Today we’d like to introduce you to Deana “Denise” Davila.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Deana “Denise”. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m 27 years old. I grew up in Oakcliff, Texas. I’ve always loved art since I was in elementary school. I was always doodling on my school work. I remember getting in trouble in the 5th grade because I doodled all over my TAKS test. I painted my very first painting when I was about 16 years old. I made a Cinderella painting for my little sister. I really enjoyed it, and ever since then I’ve been painting. It wasn’t up until February of 2016 that I actually decided to quit my full time job to pursue my dreams of living as an artist.
I grew up fairly fast. I got pregnant at 16 years old – moved in with the father of my children and had my first born son at 17 years old. I attended Dallas Can Charter Academy when I found out I was pregnant because I knew there I could graduate faster than at the school I was attending. Instead of attending school half a day like most of the other students at Dallas Can, I spoke to the counselor about attending all day so that I can hurry and graduate. After much considering, he allowed me to. I graduated within 6 months. Got married at 18. Had my second son at 21 years old. Divorced at 23 years old and have been making ends meet ever since. Since I was 18 I had been working in offices. I started as a receptionist at a law firm, I was a receptionist at a school, and I worked in a call center doing auto collections. I have amazing customer service skills, but the whole office job setting wasn’t entirely for me. I wasn’t fully happy the way I knew I could be. I was at a point where I dreaded waking up daily to go into my job. I knew this wasn’t the way I wanted to live my life. The stability was nice. The health benefits were great! To some extent I was comfortable because I knew I could count on that paycheck twice a month that was going to pay my rent, utilities, vehicles, etc. That wasn’t enough for me. The comfort was not worth my happiness. I would do art on the side and sell my paintings. I was always getting compliments that I was in the wrong field and I should focus on my art but I had never really took action to it.
The buildup of misery finally made me take action to quitting my full time job. One day I just decided to put in my 2 weeks’ notice. It was definitely a risk. I didn’t have anything else lined up. I didn’t have any other income coming in, I didn’t know how I was going to get by but what I did know was that I was going to figure something out. I knew that if I put myself in that situation, I had no choice but to figure something out for my kids. Although it was extremely risky, I wasn’t scared. In fact, I was relieved. During the time I had been pondering on starting up paint classes, but I had never really done it before so I figured I’d start with kids. I advertised it on Facebook and held my very first class of 6 kids total at Chips old fashioned hamburgers. It was awesome and although it was only 6 kids, I realized the potential I had. During the same time I had a company reach out to me wanting me to teach paint classes for them. It seemed perfect at the time because after all, this is what I was looking for. I figured I’d check them out. I taught with them for a couple of months (while still attempting to host my own classes as I had initially wanted to). Well the company later wanted me to sign a contract where I would no longer be able to host my own classes and all classes had to go through them. I decided not to continue with this. I know my potential and what I am capable of and I knew that if I just gave all of my focus to my own classes, that I could do the exact same thing they were doing. And so I did. I invested in all of my art supplies and started hosting classes at different restaurants around the metroplex. It was great and things started picking up. I started getting noticed and restaurants started reaching out to me to have me come to their restaurant to host paint events.
It was great but I knew it wasn’t enough. I needed my own space. I ended up turning my mother’s garage into a studio to host some private events there as well but it still was not what I was looking for. Aside from my mother dealing with some personal issues, the space just wasn’t what I was looking for. Funny story on how I came to be at my current studio. One day I decided I wanted some roller skates, so I bought some on Amazon. A couple of days later I needed to find some skates for my kids so we could all roller-skate so I searched on Facebook marketplace where I came in contact with a woman who was selling some who lived 5 minutes from where I was so I went right then and there to purchase. She also had a son and so we ended up befriending each other on Facebook. She seen my artwork on my page and reached out to me. She just so happened to work for a real estate company and she told me about the spaces that they had. Fast forward to today, I have my own storefront right in the heart of Duncanville located at Main Station. It has been nothing less than amazing and has really pushed me to be greater.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Hmm it hasn’t been that smooth of a road, however I wouldn’t say that it’s been hard. I feel like the universe and God has definitely been on my side. I realized that letting go of negative people and surrounding yourself with positive like-minded people goes a long way and has definitely played a huge part in where I am today. Networking is essential. A lot of things you don’t learn before your journey but along the way instead. I’ve always been somewhat of an unorganized person (I blame the artist in me). I suppose that’s been a small struggle. Owning my own business, I have no choice but to get organized. I don’t have everything figured out and I am definitely still learning.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Kreative Mindsets story. Tell us more about the business.
I am the CEO and also the artist of Kreative Mindsets. I host paint classes to all ages. Adults can paint and sip (my adult classes are BYOB). I host kid’s classes as well. ALL AGE EVENTS. I enjoy a lot of urban art, painting celebrities, Mexican cultured art. My most popular paint classes have been Selena Quintanilla and Frida Kahlo. I do any and all themes. A lot of my classes I pre-outline the canvas for the customers, but I also do host classes where the canvas is not pre-outlined. I also do custom art requests aside from classes. I do custom paintings on canvas, shoes, coffee mugs, walls, anything! I would say I am most known for my energy. Everybody always tells me I have such a positive spirit and that really shows and sets the mood at my classes and at my studio. I am proud at how far I’ve come in such little time. Within 1 year of quitting my job, I was able to open up my own store front. I am most proud at the fact that I have been able to not only tell my kids, but also show them that you do not have to settle for what does not make you happy. I tell them all the time to follow their dreams.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure how well I believe in good luck and bad luck but if there is such thing, I would definitely say I’ve been lucky.
Pricing:
- Prices for my classes range anywhere from $30-$40 per person depending on the painting and what all comes included
Contact Info:
- Address: 100 S. Main St. Suite 114 Dallas, TX 75116
- Website: www.kreativemindsets.com
- Phone: 214-893-5042
- Email: kreativemindsets@gmail.com
- Instagram: kreativemindsets
- Facebook: facebook.com/kreativemindsets
Image Credit:
Alex Delgado Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
