Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Jane.
Haley, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My artist’s name is Haley Jane. I am an artist from Walnut Creek, California, but grew up in Sacramento, California. I am a painter, designer, muralist, and ceramic artist. I always knew as a child. I wanted to become an artist. My parents say that if I didn’t have a paper to draw on, I would resort to drawing on my body.
In high school, I found a passion in ceramic sculpture and won the best of a show in the California state fair in 2004 at 18 years old. In college, I decided to do a study abroad in Paris, France, where I was able to study the great artists of the past such as; Rodin, Leonardo Devinchi, Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, etc. After college, I wanted so badly to become an artist but had no idea how to become one. There is no easy way to success, especially something like art. That’s where you get the sayings, ” starving artist, or you’ll be successful when you die”.
Come from. I was very lost for years trying to figure out my purpose and knew I had to do something artistic. I started doing hand-painted clothing and jackets for musicians such as Erykah Badu, E40, Ghostface from Wu-Tang clan, Keak The Sneak. But even then, I wasn’t supporting myself doing these hand-painted clothing pieces. So I took a hiatus and went to school for cosmetology. In cosmetology school, I came up with the idea of creating art for salons and women who were into art and beauty. That’s when I started my art company, Haley’s Art, in 2009. A few years after I became a mommy and had to support my child by myself. Single mom’s life is not easy, so I had to take another break from art, because again I had no idea how to market or sell to support myself doing just art, so I continued to do hair. After years of feeling like something was missing in my life, I decided to go after my dream once more, but this time hit the ground running. I started trying to get involved in anything I could with art. I got a publicist and that’s when things started taking off.
Last year in 2019, I had a show in my home town showcasing ceramic art at Sacramento Fine Arts Center and Blueline Art Gallery in Roseville, California. I also got the chance to create murals in a recording studio in Los Angeles, California with rave reviews. During Super Bowl 2019, I made a huge splash and showcased my art at the 2019 Super Bowl Awards Brunch, hosted by Champions for Philanthropy. This brunch featured Rob Vaka, Darius Philon, Josh Norman, Takeo Spikes, and celebrity jeweler Peter Marco. I also featured my artwork at the Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl event with Chris Cabott.
While in ATL, I gifted one of my Art t-shirts I created to sell at the art show to my stylist friend Renaldo Nehemiah. He surprised me by styling his client Ludacris for the EA sports Music super bowl fest concert, with one of my t-shirts. After so many people asking about the shirt, I decided to start a company, Dreamworld Clothing. Since then, I have turned dreamworld into an art and Clothing Corporation. I have my clothing brand available at a few different stores across the country and also online at www.weardreamworld.com Dreamworld has been seen recently on Bravo Tv, Married to Medicine on Toya Bushharris, on the red carpet on Lil Fizz from B2K, in Avante Magazine on Derek Chadwick, and various athletes. Dreamworld has only just begun. Keep a lookout for me, Haley Jane and Dreamworld Clothing.
I have just recently shown my art in NYC at the scope art show in march of 2020, 5th-8th. I have been doing shows this year all over the country. I also showcased my art in Miami at the curator’s voice Art Projects and also at the scope art Basel show in Miami Beach, Florida. The Miami Art Scope show was surreal, it was right on Miami beach off ocean drive. Thousands of people came to this event. I was not only showcasing there without a gallery representing me, but I was also my own art dealer. I represented myself and sold 10 out of the 14 paintings I was showcasing. I also showcased my art and clothing at both the magic clothing conventions in vegas. One in Aug of 2019 and the other in Feb 2020.
After almost two years of diving in the art world, long sleepless nights, lots of sacrifices and risk-taking, I can honestly say it was and is all worth it. It’s been such a long journey to balance being a single mom and an entrepreneur. I just want to build something that will last, something that can inspire people to follow their dreams like I am, and build a future for my child. That’s why I named my company dreamworld because my son and my dreams are my whole world.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a crazy journey to become an artist. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights trying to come up with art that I think, but have no idea if they will sell. Art is funny like that; its usually the mistake that people fall in love with and want to buy. I’ve also made so many sacrifices, like spending all my savings to be apart of art scope so that I could build a name for myself. When big galleries wouldn’t give me a chance, I invested my own money and became my own gallery and sold my art myself. Yes, I made the money back thank God, but its risks like that that build the person you are. I believe if God puts something in your heart to pursue then why not chase that vision. I’ve literally had so many struggles I can’t even tell you. Like a week before art scope, the biggest art show I had ever done, I tried to resin coat my art for the first time and almost destroyed all 14 paintings.
