Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiana Pulley.
Tiana, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was in a dark and dry season of life and I felt the conviction to just start painting, so I bought some canvas’ and oil paints because I thought, “Oil painting seems so classy and I don’t know the difference anyway so I will just start with that.” I painted a lot of hearts at the time because I felt like my heart was being broken over and over again, in good ways and in hard ways. It was definitely an outlet for what was going on in my life at the time. So I did that for a while and sold paintings to friends and at a local Starbucks. One day a friend asked if I wanted to paint something for a women’s conference she had started. So I did. The next year I painted something else. While learning to work with different mediums and teaching myself calligraphy and brush lettering. The following year she asked if I wanted to be in charge of the whole event design and execution. Everything from stage design to photo booths to backdrops and florals and the smaller details that make an event feel special and like we care about who is coming through the doors. It was in the midst of that first event that I absolutely feel in love with curating beautiful spaces. I was given an opportunity to learn and grow and explore a gift that I had no idea I had. Since then I don’t think I have painted with oil though I get to paint with various instillations which is great. Oil takes forever to dry anyway and I am always on the go!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a custom instillation artist, event designer and decorator, a backdrop specialist and an interior designer. There are so many other things in there, from hand-letterer to wood worker to paper artist. I feel like every project has me learning a new skill and I love it!
I typically start with meeting the client to get a feel for what they are looking for, what are they trying to communicate through the event or through this piece of art that they are commissioning me to create? My goal is to communicate their message for them but also to communicate beauty. I have a message in eve thing that I create, a message of beauty and of a Creator. I want someone to be moved, to be encouraged, to be stirred and to be captivated. I want them to stop and consider the beauty of creation and for that to create wonder in them. I believe we can do that through art. People have been doing that through art for ages. Like when you eat something amazing, you stop and consider the hands that made it and the elements that came together to make it taste amazing, it comes more than food. It becomes an experience that you remember and maybe something that interrupts your normal routine and causes you to think. Ultimately, my hope is that my artwork would point not to me but to a Creator that makes the most beautiful things for us to enjoy.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
Lack of integrity. If you have to step on someone or say something negative about someone to give yourself the upper hand, you are sacrificing your integrity for the sake of getting ahead and it is never worth it. I also think artist all too often sacrifice their brand and image for the sake of making money. That can mean that you create something you do not actually like or you promote something you do not actually want to use yourself because you’ll get a paycheck, maintaining our integrity is crucial. There are so many people doing the same thing, how we treat our work and others should be what sets us apart. Be honest, be true, be upright, take the high road, sometimes longer road, be true to what you believe and build up those around you. The world is big enough for us all.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Because of the nature of my work it is not often permanent so this is a hard question. I have recently done a women’s conference called If: Gathering in Austin. I am gearing up for another conference called Sparrow Conference (the one that started it all) so you can see my work there in April. I do have some permanent instillations around Dallas. You can see my paper flower wall at BAM (Blow Outs and Make Up) in West Village. You can also see one of my backdrops in McKinney at a clothing store called Landry Kate.
Instagram is where you can see my most accurate portfolio (@tianamaedesigns), also my website, tianamaedesigns.com.
You can support me by referring me, following me and interacting on my Instagram, I love chatting with my followers.
Also, I have just started a new Insta account for “how to” videos (@tmd.videos) I will begin position videos mid-March.
Contact Info:
- Website: tianamaedesigns.com
- Phone: 469-789-6042
- Email: tiana@tianamaedesigns.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tianamaedesigns/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/tianamaedesigns/
Image Credit:
BAM Blow Outs and Make Up – location: large flower wall
Jenna Vanzant Photography – photo by large flower wall and vine backdrop
Alexa Vossler Photography – photo by greenery flower wall
Heather Hawkins Photography – photo by office Design/Decor
