Today we’d like to introduce you to Maia Morgan.
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?
I started drawing back in elementary school and I saw that I was pretty decent at it. My older brother was an artist as well and I wanted to do what he did, but my style was always different. He was a perfectionist, his lines needed to be completely neat and straight. My lines were all over the place, mixed with a ton of eraser marks. I didn’t stop going over my lines until I got the image I wanted. I was messy and flawed but I loved it. It was why I fell in love with drawing portraits specifically. Everyone has their flaws, or what they themselves perceive as flaws, and I love capturing the beauty within flaws. It was then I knew that I wanted to make something of myself with my art. I come from a line of entrepreneurs. My father and his father were entrepreneurs in the carpentry business. My parents always raised me to believe that I could do anything I put my mind to by the grace of God. I always had a creative side but I also had a very technical side. In school, I went back and forth with what it was that I wanted to make my main career. I went from wanting to be a fashion designer to a forensic scientist and back to art again. In 2020, I decided to finally get my LLC and now I’m the owner of Leonay-Nichole designs L.L.C. Leonay-Nichole is my artist name and are also my middle names. I have been selling portraits and doing commissions since I was in high school. Now I commission logos, portraits, tattoo designs and t-shirt designs. I also sell original work such as paintings, prints and my coloring book.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It most definitely has not been a smooth road. Like I said, I went back and forth with my career choices. I knew the sensible thing would be to go with something technical but I decided that my passion was with art and that was what I wanted to pursue. I went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and I got my bachelor’s in Art History. When I graduated, I didn’t really know how to go about things. No one was an artist in my family so they didn’t know what sort of road I should take with my business. I mean, honestly, one of my biggest challenges was figuring out my worth (which I think I’m still learning). I struggled with figuring out how to narrow what I wanted to draw or design so I can get proficient with that before I branched out to more things, especially considering how much time and effort goes within creating a piece, and I’m doing it all alone. There’s still so much for me to learn. I’m still navigating what it takes for me to be a successful artist, especially in a world where there are so many creative people. But I’ve learned to not compare myself to others and just focus on my craft and what I love to make.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist and I specialize in portraits. They are my pride and joy in art-making and also what I am known for. I love creating portraits of women of color. Representation is such an important thing. I have many sisters and each and every one of us are different shapes, sizes and shades. I believe my sisters are some of the most beautiful women ever and I appreciate every bit of their beauty. I want to make sure I make pieces where people feel like they can relate to it. Whether it’s from seeing something that looks like them (or is actually them) or from a feeling, they get from my work. I love to evoke emotion and create a topic of discussion. I want to encourage all of those who see my artwork to see the beauty in flaws and to know that it is a reflection of their beauty as well. We are complicated human beings and, for most, drawing faces and bodies are the most complicated to replicate. That is what I love and I hope my artwork conveys that to people; if not now, then soon. I am also in the middle of creating a new website to better showcase all that I have to offer. I really appreciate everyone who has been rocking with me and always being patient with what I’m coming out with next. My best portfolio is on Instagram right now @leonaynichole_. That is where I will be making any updates and announcements.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe the key to my success is the support and love that I receive from my family. They are always the first in my sales. They always think of me when it comes to something creative and I am happy to know that I can be that for them. Faith is a quality that is very important. For me, it’s faith in God, faith that He will guide me and that if I stay consistent and do my part, all that I work for will flourish because we all know the saying, “faith without work is dead.” I do it all to honor my parents and how they paved a way/life for me to do exactly what it is I want to do and to have the freedom to explore a gift bestowed upon me.
Pricing:
- Logos – $50
- Digital Portraits – $100
Contact Info:
- Email: leonaynichole98@gmail.com
- Website: leonaynicholedesigns.threadless.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonaynichole_/?hl=en
