Meet Destiny Surreal | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Destiny Surreal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Destiny, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I was searching for connection and community. I wanted to continue to create, build, and make beautiful thought-provoking things. There are others out there who understand the feelings that I share in my pieces. Art allows me to visually share those ideas, my thoughts and emotional experiences. Sometimes, I worry that I may show too much and then I remember why I decided to be an artist in the first place. It is to share that knowledge, that raw imagery of self and find that in other people. That can understand and not only appreciate that but also connect so deeply with it as well. My pursuit over the years has been to better understand myself and try different art mediums. Have fun with the process and the discovery, acknowledging the feelings connected with them.
It wasn’t about what monetary value that could be made that started this. I wanted to see what would happen if I just showed up and painted authentically to what my heart wanted to say.
My grandmother has always said “You aint no wallflower.” So I really need to stop acting like I am.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m not someone who finds it easy to share their work in words. I’m doing this on my own and my art is always changing, just like me. It’s emotionally driven. It’s calming, sometimes dark, mysterious and magical, and every now and then, sad. If I don’t feel something, even small, I can’t move forward with the painting.
“Is this dynamic enough?” and “It is detailed enough?” are my top two thoughts and it will have me back and forth looking at what I’ve created until I’ve exhausted the thought, and my eyes don’t question what they see anymore. I want my initial vision to come out as closely as possible on paper. Sometimes the exact opposite happens where I let my subconscious do the talking to learn something from it. My pieces are usually spiritual in nature, emotional, characters in their own worlds, or it’s filled with animal symbolism.
My growth as a professional has been pushing through a cocooning stage for a rebirth and prints have picked up sales wise. That in itself is very exciting for me, and I love handwriting every thank you note. I’m in the process of expanding my art print line and with the support I have I see myself hitting that goal. I’m finding and connecting with my audience better, and I’ll be working on a mural in a storefront early next year.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m not originally from Myrtle Beach, so everything feels like an adventure. I’d most likely take them over to get a tiki drink at the 8th Ave Tiki Bar right next to the ocean right before night fall and listen to a live band. (I’d probably have a whiskey and coke.) Walk down to the beach and listen to the waves crash under the moon, then jump around in the dark water because it’s fun where things are a mystery. One of the prettiest places I’ve visited since moving here is the Atalaya Castle because it’s like a beautiful Mediterranean style, palm tree surrounded dream. It’s historic and picturesque, I love the architecture. There’s something island fairy tale about this place. Then go and see some alligators in their swampy natural habitat. Not in a cage but in nature, where they belong. Seeing an animal thrive where they are in their landscape without disturbing them is the way it should be.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My story wouldn’t be where it is without a few other artists, wanderers, and supporters that I lovingly call, my handmade family. Blood, and not, but also soul. The encouragement throughout the years from those who are most likely going to read this. From the days of charging for the three-dollar portrait when I couldn’t have been older than 9. To the newer light and smiling faces of those met when I moved from one city to another and commissioned me. To my family that have cheered me on as they’ve watched me figure out what kind of artist I am even if they didn’t really understand.
To my husband who, despite my obstacles, usually mental, has always told me that I’m the real deal and supported every project. Even when I’m spending long nights in my studio. He’s patient, allowing the creativity and wild woman mind to do what it needs to do, expressing her freedoms. Even in his field of work, technologically and musically he can slow his mind down. While I on the other hand, have a hard time stopping my need to fulfil my ideas and bring them all to fruition as they see fit.
It’s hard being with creative people, because we are always succumbing to the need of creation and invention in some way with no end. Is that madness?
But he is there, believing in me continuously, and deserves much more recognition that I can properly convey. The real muse.

Website: https://destinysurreal.com/

Instagram: @desisurreal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinySurrealArt/