Today we’d like to introduce you to India L. Wilson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us India L. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My creative journey started at a very young age as I began to master everything from drawing in charcoal and graphite, and painting in acrylics, oils and watercolors to printmaking and sculpture. My artwork placed in various competitions growing up, and I learned the art of storytelling which ultimately led to the completion of my favorite collection of artwork inspired by “the journey from birth to death” via portraits. Portraits became my specialty, my love over time.
Though my biggest dream as a teen was to be an animator for Pixar, by the time my senior year arrived, I honestly thought that a career as an artist was a mere fantasy for me. So, I decided to pursue a more practical profession – finance. I attended Fisk University and the University of Pittsburgh (much later), where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and an MBA in Marketing & Strategy, respectively.
While enthralled in a corporate career, I still continued to strengthen my creative skillset – creating works of art when I could. However, my work-life balance was terrible (more work, less life), and climbing the ladder became the goal – until I hit an unsuspecting ceiling in my career. I was suddenly laid off from my biggest role to-date and after a long hard fight, found myself en route back home. Returning to my hometown (Montgomery, Alabama) to start over was humbling, heartbreaking and a very confusing time for me.
But being back home has not only nurtured me creatively, but it has led me back to my original, pivotal moment – to really consider how I want to enter this next phase of my life. Perhaps a career in art was my destiny after all. And so this journey begins – ever-evolving, shaping and forming. I’m currently carving a career that embodies the creativity that I’ve been gifted while leveraging my corporate background.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all. One of my biggest regrets growing up was not truly exploring in-depth what a career in the creative industry could mean for me. However, second-guessing my path ended up being a setback and a blessing simultaneously. While I have the polishing, analytical and critical thinking skills and ability to understand the nuances of business and finance, I very much lack the experience, art degree and technical skill sets of other professional creatives in fields like graphic design. Teaching myself graphic design and aligning myself with others who are stronger in this realm has been my strategy.
I’ve also become so accustomed to supporting the overall corporate vision of an entity (not to mention the steady form of income and health insurance) that I found it almost petrifying to begin an entrepreneurial venture. Being laid-off helped with that fear, however, I’ve yet to find my sweet spot – a balance in steady income. To be an entrepreneur, I’ve learned mostly that you have to have a “heart for hustling”. Some days I have it, some days I don’t. On the days that I don’t, I try not to beat myself up too much about it. Not being on social media as much (constantly comparing myself to others) helps as with that as well.
If I could do it all over, I would seek balance in my life. I would try to find a career path that captures both my heart and passion while also providing a secure future… just a little bit of both. I wouldn’t let fear of the unknown – fear that no one else has led this path dictate my next move. I should have let fear push me forward… not backward. However, I truly believe that whatever you back away from in your life whatever you run away from, will eventually come face to face with you in your future someday. So, if you feel as though you’ve made the wrong choice, there’s always another opportunity to follow the path not taken. Don’t worry your purpose will find you if you seek it.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
I specialize in murals, portraits and realism in any medium. My latest public-commission public work was the Montgomery Book Bench Project which sought to promote literacy in children in a fun, unique way via a mural in the shape of a book. My next public mural will be featured in the historic Peacock Tract of Montgomery, AL later this year. Lately, I’ve developed a love for sewing and quilting, and I’m currently working on new quilts and started my own line of graduation stoles. When I’m not doing commissioned works of art, portraits and sewing projects for clients, I work constantly to build a brand that leverages all aspects of my creativity and inspires engagement among participants.
I’ve come to embrace the journey I’ve taken thus far as I believe my past experiences set me apart and provide a perspective unlike any other. I’m seeking to leverage my corporate background and art/creativity to help organizations seeking to increase morale, productivity and drive unique problem-solving. I am working with organizations by offering creative note-taking for large meeting groups to actively engage and drive teams towards their desired outcomes and goals. I also am working with businesses/organizations by offering “Collaborative Art Experiences” to groups interested in offering art as a form of engagement and entertainment during their events. I lead Collaborative Art Experiences for jazz events hosted by the Montgomery Downtown Business Association.
Art continues to fill other portions of my life as well, as I currently serve on the Junior Executive Board of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, where our efforts are targeted towards increasing awareness and engagement of young professionals in the local arts community. I also work with two local art non-profits – 21 Dreams Arts & Culture, where I served as Program Manager setting up and organizing the vision of art exhibitions and implementing our Internship Program, and The King’s Canvas, where I served as a consultant for their latest “Open Air Market” vision. Both organizations are aimed towards increasing and access and equity to art opportunities.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I rely on Pinterest and Canva is great for my entrepreneurial tasks. I also love reading the articles featured in Artwork Archive. I hope to expand and utilize other resources, especially as I expand into graphic design. However, I find mostly that collaborating, building relationships and interfacing with other artists and creatives in-person provide the greatest form of inspiration and aid.
Contact Info:
- Email: indiaisilw@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiaisilw/
- Facebook: fb.me/ILWArtsNCrafts
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