We had the good fortune of connecting with Layla Moody and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Layla, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always been a creative individual from my early childhood. I would get lost in drawing and coloring and used it as a way to relax when the world got overwhelming. I was originally discouraged by my family to go into a creative career due to lack of financial stability, and it was very difficult to break into the arts, especially in the 1990’s. That led me to a degree in Marketing and Business Management, which I have used for the last 20 years. Now, with social media, it has never been easier to market yourself and get exposure for your creative career. It’s a completely new world from when I was younger. Timing is everything! The time is NOW for creatives!
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.
The pieces that I work on are usually geared toward using color as a form of therapy. I enjoy using color to change or express the mood I am in. I like to feel at ease so, I use a lot of calming colors. But as someone who experiences fatigue, I enjoy using all kinds of color palettes, so I will use many colors in some pieces. I do shy away from neutrals because I am looking to spark a feeling. But sometimes too much feeling isn’t needed, and I will do something with more earth tones. I like to work in many different styles as well. My mind is very active so I like to keep challenging myself. I would like to start working on furniture pieces eventually. My goal is to help people get comfortable with color in their décor. Even one piece or painting, with the right color can make you happy to be in that room. The interior designer in me, would like to show people that you can still have your style, but add one piece of furniture or painting that has the right colors and it changes the entire vibe of the space. It doesn’t have to completely alter the style of your environment. It just adds something special. I am still working on moving toward my goals. I’m not there yet, but I don’t doubt I will be eventually. I am excited to see how it all unfolds. I have learned a lot, but I will never be done learning. I think every mistake is an experience. I embrace even my most frustrating mistakes. I will be wiser for it one day!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Unfortunately, the pandemic changed the landscape of Houston. Many of my favorite places and restaurants are gone. I used to enjoy shopping in Uptown and City Center. Going to home décor stores, looking for fixtures, and looking at unique art and furniture, was my favorite pastime. We rarely get to do that now, with many stores I would frequent being gone.
Currently, I am a homebody. I enjoy staying home with my family. We swim in our pool or fish in the lake in our backyard. We grill with our boys and watch movies. Its the little things that make me really happy right now. Being with my kids is what does it for me. But we do love to go the The Melting Pot and Benihana as a family. It’s family friendly for kids of all ages and the food is excellent!
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?
My three sons (Cole, Preston, & Mason), my parents (Bob & Sammie), my husband (Ben), and all my friends (especially online) that have encouraged me over the pandemic, to sell my paintings because they were “better than I thought”, deserve credit for encouraging me. By taking that leap of faith, it allowed me to earn extra income while ArtisticMedia was undergoing a transition. I have been able to do something that destresses me, expresses my internal thoughts, while making extra income. It’s a very humbling feeling when someone purchases a painting that you have put your heart into. It’s a connection with a stranger, that actually resonates with what you were feeling when you were making a painting. It’s the biggest form of flattery. I feel grateful to all that have encouraged & supported me. I wouldn’t have put myself out there without that encouragement.
Website: www.laylamoodyartdesign.com
Instagram: @laylamoodyartdesign
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/layla-moody-4aa39829
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075780920955
Other: www.artisticmedia.co
Image Credits
Layla & Ben Moody