Today we’d like to introduce you to Tenaya Wickstrand
Hi Tenaya, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It’s been an unexpected journey to get to where I am today. I actually grew up in a musical family. I was always very shy so I had zero interested in competing or comparing myself to my older siblings, who were focused on music. I think thats what made me pick up a pencil and paper. With music, your trials and failures are there for everyone to hear, but with drawing it’s a more intimate experience.
Art was something I kept private for a very long time actually. I had a different career in PR and it wasn’t until my second child was born that I knew I needed a change. I was craving a creative outlet again, something that was just for me. My husband would say that “out of no where” I started drawing, but I really just tapped into a part of me that was dormant.
Moving to Austin was the catalyst for me to say, “You know what, what do I want my life to be? What do I want to show my children?” I wanted them to see someone following their passion and pursuing a dream. Creating a job for themselves that they loved. So I just did it. Needing to know everything or have things perfect ca be such a barrier, but I refused to let that doubt be the thing that prevented me.
Following my gut or intuition has really been my biggest asset. In 2023 I realized I could weave my art calling
into the earth itself, and that changed the very way I approach my work. Now, I create fine art that takes us back to where we all began.
Inspired by the rhythm of Mother Earth and the way we experience her world, I suspend local, natural elements into my art. With an eco-conscious combination of materials that includes handmade pigments, inks, and paints, I paint subtle, emotional, and narrative-driven landscapes into raw linen and canvas.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest obstacle is myself, which I think is true for a lot of artists. Having a strong and centered connection to what it is that you’re doing is paramount. It’s easy for me to get lost in imposter syndrome and comparison when I’m not creating from a place of intention. It’s been a steady process of mental and artistic growth for me. I allow myself to explore when I feel a pull. For example, I felt the need to explore making my own paint. I had no idea what that could be, but it turned out to be the missing piece for me.
We are also in a world today where you need to be all the things when you’re an entrepreneur: a marketer, photographer, copywriter, accountant, the list goes on and on. Painting is sometimes the easy part. Getting exposure for my work is the hard part. Pursuing connections with women that feel organic has helped with that and has led to collaborations with companies such as Amber Interiors and Pure Salt Interiors, as well as local brick and mortars.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create fine art that tethers us back to the Earth. I’ve always been drawn to the feeling of being in nature — within the trees, under the sky, among the clay — and it’s important to me that my art is intimately connected to the earth that inspires it. My work and process plays on that intimate connection by primarily using hand-processed, naturally derived materials for a sustainable, eco-conscious approach.
I begin every piece from a place of exploration. Whether I’m searching the banks of Lake Travis or foraging for sandstone, I look for the vibrant, soulful colors and textures that only nature can provide. By scouting from the land, I’m able to connect with each element in an intentional, selective process that breathes a little differently.
Utilizing the techniques of our ancestors, I process each earthen material by mortar, pestle, and hand — grinding pieces of the earth into the ink, pastels, and paint that show up in my paintings. Then, starting from raw canvas, I’ll work the paint into each fiber until it all becomes one.
I am most proud of staying true to my passions in this very noisy world around us. Letting a small tug on my soul lead me down a path of connection to the earth that I now weave into my paintings as been a game changer for me.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I believe in the law of attraction. Staying true to your authenticity not only benefits you in your art, but also the people and connections that inevitably come your way. I connect with a lot of people online, but I’m not afraid to initiate meeting up in real life! It is quickly clear if our energy aligns. I have found some amazing, supportive women in Austin along this journey. I have also encountered those that aren’t supportive. What has worked for me is to realize the right connections are out there; I just trust in that law of attraction.
I would encourage people to go to the events, groups, shows, stores, etc, that actually interest you on a personal level. That’s exactly how I’ve ended up showing my work in Round Top, TX during their biannual antique show. I went for years, and through that time I developed friendships and contacts. This March will be my second show at Marburger during Round Top.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tenayawickstrandart.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thetenayaart
Image Credits
Mackenzie Jones
