We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Mikhaela Reyes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna Mikhaela, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
Before and during my time in art school, I felt a lot of pressure to find and stick to a specific style that would “define” me and my work. University lectures, assignments, and being surrounded by so many of the artists I admired and worked with dictated a need to create a distinct, signature style that would scream out into the world that my work was mine and I was the only one who could create anything like it. I envied the artists with effortless, unique expressions in their work not only because of their skills but because they knew who they were, inside and out, and it showed through their creations. This also amplified my insecurities of not knowing who I was then—what type of artist I was or even what type of person I was becoming.

I knew I loved drawing, but I also loved design and illustration. I loved drawing conceptually dark pieces, creating minimalist designs, and making fun, quirky animal illustrations—all completely different types of expression. For whatever reason, I felt like I had to choose one of these and stick to it for the rest of my career, otherwise I would be seen as a fickle, wannabe jack of all trades and absolute master of none. I was so engrossed in how people would react to my work, that I was afraid to create anything at all.

I finally broke out of this spiraling mental prison of anxiety around finding my style when I simply just stopped looking for it. In all honesty, I got tired of wanting to please people and one day, instead of getting caught up in what others would think or say about my work, I decided to just create for the sake of creating. In doing so, I found that I didn’t want to give up any style I was interested in, that I was never obligated to, and that my identity was never linked to just one body of work.

Here is my two cents in honor of rebellion against conventional advice:

Every piece of art that you create is a piece of yourself from a single, unique moment in time. As you gain experience and grow throughout your lifetime, your work will change, adapt, and evolve alongside you. You will create many bodies of work and have the privilege of looking back at the different people you were and the person you became. There exists not a single person who is always bleak, elegant, or upbeat—you are allowed to submit to the flux of your emotions, personality, and values and your artwork is allowed to reflect that. In lieu of finding your style, focus on finding yourself, from which many styles will be born.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work is inspired by themes of mental health, psychology, and the human condition. Depression, trauma, and emotional transparency are just a few of the subjects I explore in my pieces as I seek to lessen the stigma on the discussion of mental health not just in the art world, but in day-to-day life as well. I create drawings of the human figure and botanical illustrations using watercolor, chalk pastel, colored pencil, and charcoal and often use symbolism through color, texture, and association through flora to help elevate these topics. My work is often described as romantic but melancholy, somber but authentic, and gritty but beautiful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First off, I would recommend my best friend to visit in the fall or winter because Texas summers are unforgiveable. A tour of Dealey Plaza is a must, of course. The Empanada Cookhouse is a mandatory stop for breakfast or lunch (their Guava Cheesecake Empanada is to die for) followed by some shopping at North Park Mall to walk off the empanadas (and make room for more). On another day, I would recommend a drive up to Flower Mound to do some hiking or mountain biking at Twin Coves Park or Northshore Trail. Later on that week, we would head to the Lewisville Grand Theater to catch a play or peruse and admire one of their lovely art displays or exhibitions. Last but not least, we absolutely cannot call it a week without a walk around the square in downtown Denton whilst enjoying a Troll’s Blood Gnomesicle from Gnome Cones!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This goes out to all the artists in the world as well as the supporters of the work that we do.

To my fellow artists: I’m so thankful to be in the company of so many brilliant creators, writers, and visionaries that it’s impossible to not be inspired and encouraged to create. Being in the presence of other creatives reminds me of the importance of our work and how it allows us to retain our sense of community and humanity. When artists share their work, they share their stories, their experiences, and the core of who they are for all the world to see. That, in itself, is the bravest, most terrifying, and most beautiful thing one can ever do: to be vulnerable. More than awards, glory, fame, or even basic bragging rights, finding strength in vulnerability is the reason we do what we do. Thank you for showing me the power and strength in my sensitivity.
To the fervent patrons of the arts: thank you for giving me and the rest of our creative community the space to be authentic and share without fear of judgment. It is a privilege to create and, even more so, to be amongst others who appreciate and empathize with our forms of expression. Thank you for protecting our right to be transparent about who we are and advocating for the genuine connections we aspire to create as we share our work.

Website: https://www.annamikhaela.com

Instagram: anna.mikhaela.art

Image Credits
Joseph Robert Izganics

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