But by the grace of God, a friend helped me fix them within a day of having to ship them. I’ve also had to sacrifice time away from my son to be able to pursue this dream because I had to travel. But its all so I can build a life for us. More struggles like people seeing my talent and conning me by saying if I pay them, they’ll help market me and get me into shows. Or doing an art show in San Francisco and while I’m setting up someone smashes my car window and steals my purse under the seat and my 2000$ camera that had all my footage of creating art on it. So many struggles and so many mountains I’ve climbed, but again God gives his tough battles to his strongest soldiers.
Please tell us about Dreamworld Clothing and Haley’s Art.
I have two companies like I mentioned before, Haley’s art, and Dreamworld clothing. Haley’s art is my art company. I sell original art created by me.
My other company Dreamworld clothing is an artistic urban clothing company. I sell t-shirts, hoodies, dresses and hats. The silkscreened art on these pieces is all original art by me. I was inspired by the artist Kaws. He is kind of similar to me; we both do clothing, fine art and sculpture. My clothing brand even though at the time years ago when I first started dabbling in the clothing field, started by hand painting things. Ten years later who knew I’d come back to that passion and develop it into an actual business and have similar ideas silkscreened on to clothing. I’ve been able to have influencers willing to wear and celebrate my clothing. I don’t believe in luck, I believe in hard work and God blessing your hard work.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I actually don’t live in Miami, but I traveled there quite a few times across the country because the art market in Miami is a lot better than where I live. Sacramento, California, where I live is a nice city, but the art market is almost none existent. It’s so easy to meet people in Miami. People from all over the world come there to experience the beautiful beaches and fun nightlife. Miami has a special place in my heart. I honestly wish I could live in Miami and one day, I want to. Right now, I unfortunately can’t because of my son. I’ve built a life in Sacramento for him. He goes to a good school, has lots of friends and most importantly, we have a support system with my parents. My parents help me so much with my son. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
The series I displayed at Miami art Basel represents this situation I just described. I took maps of different cities I had traveled to pursue my art, cities I fell in love with and wanted to live in. On these maps, I painted inspiration quotes about happiness and finding yourself. It represented my desire to live somewhere else that would be more beneficial for my art, but learning to be happy no matter the destination. One of the quotes was, “happiness is not a destination, Happiness is…” and also the quote by Bryan Anthonys,
“Do not be afraid to leave where you are. To leave your old world behind. Be brave enough to travel the unknown. To open yourself to something new. Strive to see extraordinary places and meet extraordinary people. Dream with the dreamers and do what you once thought was unthinkable. Explore with the explorers and discover endless possibilities. Do not let fear be your map. Do not let comfort determine where you stay. Let curiosity guide you. Let your eagerness for adventure, for diversity, for aliveness lead you. Do not be afraid of getting lost. You may just find what you need. Lose your logic find your soul. Lose your path find your direction. Lose your way to find yourself. You have the power to determine your journey. Listen to your heart and you will always be home.”
Someone starting out, I would tell them to put their fear aside and start wherever they can. Some artists don’t have the luxury of being in Miami or traveling to Miami. That used to be a desire for me and I had to put my crippiling fear aside and make it happen against all odds.
Pricing:
- “Conquer The World Every time you smile” (set of 4) 24″x24″ each paintings – set is $5000 for the original
- “Happiness is not a Destination” (36″x48″) original painting $6,000
- “Lose your way, Find Yourself” (36″x48″) original Painting $6,000
- “The Joke’s on you”(36″x48”) original painting $6,000
- Venus de Milo t-shirt $32.99
- “The sky is home” (set of two) 30″x30″ original paintings $4500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.haleysart.com www.weardreamworld.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @haleyz.jpg @weardreamworld
Image Credit:
Photographer Jintell with Omina labratories
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