for concerts or creative directing editorial photoshoots! My end goal for my career is that I can look back and feel like I got to explore different possibilities, meet new people, and connect with others through the work I create.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I first started Ariana Lee Creative, I never imagined it would grow into what it is today. I began as anyone does with no clients or prospects and no clue how to run a successful business. I lived in an apartment, so I couldn’t paint on my own walls, meaning I had no portfolio pieces to show potential clients. So, I mocked up my own illustrations and designs onto photos of blank walls and put together a pitch deck that I sent out to different businesses. Initially, this was the biggest way I got work, but I now get a lot of work from referrals and from people seeing my murals in public.

Once I got my first couple clients, business was pretty good; however, there were a couple of times during the first two years I hit a point where I started to panic because I didn’t have an upcoming project. When those times would come I’d let myself have a moment to freak out and then I’d hit the ground running, finding any way possible to sign on new clients. As a contractor work ebbs and flows and you can’t always control what projects come up, meaning you don’t know how much money you’ll be making at any given time. That being said, you also have the potential for huge monetary growth depending on how much effort you put into putting yourself out there. I learned how to get ahead of the slow times and set aside money so that I’m never in a place where I need to worry.

There is so much I’ve learned from running my business like how to talk to clients, how to market myself, and how to keep track of my taxes, but one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that it’s essential for me to stay organized. In order to do that I joined a group of other small business owners who get together on zoom every Friday to organize their weekly tasks, check on their finances, and just hold each other accountable. They are an amazing group of women and I’ve seen the biggest growth in Ariana Lee Creative since I’ve joined them!

What I’m most excited about for the near future, is further developing my personal style and collaborating with other creative people! Sometimes it’s hard to balance designing for clients and creating art for yourself, but it’s so incredibly important to keep your passion alive! Creating your own work is also crucial because you need to put out the type of work you want to get hired for. If you only post photos of flower paintings, you’ll only get hired to paint flowers. I’m really enjoying playing around in my work right now and keeping my creative muscles sharp.

I hope that the world sees my brand and smiles. I love to use art to bring people together and create connection. When the whole world feels gray I want to be the splash of color that brightens your mood and makes you feel seen.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite places to walk around in is bishop arts. It’s so fun to browse through all of the cute shops before you stop for lunch at Paradiso where the aesthetic is fantastic and so is the food! Then I have to stop for an ice cream at MELT because YUM!! The Dallas museum of Art is also really cool and I’ve been dying to take a trapeze class at the Dallas Circus Center! If you’re looking for a night out it’s always fun to go out in the Fortworth Stockyards too!

Honestly, most of my recommendations in DFW revolve around food though because I love to eat and catch a good vibe with my friends! Some of my favorite restaurants are Gemma, Sixty Vines, Uchiba, Vidorra, Walloons, and Shug’s bagels. If you want a really delicious cocktail the midnight rambler is a fun spot to check out too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this achievement to my incredible family. To my mom, who not only built her own writing business but has been a constant source of inspiration in both my life and work. To my stepdad, an artist who nurtured my creativity from a young age. To my dad and stepmom, who have been my biggest cheerleaders, and to my siblings, whose encouragement has always fueled my confidence.

Most of all, to my husband Ryan, who’s been there from the beginning—always encouraging me, assisting on countless projects, and lifting me up when I doubt myself. He is my biggest inspiration. Lastly, to our dog, Nigel, who fills my days with joy and keeps me going. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without all of you.

Website: https://www.arianaleecreative.com

Instagram: arianalee_creative

Linkedin: ariana lee creative

Image Credits
Main personal photo taken by lance lynch photo (@lwlynchphoto)