CA-based visual artist Haley Jane who is known across
the nation for Haley Jane’s colorful pop-art paintings, sculptures, mixed-media pieces as well as her screen-printed and handmade clothing she creates for her own company, DreamWorld Apparel.
Haley, you are a female painter, designer, muralist, and ceramic artist. Were you born with a brush in hand, or did your gift in art develop over time?
I was, how did you know?! (smiling) I have been in love with art since a young age. I vividly remember as a child, my tutor getting mad at me for drawing and not paying any attention to her. Luckily that has paid off and yes, I was still able to pass kindergarten. I’m a painter, designer, muralist and ceramic artist. But I am also a writer, my own art dealer, a sales rep, a cosmetologist, a mom, a sister, a daughter, a homework helper and a personal chef to my son who is 7 years old. I am a do-it-yourselfer. I am capable of doing so many different things. Sometimes it’s hard to keep pace with all these things.
You were a student of world-famous academies such as the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, the Sierra College in Paris. What are the main things you got from education there?
I studied at Sierra College first before the Academy of Art. Sierra College had a study-abroad program that my mom randomly signed me up for. I had no idea I was going to go abroad, we found out about the study in a foreign country two weeks before leaving, so I was not able to learn the language and get prepared as a whole before going. I did not know any French, I was only 19, and I had never been apart from my family for that amount of time. Those 4 months just changed my life. I have not only gained some independence, but I also learned a lot about ancient artists. It was also hard for them to follow their passion for art. Luckily in today’s world, we have much more resources. At the academy of art, I studied fashion and fine art (sculpture).
When creating the sculptures, I was mainly inspired by living in Paris. I studied at the Academy of Art University only for a semester. I wanted to stay there longer but things going on in my personal life changed the course of events for a time. I was unsure of my future in art at that time and let my fear of failure detour me from my pace. No program ensures you that you will be a successful artist. No school, no license, no training guarantees your success in this field. Only at the end of 2018 I felt I needed to seek my purpose again.
All of us know that you felt you had a creative personality during your life, especially childhood and youth. It would be wonderful to know after which exact situations or stories you became confident in your career choice.
Actually, I do not know if I am confident in my career choice, because who in their right mind would choose art. There are not many resources, there are no guarantees, there is no blueprint, people have to fall in love with your art and it’s all based on sales. I would say it was more of a divine purpose. Things happen for a reason. I do not always think logically, I just know what I am good at and I love creating things people can enjoy.
Please tell us more about Dreamworld Clothing and Haley’s Art.
Haley’s Art is my art company I started in 2009 and again I took a break because of my fear. I had just had my son, I was a single mom with no help and my family and friends persuaded me to go to beauty school. I am actually a licensed cosmetologist as well. I just was not as passionate about that as I was about creating art. When I started Haley’s Art I created a whole line of art pieces sold to hair salons. I really didn’t know how to sell them though. It has been a journey to learn how to sell art… I had neither art dealers, nor manager. Everything I sell it is because of my own blood, sweat and tears. Dreamworld is my Clothing Company I started in 2019. I created 50 t-shirts for a few art shows I was doing in Atlanta, Georgia for the Super bowl. I randomly gave a t-shirt to my stylist friend and he astonished me by dressing the rapper Ludacris in it on stage at the EA Sports Music Fest. It jump-started my career and I decided to create another company, called Dreamworld. Today I am having my stuff sold in more than 19 stores and my business is still growing. I had always loved fashion.
When I lived in Paris I had eyes for the little boutiques in my neighborhood. One day I came across this boutique that carried local designers. I asked the manager if I could design something for the store. She gave me two skirts to design and she had them sold in her store. I literally hand-stitched the skirts, but it was so satisfying. Before Paris, I was doing hand-painted clothing for musicians. It’s funny how life comes full circle.
COVID-19 has changed the business landscape. We are wondering to know what helps you to stay strong in the face of changes which come to all of us.
Covid has definitely put a spoke in wheel for everyone. I have adapted by learning to build my online presence and finding shows in cities that are not as restricted as mine. Luckily Clothing is still selling and there are not many constraints to selling this kind of stuff. It’s a different form of art for me. I am constantly thinking of new ideas and different ways to market myself. I created a whole art reality show which I am promoting on networks. I also created a commercial displaying of my art in home and called it “home art gallery”. I continue to keep building step by step.
You participated by showcasing some of your new art pieces at the Annual Magic Fashion Show. What was an inspiration for you to create your new masterpiece?
Magic Clothing Convention is actually an international market for clothing lines, manufacturers, and buyers to place orders with clothing lines wholesale for their boutiques and clothing stores. This is how I am able to get my clothing in stores because I meet buyers at these conventions and they place orders based on the samples I display. I get inspired by the most random things, but my famous one-eyed drawings are doodles of ancient art in cartoon form. I created a cartoon of the Venus de Milo, the Statue of Liberty, Michelangelo’s David, Mona Lisa, etc.
Do you have a favorite photograph or painting, which inspires you?
I love the Venus de Milo, it is a beautiful sculpture, it inspired me to create one of my characters I use on my t-shirts. I also love the Starry Night by Van Gogh. There is so much effort put in the painting in the sky yet it is also calming. It reminds me you can find peace within the chaos. That no matter what you can shine bright even in the night.
Which current art world trends are you following?
I love seeing artists that create figurines, like the Kaws. People are tend to collecting things. It’s fascinating to see such artists create gathering people that love characters they create. I’ve also created some figurines that I want to eventually produce and sell.
All of the people who are interested in your work are looking forward to seeing your art, clothing line and music to release in Spring 2021. Could you describe in a few words which new ideas you implement in this year’s collection?
I’m always creating new designs for my clothing line every season. I have to keep creating new items for the clothing stores that move my clothing. In the matter of art I have created 2 series of paintings, mixed media and sculpture. One of the series I created is themed to finding yourself and happiness. I took maps of different countries, cities, states and world maps, flight tickets, and bag tags from traveling and used them in my paintings and resin coated them so they are encapsulated in my art. It is supposed to represent how lives are like maps and we are constantly pushing ourselves to look for happiness. But the feeling of joy is not a destination, certain people or things. It is something you have to find within yourself. My other series of art I themed around music. I was going to showcase these pieces at Art Basel 2020 but due to Covid, they cancelled the Scope International Contemporary Art Show.
There is so much pressure for designers to come out with their greatest collection season after season. What advice would you give to young designers just starting out and hoping to make it in the industry?
I would say to them to be original. So many people do nothing but copying. It’s ok to be inspired by someone but don’t take their idea completely. I see so many completely similar clothing lines. If you are offbeat, someone will definitely fall in love with what you create. It is similar to art in that sense.
