Today we’d like to introduce you to Lola Grant.
Hi Lola, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started painting as a hobby in college. My hobby eventually turned into a degree in Visual Art from USD, with an emphasis in painting. For years I had my heart set on becoming a famous painter one day. Eventually, I started to realize that maybe the gallery world wasn’t for me and that I wanted to pursue other creative endeavors as well. It was also around that same time that I had my hair cut into a pixie, though it was French chic for about 5 minutes, and then hated it. So, naturally, I had to figure something out!
I started covering my hair with scarves tied into turbans and was getting a lot of compliments. It was then that I had the idea of learning to sew and creating “ready to wear” turbans. I now call my turbans, “Lola Wraps”. I signed myself up for some markets and little by little I began growing my hand-made, accessory collection, creating earrings and other fun pieces. I stuck to accessories for a few years and eventually, my inner painter began to wake up again.
These days, my main focus is creating “wearable art”. I am now combining my passion for painting, fashion, and jewelry making, into my own creation of “mixed-media art”. I am still creating jewelry, and accessories are still a part of my collection. Denim and other thrift clothing is my canvas and using a variation of supplies, I am creating art onto wearable canvases. All of my custom clothing is hand-painted, hand-stitched on, and decorated in some way! I paint from my imagination with watercolor, ink, and acrylics, to record the characters and narrative landscapes within my own mind onto clothing. It is my dream to one day see my designs and creations on people all over the country, and through my creations, make people smile and feel beautiful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road hasn’t always been smooth, but the journey will always be worth it. Most of the struggles have come from within my own vulnerabilities. Self-doubt, perfectionism, and life path kind of shit, have always played a role. At the end of the day, I am always one hundred percent thankful to be an artist.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, I am a part-time, personal assistant and a full-time artist. For the past 4 years, I have been able to mostly work for myself. During that time I have also worked as a professional esthetician. I am proud of my cosmetology license and enjoyed my time spent giving facials. Honestly, I’ve always had a few things going on at once.
I have definitely gone through some challenging times dealing with depression and anxiety, as well as, physical health issues. I am proud of the journey it has taken me to get to where I’m at today, mentally. Without the lows, I wouldn’t have made it to the highs and because of the lows, I am more empathetic and humble.
Art-wise, it’s my personal creative vision that sets me apart. I work from my imagination. I pull from dreams, tangent thoughts, impulsive ideas and intuitive decisions.
I think my positive outlook on life, sense of humor, passion for my craft, and the wild ride it’s taken me to get here, make me the woman I am today. I’m proud of my work ethic and dedication to my craft. I truly love getting up every day, making a cup of coffee, and sitting down in my art studio.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Preparing to vendor at big shows and markets takes a definite toll on the body. Before every event, I have to design the layout of my booth and pack my car. Loading a tent, tables, clothing racks and ALL the merchandise, is exhausting. Especially when you’re only 4’9! 😉
I wish I knew that everyone is just trying their best. It’s so easy to put immense pressure on yourself to have everything be perfect. Every single event is a new experience. Every event is trial and error. Some shows will be great and other ones will be awful, and that’s OK.
No matter what, you have to be your own biggest fan. Your hours won’t be normal and you have to be ok with that. You have to LOVE what you do, trust yourself, and be prepared to travel. Not everyone will understand your life choices and you have to be ok with that too.
Contact Info:
- Email: shoplolagrant@gmail.com
- Website: lolagrant.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/misslolagrant
